Experience

Ignition House

• Market Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Owner and Director

  • Jul 2009 - Present

  Ignition House is a research consultancy established by myself and Ed Ripley. We offer high quality, insightful and actionable research to a range of public and private sector clients executed by experienced, expert people. Ignition House is a research consultancy established by myself and Ed Ripley. We offer high quality, insightful and actionable research to a range of public and private sector clients executed by experienced, expert people.



IQ Research

• Director, Financial and Public Sector Practice

  • May 2005 - Jul 2009

  Built a solid practice from scratch. Developed, sold and delivered 6 multi-client projects to date, generating revenues in excess of £350k Developed ongoing relationships with all leading life and pension companies and deep client relationships (including Senior Management and Board Level) with a small number of key clients, including several key public sector bodies Developed, led and delivered a variety of qualitative research projects including concept testing, brand perceptions, key… Show more Built a solid practice from scratch. Developed, sold and delivered 6 multi-client projects to date, generating revenues in excess of £350k Developed ongoing relationships with all leading life and pension companies and deep client relationships (including Senior Management and Board Level) with a small number of key clients, including several key public sector bodies Developed, led and delivered a variety of qualitative research projects including concept testing, brand perceptions, key stakeholder research for the Board of a public sector body, focus group facilitation with B2B and B2C audiences, and TCF literature testing Developed, led and delivered a variety of quantitative research projects including large scale telephone surveys with IFAs and consumers, in home surveys with consumers, and on-line surveys with IFAs, trustees and consumers. Worked in partnership with a leading economics consultancy to provide expert knowledge and depth interviews with a highly technical audience for a joint project for a leading regulatory body Produced a model to forecast the impact of RDR on the IFA and advice market Developed and led a Strategy Away Day for 40 senior managers of a leading quasi-public sector body Led IQR's successful bid to join The Pension Regulator's, DWP and HMRC Research Framework Continued to build own and IQR's profile through articles in leading trade magazines Show less Built a solid practice from scratch. Developed, sold and delivered 6 multi-client projects to date, generating revenues in excess of £350k Developed ongoing relationships with all leading life and pension companies and deep client relationships (including Senior Management and Board Level) with a small number of key clients, including several key public sector bodies Developed, led and delivered a variety of qualitative research projects including concept testing, brand perceptions, key… Show more Built a solid practice from scratch. Developed, sold and delivered 6 multi-client projects to date, generating revenues in excess of £350k Developed ongoing relationships with all leading life and pension companies and deep client relationships (including Senior Management and Board Level) with a small number of key clients, including several key public sector bodies Developed, led and delivered a variety of qualitative research projects including concept testing, brand perceptions, key stakeholder research for the Board of a public sector body, focus group facilitation with B2B and B2C audiences, and TCF literature testing Developed, led and delivered a variety of quantitative research projects including large scale telephone surveys with IFAs and consumers, in home surveys with consumers, and on-line surveys with IFAs, trustees and consumers. Worked in partnership with a leading economics consultancy to provide expert knowledge and depth interviews with a highly technical audience for a joint project for a leading regulatory body Produced a model to forecast the impact of RDR on the IFA and advice market Developed and led a Strategy Away Day for 40 senior managers of a leading quasi-public sector body Led IQR's successful bid to join The Pension Regulator's, DWP and HMRC Research Framework Continued to build own and IQR's profile through articles in leading trade magazines Show less



Datamonitor Plc

• Lead Analyst

  • Nov 2003 - Apr 2005

  Conducted primary and secondary research into UK and European life and pensions market. Built the Life and Pensions product portfolio. Doubled profitability in less than 6 months. Ran a 3 month project with a large UK Life insurer and boutique brand agency to reposition the client's brand. Developed bespoke brand framework used with 50 B2B stakeholders. Worked extensively with clients to develop the strategic direction and co- presented recommendations to the Board. Developed a… Show more Conducted primary and secondary research into UK and European life and pensions market. Built the Life and Pensions product portfolio. Doubled profitability in less than 6 months. Ran a 3 month project with a large UK Life insurer and boutique brand agency to reposition the client's brand. Developed bespoke brand framework used with 50 B2B stakeholders. Worked extensively with clients to develop the strategic direction and co- presented recommendations to the Board. Developed a quarterly survey of UK IFA opinion. Topics included products and providers and the impact of wrap accounts. Developed comprehensive forecasting model for UK life and pension model to 2008, providing scenario based forecasts on 26 product lines and the distribution channel splits for each product line. Set up European Life and Pensions AUM database, which collects consistent data across 12 European countries and forecasts to 2010. Show less Conducted primary and secondary research into UK and European life and pensions market. Built the Life and Pensions product portfolio. Doubled profitability in less than 6 months. Ran a 3 month project with a large UK Life insurer and boutique brand agency to reposition the client's brand. Developed bespoke brand framework used with 50 B2B stakeholders. Worked extensively with clients to develop the strategic direction and co- presented recommendations to the Board. Developed a… Show more Conducted primary and secondary research into UK and European life and pensions market. Built the Life and Pensions product portfolio. Doubled profitability in less than 6 months. Ran a 3 month project with a large UK Life insurer and boutique brand agency to reposition the client's brand. Developed bespoke brand framework used with 50 B2B stakeholders. Worked extensively with clients to develop the strategic direction and co- presented recommendations to the Board. Developed a quarterly survey of UK IFA opinion. Topics included products and providers and the impact of wrap accounts. Developed comprehensive forecasting model for UK life and pension model to 2008, providing scenario based forecasts on 26 product lines and the distribution channel splits for each product line. Set up European Life and Pensions AUM database, which collects consistent data across 12 European countries and forecasts to 2010. Show less



