NEWS3 November 2014
UK — Bill Pegram died in his sleep on Friday 10th October while on holiday in New Orleans, US.
With his passing, our community has lost a pioneering researcher, a major supporter of the Market Research Society but, most of all, a really good guy. Responses to his death illustrate the breadth of people who knew him and – whether as a friend and colleague, or as a boss – the same words reoccur time and time again: talented, enthusiastic, helpful, friendly and fun.
Bill began his career in the early 60s with the advertising agency Lintas where he started in the Accounts Dept. Fortunately for those of us who were to spend a good deal of time with him, almost nothing of this particular discipline appeared to have rubbed off. He then moved across to the newly created RBL which was set up to service the research needs of Unilever’s main operating companies. Bill brought an everyday worldliness to what was then a rather academic approach to research and it was perhaps no surprise that he found himself developing the third-party side of the business, particularly in the area of leisure and alcoholic drinks.
In 1982, Bill founded Pegram Walters Associates, where he continued to set the company tone of full-on innovative research mixed with huge amounts of fun. It is testament to his leadership style that many ex-employees have commented that it was the most enjoyable place they ever worked.
After Pegram Walters, Bill worked for the newly formed Synovate, eventually leaving in 2007 to run his own consultancy.
On top of all the fun things we remember, he also pioneered the use of new research techniques in the UK such as Eye-Tracking and Real-Time Advertising Assessment.
But it was Bill’s humanity and great people-skills that most of us will remember first and foremost. He helped and encouraged an enormous number of people new to the industry to appreciate and enjoy research. He was also a great presenter, engaging with his audience on a personal level and bringing the findings alive with his insight and humour.
Bill was always a keen sportsman and in particular an excellent cricketer. In his youth, he was on the fringe of the Essex county team and then played for many years in the Middlesex League before becoming a playing member of the MCC and a regular visitor to Lords.
Bill was unique and loved by virtually everyone he met. We will mourn him with great sorrow but he leaves us with so many happy memories and times we wouldn’t have missed for the world.
Alan Walters, Sue Chambers & Pat Dowding