Mindshare Opens in UK, Names International MD

US-based customer feedback specialist Mindshare Technologies has set up a new office it describes as a 'Global Centre of Excellence' in Birmingham, UK, where it has appointed former GfK NOP exec Gary Topiol as Managing Director International.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Mindshare offers automated customer feedback and employee engagement solutions, with proprietary technology developed to capture the 'voice of the customer' (VoC) in real-time. Last year, the firm raised an undisclosed amount of new capital, and used it to fund the acquisition of Canadian social media customer experience management (CEM) firm Empathica.

Topiol (pictured) joins from Empathica, where he served as MD EMEA until the firm's takeover, prior to which, he was COO - Mystery Shopping Division of GfK NOP, and Technical Director - Mystery Shopping at NOP World. In his new role, Topiol will be joined by former Empathica International Development Director Nan Russell, who will head the new centre, supported by a team of VoC experts.

Company President Lonnie Mayne comments: 'Under Gary's strategic leadership and direction, Empathica's EMEA business grew by 1000% in just six years, with close to 100 new client brands contributing to 40% of Empathica's overall company revenue. This impressive growth is based on both his leadership and his team's true understanding of the market and the customer.'

Web site: www.mshare.net .