MMR Research makes two senior appointments as it eyes continued growth

Global consumer and sensory research specialist, MMR Research has announced two senior marketing and commercial appointments. Chris Sinclair joins as Global Commercial Director while Laura Smith is promoted to Global Head of Marketing. 

Chris Sinclair returns to MMR after two decades away in senior commercial roles. Over the past 20 years, he has held executive positions at Ipsos across Europe and the US, and most recently at NIQ BASES, where he was global practice leader for NIQ Innovation. 

Laura Smith’s promotion demonstrates MMR’s commitment to talent development. Having originally joined the business as Marketing Assistant in 2015, she has spent the best part of 10 years shaping the company’s brand voice, demand generation, and global marketing execution.

Sinclair and Smith will work closely together as part of a newly joined-up commercial and marketing function, drawing on MMR’s insight and thought leadership to engage clients on growth opportunities for their businesses.

MMR has continued to develop its offer for international CPG brands in recent years, expanding its footprint across the US and Asia, and investing in its end-to-end testing platform Product Hub and strategy consultancy Huxly. Together, these moves allow more brands around the world to tap into MMR’s global expertise in sensory and innovation research to navigate increasingly complex and fast-moving markets.

The business believes that product remains significantly underpowered as a tool for brand building and differentiation. A shift to more intentional consumption, accelerated by trends like the growth of GLP-1s, has put the spotlight on the product experience as people expect more from brands, while policy-driven reformulation means that manufacturers risk losing what makes their product stand out. 

Mat Lintern, Chief Executive at MMR Research, said: 

As MMR looks ahead, the company remains focused on helping brands develop products and experiences that resonate with consumers. With a strengthened leadership team and an integrated approach to commercial and marketing excellence, MMR is well positioned to continue driving innovation and delivering meaningful impact for clients around the globe.