News and insights

Announcing new leadership changes for 2026

Verian is delighted to announce several 2026 leadership changes that will expand and enhance our ability to support clients and power impactful public policy decisions that tackle society's most complex challenges. 

Verian has seen positive momentum and strong growth in recent years, and is focused on scaling innovation, particularly through responsible use of AI to improve efficiency and insight for clients.

Philippa Edward,

Global CEO

“I am delighted to announce a number of leadership changes which I am confident will accelerate the impact of our work and support our ability to offer ever increasing value to our customers.”

Globally, Haroldas Brozaitis (currently CEO of Verian Lithuania) will take on a new role as Chief AI and Transformation Officer. Haroldas has helped build Verian's specialist AI and data capability - anchored in our Vilnius team and already deployed on live client assignments. In his new role he will lead expansion across the group. The ambition is to make ethical, purpose-built AI a standard part of how every Verian team designs and delivers work for clients, turning gains already proven on individual projects - faster insight, stronger evidence, better value for money - into a defining feature of how Verian serves the public realm globally.

Haroldas Brozaitis,

Chief AI and Transformation Officer

“The clients we serve cannot rely on AI that impresses in a demo but doesn't hold up under institutional scrutiny. What we've shown is that AI, embedded into rigorous research practice, can compress delivery from weeks to days while strengthening the evidence base, not weakening it. Scaling that approach across Verian - globally and responsibly - is the heart of this new role.”

In the UK, Craig Watkins, currently UK CEO, will move into a new position as CEO of European Union and Multilateral Institutions (EUMI) & UK. In this new role he takes responsibility for our Brussels and Vilnius offices in addition to the UK, leading a world class team of researchers and specialist consultants focused on using that insight and evidence from citizen experience and attitudes to deliver decision-grade data that solves some of public policy-making and society’s biggest challenges. 

Craig Watkins,

CEO of EUMI & UK

"We have a real opportunity to bring together the best of these markets, to align our strengths, sharpen our approach, and deliver an even more powerful, innovative and seamless experience for our clients."

Subsequently, there will be changes to Verian's UK leadership. Ben Humberstone, currently Head of Populations Studies will take on the Managing Director role for the UK market. Ben has over 20 years’ experience in public policy analysis and has been responsible for the Population Studies team in Verian for the last 5 years, leading our large and complex quantitative surveys and longitudinal studies including the Crime Survey for England and Wales, Understanding Society, and the Consumer Price Index data collection for ONS. 

Ed Dunn has also been promoted to Head of Population Studies in the UK. Ed has been Senior Director for Population Studies at Verian since 2022, leading the delivery of complex and high-profile social research projects for a range of public sector clients. Prior to joining Verian, Ed was Deputy Director and Chief Social Researcher at the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Gareth Schnehage will also join Verian formally as our new CFO. Gareth joined on an interim basis in 2025 and has had significant impact supporting the firm as we work towards our 2028 strategy and growth ambitions. He has over two decades of international financial leadership experience across multinational and private equity‑backed environments. A Chartered Accountant, Gareth has held senior CFO and executive leadership roles, leading complex finance transformations, M&A activity, and large‑scale restructurings across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

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