Tom Danbury, retired co-founder of Fairfield, Conn.-based Survey Sampling International (SSI), died in his sleep on July 11 while visiting family in Kansas City, Mo. He was 71.
Danbury is credited with a number of innovations for the market research industry. He co-founded SSI, the first commercial sampling company, in 1977 with Beverly Weiman, who also retired earlier this year.
While under the direction of Danbury, SSI introduced commercially available RDD samples, SSI’s sample screening service, “LITe” (low-incidence targeted) samples, and the SSI-SNAP online ordering system. Danbury also conceptualized and was instrumental in developing World-Opinion, a Web site dedicated to supporting the market research industry, in 1995. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carter Center (www.cartercenter.org) or Care (www.care.org). Online condolences can be made at www.mem.com.
The NPD Group Inc., a Port Washington, N.Y., research firm, has promoted Martine Ringwald to vice president, beauty tracking service; Natalie Seidman to vice president, financial services business development; Julie Stewart to vice president, custom research services; and Karl Werner to vice president, commercial technology.
U.K.-based InterContinental Hotels Group has named Regina Lewis vice president of consumer insights.
Randi Felton has been named senior director, ad sales research for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.
Fieldwork, Chicago, has promoted Kellie May to director and named Felicia Waters and Natalie Rettberg project manager.
Cincinnati research firm MarketVision has named Marsha Calloway-Campbell and Michelle Ogren research director.
Synovate announced that Nicos Rossides, CEO for Central/Eastern Europe and the Middle East (CEEME), left the company in September. Kurt Thompson has been appointed the new CEO for Synovate in CEEME. Separately, Synovate promoted Mary Beth Lake to MarketQuest CEO in Chicago. In India, Synovate announced three senior appointments for its Indian operation to be based in Mumbai: Mulraj Gala has joined as the new finance head; Sanskrati Sail has been named head of human resources; and Pranay Dankedar has rejoined Synovate as a senior project director in the quantitative research division. In London, Michelle Norman has been promoted to CEO of Synovate’s U.K. business. Synovate has named Andreas Zachariou managing director of Synovate Gulf, with responsibility for the company’s business in UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. In addition, Zachariou will serve as acting managing director for Saudi Arabia. He replaces Andreas Gregoriou, who has accepted a senior position on the client side.
Digital Research Inc., Kennebunk, Maine, announced that its senior research services staff has been certified by the Marketing Research Association’s Professional Researcher Certification program. Those certified are: Nicole Devine, associate research director; Stephanie Fraone, senior research associate; Meredith Gilfeather, associate research director; Kristine McNeil, senior research associate; Jane Mount, vice president; Karen Peterson, research director; Nancy Vogt, senior research associate; and Marcia Wood, research director.
Carfax, Fairfax, Va., has named Philip Moore director of insights.
Horsham, Pa., consulting and research firm LRA Worldwide Inc. has named Daniela Piacenza senior research consultant.
At the London office of TNS Kerry Brown and Jonathan Brown have been named directors of the company’s U.K. media division. In New York, Shari Morwood has been named executive vice president of technology, telecom and media, TNS North America.
TVG Marketing Research and Consulting, Dresher, Pa., has announced several promotions: Karen Fender to senior vice president and general manager; Scott Lauder to senior vice president, marketing training and consulting; Barry Davis to executive director; Glenn Sokaloski to executive director; and Kathy Darmody to director, tech operations.
Andy Gallacher has been named head of insight consulting at the London office of research firm Skopos.
Paris-based research firm Ipsos has named Lisiane Droal executive vice president, global human resources and added Tom Markert as global CEO of Ipsos Loyalty.
InsightExpress, Stamford, Conn., has named Barbara Shapiro director, media sector, and Ray McIntyre senior account executive, consumer packaged goods sector. Nancy Dillon and Janett Haas have been named senior account executive and Alicia Allijan and Leslie Newburn have been named account executive. In the firm’s online media measurement group, Darcy Briggs, Junny Cho and Melissa Sherman have been promoted to senior project manager and Jamie Chang and Kelly Thomas have been named project managers.
Atlanta research firm CMI has named Mike Gray senior vice president of sales.
Cincinnati research firm Burke Inc. has named Jeff Miller chief operating officer.
Issues & Answers Network Inc., a Virginia Beach, Va., research firm announced a number of promotions: Carla Lindemann to chief operating officer; Peter W. Scheidemantel to chief financial officer; Maida Y. Tipping to senior vice president, human resources; Jennifer Wiesen to account executive; and Susan Peterson to account executive.
ICR, a Media, Pa., research company, has named Allen Khorami president and CEO. In conjunction, the firm announced the retirement of Gil Barrish.
Bellomy Research Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C., has named Sekxanh Chanthaboury marketing sciences analyst. Karin A. Ferenz has joined the company as vice president, customer loyalty management. Blythe Gridley has been named research associate and Stacey Panchyshyn has been added as research manager.
Diagnostics Plus, a State College, Pa., research firm, has named Kim Erickson as an analyst specializing in the education sector.
Jacob A. Klerman has joined Cambridge, Mass.-based researcher Abt Associates as a principal associate in the social and economic policy division. The firm also named Constantin Abarbieritei division vice president for international economic growth.
Saskatoon-based research firm Itracks has named Tom Champion corporate account executive in the U.S. Southeast region and promoted Lindsay Decker to corporate account executive in the American Midwest.
Global Market Insite Inc., Seattle, has named Michael A. BrochuCEO.
