Bruce Friend

Biography

Bruce Friend is an industry-leading media and marketing insights executive who has amassed over 25 years of global experience in multi-media and entertainment brand research and strategic planning. Through the acquisition of Vision Critical’s Research & Consulting business in February 2016, Bruce continues his leadership role as President of Global Media & Entertainment at MARU/VCR&C. In this role Bruce oversees the development and management of Media & Entertainment client partnerships across all of MARU/VCR&C’s research technology product and service business lines.

Previously, Bruce served as President of Ipsos OTX MediaCT upon the acquisition of OTX by Ipsos in March 2010. At Ipsos Bruce oversaw the Mendelsohn Affluent Study and all global media and technology company relationships headquartered in the US. In 2003 Bruce joined OTX as President of Client Development overseeing the client service, marketing and sales functions across all divisions – including corporate development, new business development, marketing, research design and analysis and managing existing client partnerships. While at OTX he built OTX’s industry-leading Media and Entertainment Insights practice from $4 to $40 million in annual revenue, helping make OTX one of the fastest growing research companies during that time (18th largest US. at time of sale to Ipsos).

Prior to OTX Bruce held senior executive research positions at some of the top global media and entertainment companies, such as Sony Pictures Entertainment, MTV, Nickelodeon, HBO, The Disney Channel, Telemundo Group Inc., Saatchi & Saatchi and Y&R Advertising. Throughout his career Bruce has pioneered research innovation in the areas of TV, Music, Film, Gaming, the Internet and other media-related content and technology, and is a recognized expert in global youth media and culture.

Over the course of his career Bruce has been an active member of the Media Ratings Council (MRC); the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF); the CTAM Research Council (a TAMI Award recipient); the Multi-channel Advertising Bureau (MAB); the International Advertising Association (IAA); the European Society of Marketing and Advertising Research (ESOMAR); and the National Association of Minorities In Cable (NAMIC). In 1994 he co-founded the international cable industry organization, TAP-LA (TV Association of Programmers – Latin American) and was instrumental in launching TGI in Latin America.

Bruce is a distinguished elected member and Treasurer of the Market Research Council of NY. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of PwnIt (social video game co.), the Board of Visitors of the University of Alabama’s College of Communications and Information Sciences and on the Alumni Board of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University Of Massachusetts. In 1999, Bruce received the prestigious Chancellor’s Award (the highest honor bestowed by the University) from the University of Massachusetts for his service and dedication to the University in the areas of Child Developmental Psychology and Media.