At the COI Stratton (pictured) helped to manage qualitative and quantitative research for government policy and communications campaigns. She spent four years there until it closed in March. She has also worked for TNS-RI, specialising in consumer research for key food and drink clients – the same verticals in which MMR offers sensory research services.

Stratton’s appointment comes as the agency bolsters its team with a number of new recruits. Joanna Kissick, sensory qualitative senior research executive, comes to MMR from her native New Zealand where she worked at Fonterra Dairy Co-Operative for the past six years. Former Research Now executive Sonu Kaur is also joining as a survey creator after four years’ experience of programming within the market research industry.

Junior additions to the team include Lesley Potter as research executive, formerly of BASES Nielsen and Abigail Horsley and Scott Gibson as trainee research executives.

Earlier this year MMR Research Worldwide announced it was setting up a dedicated qualitative research team led by Ian Horritt, who joined the firm as head of qual last year.