Conference Speakers
Claire Arnold, Research Director, TNS
Claire controls and develops research, analysis and data presentation for TNS Magasin, the international shopper strategy consultancy.
Claire, who has a degree in European Studies from Liverpool University, joined the company from Arcadia Group in 2000. She held various positions in the research department before being promoted to Research Director in 2006.
TNS Magasin was established in 1991. Seventeen years of research, using ground-breaking techniques, have shed light on previously unknown aspects of behaviour and as a result the company has unparalleled insight into shoppers and the shopping process.
TNS Magasin now gives many leading brands and retailers a competitive edge through a combination of shopper research and strategic consultancy. Clients include Birds Eye Walls, Camelot, Coca Cola, Diageo, EA Games, Heinz, Masterfoods, McDonalds, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, United Biscuits, Walkers, Warburtons and Wrigley's.
Claire herself is very much in demand as a speaker and commentator because of her authority on the shopper and shopper-driven business.
Professor Jeremy Baker, Broadcaster and Lecturer in Marketing, London Metropolitan University
Jeremy Baker's main theme is the continuous battle to keep up with the consumer. People change, particularly in the dreams and aspirations. But it is difficult for organisations to change so fast. Sir Terry Leahy pointed out that, if we look at our organisations, the world seems fairly stable. But if we look at consumers, the world seems to be changing rapidly.
Delight and excitement are two motivations. But, also, some consumers are moving in another direction - efficiency, in a stripped-down world. For each consumer change, there is an appropriate in-store approach.
Jeremy Baker studied architecture at the Architectural Association School. He gained his MBA at Stanford University, plus the MA in Anthropology.
He has discussed retail on BC1, BBC2, World Service, You and Yours, Working Lunch, Jeremy Vine, Angela Rippon, ITN, Channel 5, Sky, the Daily Mail, CNBC and Bloomberg. He has published articles in The Grocer, Drapers and The Publican.
He believes that nothing is too good for the British consumer, who, unfortunately, is often presented with poor retail surroundings. His attack on the poor environment at the Great British Beer Festival caused a world-wide storm in the industry.
Martin Beaumont, Chair, Skillsmart Retail and Former Group Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group
Andrew Bienkowski, Vice-President of Global Brands, Kimberly-Clark
Andrew Bienkowski is Kimberly-Clark's Vice President, Global Brands with responsibility for the Company's global brand development and innovation agenda.
Prior to joining Kimberly-Clark, Andrew served as Group Marketing Director for The Coca-Cola Company, based in London, where he served as the CMO for the company's fastest-growing business, overseeing $4.6 billion in sales across 56 markets.
Prior to Coke, Andrew worked for 12 years at Procter & Gamble in brand, country and marketing management roles around the world. He started his career at Andersen Consulting.
Helen Bridgett, Head of Sales Planning & Marketing, the Co-operative Group
Helen spent 5 years with Abbey National as a Market Research specialist before making the switch to Food Retail. She joined Tesco in 1994 and spent the majority of her 7 years there as part of the team who set up the new internet shopping service - now known as Tesco.com.
Helen joined the Co-operative Group in 2003 and within this role, she manages all advertising and communications - from in-store to TV, local sourcing programme and the ongoing sales plan which helps achieve our year on year growth.
The brand has moved forward so much in the past few years and this is in no small part due to the focus on in-store execution.
Iona Carter, Director, Shoppercentric
Iona Carter joined Shoppercentric as a Director in 2006 having previously worked at Research International where she led the retail/ shopper research business. With 20 years' research experience, Iona has specialized in retail/ shopper research for the majority of her career.
She has worked with retailers and manufacturers to help them understand a number of different issues, ranging from shopper behaviour/ motivations to customer satisfaction/ experience, range rationalization, store choice drivers, store design and so on.
Iona has spoken widely on retail matters at industry conferences, including seminars hosted by POPAI, WPP, and Centaur; and was a guest lecturer for Tias Business School's Retail Marketing Masters Program.
Simon Duffy, Founder, Bulldog
Simon, 31, co-founded Bulldog Natural Grooming (www.meetthebulldog.com) with Rhodri Ferrier in 2006. Bulldog was developed to challenge the chemical conventions of the male grooming category. You will never find Parabens, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, artificial colours or synthetic fragrances in the Bulldog range, which includes shaving, cleansing and skincare products. Winner of Pure Beauty Magazine's award for Best Male Grooming Launch 2007, Bulldog is available nationwide in 328 Sainsbury's stores.
