Opinion Leader Continues to Build Team

In the UK, Chime company Opinion Leader has hired Dominic Scott-Malden as Research Director, to boost its expertise in advertising research. Catherine Plews also joins the firm as Senior Research Executive.

Scott-Malden is currently a Director at Wardle Mclean, running a wide range of research projects including ethnography and work on brand development. He worked previously at research agencies Hall and Partners, Stimulating World and Carne Martin, and in leading edge research roles at ad giants Ogilvy and Saatchi.

Opinion Leader has really made several other senior hires: GfK NOP's Michael Thompson and Dixon's Group customer experience specialist Shaendel Hallett a fortnight ago; Toluna exec Mark Squires and former Social Democratic Party researcher Sarah Horack in July and Royal Mail's Head of Business Intelligence Sinéad Jefferies to lead the research and insight business in April.

Plews, who like Scott-Malden will be based in London, is currently a Consultant at MVA Consultancy, and in her new role will work across a range of high profile accounts. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Southampton.

Divisonal CEO Crispin Beale says of the new arrivals: 'Dominic is someone who I have been talking to for some time now and his broad range of expertise - and in particular his advertising research experience - will benefit the company tremendously. Catherine is also going to be a very positive addition to the team.'

The division includes Facts International, Opinion Leader, CaucusWorld, acefieldwork, Naked Eye and Brand Democracy. The group's web site is at www.chime.plc.uk .