Verve Adds Four in South Africa

London-based agency Verve has added four new researchers to its team in Johannesburg, South Africa: Simoné van der Merwe, Yolinda Koekemoer, Sne Ngxukumeshe and Thokozani Ntuli.

Verve's solutions combine artificial intelligence, cultural and human understanding to help clients with strategy, innovation and execution. Founded in 2008 as a community panels specialist, the firm later developed a specialism in cultural intelligence. Earlier this year it announced it was relaunching to emphasize its focus on 'three intelligences': Artificial, Human and Cultural; and four practice areas: Insight Communities, Insight Consultancy, Culture & Futures and AI for Better Insight. The last is now known as Verve Intelligent Personas.

Van der Merwe joins as a Senior Research Executive following three years at Human8, and brings experience in mixed methodology research. Koekemoer joins as a Research Executive after two years with research and CX agency IQbusiness, previously known as Genex Insights.

Ngxukumeshe and Ntuli both join from Kantar, and take the title of Research Associate. Their background is in customer experience, analytics and qual methods.

Verve says all the new recruits will be trained across its four practice areas. Heather Tluczek (pictured), the firm's MD for Africa, comments: 'Nurturing young talent has always been a central part of Verve's culture. We're delighted to welcome new team members in support of global growth ambitions; and in turn offer them exposure to cutting edge digital, cultural and AI methodologies. A wonderful way, too, to mark near three years in the local market'.

Web site: www.addverve.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.