FreshMinds Hires Methodology Head

UK research agency FreshMinds has hired former JRA exec Niall Smith as Head of Research Expertise and Development, responsible for providing methodological expertise to its 40 researchers and working across its diverse client portfolio.

Founded in 2008, the firm's Research Expertise and Development (RED) team is staffed by specialists with wide ranging methodological expertise. As well as advising on all client projects, they are responsible for growing the technical skills of FreshMinds Research's consultants and pioneering new techniques and methodologies.

Most recently, the team spearheaded the firm's move into social media monitoring and MROCs.

Smith joins with qual and quant, statistical and analytics experience gained while managing multi-country studies across a variety of sectors. Since 2006, he has worked at Nottingham-base JRA; latterly as Research Manager in charge of multi-disciplinary teams and responsible for implementing new standards and procedures as well as for client work. Prior to this, he spent two years at Pickersgill Consulting and Planning in York.

In his new role, Smith will manage a team of six and report to MD, Alistair Leathwood, who comments: 'Niall has an unwavering commitment to quality and a fluency with a wide range of methodological techniques. He will play a pivotal role in growing the expertise of our entire team and be an indispensible source of expert advice for both our clients and our consultants.'

Web site: www.freshminds.co.uk .