Cello Research is part of Cello Research and Consulting, which along with Tangible Group is one of Cello's two main divisions.
Cello Research and Consulting will continue to be chaired by Richard Gilmore, but now Research and Consulting have each been given their own separate boards.
The Cello Research board will cover 2CV, Leapfrog and Insight.
Nolan is the founder and chairman of research company 2CV, which was acquired by Cello in October 2007 and is being rolled out as a network to cover the US, Europe and Asia.
Shirley is joint managing director of specialist healthcare research agency Insight alongside Nicola Cowland.
Shirley will take responsibility for developing centres of excellence within the Cello Research group and extending its fieldwork capabilities, while Nolan will ensure the collective profitability, wellbeing and growth of the group.
Nolan and Shirley will become managing partners of the broader Cello Group.
Mark Scott, chief executive of Cello Group, said: "Vincent and Jane's appointment to the Cello Research Board is a positive initiative which we expect to yield operating efficiencies, improve the group's competitive position and drive further synergies."
The creation of the boards follows news that .