ESOMAR Council Elections 2025
The 2025-2028 ESOMAR Council Elections.
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- ESOMAR Council Elections 2025
Have you ever considered running for the ESOMAR Council? The current term is coming to an end, and we are now welcoming nominations for the 2025-2028 term.
Can you make a difference and help ESOMAR continue its mission to promote and protect the data, research and insights profession?
The ESOMAR Council is the governing body of the association. It defines the objectives, vision and mission, approves strategy, administers the funding and performs all other functions attributed to it by the statutes. It is the driving force of the association.
The Council is member-elected and serves until the end of March 2028.
What is the election timeline?
Candidacy requirements
To be eligible to stand for Council a person needs to be a member of ESOMAR, to have accumulated five years membership of ESOMAR (or have already served on Council) and be of good standing. A candidate must not have already served seven years on Council. The determination of good standing is made by the Election Committee. To be eligible to stand for President a person needs to be a member of good standing who has already served at least one term on the ESOMAR Council and not to have served two terms as President.
Each nomination must be supported by five members of the Society.
All nominations must be received before midnight CET on 12 January 2025.
As part of the application process, each potential candidate must sign acceptance of the Council Rules.
All potential candidates must provide a video to support their application.
All potential candidates must provide photograph.
A bio should be provided, including sections for: Name, company, position in the company, professional and other relevant achievements, activities on behalf of ESOMAR and/or the industry, a personal statement about why they are standing and what they hope to achieve.
The Election Committee shall nominate the candidates standing for election based on the suggested nominations from members.
Candidates whose nominations are in good order and received by end of day CET on 12 January 2025 will be formally announced the week commencing 20 January 2025. Information on these nominations will be posted on the ESOMAR website.
A presentation of each candidate with their election statement and photograph will be available on the ESOMAR website once candidatures are announced.
To ensure that no candidate is disadvantaged by canvassing activities of others and that the elections are run in a fair manner, all potential candidates will be asked to undersign an agreement to comply with the election rules set by Council, and to confirm that they will campaign in an open, honest and moderate fashion, as this reflects not only upon themselves but also upon ESOMAR.
The election procedure
Suggestions for nominations are invited by the Elections Committee for the term running from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2028, with 9 vacancies to be filled: A President, two Vice Presidents—one of whom has financial expertise and acts as Treasurer and six additional elected members
Candidates are allowed to canvas from the moment that their candidacy is announced until the closing of the voting.
The Elections Committee has appointed an independent, specialised organisation to conduct the elections, thereby guaranteeing that the elections remain impartial and benefit from the best available expertise.
To improve the proportional representation of Membership, a procedure based on the Single Transferable Vote (STV) will be used. This gives every voter the fullest freedom of choice between candidates seeking election while ensuring that none of their voting power is diminished.
The President will be elected using the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, while Council members will be elected via the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
Council has taken the utmost care to ensure high participation in voting and that the elections are held in a transparent, democratic and fair way. Ballot forms will be emailed to all paid-up ESOMAR members with the membership category 'Full Individual' and 'Key', in February. The election will be carried out online only.
ESOMAR Council Testimonials
Hear why becoming a council member is so rewarding.
Applicant and candidate canvassing Guidelines
The key objective of the canvassing guidelines is to ensure that members do NOT feel that they are being sent communications which they have not requested, and to ensure that communications which are produced, contain no personal criticisms, and follow all privacy conventions. Noting the evolution of electronic communication media, please ensure that both the spirit, as well as the letter, of these guidelines, are followed.
Canvassing Guidelines
I, the undersigned hereby confirm that, if confirmed as a candidate and elected, I am prepared to serve and agree to comply with the ESOMAR Council role and responsibilities set out below.
Candidates will be asked to agree to:
Await the formal announcement of the election and approval of all candidates before beginning any PR/canvassing activities.
Restrict communications to the benefits of their own candidacy. Promotion of commercial services is NOT appropriate.
That all electoral campaigning will be conducted in an open, honest, and moderate manner. Any complaints received about unsolicited or inappropriate messaging will be dealt with by the Election Committee and may include exclusion from the ballot.
That all of communications will comply with applicable legal privacy requirements (including GDPR and/or other local privacy laws), for example not sending communications where permission does not exist.
Understanding that ESOMAR does not endorse any candidate and cannot provide candidates with mailing addresses or database support. Note that the ESOMAR members directory may NOT be used as a canvassing support mechanism.
Respect the fact that the canvassing period runs until the closure of voting. There will be a clear announcement to this effect.
Confirm that should their compliance with these guidelines be questioned, they will abide by the ruling(s) of the ESOMAR Election Committee, whose decision(s) will be deemed final. In the case of the committee determining that a breach has been found, they also accept that their application, or should they be accepted as a candidate, their nomination, may be withdrawn from the elections.
