Dr Mark Thorpe appointed chair of the MRS EDI council

We are proud to announce that Dr. Mark Thorpe FMRS, the Head of Thought Leadership, has been appointed as the chair of the Market Research Society (MRS) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Council. [Read the full announcement here.]

This appointment coincided with the MRS Excellence Awards 2025 celebration, where Mark accepted the EDI Changemaker Award on behalf of the winner, Will Oshiro de Groot. Will received the award for the positive changes he has initiated at the LEGO Group, particularly his work on the Play Equity Framework, which is is helping create a generation who are increasingly engaged and aware of EDI.

Mark’s appointment is not just a personal achievement (though it certainly is that); it also reflects the core values we uphold as an industry. He has long been a leading advocate for inclusion in marketing, communications, and insights. His contributions include helping to shape the MRS Inclusion Pledge, establishing the MRS EDI Changemaker Award, and serving on the board of the Association for Qualitative Research (AQR). Through his work with Truth Consulting and Instinctif Partners, he has been relentless in his pursuit of tangible improvement and unstoppable work towards a better future for everyone. His work has helped us not only look inward as a business but act with integrity outwardly, in how we engage with the world.

In his own words, quoting Maya Angelou: “And still we rise.” He stated, “Every movement for justice, fairness, equality, and inclusion has faced challenges. As long as we are clear about our goals and recognise that we are working for the benefit of all, we will make progress. I have no doubt about that.”

At Instinctif Partners, we believe that inclusion is not merely a trend or a checklist; it is an essential aspect of how we think, behave, and produce quality work. It is morally vital, and it makes us better team members, strategists, communications specialists and partners to our clients and suppliers—and ultimately, better people.