Finding a new Research Director for one of the UK’s top research agencies
The Chime Group helps clients create, manage, monitor and market their businesses, brands and reputation both in the UK and internationally. It is the holding company for the UK’s leading public relations group, Bell Pottinger; the UK’s leading research and engagement group, Opinion Leader; and one of the fastest growing advertising and marketing services groups in the UK, that includes VCCP, Teamspirit, TTA and the recently acquired leading sports marketing business, Fast Track.
Rockpools were asked to help recruit a Research Director for Opinion Leader. Opinion Leader is at the top end of the research market, using a comprehensive range of methods to develop integrated research solutions to meet the needs of clients from public, private and voluntary sectors. They have developed sophisticated methods of recruiting traditionally hard-to-reach audiences – be they captains of industry, Cornish fishermen or people living at risk of social exclusion.
Rockpools’ brief was to find Opinion Leader’s new Research Director, an individual who would be responsible for leading on a portfolio of client relationships, leading a team of researchers and playing a significant role in the management of the business. They would develop and nurture strong client relationships, tracking the timely delivery of first-class assignments whilst also identifying opportunities for new work and innovative approaches to Opinion Leader’s research business.
This recruitment assignment’s key feature was that the client was very open-minded about where the Director came from: they were more interested in the behavioural and personal style of the individual and were happy to shape the role around the individual’s experience. The candidate did not have to have a background in research, but had to have an understanding of how public policy was evolving and had networks within the public sector. Sales experience was preferable. With such a brief, the search parameter was very wide. We contacted over 100 organisations/people and interviewed 12 candidates - 9 were seen by the client.
The person appointed had a background in communications and had worked in the private and public sector (mainly central government) and had some experience of growing a consultancy team and generating revenue from selling into government departments.
Due to the success of this appointment and our collaborative approach of working with the client, we were asked to help appoint a Director for a new business venture within the group called Digico. The business is within the research division of Chime and focuses on online engagement with their clients’ customers.
