About us

The specialist of strategic research and marketing consultancy

Manifesto Manifesto

We believe the world is transforming under the influence of the digital revolution.

We consider that marketing is in constant flux, advertisers’ needs are evolving, and the world of research must challenge itself.

However, we are convinced that if one aspect should not change : it is the priority given to consumer centricity.

Brain Value is a new generation research institute, a Consumer Agency.

Our mission is to help brands identify their “power insights” to place the consumer at the centre of their strategy – whether it be in Paris, Shanghai, New York, or in many other countries.

We offer innovative methodologies that cover and combine different research approaches, in order to better answer our clients’ marketing challenges (qualitative-quantitative-digital- semiotic studies).

Our strategic planning team, at the heart of our positioning, enriches the research (workshops, consulting, trends, benchmarks) and helps our clients transform the consumer word into decision-making.

Our research vision

Vision

The successful marriage of research and strategic planning

Announcers’ needs are changing. The world of research, too.

Marketing is in full mutation, but the need for consumer precision remains a constant: it must lie at the origin of any brand positioning, innovation or successful communication.
Throughout the world, Brain Value is helping brands to position consumers at the centre of their strategy.

To do so, there are tools and innovative methodologies, of course, but also accompaniment and counselling to identify your brands’ growth levers and transform the consumers’ words into marketing decision-making

Vision — **The memory factory**
**Created by The Poiriers**

This work, published in November 2016, analyses
key insights and new consumption practices. It
identifies new marketing approaches so as to involve
and seduce digital consumers.

Research is only worth what is done with it, in other words the decision-making that it generates

Expert partners who can provide marketing consulting over and above a research report.
Operational results, which are easily transformable into decision-making.
Solutions from innovative studies, bringing in digital components.
An attention to form, so that the results are presented as visually as possible.

At Brain Value, our conviction is that research is only worth what is done with it, in other words the decision-making that it generates

To better meet these new expectations, Brain Value offers a new view of your consumers, derived from a marriage between research and strategic planning

Innovative research
methodologies:

Digital methodologies (communities, web listening, apps…)
The possible use of implicit methodologies derived from the neurosciences to treat the emotional dimensions associated with a brand.

Specific tools:

Which allow us to go further than classic institutes in our deliverables.
A specific approach to insights, brand platforms and the identification of a positioning.

Strategic planning
modules:

Varied angles of comprehension of your subject, such as semiotic analysis, socio-cultural or marketing trends, or the dynamic of your category.

This new approach is based on a different knowhow that allows us to go further in our deliverables than “classic” institutes:

A great brand expertise and a specific approach to research in our “brand audits”.
Strategic marketing consulting, with specific tools and post-research guidance.
A consumer insight focus and a specific approach to this issue.
The integration of marketing and sociocultural trends in our projects.

Team and Management Team and Management

A team of research experts and marketing consultants

                    
Nicolas Riou
Founder & CEO
A graduate of Sciences Po and HEC, Nicolas has had a long-standing career in strategic planning within advertising agencies (Publicis, TBWA, Euro RSCG) before setting up Brain Value in 2003. Passionate about consumers and marketing, he constantly analyses new trends and their implications for brands.
For a long time, Nicolas taught strategic marketing at HEC and IEP Paris. He has written several books about advertising, new male identities, and marketing. In November 2016, he published “The Digital Consumer”, an analysis of the digital transformation, seen through the prism of the consumer.
When he is not at Brain Value, Nicolas recharges his batteries during long horse rides in the beautiful woodlands around Paris.
Nathalie Ternisien
Executive vice president
A graduate from Dauphine and Sciences Po Paris, with 20 years’ experience in international qualitative research, Nathalie is highly specialized in beauty and luxury research. Passionate about beauty across cultures, her travel provide the opportunity to get connected to beauty trends, innovation and female beauty routines.
Trained in creativity techniques, Nathalie has developed an ideas’ generation programme that crosses consumer connection, strategic planning and creative divergence, as well as training programmes on the topic of marketing insights for senior marketing teams. In everyday life and for leisure, Nathalie is inspired by exhibitions (especially Fondation Vuitton and the Palais de Tokyo), social media and observing women in the street… Absolutely.

