Verve is expanding its specialist Simulations Studio with investment in human talent, responding to growing global demand for its Verve Intelligent Personas & Simulations (VIPS).
Now deployed across more than 40 global brands, VIPS is helping organizations access decision-grade customer understanding at decision pace. This growing adoption comes alongside Verve's international partnerships, including US research consultancy Burke and UK data partner CACI, and multiple industry awards from ESOMAR and AURA.
Verve's Simulations Studio, the specialist team responsible for developing, deploying, validating and continually evolving VIPS for clients and partners, has grown to 14. Chris Espley joins as Associate Director, bringing 10 years' experience across agency and client-side research, while Shaun Johnston joins as Senior Consultant, following strategic insight roles at Basis and Human8.
Verve is also investing in four recent graduates to join Simulations Studio in November - Emma Fullard, Wesley Cooke, Charlotte Davies, and Harriet Micklewright - reflecting its commitment to developing the next generation of research talent.
The Studio's emerging talent is already gaining industry recognition, with Isla Lees recently nominated for Significant Insights' Global 30 Under 30 initiative. The expansion reflects a wider shift in the research industry, as AI creates new roles and opportunities that bring together research expertise, technology and analytical skills.
Andrew Cooper, Founder & CEO comments: "Building plausible customer personas is easy – anyone with a dataset and an LLM can do that. However, building decision-grade customer personas and simulations that are constantly validated, reliable and auditable is a true specialist skill set. One that is reflected in the diverse expertise of the team within Verve's Simulations Studio, working with our third-generation Verve Vero platform. In doing this, we are able to provide clients with Decision-Grade Customer Understanding at Decision Pace – and help make insights teams more relevant and valued than ever before.”