Gombault (pictured) will be be based in the US firm’s Paris offices, having lived in the city for the past 27 years.

Before joining PRS In Vivo, Gombault was at Ipsos Marketing Quant, which she joined in 2010 and was most recently client activation leader for Europe, Middle East and Africa and also Asia Pacific.

Gombault started her career at Research International, before moving to and part owning Socioscan before its sale to Synovate, where she led the company’s consumer goods business in France.

Alex Hunt, chief executive of PRS In Vivo, said: “With Karen at the helm of our EU business, we can better serve our clients while bolstering the staff leadership for expanded growth.

“Investing in our business has never been more critical as clients and the industry at large must evolve to respond to new business realities.”