McKinsey & Company

• Head of FS Research

  • 1999 - 2004



UK Financial Services Research

• Manager

  • Jul 1999 - Aug 2003

  Founded unit of 20 researchers focused on retail banking, insurance, asset management and wholesale banking which is recognised as one of the strongest research teams within the Firm. Successfully managed the internal economics and operational performance of the unit. Senior member of European Management Team responsible for the operational success of all financial services research units across Europe. Overall group is one of the benchmarks for the Firm, and is the best practice template… Show more Founded unit of 20 researchers focused on retail banking, insurance, asset management and wholesale banking which is recognised as one of the strongest research teams within the Firm. Successfully managed the internal economics and operational performance of the unit. Senior member of European Management Team responsible for the operational success of all financial services research units across Europe. Overall group is one of the benchmarks for the Firm, and is the best practice template for pan-European research groups. Core member of UK-based Savings and Investment Interest Group, which develops cutting edge knowledge for clients on UK specific issues affecting strategy and operations. Developed McKinsey perspectives on depolarisation and the outlook for players in the UK savings market under different business models. Member of the Broadband Special Initiative for Financial Services, a one year part-time project to determine the implications of new technology for financial services. Led pan-European consumer research project and a co-sponsored project with Forrester Research to forecast broadband take up rates across Europe. Show less Founded unit of 20 researchers focused on retail banking, insurance, asset management and wholesale banking which is recognised as one of the strongest research teams within the Firm. Successfully managed the internal economics and operational performance of the unit. Senior member of European Management Team responsible for the operational success of all financial services research units across Europe. Overall group is one of the benchmarks for the Firm, and is the best practice template… Show more Founded unit of 20 researchers focused on retail banking, insurance, asset management and wholesale banking which is recognised as one of the strongest research teams within the Firm. Successfully managed the internal economics and operational performance of the unit. Senior member of European Management Team responsible for the operational success of all financial services research units across Europe. Overall group is one of the benchmarks for the Firm, and is the best practice template for pan-European research groups. Core member of UK-based Savings and Investment Interest Group, which develops cutting edge knowledge for clients on UK specific issues affecting strategy and operations. Developed McKinsey perspectives on depolarisation and the outlook for players in the UK savings market under different business models. Member of the Broadband Special Initiative for Financial Services, a one year part-time project to determine the implications of new technology for financial services. Led pan-European consumer research project and a co-sponsored project with Forrester Research to forecast broadband take up rates across Europe. Show less



European Asset Management Research

• Manager

  • Jul 1999 - Aug 2003

  Responsible for building and mentoring team of researchers in 10 locations across Europe. Operational responsibility for internal economics and operational performance of the unit. Managed pan-European research project to produce consistent data on funds under management and fund allocations for 10 European countries and the US. Responsible for building and mentoring team of researchers in 10 locations across Europe. Operational responsibility for internal economics and operational performance of the unit. Managed pan-European research project to produce consistent data on funds under management and fund allocations for 10 European countries and the US.



Association of British Insurers

• United Kingdom
• Insurance
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Chief Economist

  • Oct 1995 - Jul 1999

  Led research function responsible for producing Insurance Trends, market analysis, internal research on industry and competitive issues for ABI Board members, and policy responses to Government and other organisations. Pioneered ABI and industry thinking on the impact of the Euro.Produced policy stance, led dissemination and communication process to senior members of the insurance industry, and was the liaison point for the industry with key stakeholders - Government, the Bank of England… Show more Led research function responsible for producing Insurance Trends, market analysis, internal research on industry and competitive issues for ABI Board members, and policy responses to Government and other organisations. Pioneered ABI and industry thinking on the impact of the Euro.Produced policy stance, led dissemination and communication process to senior members of the insurance industry, and was the liaison point for the industry with key stakeholders - Government, the Bank of England, EU. Show less Led research function responsible for producing Insurance Trends, market analysis, internal research on industry and competitive issues for ABI Board members, and policy responses to Government and other organisations. Pioneered ABI and industry thinking on the impact of the Euro.Produced policy stance, led dissemination and communication process to senior members of the insurance industry, and was the liaison point for the industry with key stakeholders - Government, the Bank of England… Show more Led research function responsible for producing Insurance Trends, market analysis, internal research on industry and competitive issues for ABI Board members, and policy responses to Government and other organisations. Pioneered ABI and industry thinking on the impact of the Euro.Produced policy stance, led dissemination and communication process to senior members of the insurance industry, and was the liaison point for the industry with key stakeholders - Government, the Bank of England, EU. Show less



Department Of Social

• Economic Adviser

  • Oct 1990 - Oct 1995

  Several positions providing research and insights on income related benefits, low incomes, pensions, and disability. Several positions providing research and insights on income related benefits, low incomes, pensions, and disability.