Dipsticks Research Boosts Leadership Team

In the UK, Dipsticks Research has promoted Judith Welford to the role of Head of Brand and Communications Research; and has appointed Steve Gray to oversee its FMCG Insights arm, and Paul Stallard as a Non-Executive Director.

The Hexam, Northumberland-based full-service agency specialises in media and marketing communications research, and has an online consumer panel called Panelbase. Other divisions within the company include the public sector arm Public Knowledge; media and TV consultancy Other Lines of Enquiry (recently merged with the otherlines.tv unit); CATI and field interviewing division Field & Fab; food, drink and consumer department FMCG Insights; and travel and tourism industry business Explore Research.

Welford joined the company in 2010, and most recently served as Head of Public Knowledge. In her new role, she will be responsible for the Dipsticks brand, while continuing to oversee the development of the public sector division, and will lead a team of researchers.

Gray joins on a part-time basis, having previously served as Chairman of Tanfield Food Company; a Director of behavioural research specialist CountingLab and of shopper marketing company Reach; Chairman of mobile marketing tech company Mobilize-Systems; CEO & Chairman of insight-led retail marketing consultancy emnos; and UK MD of Tesco's data firm dunnhumby. Earlier in his career, he was MD of Pepsico and Sales & Marketing Manager at P&G, where he worked for a decade. In addition, he is a senior adviser to the retail practice of Boston Consulting Group, and runs his own retail consulting business (SG-Retail).

Stallard joins the Board with a background in financial services and the third sector, and will support both the Public Knowledge division and the firm's financial clients. He is currently Chairman and Director of the Professional Fundraising Regulatory Association, and previously held several senior marketing and business development posts in the financial services sector including at Leeds Permanent Building Society, Midland Bank, Cheltenham & Gloucester, Dealwise, TD Waterhouse, Hargreaves Lansdown and Deutsche Bank.

Company Chairman John Raglan comments: 'I am delighted to welcome both Paul and Steve to Dipsticks Research's senior management team and to announce Judith's internal promotion. Having the in-house knowledge, expertise and sector experience that all these appointments brings can only enhance our overall service offering and help us achieve our goal of establishing a top 50 position within the UK research market'.

Web site: www.dipsticksresearch.com .