Confirm that if elected, they are prepared to serve and agree to comply with the ESOMAR Council Code of Conduct.
Rules applying to candidates and canvassing:
No sitting member of Council may nominate an election candidate.
ESOMAR Staff and all those holding paid roles shall not publicly endorse or promote an election candidate.
National Representatives may support whomsoever they wish, as long as they do NOT do so through ESOMAR channels.
ESOMAR channels include: ESOMAR email database / Directory / Networking tool / Centrally organized events / Locally organized events with ESOMAR time slots /MyESOMAR.Official ESOMAR channels may only be used for promoting VOTING, not candidates.
From the notification of candidates until the end of voting no candidate shall appear on any ESOMAR platform, including webinars, Community Circles, and podcasts.
The canvassing period runs from the moment of formal announcement of candidates until the closure of the voting, both of which will be communicated in writing.
Code of Conduct
I, the undersigned hereby confirm that, if confirmed as a candidate and elected, I am prepared to serve and agree to comply with the ESOMAR Council Code of Conduct as set out below.
Act with personal and professional integrity and uphold the ethical principles of ESOMAR.
Respect and promote ESOMAR's Codes, Guidelines and Self-Regulatory efforts.
Advocate and defend ESOMAR's entire mission, within the industry and beyond.
Act in the best interests of the whole global membership, irrespective of personal interests or gain.
Represent the interests of the profession/industry as a whole – beyond personal company or sector interests and beyond any regional/national bias.
Act with impartiality in all ESOMAR related activities and declare any potential conflict of interest in advance.
Uphold the resolutely apolitical stance of ESOMAR.
Furthermore, to facilitate efficient and transparent working practices, if elected to Council, I agree to:
Attend Council Meetings (business and social sessions) and read all preparatory documents in advance.
Engage in open, constructive and respectful debate, with a focus on reaching a decision.
Publicly support Council decisions and actions.
Accept and fulfill responsibilities as agreed in Council.
Seek agreement to represent ESOMAR in any third party meetings and events and inform ESOMAR the Director General in advance of any speaking engagements or participation in industry related meetings, events and other platforms.
Treat Council deliberations, discussions and documentation in strict confidence.
Not to engage in any financial obligations on ESOMAR's behalf without informing and consulting the Director General and President in advance.
If a majority of Council members believe me to have been in breach of any of the above undertakings, I agree to abide by any resulting majority decision of Council regarding my attendance and contribution to meetings.
Council Role and Responsibilities
I, the undersigned hereby confirm that, if confirmed as a candidate and elected, I am prepared to serve and agree to comply with the ESOMAR Council role and responsibilities set out below.
How is the Council composed?
ESOMAR is governed by a member-elected Council which serves a three-year term. The Council consists of a President, two Vice-Presidents and six other members. The immediate Past-President is a member of the Council for 12 months. The Council has the ability to appoint two additional members to serve, if it is determined that adding a particular skillset or diversification will enable the council to make and implement more effective decisions.
How much time should I devote to the Council if elected?
The Council has four face-to-face meetings a year (one held in conjunction with Congress), each lasting two days. On the intervening months there is a two-hour virtual meeting. In advance of the meetings there are documents to read and review. You will normally be expected to work on specific projects. The work is likely to require a minimum of two days of your time per month, but sometimes much more than that.
The two Vice-Presidents will need to attend Executive Committee Meetings and have additional tasks, including performing the role of statutory director of a trading company (ESOMAR BV). The role is likely to average three to four days a month.
The role of President is more time consuming and typically includes more travel than is required by members of Council. It is currently estimated that over the next three years the President will need to spend four to six days a month on performing the role of President.
ESOMAR meets the travel costs involved in attending the face-to-face meetings, based on economy class travel.
Is the Role Paid?
No, the role is voluntary. ESOMAR will meet your travel and accommodation costs for Council meetings. ESOMAR does not meet other costs, such as telephone, internet etc.
What is the role of the Council?
The Council represents the members and operates as the board of the ESOMAR Association, and you will be registered as a Director of the Association. The key roles of the Council are:
Inputting to and approving the strategic decision of ESOMAR
Overseeing the good and proper running of ESOMAR
Keeping the members informed about the plans and running of ESOMAR
The day-to-day management of ESOMAR is headed by the Director General, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Services Officer. The unification of the staff and Council is achieved via the Executive Committee, which comprises the President, the two Vice-Presidents, the Director General, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Services Officer. The President, the two-Vice Presidents and the Director General are statutory directors of ESOMAR BV (the vehicle ESOMAR uses for trading and employment purposes).
Conflict of Interest
The President or a member of Council has to avoid conflicts of interest. Among other things this means:
You can’t receive payments for goods or services from ESOMAR.
You can’t vote on an issue where you have a conflict of interest, for example giving a contract to a company you work for.
