David Shiel, Chief Executive
Qualification:
FCIM and BA Business Studies
Experience:
David has over 25 years experience in marketing and market research at board level in major blue chip businesses and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He has chaired board, seminar, stakeholder meetings / workshops and conducted in-depth interviews with MP’s and councillors. He is the lead consultant on projects such as the Skipton Building Society re-branding, National house-building insight, Northumbrian Water plc Stakeholder programme and Prudential Investment Management research strategy for their shopping centres.
Kim Davis, Research Director
Qualification:
BA Business Studies (Hons)
Advanced Diploma Enterprise Management
Market Research Society Foundation Certificate
Experience:
For the past nine years Kim has managed many major research projects for Explain both in the public and private sectors. She has a specialised knowledge of customer insight consultation, customer service monitoring, tracking and evaluation. Kim has worked with a number of financial service providers including banks, building societies and large retail organisations. Kim is a trained moderator.
Lucy Swan, Client Services and Marketing Manager
Qualification:
BSc (Hons) Food Marketing
Experience:
Lucy has over five years experience in Marketing and Account management, working with a range of public and private sector organisations to deliver strategic marketing campaigns. Client liaison and project management are key to Lucy’s role at Explain, ensuring that projects are delivered effectively, meeting clients’ needs and adding to value to their organisation.
David Lees, Senior Research Executive
Qualification:
Chartered Marketer, Diploma in Marketing, MCIM, AMRS and BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Experience:
David is a qualitative and quantitative researcher with over 12 years experience. David is an accomplished in depth telephone and face-to-face interviewer with respondents at all levels including the most senior personnel at large organisations. He is also a trained focus group moderator. Past clients include large private organisations, SMEs, local authorities, central government departments and agencies, universities and various non-departmental government bodies.
Chris Atkinson, Market Research Executive
Qualification:
MSc Mathematics and Statistics
Experience:
Chris has over three years’ experience at Explain. He currently manages the Northumbrian Water Stakeholder Programme and has worked on other Northumbrian Water projects in the past. He has also handled several projects for Nexus, Northern Rock, Sunderland City Council, DCC Corporate Clothing, CE Electric UK and the National Probation Service. Due to Chris’ background in maths and statistics he specialises in quantitative research and has developed strong expertise in this area.
John Crinson, Market Research Executive
Qualification:
BA (HONS) Business and Marketing
Experience:
After completing his university work placement year at Explain in 2003, John returned in 2005 and has been with the company for the past three years. He is a key contact for CE Electric Services, SP Energy Networks, Yuill Homes and DCC Corporate Clothing and has also handled several public sector projects. These include several for North Tyneside Council, a Housing 21 tenant’s survey and research for Northumberland Health Trust. John has also worked on several pre and post advertising campaign projects including University of Sunderland, Hertford College, Envirowise and South Tyneside Means Business.
Kate Shields, Market Research Executive
Qualification:
BA (Hons) Business Studies
Experience:
After completing a one year’s placement with Explain in 2005, Kate returned to Explain last summer after achieving a first class honours degree in Business Studies at Northumbria University. She has worked on many projects within an account management role for both private and public sector companies, including qualitative and quantitative research. She has been involved in the recruitment of such research as well as the development of results. Key clients include Skipton Building Society, Yorkshire Building Society and Bonmarché.
Rebecca Johnson, Market Research Executive
Qualification:
BA (Hons) Marketing Management
Experience:
After completing a one year placement with Explain as part of her degree, Rebecca returned to Explain full time in June after graduating with a first class honours degree in Marketing Management. Rebecca has worked on a variety of projects, both quantitative and qualitative in the private and public sector in both a support and account management role. Currently her key clients include Husqvarna, Sunderland City Council and Yorkshire Building Society.
Susan Davis, Administration and Fieldwork Manager
Qualifications:
NVQ Advanced in Business Studies (Year 1)
BTEC First Diploma in Information Technology
Experience:
Susan has been with Explain for three years. Susan manages the Call Centre and supervises all telephone interviewers and data processing staff, ensuring Explain meets the highest standards of professionalism and excellence and complies with MRS codes of practice. Previous experience has seen Susan in a variety of customer service roles including those of a Teleservice Agent and a Customer Service Administrator.