Symrise Names Insight and Marcoms Specialists

In the US, global fragrance and flavouring supplier Symrise has promoted Frank Rapacki to the position of Director, Consumer Insights, and appointed Ian Björn Thurston as Marketing Communications Manager.

Headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, Symrise is represented in more than 35 countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America. As well as supplying fragrances and flavourings, the firm manufactures raw materials and active ingredients for the perfume, cosmetics and food industries.

Rapacki joined in 2006 as Manager of Sensory & Consumer Science, before being promoted to the position of Senior Manager. Before this, he was a Senior Scientist at The Pepsi-Cola Company, and worked as an intern at Miller Brewing.

In his new role, he reports to Emmanuel Laroche, VP of Symrise's Marketing Services and Sensory Consumer Department. The position involves leading the North American consumer insights team, developing new qual and quant research tools, and coordinating global research projects in collaboration with regional consumer insights teams.

Thurston was previously a Senior Marketing Manager at the Institute for International Research, prior to which he founded greeting card and paper products firm Word 2 Image. Earlier in his career, he held marketing management positions at Macy's headquarters in San Francisco, and Quinto & Company in New York; as well as with Creative[at]Work in Milan, Italy.

Reporting to Laroche, his new role involves developing and implementing the firm's communication activities to increase and maintain brand awareness in the US market. Additionally, he will be guiding PR, advertising and direct marketing programs, and be involved in regional market research focused on consumer, category and flavor trends.

'We're pleased to expand our Marketing Services and Sensory Consumer Department through the appointments of two top-notch marketing and consumer insight specialists,' states Laroche. 'These individuals, like all the other professionals who are in place in our department, really 'get it' when it comes to mastering what it takes in developing the taste and aroma nuances that lead to wide product acceptance and lasting brand success.'

Web site: www.symrise.com .