News & Views

Barb has promoted Rhiannon Griffiths to Strategic Developments Director and hired Douglas Whelpdale as Insights Manager.

Since joining Barb as Head of Strategic Developments in late 2016, Rhiannon 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 Rhiannon, 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.

Douglas 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, Media Sales and Partnerships, 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, Douglas was Consumer Insight Director at Havas Media, where he presented consumer and market insights for client pitches, led Havas Connection studies and represented the company on trade body working groups. He began his research career at Associated Northcliffe Digital, then the digital consumer division of Daily Mail and General Trust.

Rhiannon Griffiths said:

“It is crucial for us to work closely with our partners to develop and deliver ambitious new ways to address fragmentation and future-proof our services. Douglas’s varied industry experience will prove vital as we look to introduce our customers to the new cross-device measurement system resulting from Dovetail Fusion.”

Douglas Whelpdale said:

“Working at both a broadcaster and a media agency has given me a firm appreciation of the critical importance of a television joint industry currency, but I also understand the industry’s requirement for further innovation to accurately measure the numerous ways in which UK television audiences are consuming content today. I’m excited to be joining Barb to help its customers take full advantage of these new services.”

Justin Sampson, Barb’s Chief Executive, added:

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

For further information, please contact Jessica Bromley.