Squires (pictured) joins Chime from online panel provider Toluna where he served as European client services director and was responsible for project delivery across Europe.

Before Toluna he spent eight years with Nunwood as telephone operations divisional director.

In the newly created role Squires will lead Chime’s cross-divisional fieldwork offerings and work across the group’s six main brands: Facts International, Opinion Leader, Caucus, Tree, Naked Eye and Brand Democracy.

Crispin Beale, chief executive of the research and engagement division, said: “Mark is uniquely qualified to work across the business, expanding and tailoring our online offering, and further enhancing and growing divisional operations. I am delighted that he is joining us and am confident he will become a valued member of our growing team.”

The arrival of Squires follows the appointment of research directors Sarah Horack earlier this month and Gill Rumbold in June.

• Research has the exclusive today on Opinion Leader founders and former Chime research heads Deborah Mattinson and Viki Cooke’s new business, Britain Thinks. Read the story here.