Synovate makes senior additions to Hong Kong and Japan operations

The Aegis-owned research firm has hired Erik Hellquist (pictured) as head of business consulting in Hong Kong, and Satoshi Ayukawa as business development manager for marketing management analytics in Tokyo.

According to a statement from the company, Hellquist will be responsible for growing the unit as a hub for Asia-Pacific and in particular Greater China. He joins from a position as head of market intelligence at Assa Abloy in Sweden and Tal-os Asia, also based in Hong Kong.

Hellquist commented in the statement that he envisaged “great opportunities” in the region as a result of economic improvement.

Ayukawa has been charged with developing the Japan arm of Synovate’s Marketing Management Analytics business, which has recently been extended across the region. Ayukawa has worked in consulting in Japan for over 20 years, having served as senior consultant at French market research firm Novaction, and established the Japan operations of RL Polk, an automotive database company.

Synovate’s Business Consulting facility advises clients on areas such as market opportunity, entry strategy, product development and distribution channels; the Marketing Management Analytics unit is designed to help companies measure marketing performance.