James joins Maru from Kantar, where he was president of brand performance and a member of the company’s North American insights leadership team.

With more than 20 years’ experience, James has also spent over a decade at Millward Brown, where he set up the company’s Chicago office. He became executive vice-president and managing director and led its Midwest and West Coast operations.

As president of Maru/Matchbox’s consumer goods and services, he will be responsible for one of the company’s most significant verticals. And as CCO he will oversee developing measurements to ensure client satisfaction across Matchbox, defining and managing best practice with clients across the business, and launching and managing a services model for a technology-enabled insight services company.

Ged Parton, CEO of Maru Group, said: “Brian has a superb track record in building deep, strategic client relationships and throughout his career has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills.”