Adding serious fire power to its senior management ranks, market research company Colmar Brunton has appointed Marian McCormick to the newly created role of chief strategy officer.

Based in Brisbane, McCormick will work closely with CEO Joan Young, and MD Maree Taylor, bringing a senior level of strategic business acumen and client counsel to the business.

McCormick’s primary remit will be to foster thought leadership and to further extend Colmar Brunton’s business growth capability working collaboratively across all Colmar Brunton offices. McCormick commences immediately.

Commenting on McCormick’s appointment, Colmar Brunton’s CEO, Joan Young said: “Marian’s appointment will enhance our ability to deliver a competitive advantage to our clients. She is a strategic thinker with a proven track record of fostering innovation and building the capabilityof the teams she works with. She will play a critical role in driving the expansion of our services business in Sydney and Brisbane.”

McCormick has an impressive history in insights having held executive roles across an enviable list of Australian blue chip client organisations, including more than 30 years on the client-side in companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb, North Broken Hill, Kraft Foods, ANZ Bank, Hallmark Cards and Sensis and almost 10 years on the agency side in roles such as managing director of Millward Brown and general manager of DBM Consultants.

She was most recently head of strategic marketing and insights, Suncorp Group, where she focused heavily on leveraging both the portfolio of brands and the customer base to fuel new growth initiatives. Her responsibilities encompassed identification of brand and customer service opportunities, emerging trends, strategic risks and future profit pools as well strategy development and implement change.