John Kearon Named President of The ESOMAR Foundation

The ESOMAR Foundation, the charity arm of industry association ESOMAR, has appointed System1 Group founder and CEO John Kearon as its new President, succeeding Gunilla Broadbent who held the role since 2013.

The ESOMAR Foundation was set up to explore how to use the knowledge, skills, creativity, interest and resources of researchers to help charities improve people's lives around the world. The organisation brings together volunteers and resources to execute projects and provide financial support to help and support charities and NGO's to achieve their aims.

Kearon (pictured) becomes President of the Board, which also includes former GfK NOP Chairman Phyllis Macfarlane, and ESOMAR execs Angela Canin and Anna Alu. He set up System 1 Group (formerly Brainjuicer) in 1999, having previously founded product development agency Brand Genetics, served as Strategic Planning Director at Publicis, been Senior Brand Manager at Elida Gibbs, and held market and research roles at Unilever.

In a statement, The ESOMAR Foundation thanked Gunilla Broadbent for ensuring a 'smooth introduction' of the foundation into the world of philanthropy, adding that she has run the Board of directors with commitment and enthusiasm. It also welcomed Kearon and wished him all the best in his new role. Kearon added: 'It's a genuine pleasure to take on the role and build on the brilliant foundations Gunilla and the team have laid. Starting something is always the biggest step - zero to one is infinite after all - my job is to build on what they've started.'

Web site: www.esomarfoundation.org .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.