Sandpiper launches new research firm to support comms and public affairs practitioners

Public affairs and strategic communications consultancy Sandpiper has launched Sandpiper Research & Insights, a research firm specialising in supporting communications and public affairs practitioners.

According to a statement by the company, the launch builds on the existing research work by Sandpiper to support related programmes for clients, which has experienced huge growth in the past year.

Don't miss: Sandpiper picks new head of public affairs for APAC

The firm will be led by Craig Young (pictured bottom left) as interim managing director, with support from an experienced team based across the region including Paul Chong (pictured centred) leading brand, market, and reputation research and measurement; Alexander Thomas (pictured bottom right) leading social and digital analytics; and Kelly Johnston (pictured up left) and Iris Ng (pictured up right) leading thought leadership and partnerships.

Young has 30 years’ experience developing research and evidence-based programmes to shape positive policy and business outcomes for government and private sector clients in the APAC region. He joins Sandpiper from Big Village where he was previously CEO for Australia. Young is a trusted advisory to government ministries and C-suites across the region, with a particular specialism in high impact social research. His career spans senior roles at Nielsen, Roy Morgan Research, ORC International and Engine. He is the immediate past-President of ADIA, Australia’s market research industry association.  

Chong is a research industry veteran with over 30 years’ experience providing market intelligence, customer experience measurement and insights for businesses. He has worked across various industries and clients such as HP, Visa, Shangri-La Hotels, Porsche and Visa. Chong started his career with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Reark Research before he co-founded and was the managing partner of NWC Research. He also managed ORC’s global customer experience practice based in the United States.

Thomas is an experienced researcher and analyst, with expertise in social media and data analytics to achieve client outcomes. His experience spans market research, social listening, and corporate investigations for clients across a range of industries including energy, financial services, technology and healthcare across APAC, Europe, and the Middle East. 

Johnston and Ng are the chief operating officer and a senior account manager for Sandpiper communications and public affairs based between Hong Kong and Singapore. Both are experienced in building global, regional and local thought leadership platforms and programme to drive business value and create competitive advantages for clients across the energy, financial, healthcare, professional services, and technology sectors.

Kelly Johnston, Chief Operating Officer, Sandpiper, said: “In a world driven by data, we have had an increasing focus on building the research and insights capabilities within our business. This has helped us to develop world leading thought leadership platforms for clients and unlock more strategic and measurable results. As a growing competitive advantage for our firm, the time is right to launch Sandpiper Research & Insights as a stand-alone sister brand within the Sandpiper Group. We are delighted to have Young onboard to lead this business and to welcome Chong and Thomas to our growing research team.”

“I am thrilled to be taking on this new challenge. Sandpiper Research & Insights meets a growing need in the market for research approaches that can help address the unique challenges faced by communications and public affairs practitioners. Modern communicators need research partners that have a clear understanding of their objectives, storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and an ability to operate at pace,” said Young.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Sandpiper for more information. 

The news comes shortly after Sandpiper appointed Saskia Kendall as its head of public affairs for the APAC region, according to a statement by the company.

Kendall first joined Sandpiper in 2019, where she held the role of director of healthcare, aiding the firm in growing its healthcare and public offerings and expanding its global client roster.

She brings with her 20 years of experience in public affairs, public policy, and communications in the APAC region, Europe, and the UK to the role. She began her career in the UK Parliament briefly working for Nick Clegg before joining The King’s Fund, an influential healthcare think tank leading their press office and public affairs work, before relocating to Singapore in 2018. Prior to her current role, Kendall was the chief operating officer at Speyside.

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