Consulting giant KPMG has bolstered its insights and marketing research practice, KPMG Acuity, with the appointment of three new specialists.

Nick Deverson (pictured above) has been appointed as a director, joining from WPP research firm AMR Interactive, where he was head of commercial for Sydney.

Deverson has held senior marketing research positions over the past two decades, and led numerous research engagements with multinational companies throughout the Asia Pacific and the US.

He spent nearly 10 years working with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as well as heading up his own research consultancy. Deverson has worked across multiple industries with a focus on the government, technology and energy sectors.

Amanda Hicks, partner at KPMG Acuity, said Deverson is at the top of his game, and brings an exceptional mix of research expertise and research agency management skills to the table.

“His many years of experience in uncovering insight, and communicating in a language that can shape business strategy, will be invaluable to KPMG Acuity as we embark upon an ambitious growth plan,” she said.

Commenting on his appointment, Deverson added: “Having spent the better part of the last decade working in agencies, I’m looking forward to the fresh approach at KPMG Acuity, focused on delivering research that translates into tangible business results for clients.”

Joining Deverson at KPMG Acuity are Mike Stokes and Alanna Beracochea. Stokes commences as a manager, joining from Nielsen’s UK practice, while Beracochea commences as consultant.

KPMG Acuity is currently hiring for other new roles in both Sydney and Melbourne as the team expands its national presence to meet rising client demand.

“Businesses are realising that now more than ever before they have to ‘go deep’ in understanding their customer in order to be competitive,” Hicks said.

“This is driving an increased demand for trusted, actionable insights that can help fuel business innovation, strategy and ultimately, growth.

“Since joining KPMG, we’ve seen significant market interest in our offerings, especially now we can partner with KPMG’s customer experience, analytics, and marketing innovation to provide more comprehensive insights and solutions.