Krish Kara, who as well as working at The Carphone Warehouse has served as a senior insight manager at GSK Nutritional Healthcare, has partnered with former RI head of global accounts Bob Dance and client services director Carol Ashby to set up the business.

The firm promises to provide “tailored research solutions that address the real requirements of our clients and meet their commercial objectives” through a range of qual and quant services.

Kara told Research that the three had known each other for some time before deciding to launch KDA, and that they had no reservations about launching a new company in the current economic climate.

He said: “A recession creates an opportunity for businesses to critically look at themselves and re-evaluate their products and services which requires an updated assessments of their needs. Our proposition is better tuned to that requirement.”

Kara said that the new firm has already carried out a project for The Carphone Warehouse and is in talks with several other potential clients.

Looking ahead, Kara said: “In two to three years we want to be in the top five independent agencies”.