Trajectory Hires Former Henley Centre Chairman

London-based social and consumer trend forecasting firm the Trajectory Partnership has appointed former Henley Centre Chairman Bob Tyrrell, as a Director specialising in analysing and interpreting social change.

Trajectory was launched in 2008 by former Opinion Leader MD Paul Flatters, Future Foundation co-founder Michael Willmott, and former Henley Centre MD Chris Farmelo, to apply the full range of qual and quant methods to social analysis and forecasting.

Tyrrell worked with the company last year to deliver a review to inform product development for its client Sun Life Direct, and in 2009, while running the Real Trends service with Ipsos MORI, to launch a 'broader' wave of the study.

Until 1997, Tyrrell was Chairman of the Henley Centre for Forecasting, which he helped establish as a private consultancy in 1986. After selling the firm to WPP, he left in 1997 to develop a chain of restaurants (La Table du Pain) in Belgium and France.

After this, he worked as an independent consultant, author and broadcaster, and ran the 'Fusion' programme which monitored and predicted social trends in Britain and Europe. He also served as Chairman of Paris-based consultancy Sociovision, which studies global social and cultural changes.

Tyrrell then co-founded independent public policy think tank Demos, where he served as trustee and Chairman from 2002 to 2006. After this, he became an advisor to the Conservative Party, presented the BBC Radio 4 'Analysis' programme, and served as a member of the Editorial Board of 'Market Leader' - the journal of the British Marketing Society.

Separately, Trajectory Patners' CEO Paul Flatters will be giving the BBC Radio 4 'Four for Thought' lecture tomorrow at 8.45pm.

Web site: www.trajectorypartnership.com .