Latino-focused television network NuvoTV in the US has appointed Karen Barchesi to the newly created position of VP of research. She was previously VP of cable distribution research at Warner Bros. Television.

Debbie Warner has joined Kantar Health as VP in the commercial planning group, where she will lead the firm’s oncology commercial strategies team. She joins from AstraZeneca where she was the managed markets brand director for speciality care oncology growth brands.

Lincoln Financial Group in the US has appointed Emily Pachuta to lead its new research team, which will investigate consumer decision making. Pachuta joined the company in 2007.

Rebecca Addis has joined Community Research in the UK as director and joint owner. She has been one of the firm’s associates for some time and previously worked with founder Rachel Lopata at Opinion Leader and ORC International.

Berkeley Research Group in the US has boosted its healthcare analytics practice with the hiring of directors Lance Robinson and Rick LaForge and principals Jason Beirne, Kevin Hamilton and Amy Showalter.

Robert Brand, a former partner at capital markets advisory firm Makinson Cowell, has been named a non-executive director at Brainjuicer. He replaces Mark Muth, who joined the Brainjuicer board when Unilever Ventures bought a stake in the company and was set to leave when the firm sold its shareholding last year.

Patrick Wakida, previously an executive director at TNS in Uganda, has started a new agency in the country, Research World International.

Neil Shepherd has joined social media games developer Kixeye as VP of consumer insights. He was previously VP of paid media at online marketing agency Quinstreet.