Melanie Wiese named Managing Director of Verian in Australia

Verian, a global research, communications and advisory firm for the public sector, has appointed Melanie Wiese as Managing Director for Australia.

In her new role, Melanie Wiese will lead Verian’s strategic direction and operations in Australia, which is one of the firm’s largest markets in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. She will continue in her role as Chief Innovation Officer for Asia-Pacific and Principal for the Verian Institute for Public Impact.

Wiese has over 20 years of communications and advisory experience, with expertise in consumer insight, organisational and behavioural change, cultural alignment, and product and experience design. Her career spans senior leadership roles in global agencies, including Chief Strategy Officer at Wunderman Thompson (now VML), and Planning Director at Grey New York.

Since joining Verian in 2025 as Chief Innovation Officer for APAC, Wiese has been instrumental in driving the firm’s innovation agenda, fostering collaboration between research and creative teams, and championing behavioural change methodologies and emerging technologies.

“Melanie’s leadership has strengthened Verian’s ability to deliver impactful, end-to-end solutions for clients across the APAC region,” said Gavin Bain, CEO of APAC. “Her appointment marks an exciting chapter for Verian in Australia. Her proven track record in strategic leadership and innovation will be pivotal as we continue to grow our impact and deliver exceptional value to clients.”

Wiese succeeds Kirsty Macmillan, who recently departed Verian following a twenty-year career with the group and its predecessors TNS and Kantar.