Medical Device Specialist Launches in UK

In the UK, healthcare researchers Martin Schlaeppi and Craig Scott have launched Greensand, a new agency focused on the medical device market.

The pair say Greensand is founded on the belief that 'all product designers, developers, marketers and, for that matter, researchers need to get out there and listen' - and will offer a full range of usability and marketing research services.

Scott (pictured) has spent the last three years as Marketing Capability Director at Kingston-upon-Thames-based Brand Learning, but for the previous dozen years worked in high profile roles on the clientside, first at Kimberly Clark, where he was European MR Manager; then as European Insight Director at Johnson & Johnson; and then Head of Research, Europe for Pfizer, between March 2008 and September 2011.

Schlaeppi by contrast has spent more than eighteen years on the agency side, at Praxis Research & Consulting, following spells of six years at Glaxo and GlaxoWellcome and seven at Taylor Nelson.

The new agency, based in Dorking, Surrey, will cover products from 'a patient's bed to the latest MRI scanner', providing usability testing with patients, nurses and physicians and seeking an understanding of both the perceived functionality of the device and the way potential users feel about it, which the partners say is often overlooked.

Scott comments: 'We're delighted with the initial response we've had from developers of medical devices. They intuitively know that connecting emotionally with users offers a stronger, more competitive, proposition and they're pleased we can help them achieve that.'

A web site is at www.greensandconsulting.com .