Change of Chairman for Independent Consultants

The ICG, the UK's professional group for independent research consultants, has announced a new Chairman. As of yesterday's AGM, Tim Williams takes over from Steven Bairfelt, who has led the organisation for more than five years.

Williams, a specialist in consumer goods markets and a member of ESOMAR, MRS and AQR, says his main goal will be to build the offering of the ICG (Independent Consultants Group) to appeal more to business users: 'The ICG offers buyers of market research an ideal gateway to access a pool of talented, highly-skilled and experienced independent market researchers. Our new outward-focused marketing and PR strategy will communicate how the benefits of using an independent consultant can make a bottom line difference to market research buyers, in terms of flexibility and quality services'.

Another aim is to expand the professional services and training opportunities for independents, 'to ensure that our members keep up-to-date with industry innovations and hear from market leaders, many of whom are members themselves'.

Outgoing Chairman Bairfelt is credited with building the ICG 'from its infancy' 0 the number of members has doubled under his leadership to the current total of over 200. He will now focus on building his own market research company, Purple MR. According to Bairfelt, 'Working with my colleagues at the ICG has been a terrific experience and over the years I came to appreciate the wealth of experience and expertise among ICG members'.

The average ICG member has been independent for nine years, and 30% of members have 30 years or more experience in the MR industry. The group is online at www.indepconsultants.org.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.