Space Doctors Co-founder Calls Time

Insights group Human8 has announced a change of leadership at its cultural and creative consultancy Space Doctors. Co-founder and MD Fiona McNae will leave the company at the end of this year, after 22 years, to be replaced by Gareth Lewis and Cato Hunt.

Human8, which was then known as InSites Consulting, acquired UK-based Space Doctors for an undisclosed sum two years ago this month. Space Doctors applies non-traditional semiotics-led approaches to the development of brand strategy, innovation and cultural insights, combining an an in-house expert team located in Brighton, London and Singapore with a global network of semioticians, anthropologists, ethnographers and designers. Its offer includes a proprietary approach called 'Collaborative Intelligence', using social media and text analytics to track cultural impact for brands at scale.

Lewis is currently Head of Insight and Hunt Head of Innovation & Creative Strategy. Elsewhere in the world, Maya Madhusoodan will remain the Managing Director for Space Doctors in APAC, and Michael Thomas as SVP for the US.

McNae says of the new leaders: 'It's been a long-planned decision to step back when the time is right, and that moment is now with us. Founding and growing Space Doctors has been such a privilege and I leave full of joy and gratitude. Gareth and Cato will now take our work forward and I couldn't leave our extraordinary team and our wonderful clients in more creative, caring & capable hands'.

Lewis, who will oversee day-to-day operations for Space Doctors and join Human8's global leadership team, comments: 'It's a privilege to have the opportunity to take on the leadership of the next iteration of this brilliant company and there is nobody I would rather do it alongside than Cato'. Hunt, who is responsible for shaping the firm's portfolio (semiotics, cultural insight & analytics, foresight & futures, and brand & creative strategy), culture and talent, adds: 'By focusing on our wonderful team & growing our expertise, we'll continue to foster new ways of thinking that help our clients anticipate and respond to the increasingly complex challenges they face. Deep understanding of cultural change has always been the beating heart of Space Doctors, and I'm excited to carry this forward'.

The firm has as yet given no details of McNae's next move, apart from the hint that it is 'likely to be shaped by her commitment to and engagement in regenerative leadership'.

Web sites: www.space-doctors.com and www.wearehuman8.com .