Leading Edge Appoints UK Managing Partner

Firefly Research founder Simon McDonald has joined Australian agency The Leading Edge (TLE) as Managing Partner of its UK office.

Founded in 1990, insight-based research firm TLE employs more than 100 people in Australia, Asia and the UK. The firm is part of marketing services group Photon, which also owns Jigsaw Strategic Research.

Before joining, McDonald ran his own market research consultancy for seven years, prior to which he worked as Research Manager at the Financial Times, and was a Media Board Director at Ipsos.

Kate Parry, Managing Partner UK comments: 'We are still a relatively young team in the UK. We are excited to have Simon on board and keen for him to help us continue to grow our business successfully, particularly utilising his strong quantitative skills and experience.'

Chairman Nigel Long added that McDonald's skills and contacts in the media world would also support the firm's growth in the UK and internationally.

Web site: www.theleadingedge.com .