Pickering will take up the post of client services director, having worked with the company since 2007, most recently as fieldwork director, while Shevlin becomes operations director, moving from her role as head of qualitative research.

The Manchester-based company has created several teams to support growth across the business. Jordan Ashall leads the Acumen Healthcare offering, with Sam Garlick and Holly Slater each leading qualitative teams. Adam Benson takes the role of quantitative lead.

Much of the restructure has been driven by an ongoing demand for Acumen’s services, which has seen the company employ an additional 30 members of staff across all teams in both operations and support roles.

Pickering and Shevlin’s new positions will help to support the broader company structure and “ensure the high-quality standards that Acumen is passionate about”, according to a statement from the company.   

Commenting on the appointments, Acumen MD Abi Fuller said: “It’s fantastic to have such experience and talent across the business. Knowing that clients will be so well looked after is a key element to our 2022 plans. I couldn’t ask for a better team.”