Former RI Trio Embark on Blueocean

In the US, former Research International (RI) executives Diane Frederick, Alice Fawver and Shaikat Sen have launched a new market research consultancy which they say delivers a 'fresh approach' to business decision-making.

By joining forces with Indian MR outsourcing firm Cross-Tab Marketing Services, their new firm, Blueocean Market Intelligence, combines a full suite of primary research services with the mining of existing research, secondary sources, and user-generated content. Blueocean's primary research services include brand image and positioning, customer satisfaction and loyalty, market segmentation, landscape analysis, and choice modeling.

'Our global delivery model and 360° approach to information and analysis allows companies to do more for the same budget,' says Frederick, the firm's MD.

The trio, who left RI after it closed its Phoenix, Arizona operations earlier in the year, bring more than two decades of research experience across numerous industries.

Before the launch, Frederick was EVP and US Board member at RI; prior to this, she was CEO at Research Resources and VP at Winona Research.

At RI, Fawver held the post of SVP. Prior to joining, she was SVP Retail measurement at ACNielsen, Senior Director - Lifestyle Programs at Qwest Communications, and held senior marketing positions at Shopper's Express, US West Communications and Safeway.

Before his time at RI, which he finished as VP, Sen was a Senior Analyst at Intel, Director of Healthcare Research at JD Power and Associates, and held senior posts at OnScreen Interactive and Advantage Research.

Blueocean is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Web sites: www.blueoceanmi.com and www.cross-tab.com .