Buckingham Research MD to leave next month

UK-- Buckingham Research Associates managing director Tony Isaacs is leaving the agency next month to launch his new venture, SigDiff.

Isaacs is a veteran of clientside research, having worked for Cadbury, Tesco, Mars and Unilever before joining Buckingham in 2001 as research director.

He was promoted to MD more than two and a half years ago, but has remained “very hands-on with project work,” he said.

News of his departure follows the acquisition of Buckingham's parent company, the EQ Group, by Optimisa in October.

Isaacs said the takeover had no bearing on his decision to go solo. “I'd have done it even if there had been no change of ownership as it's something I wanted to do,” he said.

“I think the takeover is a good thing for Buckingham. The new owners are good guys and we see eye to eye on a lot of things.”

He will launch SigDiff on 11 February, and the company will specialise in quant research and statistical analysis.

Optimisa chief executive Simon Dannatt said: “Tony has had seven immensely successful years at Buckingham Research Associates, during which time he has taken the business forward to the extremely strong position that it currently enjoys.

“Whilst we are obviously sad to see Tony go, we will continue to work closely with him for at least the next six months and wish him the very best for his new venture in the future.”

Paul Nola has been picked to replace Isaacs at Buckingham. Nola is an account director at sister agency KAE: Marketing Intelligence and will continue to head up the firm's telecommunications practice in addition to his new responsibilities.

Author: Brian Tarran

Related links:

Optimisa finalises EQ acquisition

Buckingham Research promotes Isaacs to replace Drye