The appointment sees Trayner rejoining the firm where he started his career as an intern. Now vice-president, as well as heading the New York office, Trayner will also lead GQR’s corporate consulting practice worldwide.

Trayner joined Brunswick in 2006 to establish the communications group’s first in-house research team. Prior to that he was research director for Opinion Leader Research, and had stints with The Fourth Room and Acacia Avenue.

GQR executive vice-president Jeremy Rosner said: “We are thrilled Graeme is joining to head up our New York office and lead our growing corporate practice. Companies are increasingly assessed in the same harsh and unrelenting way as political candidates. Applying thinking from the campaign war room to the corporate board room can help companies navigate this landscape.”

• Trayner is speaking on activism and the corporate response at the 2014 Market Research Society Annual Conference, 18-19 March. Click here for details.