Pearce (pictured) will work alongside Dan Alexander-Head, head of global innovation, and Jason Buchanan, managing director at Verve Collaborations, to form Verve Australia’s core management team

In her new role, Pearce will be charged with developing a new global advanced qualitative and analytics practice for the firm.

Before joining Verve, Pearce was head of audience intelligence at News Corp Australia and has also held various roles at Qantas, including senior manager, member strategy and programme design, and strategic research and insights lead.

Verve’s Australia business, which is based in Sydney, is implementing an early-stage expansion model used by Verve in Manchester and Johannesburg, with the Sydney team expected to reach 10 by the middle of this year.

Andrew Cooper, founder and chief executive at Verve, said: “Rikki is a rising star who, alongside Dan and Jason, will help us build a dynamic and disruptive business. 

“Verve Australia will provide clients with a new choice which is stimulating, joined-up and above all delivered with passion by a team who really care about great client service.”