Research Firm Makes Move in Mobile

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Market research firm Bovitz in Encino has acquired Resolve Market Research, a mobile-focused research shop in Hollywood. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Bovitz specializes in evaluating unmet customer needs to help design new products, advertising campaigns or customer service methods. Clients include Dole Foods, eHarmony, 20th Century Fox and Live Nation.

Resolve focuses on mobile devices and how they change buying habits. The firm has produced several reports on how tablets have changed the way consumers research and make purchasing decisions.

Greg Bovitz, founder and president of Bovitz, said he made the acquisition because all his clients have an interest in the connection between mobile devices and shopping.

“Mobile is emerging as the driver of everything in business,” he said. “Resolve brings relevant expertise in mobile advertising, coupons, e-commerce and iPad use. Those issues are spreading to all the companies we work with.”

Resolve’s four employees have left their offices in Hollywood and moved in with Bovitz’s 28 employees at the Encino headquarters. Bovitz said the combined company is working on its first research project for a large news organization that will explore the delivery of news via mobile phone, desktop computer or tablet.

Ad Inventor

Adconion Media Group, an ad network based in Munich, Germany, has hired Scott Sullivan as global chief technology officer. He’ll work out of the company’s U.S. headquarters in Santa Monica.

Sullivan previously worked at advertising-heavy web publishers, including Edmunds.com, Yahoo Inc. and Tribune Co. In his new job, he will develop advertising formats that work on websites, tablets and TV.

Adconion operates an ad network with a monthly audience of 687 million and offices in 20 countries.

Wheel News

Coker Group, a Chattanooga, Tenn., company that manufactures wheels for antique cars, is the new client for JMPR Public Relations in Woodland Hills.

JMPR, which concentrates on automotive clients, will promote Coker Group through media relations and representation at consumer events and tradeshows within the collector car and aftermarket restoration industries.

Coker products have the appearance of old tires but are built with new materials to meet modern safety and engineering standards. In addition to tires, Coker Group’s business includes a bicycle maker, speed shops and a cross-country rally.

Agencies & Accounts

Team One ad agency in El Segundo has made three hires: Fabio Simoes Pinto, creative director of the Lexus account, who comes to Team One from Saatchi & Saatchi in Los Angeles; Justin Mitchell, a former illustrator who will serve as art director for Lexus ads; and Heather Parke, a senior copywriter for Haagen-Dazs and Ritz-Carlton, who brings experience from BBDO, Deutsch and TBWA/Chiat/Day. Team One is a division of Saatchi & Saatchi. … Pollack PR Marketing Group in Century City is the new agency for executive search firm Stiles Associates. Pollack will handle media relations for New York-based Stiles. … Alex Lang has joined Play Creative TV, an on-air TV promotion agency in Hollywood, as executive producer and creative director. Prior to joining Play, Lang was vice president of creative at cable channel G4. … Levine Communications Office has signed author and TV commentator Lisa Bloom as a client. Bloom, daughter of plaintiffs’ attorney Gloria Allred, has two books in print. … PR firm Wonacott Communications in West Los Angeles has appointed Mark Van Lommel account director for interactive entertainment and technology clients. He previously worked at game publisher Nexon America and on the game team at Edelman.

Staff reporter Joel Russell can be reached at [email protected] or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 237.

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