Osborne Departs, Volpe Returns as Ignite 360 CEO

In San Francisco, consumer insights, marketing strategy and training firm Ignite 360 has announced that founder and Chairman Rob Volpe will resume his role as CEO from next week, as current Chief Lisa Osborne leaves for an insights leadership role at a healthcare nonprofit.

Ignite 360 works on projects from brand strategy and innovation to shopper insights and communications, and is a member of Think Global Qualitative, a worldwide network of insights strategists and researchers. Volpe founded the company in 2011 and describes himself as an 'Empathy Activist', coaching and writing on empathy, human insights and behavior. His books include Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. While stepping back into the CEO role, Volpe will continue with his speaking and writing work, and training sessions will be branded as a collaboration between Ignite 360 and his own recently formed company which is called Empathy Activist.

Osborne led innovation and shopper insights at General Mills and Starbucks, and worked at GfK before joining Ignite 360 in 2013 as COO - she was promoted to the CEO role in the second half of last year. Volpe says of her departure: 'Lisa has made many contributions in the past 10+ years... to make Ignite 360 the exceptional company that it is for delivering high-quality research. We're all going to miss her. Personally, I'm excited for this new path she's embarking upon'. Osborne herself says she has 'had the privilege of working alongside the most fantastic group of professionals and people' and will be 'cheering on Ignite 360 in [her] new role'.

With an eye on the future, Volpe adds: 'I'm excited to be returning to the company although I am deliberately calling myself the '3rd CEO' to better reflect where the organization, myself and the industry currently are in terms of business challenges and needs for future success. From AI to industry-wide economic headwinds and the continuing evolution of human values post-pandemic, the world has changed and Ignite 360 and myself are ready to meet that challenge head on'.

Web site: www.ignite-360.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.