Runnicles, who will join Research Now's board on November 19, was previously regional finance director at WPP-owned Fitch, where he had responsibility for the firm's financial management and corporate development in Europe and the Middle East.
Geoff Westmore, Research Now's chairman, said: "We are delighted to welcome Nathan to the board. His practical experience of working in a finance and corporate development capacity with global agencies in the marketing space means he is ideally suited to support Research Now's ambition to become the world's leading online fieldwork provider to the market research industry."
Last month, Research Now released its interim results. which revealed sales growth and a trebling in turnover to £9.9m from £3.5m. However, 2007 has been a torrid year for the AIM-listed firm, which was left devastated by the death of its finance manager Cathy Marlow in its London office in January. The ensuing police investigation led to the firm relocating to new premises.
Prior to his position at Fitch, Runnicles was in charge of Cordiant Communications Group's corporate finance, before it was acquired in 2003 by WPP.