His new business, James Law Research Associates, aims to attract both private and public sector clients with the offer of “high-level input into research and insight strategy, evaluation of research activity and confidential services related to mergers/acquisitions and data disputes”.

Law spent nearly two decades with MRUK. In 2007, the business was sold to research and marketing services group Cello, but in the wake of government spending cuts last year the firm was scaled down dramatically – with 29 jobs axed, leaving just three staff.

Rachel Cope is now running the company, which has forged a strategic partnership with sister agency RS Consulting.

Law said: “I wish MRUK and the Cello Group every success for the future, but I am pleased now to be moving on after a challenging six months as the company adjusted to the current public sector market conditions.

“I am particularly looking forward to getting back into working with clients and frontline research projects, as I was spending more and more time on general business management in recent years.”