New Role for Market Strategies International-Morpace Co-CEO

In the US, Market Strategies International-Morpace Co-CEO Duncan Lawrence has moved to the role of Strategic Advisor, to focus on developing new products and solutions for clients in the automotive sector. Melissa Sauter, who shared the Co-CEO title, has been named Chief Executive Officer.

The Michigan-based business was formed last summer when Morpace and Market Strategies International were acquired and merged by private equity firm STG (Symphony Technology Group). The combined firms serve the automotive, retail, energy, financial services, health, technology and telecoms industries, with an offer including research and consulting for brand and customer experience, product development and segmentation.

Lawrence (pictured) joined Morpace in 1994, after agency-side positions at Maritz Research and ORC International, and client-side positions at Buick Motor Division. In his new role, Lawrence will focus on NPD across auto/tech, connectivity, mobility, electrification and other aspects of the automotive sector. Sauter, who joined Market Strategies International in 2016 following fourteen years at J.D. Power, now assumes the CEO role, and Jason Mantel remains Head of the Automotive practice.

Commenting on the changes, Lawrence said: 'Since announcing our merger, it has become even more clear to me how powerful our combined organization will be. I have also been using this time to reflect on my 25 years with Morpace. With the merger teams fully engaged and making great progress, I have decided to transition into a strategic advisor role for our combined organization and will work closely with our clients in the automotive industry, an area that has been my passion for more than 30 years.'

The firms, which are currently online at: www.marketstrategies.com and www.morpace.com , will be rebranded in May.