Cécile Gorgeon
Partner & Co-managing Director
With 20 years’ experience in the world of market studies, including 14 years in a strategic marketing consultancy, Cécile has gained a solid expertise that enables her to turn insights into inspiring and actionable recommendations across a wide scope of strategic questions (positioning, innovation, brand portfolio, communication, etc…).

During her professional wanderings, Cécile has developed a deep knowledge of sectors such as services, airline transport, health care and beverages (and not just alcoholic ones!). And when she is not working at the other side of the world, Cécile chills out in the South West of France, her adopted region.
Cécile Batho
Co-managing Director
After studying communication at Sciences Po Paris and 10 years’ experience in research institutes, Cécile remains fascinated by her contemporaries’ behaviours. To nourish her clients’ curiosity and strategies and help in decision-making, Cécile focuses on (ethnographies, projective groups, online, semiotics, workshops…) and on the hybridisation of skillsets (sectorial and marketing). Her professional career has allowed her to develop a particular knowledge of industry (automobiles, video games, electrical appliances, fashion…), a field in which she accompanies several major accounts in their brand, communication and innovation issues. Just as curious in her personal as in her professional life, Cécile never says no to a cultural excursion, a journey, or else a new book!

Safia Hoarau
Administrative and Financial Director
Safia has been part of Brain Value from the beginning, following numerous experiences in companies of very varied sizes and activities.

At the crossroads between finance and human resources, Safia is particularly fond of numbers and people.

Equally concerned by the financial well-being of the company as that of her colleagues, Safia spends her time analysing and optimising our organisation.

Emotional intelligence, the MBTI, the Agile methodology, or Mind Mapping form an array of subjects that Safia is passionate about, thus confirming that Safia was destined to join Brain Value! Her motto: "Everything happens for a reason!" Her outlook: "The glass is half full!"

Her totemic animal: a horse!

Sonia
Research Director
After accumulating 5 years of experience as a senior qualitative researcher and analyst in Shanghai, Sonia joined Brainvalue Paris team in 2023. Sonia has assisted various clients mainly in beauty, luxury and home appliances fields, with a particular proficiency in innovation.

Native Chinese, Sonia is also fluent in English, French and Japanese. She has lived in multiple cities in Europe, Japan and Taiwan across her academic and career path. 
Hugo
Strategic Planner
Possessing a dual background in brand strategy and the humanities, Hugo was introduced to the world of market research through his 4 years at Ipsos. Where he worked as a strategic planner and semiotician. He holds a deep fondness for Anglo-Saxon culture, as he lived in a variety of English-speaking countries during his formative years. When his face isn't buried in between two pages of the latest trend book, you'll likely find him behind a set of turntables, deeply absorbed in the construction of hypnotic musical narratives.

Aurélie
Business Unit Director
After migrating from philosophy to marketing, Aurélie joined Brain Value as a research director with 10 years’ experience, including 3 in the USA in California (just great!). An enthusiast of intercultural research, semiology and climbing (!), Aurélie explores the world of beauty and luxury to construct strong brands.
Salomé
Research Manager
Having obtained a research Master in Sociology (specializing in clothing) and a Mastère Spécialisé* in Fashion and luxury management at IFM Salomé began a career in strategic consulting. After 4 years working for companies in various sectors she wanted to get back to her initial passion: fashion. Salomé joined the luxury and beauty unit in June of 2022.

Rachel
Research Executive
With a master's degree in social psychology and marketing, Rachel forged her quali expertise over 7 years at BVA in the retail sector, working with a variety of topics and players. She joined Brain Value's Beauty and Luxury pole in December 2023. A Lyonnaise by heart, and after several years living in Paris, she chose to move to Marseille to discover a new city and enjoy new, sunnier experiences !
Caroline
Research Manager
A graduate with a master's degree in Marketing & Business Development, with 2 years’ experience in automotive client research, Caroline, who is naturally curious, delights in the study of consumer attitudes and behaviours. What are they doing? How? For what reasons? This is what she’s seeking when she meets them in her day job. At the weekend, Caroline likes to find unusual and trendy coffee bars and who knows, you may cross her path during a frenzied Escape Game!

