Senior Hires for Melbourne's Fast-Growing MDI

Melbourne-based Mobile Digital Insights (MDI) has announced 'exponential' growth over the last twelve months, hiring Christine Laurenssen as Business Director Africa, David Somers as COO, Hellen Sillis as Global Head of Qual, Sam Stelitano as CFO and Sarah Gill-Kildea as Insights Director.

MDI was founded eight years ago as Mobile Digital Indaba, and promises innovative, in-the-moment, fast turnaround and cost-effective mobile device data collection and interrogation utilizing a proprietary mobile research platform. Other offices are in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Miami, London and Brussels. The firm says the past year's growth is based around its proprietary app and RMS (Research Management System), which are used to manage mobile insights communities efficiently and conduct in-the-moment diary research worldwide.

Laurenssen has sixteen years of experience leading consumer planning, analytics and insights initiatives across Africa, and has lived in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

Somers is a former Ipsos Chief Commercial Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, and will work closely with MDI founder & CEO James Fergusson 'to future-proof the business'. He will also serve as MD for Europe and Africa. Fergusson comments: 'David offers a wealth of knowledge that stems from his 20 plus years' experience across sub-Saharan Africa both with innovative startups and global agencies which increasingly proves to be highly valuable both to our clients but also the MDI Board as we challenge the status quo and continue to develop innovative approaches to help solve clients' challenges'.

Sillis, who is based in Belgium, is an FMCG expert with more than 25 years' experience in insights, focused around leading global client relationships, and conducting advanced qualitative research across more than 40 countries. She joins from Ipsos, and in her new role is charged with harnessing MDI's proprietary mobile platform to develop cutting edge qualitative techniques for both developed and emerging markets.

Stelitano has served as Head of Finance for SMEC's global managed services division for the last eight years. Gill-Kildea joins from retailer Target Australia where she led the Insights function, and brings twenty years of experience in strategic analysis, marketing planning, brand management, customer value proposition development, MR and segmentation.

Web site: www.mdi-global.com .


Pictured, L to R, top to bottom: Christine Laurenssen, David Somers; Hellen Sillis, Sam Stelitano; Sarah Gill-Kildea, James Fergusson.