Warren, NJ (December 9, 2013) – Lightspeed Research (LSR), the leading provider of technology-enabled online research capabilities for market research, today announced it has strengthened its global leadership team with the appointment of David Shanker to the newly created role of The Americas Chief Executive Officer, and the promotion of Daniel S. Fitzgerald to the global position of Chief Client and Marketing Officer.
David Shanker joins Lightspeed Research from PINCHme, a New York City based digital marketing/market research provider, where he was CEO since 2012. Previously, he served in executive management roles at Ipsos, OTX Research and Information Resources Inc. In his new role, he will lead both the Lightspeed Research and the GMI brands in the Americas region, focusing the company’s world class talent and technology to meet clients’ evolving needs. Chris Urinyi has been named COO Americas, and will be responsible for optimizing operations and driving excellence in client delivery across the Americas region.
In a second organizational change, Daniel S. Fitzgerald has been appointed Chief Client and Marketing Officer and will lead the company’s global product development, marketing, research-on-research and corporate development efforts. Dan is charged with ensuring the voice and experience of the client are central to all business activities. He will work closely with the global and regional leadership teams to execute Lightspeed Research’s strategy to fully integrate a client-first culture which focuses on delivering excellent client engagements to drive outstanding business performance. Dan served as Vice President, General Manager of GMI Americas since 2007, and led the combined GMI and LSR Americas external business following the acquisition of GMI by LSR in September 2011.
Both senior executives will report to David Day, President and Global CEO. Day commented, “David and Dan have demonstrated business success in leading high performance teams, and both bring an intense focus on achieving excellence in all aspects of client service. This new organizational structure leverages their expertise and will sharpen our focus on the evolving research needs of our diverse client base. These changes position Lightspeed Research to continue to lead the industry today, and to remain at the forefront as we take on the challenges of tomorrow.”
About Lightspeed Research
Lightspeed Research (www.lightspeedresearch.com) is the market researcher’s choice for digitally accessing and deriving insight from consumer opinions and behaviors whenever, wherever and in whatever segments needed. The industry’s most thorough panelist pre-screening process and large global pool delivers business-ready results quickly and cost-effectively. From proprietary online access panels to specialty panels, custom panels and innovative mobile surveys, Lightspeed Research offers the industry’s highest-quality and most complete combination of qualitative and quantitative online research. This is backed by an expert client operations team that provides a range of data collection services, from sample management and survey design to programming and reporting. Part of Kantar, a division of WPP, Lightspeed Research serves clients and cultivates online panelists across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.
About GMI
GMI empowers insights. From intelligent sampling to award-winning survey engagement software to sample management and custom reporting, GMI adds value at every stage of the research process. With millions of deeply profiled double opt-in panelists across 40 proprietary panels throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and with real-time respondent sourcing and advanced sample balancing capabilities, GMI offers a wide range of respondent access in a single, trusted partner.
Along with a full suite of data collection services including specialty panels, custom panels and communities, mobile surveys, and observed digital behavior and ad tracking, GMI delivers the industry’s most complete and highest-quality online research. GMI is part of Lightspeed Research, the leading provider of technology-enabled solutions and online respondents for global market research. For more information, visit www.gmi-mr.com and www.gmi-mrblog.com.