Axelle
 Field Manager
With a degree in International Business, Axelle also holds a License in Retail Business Management which introduced her to Market Research. Before finding herself in the world of market research,  worked in sales analysis, distribution & logistics. Currently Field Manager for French and International projects, with Brain Value since 2022, coming from a previous experience at a Market Research institute in Paris
Simone
Senior Research Manager
Simone has been doing qual research for 5 years in FMCG sector. She joined Brain Value in 2021 after spending 4 years within Kantar Group.

with a master's degree in sociology and anthropology, Simone has always loved to deconstruct logics, mechanisms and make sense of what people do and say.

Besides that, Simone is an undeniable foodie! She loves to improvise home-made brunches, test new pizza recipes and discover the best Afro vegan restaurants in Paris.

Romain
Account Director
With a master’s degree in contemporary history (Paris 1) and an MBA in communication (ESG Paris), Romain joined Brain Value, in the Year of our Lord, MMXVIII (2018), after 10 years’ apprenticeship in the service of Ipsos, on a quest to discover the alchemical secret of a successful marketing study. With his adventurous spirit, his thirst for discovering new music is equalled only by his passion for hoppy craft beverages!
Annabelle
Research Manager
Annabelle has a Master's degree in Social Psychology applied to Marketing, and although she can't yet read other people's minds unllike Patrick Jane, she cultivates her taste for observing and understanding other people's behavior through her work as a qualitative researcher. She has cross-industry experience, with particular expertise in the media field.

Following 5 years' experience in qualitative research with various companies (CSA & Think-Out), she joined Brain Value in 2023 as Group Manager

Kathleen
Field Manager
Kathleen has 18 years’ experience in qualitative study coordination in domestic and international projects.

With 12 years’ experience in qualitative research companies, including 6 years as an independent field manager and now as a part of Brain Value, Kathleen has worked on many different sectors, including cosmetics, skincare, personal beauty and customer loyalty programmes.

Her mother tongue is English. And she is bilingual in French.

As a fan of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, like a Hobbit Kathleen has two breakfasts and often repeats in a threatening tone: “a recruitment in one week never works out.”
Emily
Account Director
Emily has 15 years experience delivering consumer insights and implementing long lasting brand strategies for clients across industries and categories. She believes in working hand in hand with clients and enjoys encouraging them to act fearlessly. Curious, observant, and passionate about human behaviour, cultural trends and differences she is still fascinated how each new research uncovers ‘candies’ in consumers’ thoughts. Thanks to her multicultural & multilingual background (Swedish-Chinese and a TCK) she is particularly well versed in international research. Her studies in Political Science & Economics have shaped her critical thinking and sharpen her sensibility to perceive nuances and greyer areas.

Magalie
Art Director
A graduate with a master’s degree in graphic communication, our artistic director is a maniac without guidelines. She loves above all to create everything, discover new visual identities but also the coffee which for her remains her best ally. Magalie is an eternal compulsive purchaser of plants and spends her free time envisioning a new flowery space in her house.
Benoît
Account Director
He has 10 years’ experience in qualitative research, mostly in the FMCG and Cosmetic sectors, mostly through brand research, exploratory approaches, product development and sensory projects. With a degree in Communication, he joined Brain Value in 2019 after 7 years in the Kantar Group, in charge of the L’Oréal account.

When he is not working at BV, Benoît gets his energy back in his native Landes.

Raphaëlle
Senior Research Manager
Graduated with a Master in Communications from Sciences Po Paris, Raphaëlle quickly branched out into qualitative research, first at Kantar for 5 years, before joining Brain Value in 2021. Qualitative research does not stop at the doors of Brain Value, she loves to understand people and their deepest motivations. Aside from work, she loves to travel. She is constantly in search of unusual destinations, even if Asia and Japan hold a special place in her heart!
Agnès
Account Director
Agnès holds a Master Degree in Literature and History, as well an MBA from the IAE Nancy. After a first experience in culture and 2 years spent in India, she has been working more than 12 years in Consulting and Marketing research.

Agnès joined Brain Value in 2022 after significant experiences at GMV Conseil and then Kantar. She has developed specific expertise in business sectors as Services, Mobility (Transportation and Automotive), Telecom or Industry, with BtoC and BtoB targets.

