BARB hires new insights manager, promotes Rhiannon Griffiths

TV audience measurement organisation, BARB, has promoted Rhiannon Griffiths to strategic developments director and hired Douglas Whelpdale as its new insights manager.

Since joining BARB as head of strategic developments in late 2016, Griffiths has worked with both research agencies and broadcasters to progress projects that will result in BARB delivering new services, such as the implementation of the next phase of Project Dovetail.

Reporting to Griffiths, Douglas Whelpdale will be responsible for helping BARB’s agency, advertiser and broadcast customers to understand and make best use of BARB data. He will also be tasked with working with broadcasters to enable them to participate in BARB’s new reporting services following the launch of Dovetail Fusion this year. He replaces Joe Lewis who left late last year.

Whelpdale is a consumer insights professional with over a decade of experience in the media and entertainment industry. He joins BARB from The Walt Disney Company, where as senior insight manager, he was responsible for directing promotion and media sales teams, maintaining strong agency relationships and presenting and evaluating research and campaign projects, in order to secure and deliver client partnerships for Disney.

Prior to this, Whelpdale was consumer insight director at Havas Media.

“Rhiannon’s promotion is well-deserved; in the 18 months since her appointment, she has become a key member of BARB, taking the lead on delivering our key projects,” said Justin Sampson, BARB’s chief executive.

“I’m also delighted that Douglas has joined us, further strengthening the team for what is an important year ahead.”