03 | research team
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BRYAN URBICK
+ ABEL
WESTERHOF
+ ALISON KEEFE
+ PHILLIP BANTOCK
+ RESEARCH
SUPPORT & RECRUITMENT TEAM
BRYAN
URBICK
CEO & President
Bryan is a frequent author and lecturer around the world on the subject
of kids, families, women, Prime Timers (people aged 55+), product development,
innovation and the NPD process. Bryan sits on the Editorial Advisory
Board of Young Consumers (Emerald Group Publishing Limited) and is a
member of the international Literati Network.
He is one of the founding directors of the Consumer Knowledge Centre
and serves as the CEO & Chairman. Prior to setting up the business,
Bryan worked in the food industry for over 10 years, and prior to that
in the banking/financial services industry - both in marketing and product
development. He has been working with all ages and segments of consumers,
but is particularly known for his years of work with children and mothers,
having conducted research in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, the
Middle East and Central America. Bryan's style of research is unique.
He is one of only a handful of researchers who successfully works with
large groups of children through to hand picked smaller teams to uncover
insights. Over the years Bryan has crafted some of his own methodologies
and research tools and often re-written the rule book to understand
what motivates and engages consumers of all ages.
For the last 15 years, he has been working to develop consumer research
methodologies that innovate the research process and improve product
success. Bryan was part of the team that won the ARF David Ogilvy Gold
Award 2007 for creative research resulting in a successful advertising
campaign. Bryan is also the 2004 winner of the prestigious Prosper Riley-Smith
Award (from the international Association of Qualitative Research) for
unique and innovative research with young children in the US on brand
characters.
As well as numerous articles in trade journals and magazines, Bryan
wrote the book, About Kids: Foods and Beverages published by Leatherhead
Press and is the Managing Editor of Kids Food Trends, a 10-issue annually
newsletter. In 2008/2009, two textbooks were published in which Bryan
has contributed chapters: An Integrated Approach to Product Development
(published by Taylor & Francis) and Developing Children’s
Food Products (Woodhead Publishing). As an interesting aside, under
the pen name of B Conley O’Ryan, wrote the successful and critically
acclaimed children’s musical The Magic of Me which enjoyed a national
tour to primary schools in the UK, and the play I Love You More produced
in a London Fringe theatre, and is currently at work on writing non-fiction
articles and a new children’s book as well as a new play for the
theatre.
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
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
Research support
and recruitment team
Plus additional researchers, research support and recruitment colleagues.
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