The division, called Sandpiper Research & Insights, will specialise in supporting communications and public affairs practitioners.

Craig Young has been installed as interim managing director of Sandpiper Research & Insights, with support from researcher Paul Chong on brand, market and reputation research and measurement.

The company also said Alexander Thomas would be leading social and digital analytics and Kelly Johnston and Iris Ng heading up thought leadership and partnerships at Sandpiper Research & Insights.

Before joining Sandpiper, Young was previously at Big Village, where he was previously chief executive officer for Australia.

Young has also held senior roles at Nielsen, Roy Morgan Research, ORC International and Engine, and is a past president of ADIA, Australia’s market research industry association. 

Chong co-founded and was the managing partner of NWC Research before its sale to ORC International in 2007, after which he managed ORC’s global customer experience practice in the US.

Sandpiper Research & Insights joins fellow Sandpiper departments Sandpiper Communications and Public Affairs and Sandpiper Health in the group.

Kelly Johnston, chief operating officer at Sandpiper, said: “In a world driven by data, we have had an increasing focus on building the research and insights capabilities within our business.

“As a growing competitive advantage for our firm, the time is right to launch Sandpiper Research & Insights as a stand-alone sister brand within the Sandpiper Group.

“We are delighted to have Craig onboard to lead this business and to welcome Paul and Alex to our growing research team.”