RESEARCH STORIES - Key Persons
Gyongyi has a first degree in statistics with a specialism in consumer research and analysis and a Masters degree in retail management and marketing.
She has worked for clients including the British Council, the Independent Schools Council, John Lewis and IKEA focusing on research design, market sizing, market trends analysis, new product development and customer segmentation.
She previously worked for Toyplex/Noriel, a national toy retailer as a marketing executive and contributed to the development of a national chain of outlets in Romania through research and analysis of the domestic market and emerging trends in consumer behaviour.
Gyongyi speaks fluent Hungarian and Romanian and remains a passionate observer of retail trends and fashion.
Jane, a graduate of Bristol University, has worked for leading market research organisations including Ipsos MORI, Populus and Applied Market Solutions.
She is an experienced researcher and works across a range of sectors specialising in education, reputation, retail and leisure research. She has worked with leading organisations and institutes in the education sector; retailers and manufacturers in the retail sector; culture and heritage organisations in the leisure sector.
Her reputation work spans a range of clients in different sectors and she has developed a number of syndicated research studies focusing on beauty, fashion, food, home and general retail. She has conducted reputation studies for embassies and advocacy organisations for countries including USA, Canada, Germany and Japan to inform advocacy and communications strategy.
She has a degree in History and History of Art and holds a Diploma in Market Research.
Jane also manages residential and day courses in Cornwall in Food Preserving, Pilates and Yoga.
Kieron is a highly experienced insight and research professional. He has an extensive track record of thought leadership and delivery of actionable insight to organisations in the UK and internationally.
Clients he has worked for range from Apple to Zurich Insurance by way of Tesco, RAC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Microsoft, Manchester Utd, Sony, Whole Foods Market, the Musgrave Group, The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Education, the Independent Schools Council and the British Council.
Kieron has worked in senior positions on both agency and client side. He was previously Associate Director at the Henley Centre, EMEA Insight Manager at Compaq/HP, Managing Director of award winning research consultancy Market Dynamics and Research Director at Ipsos MORI.
Recently, he has worked extensively with the British Council on national and international programmes as a consultant in evaluation and research. He has also helped international retailer Musgrave develop its consumer insight function in the UK.
Kieron is an innovator in research techniques and has published articles in the Journal of Marketing Management, Long Range Planning, Marketing and Understanding Business Markets (Academic Press).
Kieron has a MA in Engineering, Economics and Management from Oxford University and a MSc in Marketing from Manchester University.
Robert is a very experienced researcher in his own right. He has been involved in social and market research for 18 years, 15 of these at Ipsos MORI.
Over his career, he has been involved in all manner of work for all manner of organisations. He has helped inform Whitehall Departments over issues such as bio-technology, pandemic flu, welfare reform and the future of television. He helped the Scottish Government understand why the Edinburgh public overwhelming rejected congestion charging. He advised BP and Lloyds Banking Group on how to maintain effective relations with politicians, industry influencers and the media in Scotland while dealing with respective business challenges. He has designed and managed employee research for some of Scotland's largest organisations including Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland, Glasgow City Council and City of Edinburgh Council. As part of e-MORI in the late 90s, he explored the potential for a new product called an ‘MP3 player' for Creative Labs and presented the results to an unbelieving research industry national conference at Earl's Court.
Robert is recognised as the foremost expert in research among key opinion formers in Scotland. As well as privately conducted research, Robert interviews over 70 Members of the Scottish Parliament every autumn and all local authority Chief Executives and Leaders every spring on behalf of many public, private and third sector organisations. These exercises provide advice on how best to develop and maintain effective relations with Scotland's most influential decision makers.
Robert has a MA (Hons) from Glasgow University and a Post Dip in Accountancy from Strathclyde University. He is a Full Member and former Secretary of the Scotland branch of the Market Research Society. He is also a Member of the Association of Scottish Public Affairs (ASPA).
When not working, Robert can be found in the wilds of Kinross, taming the golfing demons, braving the winds of Elie beach or on adventures with his daughters.
Sumit has an MBA from Nepal and he brings 15 years of extensive experience in programme management, research, analysis and M&E with strong alignment with public and private sector counterparts in South and Central Asia. He is currently working for World Bank Group/IFC's investment climate reform programme in Nepal. He has wide-ranging industry experience in tourism, education, agribusiness, manufacturing, trade, export and skill sectors.
He has a robust track record of working across the value chain for business development and promotion in the region and deeper working knowledge of government, I/NGO, donors and corporate sectors' operations.
He has demonstrated authority in tourism and research and has consulted for Tourism Resource Consultants (Australia), Tourism Development International (Ireland), DFID supported tourism interventions (programme manager for Greater Himalayan Trail) through SNV, British Council's Central and South Asia operation and tourism associations within Nepal.
Writing and hiking are Sumit's passions. He has contributed to international publications on tourism, trade and environment issues.