Veteran pollster Warren Mitofsky died September 1 in New York of an aortic aneurysm at age 71. Credited with inventing the election day exit poll, Mitofsky later developed with fellow researcher Joseph Waksberg a way to sample households by telephone to efficiently reach people with unlisted as well as listed phone numbers. The random digit dial method now is a survey research standard.
Early in his career Mitofsky worked for the U.S. Census Bureau, designing surveys that looked at poverty and other social concerns. He was executive director of CBS News election and survey unit from 1967 until 1990. When he joined CBS, political pollsters relied on house-to-house interviews to project winners of elections in the coming days. Mitofsky developed the election projection and analysis system used by CBS News and later by a consortium of news organizations. He first conducted an exit poll in 1967 in a Kentucky governor’s election for CBS News. He conducted the first national exit poll in 1972 and covered nearly 3,000 elections.
In 1976 he and editors at the New York Times established a polling collaboration that became a model for other such partnerships. Mitofsky left CBS News in 1990 to head Voter Research and Surveys, the first network exit poll consortium.
As president and in other roles with the American Association for Public Opinion Research and the National Council of Public Polls, he led in setting survey research industry standards for best practices and disclosure and in reviewing polls’ performance. In 1999 AAPOR gave him its lifetime achievement award for his “continuing concern for survey quality.”
Since 2003, Mitofsky led the election-night analysis for the News Election Pool, providing exit poll results and election projections in the 2004 primaries and general election for the Associated Press and five TV networks.
Jim Robinson died in his home in Sioux Falls, S.D., on September 13 of cancer. Robinson created Robinson & Muenster Associates, a polling and consulting firm in Sioux Falls. An active member of CASRO, he served on the CASRO University Committee, as a CASRO board member, and as the leader of CASRO’s Government & Public Affairs Committee.
Lawrence Perlman will retire as nonexecutive chairman of the board of directors and director of Arbitron Inc., New York, in the spring of 2007, at the conclusion of his current term.
Cincinnati-based Integrated Research Associates has named Jack T. Owens vice president of client service. Jack Thompson has been named project manager.
Doug Skipper joined Information Specialists Group Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn., as director of field services.
Kimberly White has been named director of client development at Edison, N.J., research firm Schlesinger Associates.
Monroe, Mich., furniture maker La-Z-Boy Residential has named Tom Zwolan to the newly created position of director of consumer research.
InsightExpress, Stamford, Conn., has named Molly Hislop director of market research, AdInsights. David Katz has been named director, strategic business development.
Olson Research Group Inc., Warminster, Pa., has named Lynn Welsh and Paul Neal principals of the company. Welsh oversees operations in the New Jersey office. Neal oversees operations in the Pennsylvania office.
Atlanta research firm CMI has named Janet Patterson and Elaine Golding account manager.
Seattle research firm Global Market Insite Inc. has named Jake Sedlock vice president of enterprise sales for North America and Michael Allenson vice president of syndicated research.
Andrea Mezzasalma has been appointed head of London researcher TNS ’ Internet, Television and Radio Audience Measurement sector. He will relocate from Milan to London.
Wendy McNutt has been named director of USA service delivery at the new San Francisco office of London-based Research Now . She is responsible for service delivery for both the San Francisco and New York offices. Also in the San Francisco office, Tobin Bailey has been named vice president of client development. In the New York office, Frank Markowitz and Dana Stanley have been named vice president of client development. Five additional U.S. team appointments were announced: Clare McHatton (client development manager, relocated from Research Now’s London office to San Francisco), Matt Dolen (client development manager, San Francisco), Heather Radcliffe (client development manager, New York), Liz Bull (project manager, relocated from Research Now’s London office to New York) and Ted Truong (project executive, San Francisco). In the London office, Chris Dubreuil has been named client development director, and Paul Botje chief operating officer, along with other new recruits to the London team, including client development managers Viktor Bergh, Nicky Robertson, Amber Murphy and Lindsay McLaughlin .
TVG Marketing Research & Consulting Dresher, Pa., has named Lana Limpert vice president and a member of its qualitative research team.
Chet Zalesky , founder and president of Atlanta research company CMI, has been named to Catalyst magazine’s 2006 Top 50 Entrepreneurs Portfolio. Business professionals in the Catalyst Top 50 are recognized as those who are leading Atlanta’s best-performing small to mid-sized companies with 2005 revenues between $5 million and $200 million.
Mary Shea has been appointed general manager of sales to head Chicago research firm Mintel Group ’s U.S.-based sales and client services teams and oversee Mintel’s subscription business in the Americas.
Maritz Research , St. Louis, has named Mark Rein director, strategic consulting, for the retail group.
Lulu Intan has joined Jackson, Miss., marketing firm Godwin Group as senior marketing research analyst.
Carlson Hotels Worldwide , Minneapolis, has named Kevin Hanstad vice president of customer research and insights.
The newly merged Perseus Development Corporation Braintree, Mass., and WebSurveyor Herndon, Va., announced additions to its management team. Joining the company in new roles are Andrew Keenan, chief financial officer; George Kanuck, senior vice president of sales; and Su Doyle , chief marketing officer.
Los Angeles-based housing provider Oakwood Worldwide has named Rebecca Tann vice president of marketing. Marketing research will be among her new responsibilities.
London-based research firm TNS has named Michelle Griffin regional human resources director for its Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa region.
MORPACE International Inc ., Farmington Hills, Mich., has named Lisa Berry vice president.
Vancouver research firm Angus Reid Strategies Corporation has named Ed Morawski president. He will be based in the Toronto office.
Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc ., Atlanta, has named Cheryl Barre chief marketing officer for Arby’s and president of Arby’s Franchise Association. Barre will lead all strategic brand marketing efforts including consumer insights and research.
Portland, Ore., research firm Doxus has named Dale Schreiner and Thomas Hoover research directors.
Houston-based insurance firm AIG American General has named David O’Leary executive vice president of strategic marketing and business development. Marketing research will be among his new responsibilities.
Boston research firm Reactions & Opinions Inc. has named Jim Caro senior vice president of marketing and sales.
Jeff Spitzer has joined Universal Survey Center , New York, as senior account executive. He is based in the firm’s new Portland, Ore., office. Senior Account Executive Ashley Bowden has relocated to the firm’s new Tampa, Fla., office.
At the Naperville, Ill., Millward Brown office Cindy Akins has been named vice president, North American human resources, and Heath Greenfield has been promoted to vice president. Tim Kelsall has joined Millward Brown North America, New York, from the London office as vice president, copy testing and creative development.
Netherlands-based information firm VNU Group B.V. has named David L. Calhoun chairman of the executive board and CEO.
Gongos Research , Auburn Hills, Mich., has named Katherine Ephlin senior project director.
New York research firm TNS has named Rob Wengel executive vice president, client services, and Nancy Narraway corporate vice president, marketing.
Montreal-based Voxco announced that President and CEO Mario Mrvica is leaving the company. Founder Raymond Cyr has been named CEO and Louis Lessard has been named chairman of the board and CFO.
The Life Cycle Institute of the Catholic University of America , Washington, D.C., has named John Zogby as its first senior fellow. Zogby is president and CEO of Washington, D.C., research firm Zogby International .
New York research firm Questus has added several new employees: Rebecca Hill and Melissa Moorcroft have been named account director. Jefferson Mayfield and Maria Navarro have been named project manager. Craig Gottlieb and James Testa have been named director of business development.
Media, Pa., research firm ICR has named Edward J. Hass vice president advanced research methods and named David F. Ireland, Roberto A. Fois, Melinda B. Shorr and John DeVries vice president client services.