Independent consultants go global
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Eleven well-known professionals in the MR world have come together to form Gravitas – “the world's first global consulting group dedicated to the market research industry”.
The consultancy, officially launched at a London hotel yesterday evening close to the annual Esomar conference, will offer specialist advice, coaching and mentoring to MR senior management.
Simon Chadwick, Gravitas member and former global CEO for NOP World, said: “We envisage mid-sized MR agencies as the main opportunity as they struggle to afford high end consultants. Our specialist industry focus will give us an edge over established management consultants in this space.
“But we also expect to work for the large multinational agencies by providing a more industry-focused alternative to the big branded consultancies.”
Gravitas' areas of specialisation include HR, recruitment, finance and accounting, IT, operations (including outsourcing), mergers and acquisitions and legal advice.
The eleven members are:
• Simon Chadwick
• William ‘Jay' Wilson, former chairman and CEO for Roper Starch Worldwide and founder of the INRA international network
• Lock Collins, previously global VP for HR at Research International and chief talent officer at NOP World
• Steve Sherrill, former chief financial officer for US NOP Group of companies (now part of GfK)
• Michael Mitrano, previously executive vice president and CFO of Response Analysis
• Duane Berlin, a partner in Lev & Berlin and general counsel to CASRO and AAPOR
• Tim Macer, founder of Meaning and technology columnist for Research and Quirk magazines
• Bill Pegram, previously corporate development director for Synovate and co-founder of Pegram Walters
• David Cahn, previously vice-chairman of Research International UK and CEO for Research Resources
• Lars Watermann, founder of Watermann Agens and former managing director and partner in IT Consulting firm and computer retailer Compartner AG
• Jorge Garcia-Gonzalez, founder of ASECOM Latin America (now part of IFOP)
Between them, Gravitas members have offices in London, Hamburg and Buenos Aires, and in four US locations: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Arizona.
The group has no formal ties but will function instead as a coordinating network of associates. It plans to add partners in Asia-Pacific in the near future.
