MBO for The Big Picture as Cassidy Retires

London-based design research agency The Big Picture (TBP) has announced the retirement of its Chairman and longtime Managing Director John Cassidy, after around thirty years leading the company. New owners Laura Pereira and Chris Aukett will take over the running of the agency.

Pereira and Aukett were promoted to Joint MDs two years ago when Cassidy stepped back from day-to-day operations, and have now acquired the company via a Management Buy-Out which completed three weeks ago. Cassidy will assume the role of non-executive Chairman.

TBP has offices in London and New York, and applies design thinking and behavioural theory to develop 'human-centred' solutions for brands and businesses. The company helped to pioneer new methods to test and understand pack design and elevate its contribution to the overall marketing mix. 'When I look back to how pack research was conducted when I first started back in the 80's it makes me shudder!' says Cassidy. 'It was after setting up The Big Picture in 1993 that we began to challenge the conventions regarding the best, most realistic methodologies to research packaging design. As it was obvious that context was key, we pioneered the development of approaches that deploy the principles of what is now recognised as Behavioural Science'.

Cassidy (pictured) says the new owners' complementary skills make them 'extremely effective', and believes they 'will do a fantastic job at leading The Big Picture into the future'. He concludes: 'Throughout a long career, I've been privileged to work with some fantastically talented colleagues and clients and engaged with some tricky design challenges on brands around the globe. It's been a fantastic experience, but all good things must come to an end'.

Web site: www.thebigpicture.agency .