Rees spent the past 11 years at TNS in a variety of roles. Two of her co-directors at Charterhouse, Julie Irwin and Sara McFadzean also previously worked at the global research group.

Irwin said: “Sharon is well known and highly respected in the industry with an extensive research background and we are delighted to have her on board”.

Rees’s arrival at Charterhouse coincides with the launch of the company’s new syndicated survey of banking usage and attitudes, which involves 17,000 interviews annually with companies ranging in size from start-ups to businesses with £1bn turnover.

The survey commenced interviewing in January, and Charterhouse boasts it has already attracted subscriptions in excess of £1m from major UK banks.

Charterhouse was founded in 2004 by Irwin and McFadzean along with independent consultants Mark Dennis and Mervyn Flack. All four founders worked together at City Research Group until 1998, when it was bought by NFO Worldwide – now part of TNS.