Opinion Leader Hires To Enhance Panel

In London, MR agency Opinion Leader has hired Carolyn MacLeish to manage its panel of senior decision makers drawn from politics, the media, the City, charity sector and from corporates. Nicola Austin joins as Marketing Director, tasked with supporting MacLeish enhance the panel.

For the past five years, MacLeish has worked for Experian-owned consultancy the Future Foundation; most recently as European Account Manager overseeing the European sales team's involvement with the firm's nVision products, and previously as Project Manager for a number of large public sector projects. Prior to this, she worked in the recruitment industry as a headhunter and an operational manager. She has a Humanities degree from the University of Hertfordshire.

As Panel Manager MacLeish will be developing a programme of briefings and networking events for panel members including feedback from the research programmes, a debating forum on the issue of reputation, and opportunities for panel members to showcase their work.

MD Paul Flatters commented: 'Carolyn's appointment will really help us develop the panel ensuring that taking part remains stimulating for the members and effective for the clients. We have always worked to ensure that our panel can be properly tailored and Carolyn is here to ensure that it is the flagship within the industry.'

Austin also joins from Future Foundation, where she worked for more than eight years. As Head of Marketing she developed and drove the marketing and communications programme for the firm's nVision, services across Europe, developed an events programme that attracted more than 1500 delegates each year, and also headed the consultancy division. Before this, Austin was responsible for client services at a major human resources group. She has a degree in Economic and Political Development from the University of Exeter.

In her new role, Austin is responsible for ensuring clients are kept up-to-date with Opinion Leader's research and thinking; and as well as promoting the panel, she will be developing a programme of events and working alongside Flatters (another former Future Foundation employee who joined the firm last year - www.mrweb.com/drno/news7063.htm ).

Opinion Leader specialises in qualitative and deliberative techniques, and carries out much of its work for public sector bodies. Last month, the firm's parent Chime Communications acquired a 55% share in Ledbury Research, an MR consultancy that specialises in researching luxury brands and affluent consumers (www.mrweb.com/drno/news5101.htm ).

Web site is www.opinionleader.co.uk.