Roger Green and Associates Inc., a New Hope, Pa., research firm, has named Andrew R. Ginsberg executive vice president and promoted Bruce Duncan to the newly created role of chief research officer.
Focus Pointe Global, Philadelphia, has named John Sadler and Michelle Ko vice president client services. Separately, the firm’s Jamie Katzenstein has been elected a director on the board of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Marketing Research Association.
Syracuse, N.Y., research firm KS&R has named Yvette Wikstrom director of business development. She is based in Denver.
Ahmad Al-Assad has joined Dubai-based Maktoob Research as regional research manager.
Harris Interactive, Rochester, N.Y., has named Jeff Stewart senior vice president, head of global account development. He is based in New York City.
Tampa, Fla., research firm Schwartz Consulting Partners has named Christopher Edge manager - business development and field services and added Kenneth Strickland as quantitative analyst.
Lightspeed Research, Basking Ridge, N.J., has named Seth Ruoss executive vice president, marketing and business strategy.
The Marketing Research Association presented Mimi Nichols of San Francisco-based Nichols Research Inc. with its Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for 2007.
Paolo Miscia has been named CEO of London-based KMR Software, a division of research firm KMR.
Farmington Hills, Mich., research firm MORPACE International Inc. has named Tom Hartley vice president. He is based in the firm’s New York office.
In the Montreal office of Angus Reid Strategies, Angela Spathis has been named vice president.
Gongos Research, Auburn Hills, Mich., announced several new hires. In its consumer products division, Kerstin Siemes has been named project director and Jennifer Logan has been named project coordinator. In retail/services, Kelly Jasper has been named project director, Nicole Kusha has been named senior project coordinator, and Julie Baghdoian has been named project coordinator. In automotive/powersports, Mitch Uyeda and Amanda Goodrich have been named project coordinator. In addition, Matt Castle and Kristopher Torry have joined the firm as programmer/analysts.
Simmons Research, New York, has named Steve Walsh senior vice president, director of sales; Sarah Thomson director of West Coast advertiser sales; and Drew Simpson vice president and director of Experian local market services.
Power Systems Research, St. Paul, has named Dan Pinault director of client services.
Cable network Fuse has named Ritchie Yu vice president, research.
Charlotte, N.C., focus group facility 20/20-Charlotte has named Rachel Weiss-Fuentes project manager.
Kuala Lumpur–based Pulse Group has named Alvin Chia director of client development and named Andrew Yeoh and Chan Choy Ping associate director. The firm opened a New York office and tapped John Saez to head it. Other appointments include: Melanie Mak as client development executive; Nitin Gulati as CATI manager; Farhath Unnisa as project manager; and Jessica Seth as panel manager.
The Council for Marketing and Opinion Research, Washington, D.C., has named Donna Neal co-chair of its board of directors.
Research firm Observation Baltimore has promoted Allisa Rhodes to client services manager.
Jack Noonan, president and chief executive officer of SPSS Inc., Chicago, won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007 award for the Lake Michigan area.
Scott Arnold has joined San Francisco research firm MarketTools as COO.
WAC Survey, Great Neck, N.Y., has promoted Zach Grossman to vice president, director of research. In addition, Arlene Langer has joined WAC Survey as vice president, director of WAC Survey’s W.O.M./data mining division.
Chicago-based Research International announced a number of appointments: Karen Stahl has joined as vice president; Catherine Coleman has been named senior account executive; Derrick Elsea has been named senior manager; Christine Kiriazes has been named research manager; Oliver Wen has been named data analyst; David Krull has been named senior vice president. The firm also announced several promotions: Marla Commons and Jean Fasching to senior vice president; Heather Dallam to vice president; Kathy Lubner, Olya Gakovic and Bruce Jondahl to senior account executive; Kathy Brewers to account executive; Matt Hanlon and Manish Lulla to research executive; Michelle Montalvo, Roy Persson, Jenny Matsui and Becky Parke to senior research manager; Nyssa Packard to research manager; Elena Izakson to senior marketing director; and Brandi Blades and Oliver Pangborn to senior marketing manager.
At SPSS Inc., Chicago, Alex Kormushoff has been named senior vice president of worldwide field operations.
Norwalk, Conn., research firm IMS Health has named Kevin Knightly senior vice president, business line management, a new position. Previously, he was president, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for IMS. Succeeding him as president, EMEA is Adel Al-Saleh.
Disney Channel Asia-Pacific has named Daniel Shum to head up consumer strategy and research as vice president.
Newport News, Va., property firm the Mumford Company has named Greg Fortemps sales analyst in its Chicago office. Market research will be among his responsibilities.
Tinny Marie Seabolt has been named marketing and research director for Muskogee Development, Muskogee, Okla.
Raimund Wildner, managing director of GfK-Nürnberg e.V. and head of central method and product development for the GfK Group, has been named Market Research Personality of the year for 2007 by the Berufsverband Deutscher Markt- und Sozialforscher e.V., an association of German market and sociological researchers. Separately, GfK announced that the appointment of Christian Weller von Ahlefeld as CFO and management board member with responsibility for human resources of German research firm GfK AG has been extended by a further five years.
Reston, Va.-based comScore has named Josh Chasin chief research officer. Separately, the firm has named Marvin J. Pollack senior vice president of marketing communications.
New York-based Arbitron has named Claudine Knisley director of syndicated standards and analysis and tapped Joel Zaremby to be senior account manager for Project Apollo.
BIGresearch, Columbus, Ohio, has named Holly Williams vice president of sales. She will manage the firm’s new New York office.