Programme Committee

Sandrine McClure is Head of Insight and Development at equal, a Paris based research agency specialized in fostering innovation. She relocated to Paris 5 years ago after having spent 13 years in the UK. During that time she has specialised in innovative methodologies and international Qualitative Research and has worked in cities on 6 continents, from Taipei to El Salvador and Tallinn to Capetown. Sandrine is a Business School graduate and has already spoken at Esomar events on several occasions.

After studying semiotics applied to literature in Paris at Ecole Normale Superieure and Sorbonne, Julien was drawn to qualitative research as a great way to analyse the construction of meaning applied to communication and brand stories. He learned the fundamentals of qualitative research and specialised in international strategic studies at Sorgem in Paris from 1999, before expanding his international scope and passion for other cultures at Synovate France and Germany from 2008. In 2010, he co-founded H,T,P, Concept France where he focuses on multi-country studies for global brands and combines semiotics, ethnography, shopper studies, specific group moderation techniques with innovative digital approaches. He enjoys talking to consumers all over the world and grasping their deepest motivations in various areas such as fragrances, beauty, luxury, automotive or home care products. His clients appreciate his ability to translate consumer experiences into precise insights and actionable results.

Dan Foreman has held senior roles in market research and advertising agencies, management and marketing consultancies, and client-side. Mr. Foreman has a global perspective, having built businesses in Europe, Asia and North America. He currently serves as CEO, Insight International.

Dan has been an ESOMAR member since 2005 and holds degrees in Psychology and Mathematics. He has presented at ESOMAR, MRS, Insight, Financial Services Forum and WPP Conferences, global travel shows, and has appeared on radio, TV and professional speaking engagements. Mr. Foreman has had articles published in Research World, Research, Financial Marketing, has served as a project team member of the ESOMAR Passive Data Collection and Observation Committee and was on the Board Member of EphMRA AM. Outside of research, Mr. Foreman is a Non-Executive Director of a travel publishing business and a precision engineering company.

Jens Lönneker lives in Cologne and specialises in national and international depth psychology analyses - from basic research and product development to examining advertising activities in the field of food, beverages, scents and print media. As well as this, he publishes articles on youth, media, sponsoring and Verfassungsmarketing® and lectures both in Germany and abroad.

Upon leaving school, he initially qualified as a banker, then moved on to study psychology at the University of Cologne in 1980. Seven years later, together with Stephan Grünewald, he founded the Rheingold Institute for Qualitative Market and Media Research. Today, Rheingold is one of the leading institutes in qualitative market research.

Ben Smithee founded Spych Market Analytics, which provides innovative solutions for clients who market to the youth and young adult segments. Spych empowers a team of young and talented moderators skilled in the most up to date and innovative technology and methodologies. Numerous companies and organizations have sought after Ben for speaking and consulting engagements regarding social media, research, marketing and innovation. He has been a featured speaker around the globe, including ESOMAR's Qualitative Summit in Morocco, and the 2010 global AQR/QRCA summit in Prague. He has also been a featured keynote speaker for the 2011 MRA CEO Summit, the Forrester Research Forum, TDMRE, QRCA, MRA, as well as the 2010 and 2011 South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival.

Charmian spent the first 12 years of her career as a strategic planner for global advertising agencies in London, Hamburg and Los Angeles before setting up her own business, MilesFurther, in Hamburg in 2002. Specialising in international qualitative research, brand planning and innovation workshops, MilesFurther works regularly for P&G, Acer and Beiersdorf. In her role as a strategic consultant, workshop moderator and qualitative research specialist, Charmian loves to help clients use research to inspire better ideas. She uses her planning background to help clients ask better questions and deploy the research strategically to take their brands further.