MVI is a part of WPP Group, one of the world’s leading marketing services organizations, employing over 90,000 people, working in over 2,000 offices across 106 countries. Kantar Group, a division of WPP, is the “parent company” of MVI and other market research companies. The Kantar Group is one of the world’s largest and most influential research, insight and consultancy networks.
MVI, the retail insight specialists, helps CPG companies, brand manufacturers, financial service organizations, agencies and strategic marketing companies, make better business decisions through a deeper understanding of their retail customers, markets, and their shoppers.
Wayne Levings, CEO
Wayne Levings recently joined MVI as CEO. Wayne brings to MVI extensive experience both working in and consulting across a broad range of industries in developed and emerging markets. He has worked with and advised senior executives on major growth and change strategies at both a global and regional level.
Prior to joining MVI, Wayne was the Group Strategy Director for Glendinning Management Consultants, a division of WPP. While there, he oversaw the development of Glendinning’s Corporate Strategy, Offer, and Practice development. He also served as a member of Glendinning’s main board and led their relationship with a number of key clients, where he managed consulting engagements, helping clients implement sales and marketing strategies.
Wayne started his career at Procter & Gamble, working across a variety of sales and marketing roles in increasingly senior positions in the South African and UK organisations. His key roles included managing National Accounts, leading the Customer Marketing function, and managing multi-functional business units and teams.
Wayne studied Economics and Politics at the University of Cape Town and followed that with a post-graduate degree in Business and Management.
Bryan Gildenberg, Chief Knowledge Officer
Cited frequently in The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and The Boston Globe in the USA, and globally in the China Economic Times, BBC Radio and ETRetailBiz India, Bryan Gildenberg has been MVI’s Chief Knowledge Officer since 2004 and is recognized as a global expert in retail insight. He started at MVI in 1997 as an Analyst.
At Management Ventures, Inc., he oversees MVI’s Analysis and Insight, driving the direction of content with in-depth knowledge and intuitive skills few can match. Additionally, Bryan provides a clear, ever changing and always topical focus on a variety of channels and retailers worldwide.
A prolific writer, Bryan has authored numerous articles online at MVI-Insights and in prestigious third-party publications. An engaging speaker, he has addressed numerous professional meetings.
Bryan Gildenberg received his MBA degree, summa cum laude, from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, Wellesley, MA; and his undergraduate degree from Churchill College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.
Paul Kamisky, Chief Financial Officer
As a member of MVI’s Senior Leadership team, Paul is responsible for overseeing MVI’s overall financial organization including Finance, Accounting, Web Development and the Information Technology teams. He is helping drive the company toward optimal performance focusing on operational consistency, developing a world class website and ensuring a profitable growth strategy.
Joining MVI in April 2005, he brings over 18 years of financial expertise and management experience. Prior to joining MVI, Kamisky previously managed the financial and retail operations of Kane's Flower World focusing on retail execution to compete with the "DIY" and Warehouse Club chains. Prior to that, Paul held the position of Finance Director for Keebler's Southern Region. Paul was a member of the senior leadership team responsible for the conversion to DSD, consolidating Regions and Divisions as well as successfully integration of Keebler into Kellogg’s creating the world’s largest snacks company. He began his career working in the insurance industry at Allstate and Fireman’s Fund performing various roles including the Finance and Planning Manager leading Finance, Accounting, IT, and Customer Service teams.
Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Finance from Georgia Southern University.
Ethan Sinick, Managing Director EMEA
Ethan is responsible for the development of MVI’s products, research, and consulting initiatives in Europe. He conducts retail insight workshops for MVI’s clients in more than 15 countries annually. Sinick has presented key research at major industry events such as, ECR Europe and IFM. Ethan also oversees and contributes articles developed for MVI’s international retail magazine, Selling Global Leaders.
Ethan has led the development of industry leading research on the phenomenon of hard discount growth, market development in Eastern Europe, the future of private label, pan-European product sourcing and category value creation. Under his direction, his strong team ensures that MVI’s insights are grounded in a detailed fact-based understanding of leading European retailers like Tesco, Lidl, Kaufland, Auchan, Carrefour, Metro, Wal-Mart and Amazon.com.
Prior to opening MVI’s first European office in London during 2003, Ethan was based in MVI’s global headquarters. Ethan graduated Cum Laude with a BA in English and History from the University of Rochester in New York, USA.