Verve Hires Essential Co-founder Charlton as TMT SVP

London-based culture, communities and 'smart digital insight' firm Verve has launched a Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) practice in North America, and has appointed Essential Research co-founder Alex Charlton as Senior Vice President, TMT in New York.

Verve, which was launched in 2008, also has offices in Manchester, UK; Chicago; Romania; Johannesburg; and Sydney. The firm now combines its original focus - community panels - with newer services offering a broader understanding of why consumers behave the way they do, and what brands need to do about it to deliver sustainable behaviour change.

Charlton (pictured) joins Verve with more than two decades of experience, having previously founded and managed two consumer insight agencies: Essential Research and Craft - Human Intelligence.

In his new role, Charlton is charged with growing the company's TMTvertical, working alongside Miranda Barenie, who leads the firm's North America CPG/ Retail vertical. Andrew Cooper, Verve founder and CEO, comments: 'It is brilliant to have Alex on board to drive our North American Tech, Media and Telecoms offering as well as bring our Culture, Trends and Semiotics (practice) at scale business to the US. We're excited about bringing all these new capabilities to market, complimenting the tremendous work that Miranda Barenie and the existing North America team are doing.'

Web site: www.addverve.com .