Prior to founding Bulldog, Simon was an innovation and branding expert based in New York, who helped the likes of Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Samsung, Diageo, Proctor & Gamble, and Hershey's to create new products. As a founding member of the Innovation Consultancy Fahrenheit 212 (www.fahrenheit-212.com), a former division of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, Simon has deep experience in creating new brands and identifying innovation opportunities. Simon graduated from Oxford University in 1999.
Michael Farley, Director and Founding Chairman of POPAI Australia & NZ Sustainability Committee.
Mike is also Group Managing Director of SPOS (formerly Sydney Point of Sale) in Australia and POSC (Point of Sale Centre) in NZ. Mike is responsible for mergers and acquisitions and new business development of the group.
Mike is a marketing specialist with over 40 years experience in Australia, NZ and the USA in all areas of competitive market development including sales and marketing, operations and strategic planning. Mike has the benefit of understanding retail from the retailer's point of view, the brand and customer. In the past 10 years he has had extensive retail experience as a supplier of FMCG and as a supplier of retail merchandising solutions.
Mike strongly believes that retailers, brands and producer suppliers need help and guidelines in CSR especially as it relates to sustainability at retail. Mike has spent the last nine months putting together the POPAI Sustainability Committee comprising of major retailers and brands in both Australia & NZ for the benefit of members. Mike's vision is for our industry to share sustainability 'best practice' globally for the benefit of all.
Josh Feldmeth, Chief Brands Analytics Officer, Interbrand
Josh is a senior leader within our Global Analytics practice. He joined Interbrand in the Dayton, Ohio office of Design Forum in 2002. There he led project teams working with some of the premier Retail and Manufacturer brands in the world including P&G and Walgreens. He was also instrumental in the development and integration of a growing analytics capability into other Interbrand offices within North America, working with clients such as NYSE, at&t, YRC and Pfizer in the process.
In January 2007, Josh transferred to the Zürich office where he we help build out Interbrand's analytics capability in Europe.
Prior to joining Interbrand, Josh was a Principle Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Strategy Practice and has worked as a Marketing Manager for a tier-one automotive supplier.
He holds an MBA from the University of Texas, Austin and a BA in Political Science from Wheaton College (IL).
Graham Hales, Executive Director - Branding, Interbrand
Graham is one of Interbrand’s most experienced consultants. His work has taken him across a diverse range of business agendas, geographies and cultures for some of Interbrand’s most high profile clients.
Graham began his career in advertising spending eight years at various advertising agencies, working with clients such as Carlsberg, Robinsons and Colman’s.
He joined Interbrand in 1997 to work in the brand innovation team. The following year he moved to the strategy team as a senior consultant, joining the team that created the brand for the merger of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Two years later Graham was invited to join the board of Interbrand and began leading the brand identity team, which principally looked at packaging and retail projects.
In 2002 Graham moved across to run the corporate branding team and in 2004 he became an executive director of Interbrand, taking responsibility for the client management function and international business development. In 2005 he then moved on to head up the marketing team taking full control of business development within the London office. At this time he recognised the increasing potential of brands in the Middle East, India and Turkey, Graham lead the development of an Interbrand offering in these new markets.
Graham was promoted to the Group Board in 2007 and is responsible for all areas of communication. He also sits on the Group Steering Committee, a group dedicated to the ongoing growth and development of the Interbrand network.
Graham is a regular conference speaker, columnist and media commentator on brands and their changing environment and has lectured to MBA students at Oxford University.
Gary Hockey-Morley, Marketing Director, Post Office
Gary is an accomplished director with over 10 years experience in financial services in a variety of MD and marketing leadership roles all with P&L accountability, encompassing a range of products and distribution channels. Gary has a track record for transforming business performance by devising sound strategies, negotiating complex agreements and leading motivated well organised cross functional teams.
Gary began his career at Unilever plc engaged in solving marketing problems and accelerating business development. He followed this with 4 years at London Electricity devising and driving their new business ventures strategy.
