The initial team of six, who are working from a hub situated in the heart of the Rosebank area of Johannesburg, have also announced their first new global client win.

Researchers Kerry Payne and Marko Fourie (both pictured) joined the Verve team this month, working alongside leaders Heather Tluczek and Meryl Dovey who set up Verve Africa at the end of last year.

Payne joins as research manager bringing experience in mobile and online research practices, following more than three years in a multi-disciplinary role at global digital research agency MDI (Mobile Digital Insights) in Johannesburg.

Fourie joins as senior research executive from Consulta, where he previously led the South African Customer Satisfaction Index, bringing strong quantitative and analytics experience. Both are already actively supporting Verve’s global business on a range of clients, including Samsung and Maersk.

They'll be joined in the coming weeks by two further confirmed hires at senior research executive and research manager levels, as the agency adopts an ‘always-on’ recruitment strategy to build to a team of around 15 by year end.

The fledgling team has already secured a new global client, based on Verve’s unique Premium Partner relationship with Alida (formerly Vision Critical). The account will see Verve lend consultancy expertise to a global automotive client.

Africa MD Tluczek comments: “Verve has a unique position in the African marketplace – we’re able to provide the best global account careers to the continent’s top talent, in turn allowing the team to provide the most innovative, best-in-class sector insight in Africa. We’re hugely excited and energised for what lies ahead for us this year.”