Making the news in 2015
12 January 2015

By the time you read this Christmas will seem, well, a year ago, and eyes will be firmly set on the months ahead. Before we rush into the next set of challenges I hope that many of you will still be luxuriating in the afterglow of MRS Awards 2014.

Try to keep hold and nurture that sense of pride and achievement for a few weeks more.

There was certainly a sense of pride in our sector around the table at the Delphi Group event. Defining what it means to be ‘insight-driven’ will help unlock the commercial potential of research for any business.

MRS will be launching a benchmarking tool later this year that clients can use to measure their progress and identify areas to develop, and Unilever’s Stan Sthanunathan has contributed to the debate.

Stan would like agencies to partner with their clients in making an organisation-wide activity. Watch the interview below.

2015 is rich with high profile events and talking points that highlight the purpose and potential of our sector - notably the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and the UK general elections. So expect MRS to be making the news on a regular basis.

To me, the essence of our sector is the creation of intellectual capital. Evidence on which to base decisions, insight on which to take action; whether that is competitive, differentiation, cost saving or campaigns.

The best of us crash ideas together, take learning from one sector to illuminate another, are creative and above all are always facing outward to listen, learn and be inspired.

This is why I have really enjoyed the Fusion conferences of 2014 and I am really looking forward to our annual conference, Impact 2015.

Who can fail to learn something from a line-up that includes; the CEO of Unilever, a NATO general, a major author (of some of my favourite books) and a data artist? Take a look at the programme here.

I look forward to working with you to ensure 2015 is the year that the research sector takes its rightful place under the spotlight, and enjoys the warm afterglow of success it deserves.