The strategy and advisory team will be tasked with supporting clients in developing implementable policies based on evidence and insight.

The new team will work with clients to understand and prioritise strategic policy risks and opportunities and help design and test specific policy interventions.

The team, which is staffed by senior civil servants, academics, economists and policy analysts, will also generate ideas based on evidence and policy analysis, and develop new strategies and frameworks.

Bransden (pictured) was previously principal consultant at organisational health consultancy Q5 Partners.

Before this, Bransden worked for the UK Health Security Agency as deputy director, health equity policy, and was head/deputy director of trade policy strategy at the Department for International Trade.

Michael Lawrie, head of strategy and advisory at Ipsos Public Affairs, said: “This new service is central to the future of our business.

“We will benefit from Nathan’s ideas, work in government and experience in consultancy, as we bring Ipsos’ insights, approaches and ideas to clients in a new way.”