In the UK, 'human understanding' agency Walnut Unlimited has promoted Neha Patel and Laura Byrne to the role of Research Director, while Becca Allen, Becky Hutchins and Becky McGee were all promoted to Associate Director.

Formed last year through the merger of marcoms network the Unlimited Group's full service agency ICM Unlimited, fieldwork business ICM Direct, product development and sensory research specialist Marketing Sciences Unlimited, and consumer neuroscience consultancy Walnut Unlimited, the combined offer includes neuroscience, behavioural psychology and behavioural economics across areas such as retail and customer experience/engagement, technology, financial, FMCG, brand and communications/media.

Patel has been with the agency for the past decade and is a member of the Tech & Media team. Following last year's merger, she has been involved in the firm's change management programme and has led the development of the new company 'values and ethos'. Byrne, who works in ICM Unlimited's Social and Government team, has been promoted after seven years with the agency. She is also closely involved in the development of the company's graduate, internship and apprenticeship schemes. Allen, Hutchins and McGee were all previously Research Manager at Marketing Sciences Unlimited.

Walnut has also announced the graduation of two of its Academy Executives, Bessie Pike and George Pinder, who have been promoted to the role of Research Executive. In addition, Emma Darling and Rhian Gorecki have moved to the role of Senior Research Executive; Lucinda Gardener and Alex Turk have now moved into the position of Research Manager; Lewis Green is Trainee Research Executive; Joel Harding-Rennie is promoted to Senior Data Services Executive; Iulian Lincu moves up to Data Services Manager; Alison Newton-Price becomes Senior Coder; Colin Philips is now Head of Coding Services; and Stefanie Sturgess is promoted to Senior Project Manager.

Talent Director Danni Findlay (pictured) comments: 'It is great to be able to reward such natural talent and recognise that, whilst we have continued to produce great work for our clients, internally there has been a lot of work behind the scenes creating our new single agency with a single point of view. These promotions in particular recognise the work of these talented individuals who have striven within their teams to make it all happen; it's a real skill.'

Web site: www.walnutunlimited.com .

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