Hartley (pictured) will lead major customer loyalty and employee engagement projects. He is no stranger to the field, having had similar responsibilities as a vice president at Morpace and as a senior consultant at The Gallup Organisation.

The new VP spent five years as an assistant professor of political science and senior research director at the now-defunct Center for Survey Research at the University of Connecticut.

Hartley will be based at GfK’s New York office, reporting to division MD Don Simons.