Raina Rusnak

Head of Market Research & Business Intelligence

Professional Overview

Raina Rusnak is a seasoned market research and business intelligence leader with extensive experience driving data-driven insights and strategic decision-making. As the Head of Market Research & Business Intelligence at StarKist Co., she is responsible for leading a team of analysts to uncover critical consumer and industry trends, inform product development, and support high-impact business initiatives. Additionally, Raina serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Fractional Chief Research Officer at 750 Research, a boutique research consultancy, where she provides strategic advisory services to clients across diverse industries.

Experience Summary

Current Role

As the Head of Market Research & Business Intelligence at StarKist Co., Raina oversees a team of researchers and analysts responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting market data to support the company's growth strategies. She spearheads the development and implementation of comprehensive market research programs, leveraging both primary and secondary data sources to deliver actionable insights that inform product innovation, competitive positioning, and marketing initiatives. Under Raina's leadership, the market research team has played a pivotal role in the successful launch of several new product lines, contributing to a 15% increase in market share over the past two years.

Raina also serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Fractional Chief Research Officer at 750 Research, a boutique market research consultancy. In this role, she provides strategic advisory services to a diverse portfolio of clients, helping them navigate complex market dynamics, identify emerging trends, and make data-driven business decisions. Raina's expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, combined with her deep industry knowledge, has enabled 750 Research to achieve a 95% client retention rate and expand its service offerings into new sectors.

Career Progression

Prior to her current roles, Raina held various leadership positions in the market research and consumer insights space. As the Consumer Insights Lead (Director) at Ahold Delhaize USA, she led a team of researchers responsible for understanding consumer behavior, preferences, and shopping patterns across the company's portfolio of grocery and retail brands. In this role, Raina's insights were instrumental in the development of personalized marketing campaigns and the optimization of the company's omnichannel customer experience, contributing to a 12% increase in customer loyalty and a 9% boost in overall sales.

Earlier in her career, Raina served as the Vice President (Chief Operating Officer) and Assistant Vice President at Greenwald Research, a prominent market research firm. In these roles, she honed her expertise in research design, data analysis, and client relationships, leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact insights that drove business growth for a diverse client base.

Academic Background

Raina holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she specialized in Marketing and Quantitative Analysis. She also earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with magna cum laude honors.

Areas of Expertise

Market research and consumer insights

Business intelligence and data analytics

Strategic planning and decision-making

Product innovation and go-to-market strategy

Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

Client relationship management and stakeholder engagement

Professional Impact

Raina's research-driven insights and strategic recommendations have had a significant impact on the organizations she has served. At StarKist Co., her leadership has contributed to the successful launch of several new product lines, driving a 15% increase in market share. At Ahold Delhaize USA, her consumer insights were instrumental in the development of personalized marketing campaigns and the optimization of the company's omnichannel customer experience, leading to a 12% increase in customer loyalty and a 9% boost in overall sales.

As the CEO and Fractional Chief Research Officer at 750 Research, Raina has built a reputation for delivering exceptional research services and strategic advisory support to a diverse portfolio of clients, achieving a 95% client retention rate and expanding the firm's offerings into new sectors.

Conclusion

Raina Rusnak is a seasoned market research and business intelligence leader with a proven track record of driving data-driven insights and strategic decision-making. Her extensive experience in the consumer insights and research industry, combined with her technical expertise and leadership capabilities, make her a valuable asset to organizations seeking to leverage market data and analytics to drive growth and innovation.