James (pictured) was previously at the Irrational Agency and was also strategy director and behavioural science lead at Hall & Partners. James also spent four years at Breaking Blue.

At Verve, James will lead the company’s behavioural science work, working with client teams across the business.

James is joined by digital anthropologist Lily Echanis, who will specialise in social intelligence and previously spent four years as senior cultural analyst at Karmarama.

Also moving into the expanded strategic insight team is Jodie Holland, a long-time digital qualitative specialist at Verve, who assumes a lead user experience (UX) role.

Kelly McKnight, executive director at Verve, said: “Our ever-growing in-house capabilities in behavioural science, UX and social intelligence build on the best-in-class research we’re already famous for at Verve.

“They demonstrate our commitment to offering the smartest solutions to clients’ complex business challenges to get to the best answers imaginable.”