TGI South Africa's Co-founder to Retire

Barbara Cooke, who helped introduce media research brand TGI (Target Group Index) to South Africa, is to retire at the end of the month, after a career spanning 51 years in the research, advertising and media industries.

Cooke has been involved in marketing research since 1958 and is currently a Partner in TGI South Africa, which she helped found with Tim Bester in 2002. Last August, the firm was re-launched in South Africa, via a new company, TGI SA Ltd, whose majority shareholder is Ask Afrika.

After receiving her BCom from Natal University, Cooke spent 20 years at Unilever before joining Stellenbosch Famers Winery, and then moving to J Walter Thompson and Nasionale's magazine division.

Highlights of her career include becoming the first woman to win the annual South Africa Marketing award - the Protea Award - in 1994; helping to found the South African Market Research Association (SAMRA) and serving on their national executive. She was also Vice-Chairwoman of the South African Advertising and Research Foundation (Saarf) and served on its Board.

'It has been a fun ride and I have enjoyed every minute,' said Cooke. 'Passing the TGI baton to Ask Afrika leaves both Tim and I with a good feeling. It is in safe hands and will prosper with the resources that will now be available to grow the business.'

During her retirement, Cooke will continue to run TGI training sessions and workshops.

TGI was first started in the UK in 1969 and is now a global network - operated by KMR Group - of single-source market research surveys providing consumer insights for over 50 countries across six continents.

Web site: www.tgisurveys.com .