Former Future Thinking CEO Jon Priest to Chair IFF

Jon Priest, SPA co-founder and former CEO of Future Thinking, has joined the Board of full service social and market research agency IFF Research, in the role of Non-Executive Chair.

IFF, which began as a B2B specialist in 1965, now boasts expertise in sectors including learning and skills; higher education; employment and benefits; financial services; professional services; health and wellbeing; and social housing. Last September, the company received £5.1m in senior debt plus equity investment from private equity provider Connection Capital.

Priest (pictured) co-founded insight and data agency SPA in 1994, and the firm was later acquired by private equity provider Next Wave Partners, then merged with Future Thinking, in which Next Wave held a 60% stake. Priest then served as the merged company's CEO. (The UK arm of Future Thinking was later acquired by Savanta). Priest is now a Partner at corporate advisory boutique and management consultancy Capel Partners and corporate finance advice provider Green Square & Associates.

Commenting on the appointment, IFF MD Jan Shury said: 'We were delighted to receive the backing of Connection Capital last year who shared our vision for the continued growth of a people-focused agency. We're privileged to now have someone with the vast experience of Jon come on board as Chair to help us navigate the challenges of realising that vision'.

Web site: www.iffresearch.com .