Feb 25, 2013, 9:37am

Two senior-level researchers have joined GfK Consumer Experiences North America in key client-facing roles, adding depth to the company’s industry-leading innovation and qualitative practices. Hetty Fore is returning to GfK, becoming Senior Vice President in the Market Opportunity and Innovation team, while Robert Hernandez is now Senior Vice President in Qualitative and Ethnographic.

“GfK is thrilled to be adding two strong team leaders and researchers to disciplines that are increasingly central for our clients,” said Holly Jarrell, GfK’s Chief Client Services Officer. “Hetty and Robert represent the exceptional talent and expertise that clients expect from GfK, and I know that they are already adding value on key accounts and projects.”

Fore joined GfK for the first time in 1997 and ultimately became Vice President, Product and Operations Manager, for Roper Consulting. In 2008, she moved to Littlefield Brand Development as Director of Analytics; and, most recently, Fore was with Iconoculture, where she helped build and grow the global quantitative data collection practice, and oversaw the qualitative and social media data assets.

In her 17-plus years of marketing research experience, Fore has worked with Microsoft, Sony, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Heineken, Volvo, and other Fortune 1000 companies, as well as several advertising and PR agencies.

Hernandez has spent the past 10 years with Firefly Millward Brown, most recently as Senior Vice President and Global Brand Director for the company’s global qualitative agency. As a member of Firefly’s global qualitative management board, he helped drive product offers and go-to-market strategies, and touched nearly all aspects of the business.

At Millward Brown, Hernandez led B2C and B2B qualitative research for Fortune 500 companies across a range of industries, with clients such as Capital One, Kraft, Procter & Gamble, Altria, AT&T, Ericsson, MillerCoors, and Wal-Mart. In addition, he held senior-level positions at Burrell Communications Group, Young & Rubicam, and Lowe Lintas & Partners.

About GfK

GfK is one of the world’s largest research companies, with more than 12,000 experts working to discover new insights into the way people live, think and shop, in over 100 markets, every day. GfK is constantly innovating and using the latest technologies and the smartest methodologies to give its clients the clearest understanding of the most important people in the world: their customers. In 2011, GfK’s sales amounted to EUR 1.37 billion.

To find out more, visit www.gfk.com/us or follow GfK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GfK_en.