Senior Appointments at River Research

UK-based River Research has appointed Tom Skilbeck as Head of Online Communities, and promoted Zoe Best to Research Director, heading up its Brand Strategy and Innovation offer. Spencer Gray also joins as Head of Audio Visual, bringing high-end video production in-house.

Skilbeck will be responsible for integrating digital research disciplines into River's broader insights offer, as well as managing key online community projects within the FMCG and 'Tech&Telco' sectors. He joined Synovate in 2005 as a JRE, leaving in 2007 for a year at ICM Research, followed by 3 years in Vietnam at Cimigo, latterly as Head of Research Communities. He returned to Europe in August last year, working as a Community Manager at InSites Consulting.

Best joined the graduate training programme at Hauck Research in 2004, prior to its merger into Illuminas where she worked with River's company founders - she joined them soon after River launched in 2008. Her broad experience includes mentoring and training, strategic studies, web & handset usability, workshops, ethnographic research, concept testing and development. An Associate Director since October 2010, she has led the agency's marketing and promotion.

Gray, who holds an MA in Digital Media, takes charge of all River's Audio-Visual outputs including 'day in the life' films, vox pops, web reels and all aspects of pre- and post-production filming.

River moved to larger premises two years ago. The company recently reported a £1m increase in sales to c.£2.5m for the last 12 months and said it was considering expanding overseas, probably to the US.

Web site: www.riverresearch.net .