03 | research team
+
BRYAN URBICK
+
ABEL WESTERHOF
+ ALISON KEEFE
+ NOORJEHAN KHAN
+ GARY WICKENS
+ AFRA ACQUAH
+ CHRIS BUTCHER
+ PHILLIP BANTOCK
+ SEEMA DEVSHI
+ HADLEY RONES
+ MALIK AHMED
BRYAN
URBICK
CEO & President
Bryan is one of the founding directors of the Consumer Knowledge Centre.
Prior to setting up the business, Bryan worked in the food industry
for over 10 years, both in marketing and product development. He has
been working with children for over 20 years in the UK, the Netherlands,
France, Germany, Spain, South Africa and the US. For the last 8 years,
he has been working to develop consumer research methodologies that
innovate the research process and improve product success. Bryan has
a unique perspective of the consumer research industry, as well as specific
knowledge relating to product innovation and marketing. As an interesting
aside, under the pen-name B Conley O’Ryan, Bryan wrote a children's
musical theatre play The Magic of Me, which received critical acclaim
at Edinburgh's Festival Fringe and then enjoyed a six-month tour to
schools and theatres throughout the UK.
EMAIL: B.URBICK
ABEL
WESTERHOF
COO & Director
Abel is one of the founding Directors of the Consumer Knowledge Centre.
Prior to setting up the business, Abel worked for nearly 15 years as
a social worker, nurse and schoolteacher of children with special learning
and emotional needs. Abel studied and implemented many aspects of traditional
and alternative educational styles and serves as Educational Consultant
on all KIDSLINK® projects to ensure the balance of commercial and
educational objectives. Abel's work with special needs kids has given
him a unique understanding of working with young people of all ages
and abilities in North America, Europe and Africa.
EMAIL: a.westerhof
ALISON KEEFE
Director of Research
Alison is a consumer marketing professional with nearly 20 years of
experience in several blue chip companies, including Eurotunnel, Mothercare
and Heinz. She completed her studies at the University of York and then
began a career in marketing, which has led her to work extensively in
the UK and Europe on projects as diverse as the Channel Tunnel and frozen
ready meals. Alison’s particular area of interest is the new product
development process from concept through to launch and the understanding
of what motivates the food purchase decision.
EMAIL: a.keefe
NOORJEHAN KHAN
Project Coordinator
Noorjehan is a gold medalist from the University of Mumbai, India,
with a Masters degree in Business Management. Her professional career
began with Citibank N.A, where she worked as an Assistant Manager in
Wealth Management. Her inquisitiveness and desire to understand people
and their behavior made her keen on working in Market Research. This
led her to work as a researcher at a Software Development Company. Alongside
working as a Project Co-ordinator for CKC, Noorjehan is pursuing further
studies at the Market Research Society. In her free time, she likes
to read, paint, cook and spend time with family.
EMAIL: n.khan
gARY WICKENS
Project Coordinator
Gary graduated from Buckinghamshire University with a degree in Sociology,
which is where his interest in research began. He is qualified in both
qualitative and quantitative methods, successfully completing his dissertation
on quantitative methods. His eagerness to find out why things happen
and the way people think led him to pursue this career. He is enjoying
his role at CKC and exploring the world of Market Research. In his spare
time he enjoys reading, going to the theatre and movies, and socializing.
EMAIL: G.Wickens
AFRA ACQUAH
Researcher
Afra has always been interested in understanding people and different
cultures, and this influenced her decision to study Sociology at The
University of Nottingham. After finishing her studies, she travelled
around the world, visiting far flung destinations like Cambodia and
Fiji; undertaking volunteer work along the way. Afra enjoys working
in Market Research as she is able to delve into people’s heads
on a daily basis, picking through their thoughts and opinions about
a range of subjects. In her spare time she enjoys singing, music, writing,
travel, fashion magazines, eating out and socialising.
EMAIL: A.ACQUAH
CHRIS BUTHCER
Researcher
Chris studied at University College London, and graduated in 2008 with
a First Class degree in Eastern European history. After spending a year
gaining experience at a specialist market research agency, Chris joined
the Consumer Knowledge Centre as a researcher. He has a strong passion
for the world of market research, and is particularly interested in
seeing how consumers influence the development of products and services.
In his spare time Chris enjoys spending time with family and friends,
reading, and going to the cinema. He is also an avid Arsenal fan, and
watches the team whenever he can.
EMAIL: c.butcher
PHILLIP BANTOCK
Researcher
Phill hails from Lincolnshire in North East England. He moved to London
in order to find a viable career after leaving University and his History
studies.He’s now working as a Research Support Assistant and couldn’t
be happier. He finds the world of market research particularly engrossing
and is thrilled to be part of the CKC team. He brings a unique brand
of humour to the company, as well as a love of lava lamps, popcorn and
marmite. His hobbies include such things as writing, computers and gaming
as well as eating our colleague Hadley’s new dessert recipes!
EMAIL: p.bantock
SEEMA DEVSHI
Research Support Assistant
Seema graduated from University of Leicester with a Law degree. She
has proved to be a valuable member of the team by successfully recruiting
for projects and providing research support for the whole CKC team,
on whatever is needed. In her spare time she likes to read, watch television
and go shopping.
EMAIL: S.DEVSHI
HADLEY RONES
Research Support Assistant
After leaving college, Hadley was looking to start a career. A particular
company that interested him was the Consumer Knowledge Centre, because
of the nature of their work. Helping the consumer to provide input into
product and service ideas is something that really interests Hadley.
Hadley’s hobbies include cooking (especially desserts!), watching
films and playing the latest computer games. He also enjoys playing
football, and watching Arsenal, the team he avidly supports.
EMAIL: h.rones
MALIK AHMED
IT Administrator and Research Assistant
Malik is currently studying IT at a local College, and between classes
and studying provides IT support to the CKC team. He is a self-admitted
computer enthusiast, and loves serving both internal and external clients,
providing innovative and timely solutions. Malik joined the CKC team
in early 2005 and coordinates the technology for all the on-line studies,
as well as support for clients needing computer services at our focus
group facility.
EMAIL: M.Ahmed
|