Gary joined the then Abbey National in 1993 initially focused on acquisitions and then leading key parts of the integration of N&P building society into Abbey during 1995. Gary then held a variety of senior marketing roles before progressing to overall Marketing Director in 1999 where he conceived and implemented new retail formats and the sale of Abbey's credit card business to MBNA. Gary then moved into managing director roles beginning by leading Abbey business which spearheaded Abbey's attack on the business banking market and then culminating with leading Abbey's �85 billion mortgage business generating over �800m in revenues. In the mortgage role Gary grew revenues, reversing 4 years of decline whilst growing market share.
Gary joined the Board of the Post Office in October 2006 as Marketing Director responsible for driving revenue growth and reshaping the group's customer and product propositions.
Gary attended Henley Management College completing an MBA by distance learning and he obtained an BSc in Economics from Bristol University. Gary is divorced with two daughters, he lives in London and his interests include cycling and swimming for fitness.
Kay McCarthy, Founder & MD, MCCP & Vice Chairperson, Irish Marketing Society
Kay has 20 years of experience in building brands, insights and strategy. Kay is passionate about great ideas, consumer insight and communications that engage consumers in new and relevant ways. Prior to joining McCann's, Kay worked as a Senior Brand Manager on the Guinness brand where she developed music programmes to drive brand affinity as well as brand livery and segmentation programmes which evolved to become part of their consumer brand planning process.
Kay led strategic planning and growth programme at McCann Erickson. Her thinking has led to the successful wins of the following business through the years; Coca Cola Ireland, Tourism Ireland International, Fáilte Ireland, BT, Energia, Boru, SuperValu, Delta Index, Tullamore Dew (International). Kay has won awards on most of these businesses but more importantly has led and actively contributed to growth programmes for all of these. Kay believes passionately in starting with real consumer insight and has worked on brand including Coke, Diet Coke, SuperValu, Heineken, Tullamore Dew to deliver strong performancses in the marketplace.
During 2002 to 2004, Kay was recruited to head up strategy at McCann Erickson/Universal McCann EMEA with the remit of championing channel neutral planning and she set up a strategic planning unit �Universal Connections� to deliver this. She was invited on the global board and awarded EVP status as a result. She was also nominated as top new comer in the Marketing and Media press internationally. In 2004, Kay returned as Deputy MD at McCann Dublin and as Exec. Planning Director. In 2008, Kay started her own company MCCP, an independent Communications Planning and Research company.
Kay is currently Vice Chair of the Marketing Society. She was voted top speaker at the Insight Conference in the UK in 2006 and regularly contributes to key strategic papers and discussions.
Crispin Reed, Managing Director, Brandhouse
Crispin has a very rounded perspective on brands having worked in leading global advertising and design agencies, branding consultancy and client-side as Marketing Director. He is a regular speaker and lecturer in brand management.
His experience within food and drink brands is broad having worked in this area with clients such as Premier Brands, Kerry Foods and Perrier and latterly with the Ethiopian Government creating trademark brands for Ethiopian Fine Coffee.
Helen Roberts, Retail Research Director, Gfk NOP
Helen is responsible for retail research at GfK NOP. Her expertise covers a wide variety of product categories working with a range of retail clients - from big-box global retailers to smaller high street names as well as consumer product manufacturers. Helen works extensively with clients to ensure the research delivers insight that is beneficial to developing business strategy and focuses on ROI throughout.
Helen has worked in research since 1988, initially in the automotive sector both client-side and agency based. She has also worked across a variety of sectors focusing on customer expectations and experiences, looking particularly at the drivers of customer loyalty.
GfK NOP is a leading market research organisation, providing cutting edge quantitative and qualitative surveys and fact-based consultancy.
Nick Widdowson, Merchandising Manager, Unilever
Nick graduated from the University of Brighton, gaining a degree in business studies and marketing.
He started his career in store management for the Co-op in 1986 where he gained first hand experience of the in-store environment before moving to head office where he was responsible for macro and micro space planning.
Nick continued his career in retail, joining Superdrug in 1995, where he built on his experiences, developing the optimal infrastructure required to deliver effective range and merchandising solutions to store.
Nick's move to Unilever, in 2000, allowed him to use his retail experience in developing best practice techniques to enable the merchandising function to deliver increased visibility of Unilever's brands at the point of purchase. Nick's role encompasses all aspects of in-store visibility, including category management deployment, space planning, point of purchase and the development of shelf ready packaging from a shopper perspective.
Nick was Chairman of POPAI UK and Ireland in 2004 and 2005.
Nick is an ardent Brighton & Hove Albion fan.