Welcoming the New Year with Excitement and Enthusiasm

As 2018 winds down, I’d like to reflect on this past year and share my excitement for 2019.

First, a sincere thank you to the CMB community—our colleagues, clients, partners, and friends. 2018 was a fantastic year for CMB and we have a lot to be both proud of and thankful for.

I admit to a naturally forward-looking disposition, but it would be a real disservice not to recognize our team’s hard work and accomplishments in 2018. Over the last 12 months, we experienced strong growth, welcomed many new and talented CMBers, enhanced our partnership with ITA Group, and invested in agile and other future-focused frameworks.

These achievements are the result of strategic initiatives that will better position CMB for success as we continue to be a trusted research partner for our clients—helping them make critical business decisions with confidence.

Yes, the world is changing rapidly. Disruptive forces such as AI, big data, and automation are upending industries—including the insights industry—at breakneck pace. But while these trends continue to challenge, they also provide endless opportunity to those who embrace change rather than struggle against it.

At CMB, we’re in the business of helping our clients navigate change and uncertainty. We’ll meet these disruptive changes head on as a collaborative, decision-focused, creative and forward-thinking partner.

As we head into 2019, we look forward to building on this momentum and embracing the new year with enthusiasm:

• Focusing on agile research. Stakeholders want insights faster than ever before. We are investing in leaner, smarter, and iterative approaches at scale to meet these rising demands and expectations.
• Investing in building data-driven, evidence-based narratives that compel action. From the most foundational questions to the thorniest analytical problems, we understand the results mean little without essential context and resonant deliverables.
• Empowering CMB talent. We’re only as strong as our people. We’ll continue to hire and empower smart, curious, and collaborative researchers, strategists, analysts, consultants, storytellers, and designers to reflect the dynamic nature of our changing industry.
• Advancing product development. We’ll continue to partner with our clients, prospects, and ITA Group colleagues to build data-driven solutions that leverage our unique combination of consumer psychology and advanced analytics expertise.

The future is bright for those who embrace change with focus and confidence. I have no doubt 2019 will be another successful year for CMB and our clients as we continue to partner to drive engagement, innovation, and growth.

I couldn’t be prouder to work with such a talented group of colleagues and clients.

Have a restful holiday and I look forward to working with you in 2019.