RBA chief takes up new role Down Under

Paul Vittles, chief executive of UK social research agency RBA Research, is to step down in January to join ACNielsen's social and government research division in Australia.

The announcement follows the recent implementation of a succession strategy at RBA, which saw former field and DP director, Iain Sutherland promoted to managing director.

Vittles, who was the key driver in RBA's management buyout in 2000, will remain a shareholder in the business as "a vote of confidence in RBA's future", he said.

As the new director of client service in ACNielsen's Australian public enterprise team, Vittles' said his job would be more externally-focused. "My initial priorities will be around meeting existing and potential clients," he said.

He told Research: "I had been looking for a new challenge and had considered a range of options, some outside of research, but I decided my passion still lies within the research industry.

"[RBA's] new leadership team, headed by Iain Sutherland, are doing a terrific job, proving that a good chief executive needs to know when to get out of the way and let the next generation through."