Harrison Takes BMRB Social MD Role

In the UK, Kantar-owned agency BMRB has appointed former Futures Company executive Dr Michelle Harrison as Managing Director for Government and Public Affairs.

Harrison has nearly 20 years' experience of working in academic social research and public policy consultation. She began her career in academia and then joined The Futures Company (formerly The Henley Centre) as a Consultant in 1997, where she latterly worked as Head of Public Sector consultancy and was promoted to the Board.

She has worked across many areas of corporate and public sector strategy and in recent years, has concentrated on building the Whitehall research and consultancy practice. She also led 'Planning for Consumer Change', Henley's on-going quantitative research into the values, aspirations and resources of the British population.

In 2007, Harrison launched the Institute for Insight in the Public Services (a joint think tank between BMRB and the Futures Company) and since that time has been working with BMRB to develop its service transformation capability. Harrison remains Chair of the IIPS and a Board Director of The Futures Company.

In the same year, she worked with the BBC to develop the television series The Blair Decade. She has held numerous public appointments and is currently a Commissioner to the Green Fiscal Commission, and a Director of the charity Involve.

Commenting on the appointment, BMRB CEO Richard Asquith said: 'Quantitative, qualitative and deliberative research is playing an increasingly important role in public life and I am delighted that Michelle is joining us to lead the next stage of our development in this area.'

BMRB Social Research provides dedicated expertise in conducting social policy research for clients in the public and not-for-profit sectors.

Web site: www.bmrb.co.uk .