Hext (pictured) was previously research director at Savanta, where he spent 31 years. In his new role, Hext will be charged with helping Touchstone expand as a company.

Hext’s specialisms include behaviour and volumetric modelling, which allows clients to gain accurate measures of volume and value opportunities for their products.

Jamie Rayner, managing director of Shoppercentric, said: “With Ian’s background, it provides a further expansion and depth to our research capabilities and our commercial sense.”