Holt (pictured) joins Kantar Public from the Behavioural Insights Team, where he led exploratory research on individual and group behaviours and specialised in user research and process evaluations for behavioural interventions.

At Kantar Public, Holt will continue his work with vulnerable and marginalised audiences and will help develop participatory methods and public engagement.

Jo Bolton has joined Kantar Public from working as a research consultant in the healthcare sector.

Bolton will take up the role of qualitative director, and will focus on developing the practice’s work with public dialogue and deliberative methodologies.

Milo Warby has been appointed associate director, working on Kantar Public’s education policy work.

Warby was previously in the customer understanding team at Yonder Consulting, where he focused on insight-led innovation and consulting.

Dr Samantha Outhwaite has been named research manager at Kantar Public, having previously worked as principal consultant at ADAS Policy and Economic team and ICF Food and Environment team.

Outhwaite will focus on environmental policy and will help develop Kantar Public’s creative and ethnographic methods.

Craig Watkins, chief executive at Kantar Public UK, said: “With Matt, Jo, Milo and Sam, we add four outstanding experts in-high quality qualitative research to our fast-growing UK business at a key societal moment when policy makers need to better understand how the public are feeling about a range of policy and social issues across the country.

“Their expertise in their individual policy areas and methods will bring our clients closer to people’s real experiences in their local communities and provide a greater understanding of their attitudes and behaviours.”