Market Strategies International announced several promotions among its senior leadership team today. Effective March 31, Dr. Rob Stone will serve as the company¡¯s CEO and George Wilkerson will serve as President. Phil Giroux will continue in his role of Chief Financial Officer with oversight of the Market Strategies corporate and operations departments.
Dr. Andrew Morrison, who co-founded Market Strategies in 1989 and has served as CEO for many years, will continue as chairman. ¡°Market Strategies is fortunate to have a deep pool of senior management talent that has worked together for several years,¡± said Dr. Morrison. ¡°Our new leadership has participated in all management decisions since 2008 as part of the Executive Committee and is fully prepared to assume new titles and responsibilities. They have written the 2012 business plan in concert with our next level of management in each unit, and the year is off to a solid start.¡±
Prior to these promotions, Stone led the Financial Services and Technology teams and Wilkerson led the Telecommunications and Energy teams. Giroux has been the company¡¯s CFO since 2007.
Dr. Rob Stone has been an active member of the research community for more than 15 years. During that time, he has helped market-leading companies drive brand and product strategy through qualitative and quantitative research. Before merging with Market Strategies, Stone co-founded Doxus, a research consultancy providing marketing and product strategy to Fortune 500 technology corporations. Prior to Doxus, he ran a solo consultancy that focused on technology during the initial dot-com era. Stone earned a doctorate in cultural studies from Columbia University, where he studied the effects of the unfolding market economy on American culture.
George Wilkerson has more than 25 years of experience transforming research data into meaningful results and effective marketing strategies. He has served as a research consultant to several of the largest corporations in the world, specializing in the telecommunications, heavy equipment and energy utility sectors. Before merging with Market Strategies, Wilkerson was instrumental in growing Flake-Wilkerson into a Honomichl top 25 firm in under 10 years. His expertise includes customer satisfaction and customer value research projects. Wilkerson earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in computer science from the University of Central Arkansas.
Phil Giroux has more than 20 years of experience in finance and operations management. He oversees the short- and long-term financial management, planning and information of the company, as well as compliance with federal, state and local financial and tax laws. He also ensures financial resources are in place to execute the company's strategic initiatives with Market Strategies¡¯ partner, Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Prior to joining the company, Giroux served as vice president of finance for J.D. Power and Associates, and he spent seven years at R.L. Polk & Co. in increasing roles of responsibility, the last being chief financial officer. Giroux earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Reg Baker, who joined Market Strategies in 1995 and has served as president and COO, will retire from day-to-day management but will continue to be involved with Market Strategies for the foreseeable future on a reduced schedule. ¡°I have been fortunate to partner with Reg Baker for over 15 years. The data collection and operational infrastructure he built has been an essential ingredient of our success, and there is no more knowledgeable survey scientist and methodologist in the industry,¡± Dr. Morrison commented. ¡°Reg will continue to provide Market Strategies with his knowledge and expertise in traditional and non-traditional survey methods, and his participation in industry forums and conferences on new methodologies and current issues in our industry.¡±
For Market Strategies¡¯ clients, it¡¯s business as usual. The senior managers from each of these teams will continue to deliver the intelligent research and meaningful results that help clients make confident business decisions.
