New Chair for Canadian Association CRIC

The Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) has appointed Gary Bennewies, President and CEO of Ipsos Canada, as its new Chair. Additionally Nik Nanos, founder of Nanos Research, has been named Vice Chair, and Canadian Viewpoint VP Jason Zweig is the new Treasurer.

CRIC was set up in 2018, after Canada's MRIA (the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association) was formally wound down as a result of a 'shortfall' in its finances. MRIA has since re-opened, but CRIC is continuing to promote and advocate for the research, analytics and insights profession, both domestically and globally.

Bennewies (pictured) takes up the CRIC Chair after sixteen years at Ipsos, and having previously held senior roles at Ipsos Reid and Angus Reid Group. He was one of CRIC's founders and has been a member of its Board, and Treasurer, since its incorporation in 2018. Barry Watson, President and CEO of Environics Research, previously served as Chair, and under his leadership CRIC has been involved in several initiatives including a strategic partnership with ESOMAR, creation of the Research Verification Service, and the Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements. Watson will continue to contribute as a member of the Board.

In a statement, Bennewies said: 'I look forward to working with the CRIC Board to ensure our industry continues to deliver the insights governments, businesses and non-profit organizations need to navigate through today's dynamic environment'.

CRIC co-founder Nanos also serves as Chair of its Standards Committee; while Zweig is Treasurer for 2020-2021 after being elected to the Board last month, was actively involved in the founding of CRIC, and supported initiatives including the development of the Research Verification Service. Retiring Board members include Don Mills, former Chairman, Narrative Research; Carol Udell, President, Canadian Viewpoint; and Chuck Chakrapani, President, Leger Analytics.

Web site: www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca .