With over 15 years experience working for a range of leading brands on an international basis, Sean is a marketing consultant who specializes in trend analysis, consumer insights and brand strategy. His USP is that in addition to consulting with companies at Board Level, he combines this with street-level research, alongside interviewing key social / cultural experts. Frequently quoted in the media in the US, Asia and Europe; he gives speeches around the world to agency and client-side audiences, and is a visiting lecturer at leading universities.He’s delivered speeches in cities including Tokyo, Istanbul, San Francisco, Athens, Prague, Barcelona, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Geneva, Oslo, Edinburgh, London, Los Angeles, Helsinki, Melbourne, Berlin, Chicago, Dublin, New York, Paris and Miami. An energetic, lively and humorous speaker, he’s given talks to a wide variety of audiences including politicians, charity campaigners, MBA students, agency planners and client-side brand marketers. In a ‘standard’ speech, he will discuss international macro and micro trends re: consumer attitudes and behaviour, brand strategies, communication activity and new product development; highlighting a range of contemporary behavioural, societal & environmental trends; helping delegates to better understand consumer needs, motivations, consumption styles, attitudes and behaviour. Recent tasks include deep-dives into social/cultural issues, trend forecasting, brand repositioning and comms testing – the USP being that clients get a highly experienced specialist working directly for them. Case histories include projects for a wide range of brands inc: General Motors, O2, Heineken, Coca-Cola, Beiersdorf, GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo, Xfm, Warburtons, Bauer Media, Tetley, Kerry Foods, Swatch, Costa, Unilever, MTV, Camelot, PZ Cussons, L’Oreal, Firetrap and Vodafone; along with numerous advertising, digital, PR, design and media agencies.A high-profile trends analyst, in the 90’s Sean worked with leading-edge agencies, since which he’s operated as a consultant for a range of leading brands in sectors ranging from media to soft drinks, health to cars, entertainment to food, and alcohol to fashion. He also works with numerous agencies as a pitch consultant.He runs his own cutting-edge research consultancy (Captain Crikey), which focuses on trend analysis, consumer insights, concept development and brand positioning. Sean’s views on making research really work are simple: to gain competitive advantage one must combine knowing the consumer and trends better than the opposition - and then utilize the knowledge gained quicker.Sean has therefore gained a mass of specialist, international experience in helping clients to position / reposition brands, develop more effective communications, test new product & packaging concepts; and to stay ahead of the competition by identifying and understanding emerging trends.(Prior to his agency and consultancy career, he served in the Household Cavalry, where Sean gained the nickname ‘Captain Crikey’ whilst on a tour with the UN…)