She will oversee the newspaper publisher’s audience team which is made up of three functions: commercial insight, consumer insight and primary research.

An experienced brand and research professional, Putnam was most recently head of strategy and insight at John Brown Media. Before that she spend nearly 10 years working for different Omnicom agencies, such as Manning Gottlieb OMD, heading insight departments in the UK as well as working on global research projects for clients including Apple, Sony and Vodafone.

Putnam will report to marketing director, Tim Hunt and said: “The insight we produce is incredibly varied and informs our business development.”

She takes over the role that has been vacant for the past year, since Andre McGarrigle left in 2013. McGarrigle had been with GNM for more than five years, holding a number of research and insight roles.

The Guardian team also won Best In-house team at the MRS Awards announced last night.