John Tebboth is the Managing Director, with particular responsibility for Support and Training. He joined Merlinco in 1991. For 19 years prior to that he worked at MAS Research (which latterly became part of the Taylor Nelson Sofres group), in the data processing department. As a specification writer, he used several analysis packages including MERLIN, and was responsible for converting the entire DP operation to MERLIN. Eventually becoming DP director, his responsibilities included data entry and CATI as well as survey tabulation. An excellent speaker, he has always taken a special interest in staff training and user documentation, which is clearly reflected in the work he now does at Merlinco.
Keith Hughes is the Software Development Director. His career began in 1965 at Marketing Advisory services, where he attained the rank of Research Assistant before his interests began to focus on computerised survey analysis methods. After working in the bureau divisions of ICL, CRC and Libra he became a consultant in 1973 and co-authored the prototype version of MERLIN. In the 1980s he helped found the Tab Shop and Market Research Software, which he left in 1991 to start Merlinco, where he has been in charge of software development ever since. He is directly involved with both the design and the implementation of all Merlinco's in-house software, but his chief interest and responsibility remains with MERLIN itself, a role he describes as being "a bit like painting the Forth Bridge, with the added complication that the banks move further apart every year".
Peter Jackling is the Business Development Director. After a degree in Business and Marketing, he has spent his entire 25 year career in the application of technology to survey data capture and analysis. This experience has mainly been on the supply side, providing CATI / CAPI and web software packages and tabulation systems to international markets, and running bureaux specialising in analysis of survey data. Additionally, Peter spent two years at AGB developing an IT strategy and designing and implementing the technical side of their Superpanel, with 10,000 panel members. He has extensive experience in managing large projects to ensure they are right and on time, and in running small bureaux providing personal service. Peter is a Fellow of The Market Research Society, and is a past Chairman of The British Market Research Association.
Kathy Abbott is the Production Director. She joined Merlinco in 2008 to manage our new Production Department. Kathy has over fifteen years experience as a MERLIN specwriter, and has worked for a wide range of clients - but her particular expertise is in healthcare research. As well as looking after MERLIN analysis jobs, Kathy also handles our web survey service, setting up projects for clients who do not have our web software themselves.
Mark Syrett is a Support Executive, who joined Merlinco in 2006, and handles most of the MERLINPLUS support - as well as maintaining this website! Mark is from Kent and is a keen all-round sportsman
Andrew Walford is the Managing Director of Document, who has worked with Merlinco since 1999 when he developed the MTW (MERLIN to Word) program. As well as maintaining MTW, Andrew also looks after the MERLINPLUS Questionnaire Export to Word, and the various interviewing modules. His own company specialises in technical documentation, and he has assisted Merlinco in this area as well.
Chris Johnson is a Statistical Consultant who has worked with Merlinco since 1991. With 20 years experience in the application of multivariate statistical analysis techniques to market research survey data, Chris is well qualified to advise development and support staff on all issues relating to MERLIN's many statistical functions. Chris is the author of several market modelling programmes and was a major contributor to the WCRS prize-winning work on "The FTSE's Bright, The FTSE's Orange" - how advertising enhanced Orange plc shareholder value - at the 1998 IPA Advertising Effectiveness Awards. Chris has his own company, Cliological Ltd.
