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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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