Bläute (pictured top) was most recently production director, responsible for the company’s telephone centre and commercial responsibilities across ICM Direct.

Phillips (pictured bottom) has previously worked for the Independent Research Bureau and Ipsos Mori and has been managing data processing and scripting teams in the UK and internationally for 26 years. Expert in data collection and the use of state-of-the-art data analysis software, he has managed high profile research projects including the 2010 General Election results for the BBC and Sky television.

ICM Direct has also hired Ali Yusuf as its new solutions development executive. Yusuf has more than eight years’ experience in scripting and data processing, having previously worked for Promise Communispace, Facts, Doctors.net and AC Nielsen.