Leadership Bios

Charles Stannard
Stannard brings to The Bedford Group wide ranging talent and experience that includes marketing and advertising, analytical problem-solving, statistical skills and research applications. Most importantly, Stannard knows how to bring that firsthand experience to bear in solving complex business marketing problems. His skills have been honed over time with more than 30 years of practice working on major national and global brands including McDonald’s, Tums, Nestles, and General Motors.

Stannard began his career on the advertising side of the business, first with Leo Burnett, Chicago, where he was Associate Research Director and later with D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, Detroit where he held the position of Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing and Research. While at D’Arcy, Stannard was responsible for designing/executing research, as well as formulating strategy and brand positioning.

Prior to joining The Bedford Group, Stannard was Research Director with Atlanta-based EarthLink. There, he directed the company’s multi-office research department and managed a multi-million dollar budget, concentrating specifically on advertising effectiveness and segmentation studies that changed EarthLink’s approach to its targets. Stannard has also applied his research acumen to the real estate investment and development business having served as Senior Vice President and Director of Market Research for Security Capital Group in Chicago.

Stannard’s knowledge of marketing strategies and research technology is also academically well-grounded. Stannard has an undergraduate degree in sociology from Colgate University and two advanced degrees — an MBA in marketing from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern University.