You can’t lobby on behalf of an organisation you are associated with, for example your employer or a major client.
If you have a potential conflict of interest you should let the Director General know and withdraw from involvement.
Code of Conduct
Poor behaviour on the part of Council members will be challenged and may result in expulsion from Council. For example, if two or more meetings are missed in any single 12-month period without adequate explanation, Council may ask the Council member to step down. The same applies to a consistent lack of contribution.
Compliance
I also confirm that should my compliance with these guidelines be questioned, I will abide by the ruling(s) of the ESOMAR Election Committee, whose decision(s) will be deemed final. In the case of the committee determining a breach has been found, I also accept that my application, or should I be accepted as a candidate, my nomination, may be withdrawn from the elections.
ESOMAR Council Rules
I, the undersigned, hereby confirm that I have downloaded, read, and agree to abide by the ESOMAR Council Rules.
ESOMAR Council Election Committee
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our Election Committee. The Election Committee oversees the running of the election and declares the results. You can contact them at: elections@esomar.org
Andrea Rademeyer
Executive Chair & Founder at Ask Afrika, South AfricaAndrea is the Founder of Ask Afrika- 30 years ago. Whilst Ask Afrika is known as the ultimate authority in establishing benchmarks, Andrea has a special interest in social and reputation research. She has been involved in projects for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Sukuma Trust. She sees business as playing a pivotal role in shaping and changing society and is committed to that change through uplifting societal voices.
Her commitment to honouring the voice of South African citizens is born out of an enduring passion for all things socio-political. Ask Afrika was founded in social research and this drive is still evident in Ask Afrika’s COVID-19 measurements, directed by Andrea’s thought leadership.
She has attended 6 programs at the Harvard Business School, 2 programs at Instead, whilst also holding an MA (Research Psychology).
Andrea’s leadership on the global stage is recognized and celebrated as the first African to chair the ESOMAR Congress- the biggest gathering of global researchers. She has also been awarded the prestigious Legends250 accolade in 2023, given to legends in the global market research industry.
David Smith
ESOMAR Individual Member, Director at DVL Smith GroupDavid Smith is a Director of DVL Smith. He is also a Professor at the University of Hertfordshire Business School. He holds a PhD in Organisational Psychology from the University of London and is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society.
He is a former Vice President of ESOMAR and also a former Chairman of the UK Market Research Society (MRS).
He is a Fellow of the Market Research Society, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and also a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting. David is a Certified Management Consultant.
Priya Lobo
ESOMAR Representative, CEO at Ormax Consultants Pvt. Ltd.Priya Lobo is the CEO of Ormax - a leading name in the consumer understanding and brand positioning space in India. Priya has spent over 26 years with Ormax in the art of understanding consumers and representing them in the boardroom. Amongst the very many hats she wears, Priya is also a Mom & Kids expert and a Behaviourial Specialist.
She is an active ESOMAR India Representative and a Managing Committee Member of Market Research Society of India (MRSI).
A true explorer at heart, she has varied interests ranging from trekking, adventure sports like scuba diving & snorkelling, theatre, poetry, baking, visiting museums and ancient historical sites; and is a self-confessed foodie.
priya@ormaxworld.com
Urpi Torrado
ESOMAR Representative, CEO at Datum International, PeruESOMAR member, Representative for Peru and Ambassador for Latin America
Urpi is also Board member of WIN and Executive Member of the Global Research Business Network (GRBN). MBA from Universidad del Pacífico, with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communication and market research. She taught (for ten years) Market Research in post-graduate programs at Universidad del Pacífico and other local universities. Speaker at national and international events such as ESOMAR, TalkIN, IIeX, CIIM, among others. Urpi is a collaborator for several magazines and publications aiming to influence and contribute to the transformation of the insights and analytics business community.
Joaquim Bretcha
Director General at ESOMARJoaquim Bretcha is the Director General of ESOMAR and an Economist at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. As a longstanding member of the ESOMAR Council, he has significantly contributed to the creation and expansion of the International Business Unit at Netquest since 2010. These roles ensure his constant involvement with the international market research community and keep him up-to-date with the latest industry developments.
Previously, Joaquim has held several key positions including Director of Marketing and Purchases at Auchan supermarkets in Spain, Retail Director at Kantar Worldpanel Spain, and Merchandising Director at Carrefour supermarkets in Spain. More recently, he co-founded the NGO "Health us Nepal" which aims to improve healthcare in the remote region of Humla, and he has shared his experiences as a TEDx speaker in England.
Joaquim's motto during his ESOMAR presidency, "Building bridges," reflects his commitment to connecting people and businesses to foster progress. His extensive background defines him as an experienced international manager with expertise in the data, insights, and market research industry. He is a strong business development professional with skills in negotiation, sales, public communication, team engagement, and management.