Maria Vallis Named CEO of Hypothesis

In Los Angeles, insights, strategy and design agency Hypothesis has promoted Maria Vallis to the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Jeff Seltzer, who will join founder Maria Stark as an Executive Board Member.

Hypothesis, which also has an office in Seattle, combines consumer-centric qual research, advanced analytics, strategic thinking and data visualization to help brands of all sizes. Vallis (pictured), who joined in 2014, has been a member of the Hypothesis Executive Leadership Team for the past eight years, and most recently Managing Partner. She began her career in Australia as a qual and quant researcher, and then served as SVP in Millward Brown's Los Angeles office, leading the Client Service team and managing a variety of research programs including brand equity research, global tracking studies, communications development research and custom quant.

She takes over from Seltzer, who will continue to support the company as a Strategic Advisor, while focusing on company initiatives such as the recently announced Hypothesis University. He comments: 'Maria played a critical role in supporting talent while growing and establishing Hypothesis' reputation as a go-to strategic partner for incredible clients. Hypothesis has never been stronger and is in the best possible hands with her at the helm. I look forward to where Maria and her incredibly gifted leadership team will take us from here'.

Web site: www.hypothesisgroup.com .