Leapfrog Closes Windsor HQ, Moves in with RS

In the UK, consumer specialist Leapfrog Research has closed its Windsor-based headquarters and moved into sister agency RS Consulting's offices in London. Parent company Cello says the move follows an agreement between the two agencies to form an 'alliance'.

As a result of the re-location to Battersea, Leapfrog's MD Tim Brooks has chosen to leave the business, and has been replaced by Kate Anderson, who was previously responsible for business development at RS Consulting.

Leapfrog, which was established in 1994 by Judy Taylor and Andrea Berlowitz, was acquired by marcoms group Cello in 2005 for a total of £6m. The company offers both qual and quant approaches, along with digital research techniques - from webnography and online communities and forums, to real-time research using social media monitoring.

Founded in 1984, RS has historically traded under two brands, RS Consulting and Consensus Research, and covers a range of sectors including technology, financial services, public sector, not-for-profit, B2B and FMCG. In 2010, the company partnered with sister agency mruk to form what they described as a 'research powerhouse' for the public sector.

Phil Stubington (pictured), Joint MD at RS Consulting, says the new arrangement will bring together 'RS' ability to deliver powerful analysis and insight with Leapfrog's expertise in brand strategy and consumer understanding' - and will also give staff more career choices and the chance to learn a wider range of methodologies.

Taylor, who will retain her current role as Managing Partner at Cello, will be launching a 'separate strategic unit' working closely with Cello's Communication Division.

Brooks' next career move is as yet unknown. He joined Leapfrog last year from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, where he served as UK Marketing Director, Consumer Healthcare. Prior to this, he helped launch strategy and innovation consultancy Distillery, which specializes in insight and ethnographic research.

Web sites: www.leapfrogresearch.co.uk , www.rsconsulting.com and www.cellogroup.co.uk .