Parkman (pictured) will head the company’s research department and join its senior leadership team.

Before joining Swift, Parkman was associate director at the Irrational Agency, and was head of research at trade finance at news, training, events and data products provider TXF.

Before entering the research industry, Parkman worked in academia, including a post-doctoral position at the National Addiction Centre at King’s College London after completing his PhD at the University of York.

Swift Research is a full-service agency which specialises in sensory product testing, both around the UK and in its own Sensory Centre, a dedicated centre for product testing. It is based in Wetherby, West Yorkshire.

Katie Giles, chief technology officer at Swift Research, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Tom to our senior management team here at Swift.

“With the talent and experience he brings, we have no doubt that he is going to help our established team build on our solid foundations and shape the future of the company for years to come.”