Since the beginning, she has been fully involved in market intelligence, product and service innovation, and brand strategies.

Céline
Research Director
Don’t be fooled by Céline’s discreet appearance, because her determination to take on new marketing challenges is beyond compare. And when she’s not busy collecting the sharpest and finest consumer insights, she can be found either at an exotic destination, shopping at Zara or competing fiercely in a blind test. 
Sandra
Head of field
Sandra has 15 years’ experience in the qualitative study coordination of domestic and international projects. She has worked on different sectors and subjects, and with her strong experience she accompanies teams throughout their projects to make them run as smoothly as possible. Sandra joined Brain Value in June 2017.

Sophie
Account Director
After taking a master’s degree in Marketing, Sophie spent 7 years at Ipsos before joining Brain Value in 2018 to specialize in cosmetic research. As soon as she has some free time, she likes reading books (with her cat on one side and a cup of tea on the other) and if she has more time, she doesn’t hesitate to fly to Tokyo (her heart constantly torn between karaoke and Japanese gardens).

Barbara
Research Director
Barbara forged her experience and passion for the profession at Think-Out, amid media industries, and players in the worlds of luxury, beauty and services, dealing with various brand, content and communication issues.

She joined the beauty and luxury pole of Brain Value in February 2020.

When not at BV, she can be found at the cinema, in museums – generally contemporary ones – or on a terrace, ever keen to discover new Parisian tables.
Mélisande
Account Director
A graduate from CELSA, Sorbonne, Mélisande cut her teeth at MSM then honed her skills at Ipsos before joining Brain Value. Passionate about brands, she also loves her plants, to which she gives pet names, and works actively to try out all the best wine bars in Paris. 

Marie
Senior Research Executive
After graduating from CELSA, Marie started her career as a strategic planner in an agency before letting her passion for understanding consumer behavior guide her towards qualitative research. One year later, after graduating from the CESSA master's degree and working as a research manager at McDonald's, she joined OpinionWay and then BrainValue, with a strong affinity for food topics. By the way, if you are looking for a good tapas address or the latest fashionable recipe, don't hesitate to ask her!
Anne-Hélène
Senior Research Manager
5 years of experience in Qualitative Research Agencies. Holds a master’s degree in Operational & Strategic Marketing (EM Strasbourg Business School). Prior to joining Brain Value, Anne-Helene worked at PRS IN VIVO for 3 years, where she gained extensive experience in various market research sectors through diverse methodologies, including focus groups, individual interviews, online communities. Her specialisms include pack & product research, concept testing and brand audits.

French mother tongue – Bilingual in ENG – lived in the UK (6 months) & in the US (1 year)

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Isciane
Office Manager
Graduated with a Master's degree in Management and International Trade with many experiences abroad, Isciane is our office manager. She is constantly seeking to improve the quality of life at work. Multi tasky and organizied, she likes to help her colleagues to order their thoughts. She likes to discover new cultures and new flavors but especially Beyoncé!

Claire
Field Manager
Claire can now boast of 8 years’ experience in marketing research and over 2 years in the setting-up and coordination of national and international projects.

She has also worked on such varied sectors as luxury, cosmetics, health or the mass market, accompanying teams throughout their projects.

A keen traveller, she loves to discover new countries whenever she can.
Khady
Accountant
7 years of experience in accounting and management in different structures of different sizes (Total, Transplantation Foundation, Saint-Gobin) have allowed her to acquire solid knowledge in accounting. Khady likes the analysis and the logic of numbers.

Besides counting and calculating all the numbers she sees, she likes to read and is on the lookout for humor shows.

She loves to travel to different countries around the world and discover new cultures.

Johanna
Research Director
Johanna holds a Master's degree in Marketing and Communication from Celsa and is passionate about people and their emotions. Fan of semiology, she likes to deconstruct and analyze signs to understand their impact on people's perceptions - and of course, on emotions! When she is not trying to analyze everything, Johanna likes to learn new things but also to take on new sporting challenges, for example triathlon.
George
Junior field manager
After achieving his master’s degree in Culture and Thought after 1945 at the University of York, George crossed the channel in search of new adventures. Having developed his skills in the setup and management of qualitative studies since his arrival in September 2021, he reinforces the field team which ensures the smooth running of all our projects. Passionate about food, George never says no to a mid-afternoon snack.

