Peak Answers Names New Call Centre Chief

North of England-based data collection agency Peak Answers has appointed Paul Sutton as Associate Director, replacing Call Centre Manager Jean Seddon who is retiring in May, after 25 years in the industry.

Peak Answers was established in 2011, when MD Dave Laybourne acquired Harris Interactive's Stockport-based call centre. The firm provides telephone data collection, sample sourcing, coding and qual recruiting.

Sutton (pictured) joins from JRA Research, where he worked for seven years, most recently as Associate Director of Operations. In this role he was responsible for managing a national team of around 1,000 workers, supervisors, and back office staff; along with the telephone centre, data analysis and data processing teams. Prior to this he was Head of UK Client Development at Capita Learning & Development, where he previously served as Operations Manager, responsible for 50 telesales, customer service and back office staff.

In his new role managing the call centre, Sutton is tasked with improving processes, managing staffing, and handling resources, while also marketing and delivering the firm's online data collection capabilities. In addition, he will get involved in new client acquisition and the development of existing accounts.

Laybourne comments: 'We are really excited to have Paul come on board with the business. We are very much ready to take the business to another level - not only will Paul help to consolidate our existing client relationships, his experience is going to enable us to both expand and improve our offering to current and potential clients.'

Seddon, whom Sutton will replace, is retiring at the beginning of May. She started her career as a telephone interviewer with Business and Market Research, where she progressed to Call Centre Supervisor, and then worked as Call Centre Manager for WirthlinEurope and Harris Interactive.

Web site: www.peakanswers.co.uk .