Research Now Expands North American Presence

Online data collection and panel specialist Research Now has appointed Adam Portner as SVP in San Francisco, David Bilicic as SVP in New York, and Steve Rosen as Finance Director, North America. In addition, Charles Pearson has been promoted to the new role of SVP, Panel Excellence.

For the past six years, Portner has worked at MarketTools; most recently as VP of Client Services and Operations in charge of a team of 20 supporting the service bureau, sample services and proprietary panels businesses. Prior to this, he spent 12 years at IRI where he worked in client services, sales and consulting roles. In his new position, Portner will manage client development teams in the west and central US (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas).

Bilicic joins from IRI where he has worked since 2005; most recently as SVP in charge of the Kellogg's account. Previously, he spent six years at Abbott Labs where he held a variety of marketing, trade and research roles; and before this, he spent six years in marketing, sales and analysis roles with Taco Bell, Tropicana and AC Nielsen. At Research Now, Bilicic will manage the east region, including both NYC and Toronto-based US sales teams.

The pair join a team which will be headed from November 1 by North America MD Jeff Karry, who co-founded OpenVenue prior to its takeover by Research Now last year. OpenVenue co-founder John Visser, currently Research Now SVP, Business Development, will take responsibility for global key account management as well as continuing to drive Canadian sales.

Commenting on the appointments, Karry, said: 'Our North American business has grown dramatically in recent years and we anticipate continued growth next year and beyond. Adam and David's appointments demonstrate our desire to invest in senior management talent and our confidence in the growth of our business.'

Rosen brings with him more than 20 years' experience in a variety of financial roles, including positions at CSI Global Education, and Procter & Gamble; while Pearson has more than 20 years of research supplier and online panel experience, and is currently based in London, where he has been responsible for the firm's US team since June 2006.

Research Now has 31 proprietary, research-only online panels in Europe, North & Latin America, Asia and Australia-Pacific; and 13 offices worldwide. It is online at www.researchnow.co.uk .