Industry Veteran Angela Muzzo Joins Northstar Research Partners as Executive Vice President, Tim Bishop to Spearhead North American Marketing Initiatives

New Additions to Executive Team Reinforce the Firm's Commitment to Building Strategic Client Relationships and Expanding Services across Multiple Platforms

TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - Northstar Research Partners, an award-winning strategic consulting firm specializing in consumer insights and brand positioning, announced today that Angela Muzzo and Tim Bishop have joined the firm's Toronto office as Executive Vice President and Marketing Director for North America respectively. Both will report directly to Northstar's President & CEO, Jim Neuwirth, focusing on business development and the expansion of Northstar's analytical frameworks and product offerings.

Formerly the Executive Vice President at Hotspex Inc., Ms. Muzzo brings more than twenty years of experience in client service, leadership, account development and research design and analysis. At Northstar, Ms. Muzzo will continue to refine the company's research capabilities, with an eye towards delivering clients high-impact, clear, concise and easily consumable research that will help them achieve their business objectives. Earlier in her career, Ms. Muzzo was Senior Vice President at Ipsos ASI where she specialized in advertising effectiveness, including copy testing, ad tracking, brand equity and usage and attitude.

Mr. Bishop's role as Director of Marketing for North America is a newly created position at the firm. He will work alongside Ms. Muzzo to strengthen the firm's digital strategy, oversee marketing and thought leadership efforts and cultivate new business relationships across the region. Prior to joining Northstar, Mr. Bishop led a complete rebranding of IMI International, during which it transitioned from a marketing research organization into a diverse consulting solutions firm.

"Angela's ability to interpret data, understand cultural context and concisely deliver clients the most important insights, bolsters our ability to deliver services and provides a significant competitive advantage," said President Jim Neuwirth. "With Tim's focus on the North American region, the team will seek to change the landscape of this space by deepening existing client relationships, building new partnerships and expanding the scope of the insights we offer."

"Research has become productized to the point that too much emphasis is put on providing statistics without the interpretation and strategic thinking clients need to really shape their businesses," said Muzzo. "I was drawn to Northstar because they are consistently looking to propel the industry forward by going beyond traditional research approaches, and have the ability to be strategic partners to clients and drive their business strategy."

"In tight economic times, our clients must be able to leverage market insights to target consumers, ensure their strategies are working and reassess what is not resonating," said Bishop. "My focus is to highlight why this firm exemplifies best practices through unparalleled talent, diverse offerings and service delivery in an environment where our clients have little room for error or misdirection."

Ms. Muzzo attended York University, where she received a Master's Degree in Business and a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. Mr. Bishop received a Bachelor's Degree with Honours in Arts & Sciences from Queen's University and graduated with high honours from the Seneca College post-graduate program in marketing and communications.

About Northstar Research Partners

Northstar Research Partners (a member of the MDC Partners Network) is a leading global full-service market research and consulting firm, offering qualitative and quantitative studies and products across both consumer and business-to-business channels. www.nsresearch.com

SOURCE Northstar Research Partners

CONTACT: James Coronios, [phone], [email protected]

http://www.nsresearch.com