The Forge Hires Innovation Director in Amsterdam

Strategic insight consultancy The Forge, which is headquartered in London, has appointed Amsterdam-based Joris Westerman as Director of its Innovation practice.

The Forge brings together consumer insight and commercial expertise to develop customer-driven business strategy programmes. Westerman (pictured) joins from Accenture, where he was an Innovation Expert in the unit formed by the business' acquisition of innovation agencies Happen and ?What If!. Earlier, he was MD of Happen Amsterdam; and Senior Brand Consultant for M&C Saatchi's branding consultancy Clear.

Commenting on the appointment, co-founder Simon Garnett said: 'Joris will play a key role in both, growing our innovation practice alongside several senior innovation hires made over the last eighteen months. Our clients are going to greatly benefit from Joris's consulting experience gained from a wide-range of different sectors, markets and practices including quantitative insight, brand strategy and innovation.'

Web site: www.thisistheforge.com .