Monthly Spotlight On Andy Wright

Each month there will be a 'Spotlight' on each of the Ci team. Director Andy Wright joined the company in January 2007.

  • Job title / Role: Director
  • Previous job / role: I spent the formative years of my career in the telecoms and IT industry which ended in a good spell working in a business analyst role. Following that, a change of career saw me joining the then Merseyside TEC looking after European Funding, Workforce Development and special projects. This led to a career in consultancy, my first real taste of entrepreneurship and ultimately the opportunity to work in Ci Research, where I have had the pleasure and privilege to have taken part in a MBO with one of the most talented teams I’ve ever worked with.
  • Age: Being of a certain age, the response is the same as my Nan’s used to be, “older than my teeth”, although in later years this wasn’t true (hers not mine) – a lesson in life and dental hygiene in one go.
  • A description of myself in 3 words: All-round good egg. Okay I cheated - technically that’s four and I would say that anyway, wouldn’t I. Those of you who have met me can provide a more informed comment.
  • If I hadn’t been in market research… I’d be doing the next thing! The most important thing I’ve learnt in my career is that the only certain thing is uncertainty - doing something you enjoy is the most important factor in your life. So on balance, I’d probably be in market research... or running a restaurant where the soundtrack is the music I love.
  • The best thing about our industry… is the breadth of experiences it exposes us to and the opportunity to provide real insight that informs and makes a difference.
  • The worst thing about our industry… is that on any given day knowing that the insight we provide can only ever be a recommendation. When I commissioned research in a past life I was often frustrated that my focus on delivery meant I didn’t have the time to do the “sexy” stuff. Now I’m doing the “sexy” stuff I am equally frustrated in being unable to put recommendations into practice, which is why everything we deliver is done in partnership with the fantastic people we get to work for.
  • Hobbies: Avoiding exercise, music (see below and judge if this is a hobby or an obsession) and family.
  • Favourite holiday destination (and why): Getting lost in rural Italy, exploring Rome, the stark and startling contrasts of Thailand, the rugged beauty of North Cornwall... and all the places I’ve yet to see. To quote another Wright “...it’s a small world but I wouldn’t want to paint it...” I’m just making a start! Why? Because there are things in the world you can find that make you think differently about your life and to show you the real value of what you have, some say travel broadens the mind, I say it shows us what’s truly precious.
  • Favourite music: Ahhh, now there’s a question. Where to begin? At the core is an obsession with the Velvet Underground and the Clash and the subsequent (curate’s egg) work of the collective members. And then it just depends on the day. If it’s a Jazz day it’s got to be Miles Davis, John Coltrane or Ornette Coleman, for the odd folk twist John Martyn, Woody Guthrie or Fleet Foxes/Mumford & Sons. On the days I need some Dub in my life anything from Studio One and touched by the genius of Lee Perry, and don’t forget the Wailers.... so that’s A Certain Ratio via Marvin Gaye and the Gorrilaz to Jay-Z, but never, ever, ever heavy metal. And that’s today, ask me again tomorrow, I’d probably still start at the Velvets/Clash but the end would likely be different, except it’d still not be at the Rock Show end of the spectrum. And I’ve not even mentioned the blues or funk or punk or new music, or ... which brings me to my opening statement, where to begin, but thanks for asking and giving me the opportunity to explore a minor obsession. Did I mention Joy Division?
  • Favourite food / drink: Simple is best – spaghetti al olio with a nice sharp glass of white or grilled fish and beer, always in good company with good conversation.
  • Favourite TV programme: Is that the credible one? In which case Newsnight and Question Time. But if you’re asking how I unwind it’s unashamedly bubblegum and thrills, 24, Corrie, V, Lost, etc... Make your own mind up which I watch more.
  • Favourite film: The Deer Hunter , The Fifth Element, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, a Hitchcock box set, Mon Oncle, Eraserhead, Metropolis, The Big Lebowski or any of the Die Hard series.
  • My earliest childhood memory: “What happens if I put this garden fork though my foot?” Answer - it still hurts when it rains. Learning for the young me - listen to your Dad; he’s not always wrong.
  • The brand I most admire (other than Ci of course): The Big Issue... a strong and instantly recognisable identity and a brand that clearly lives and breathes its values while working positively to help people regain their independence. A brilliantly simple idea, well executed in a way that is innovative, invigorating and interesting as well as being a right riveting read.
  • The best advice I ever received: Get over yourself (I’m still working on that one)!
  • Ambition to have achieved by 2020: To have Ci Research recognised as one of the best places to work in Europe, to be delivering continued excitement and innovation to our clients in ways that exceeds expectations. And all of this achieved through the talent of the people around me. My personal ambition is that I hope to play a small part in it.
  • The future of market research is… well, I want one of Gareth’s jetpack interviewers. But for me one of the important areas I see for the future of research is to further develop our ability to explore in more depth the issues faced in giving voice to the hard to hear. Developing our current participatory techniques for listening that unpick the rich seam of insight and potential to be gained from understanding issues beyond that we can readily access. Until research understands the voices we don’t hear we will continue to leave untapped the potential of a big society which realise economic, social and environmental benefits for all. Not long on trendy language, long on passion, insight and understanding.