Jameson has held the managing director position since the agency was formed in 2001. She will continue to be involved with HRW, working part-time on business development and strategic planning.

Dalzell (pictured) is currently HRW’s executive vice-president, US research and will take over as managing director from 1st April. Prior to HRW she worked for more than five years at ORC International.

David Thomson, founder and chairman of MMR Group, owners of HRW, said: "I wish to thank Caroline for all she has done over the past 17½ years, taking HRW from zero to what it has now become – a highly respected global purveyor of healthcare research.

"It was Caroline’s wish, with the endorsement of Jeanette Kaye (HRW’s deputy global managing director), that Christine Dalzell should be put forward as her successor. She was subsequently interviewed by the MMR group board, which was unanimous in deciding that Christine is the right person to lead HRW into the future."