C+R Research Promotes for CEO and President Roles

Chicago-based full service custom qual and quant firm C+R Research has appointed Erin Barber as President and Chief Client Officer, and Paul Metz as CEO. Former President and CEO Robbin Jaklin has retired after 36 years at the company.

In addition, Sergio Patiño has been promoted to SVP and Partner after nearly thirteen years with C+R, in data and operations roles.

Barber (pictured above) brings more than 25 years of experience to her new role, having until now focused on building two of the firm's divisions - online qualitative, and communities & panels - as well as leading the development of hybrid methods and agile tools. Before joining C+R in 2001, she worked at Millward Brown and the Independent Health Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Canisius University in Buffalo, NY.

In her new role, she will focus on C+R's analytic team and clients, on constant innovation in its solutions, building the skills of its analysts, and forging strong relationships with clients.

Metz (pictured below) has thirty years' experience encompassing client and supply side. He joined C+R sixteen years ago and has served as SVP and latterly EVP, Managing Partner. Earlier he spent three years at custom MR firm M/A/R/C, and five and a half at The Quaker Oats Company as Senior Manager, Market Research. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Northwestern University and an M.S. in Marketing from the Marketing Leadership Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is a routine guest lecturer. His roots are in quant survey-based and syndicated research methods, encompassing advanced knowledge of analytics and complex sampling, in a wide range of sectors.

At C+R, Metz is instrumental in driving enhancements to the solutions portfolio, and charged with ensuring world-class staffing and corporate culture. In addition to remaining directly involved with a number of clients - the company is proudly practitioner-led - as CEO he will focus on administrative, operational and cultural excellence.

CFO Scott Hierbaum says of the promotions: 'I've worked with both Erin and Paul side-by-side for over twenty years and am thrilled to have them guide C+R... I have no doubt that they each have the experience and expertise to lead us now and well into the future'.

Web site: www.crresearch.com .