Cassandre
Research Manager
Cassandre joined Brain Value in March 2022 as a Research Manager. Previously at Happy Thinking People and with 3 years of experience in qualitative research, Cassandre has worked on a wide variety of marketing challenges (communication, branding, exploratory, ethnographic research, concepts test) across a diverse range of categories (FMCG, Beauty, Fashion, etc.).Passionate about societal changes and the impact these have on consumer behaviors on both a global and local scale, Cassandre is always keen to challenge consumers to unearth insights.

She has a literary background (Hypokâgne, Khâgne, Sorbonne) along with a Master’s degree in Media Management (Dauphine).
Noa
Senior Research Executive
Graduated with a master's degree in Creation and Innovation at CELSA with a Brand specialization, Noa completed her internship at Brain Value in 2021 within the Luxury and Beauty Business Unit. She strengthened her expertise in qualitative studies with a second experience with Kantar. Passionate about luxury, beauty, and anthropology, Noa conducted a 3-month research project in Delhi and Mumbai. She conducted ethnographic interviews with affluent Indian consumers and expert. This study led her to formulate recommendations for luxury and beauty brands looking to target this audience.

Romain
Semiologist
Romain graduated with a master’s degree from Celsa in branding.

An initial four year experience at the Sorgem as semiologist, gave him the opportunity to work within a wide range of industries: food, retail, video games, health, luxury, beauty, fashion...

His fondness for brand strategy, cultural phenomena and social sciences naturally led him to join Brain Value as a strategic planner

Sarah
Research Manager
With roots in cognitive psychology, Sarah has worked with numerous international brands leading multi-market projects across Europe, North America, and East Asia. Her core expertise is rooted in uncovering insights through cross-cultural and multilingual deep-dive studies where brands need understanding of their target on the human, cultural, and behavioral level. She strives to yield actionable insights by unearthing tensions and gaps that underly in the consumers’ relationship with the brand. 

Melody
Account Director
Melody is French but spent part of her childhood in California, making her bi-cultural.

This led to a degree in international business. She ultimately decided to use her skills in marketing consultancy, to help brands uncover rich & powerful consumer insight to support their strategic development across the world.

With 20+ years experience, she has explored the fields of FMCG, beauty and skincare, luxury, fashion and home improvement & design. She has led numerous multi-market projects, to help brands conquer a large diversity of markets all the while establishing cultural relevance.
Naomi
Junior Research Executive
Graduated with a Master's degree in Communication, Media, and Creative Industries, Naomi is first and foremost curious and experimentative.

After discovering, through numerous internships, the world of luxury and beauty, and of sociocultural and generational studies, Naomi launches her professional journey into the world of qualitative research, all while embracing her preferred subjects.

Burak
Financial controller
Turkish native, resident in France since 2011.

Owning a baccalaureate STMG in Finance and Management, a DUT GEA in Accounting and Financial Management as an assistant accountant, a license in Management Control as an assistant controller and currently a Masters in Auditing and Management control as an Assistant Accountant at Brain Value.
Rebecca
RH Manager
Coming from the paramedical sector, relational skills and benevolence have always been my strong points.

Interested in human resources, in particular the quality of life at work and the evolution of team skills, I work to make it my daily professional life.

Curious and versatile, I have a BAC +3 in HR, and in my quest for skills, I am currently pursuing an MBA HR  Digital.

Lisa
Research Executive
Graduated from NEOMA's Global BBA with a specialization in marketing, then from an MBA specialized in Luxury Communication & Strategies at EFAP Paris and NYIT in New York, Lisa is passionate about marketing and cosmetics.

She joined Brainvalue in order to link these two passions.

Travel lover, she has a great experience of foreign countries and particularly the United States where she spent two years: one year in Boston and the other in New York.

Innovative research methodologies:

Specific tools:

Strategic planning modules:

Innovative research
methodologies:

Strategic planning
modules: