The Minds Behind the Insights that Move Markets

Andrea Binder

Vice President
Pet Industry Thought Leader

Andrea has been with NielsenIQ over 12 years supporting retailers across a wide variety of channels and store formats, most recently leading NIQ’s Retail Pet Vertical. Andrea has a strong background measuring and explaining the FMCG marketplace as consumers shift their spending in an Omnichannel environment, store formats continuously evolve, and product innovation moves rapidly.

Andrea is a sought-after presenter for industry events such as Global Pet Expo, SUPERZOO, Pet Industry Leadership Summit and more. As a presenter, she brings the numbers to life for pet retailers, manufacturers, and industry partners.

Anna Mayo

Beauty & Personal Care Thought Leader

As a Vice President of NielsenIQ’s (NIQ) Beauty Vertical, Anna Mayo is a recognized thought leader in the beauty and personal care retailing space. With over 12 years at NIQ, Anna has helped shape the narrative around evolving consumer behavior, guiding some of the world’s largest CPG brands through trends, disruptions, and opportunities in the global beauty landscape.

NIQ’s beauty and personal care insights span 90 global markets, offering the most complete view into omnichannel consumption. In her role, Anna collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver proactive, data-driven strategies and leads thought leadership initiatives for the vertical. She is frequently cited as an industry expert in top-tier outlets, including WWD, CEW, Forbes, and The New York Times.

Chris Costagli

Food Non-Alcoholic Beverages Thought Leader

As Vice President of Food Thought Leadership at NielsenIQ (NIQ), Chris brings over 14 years of expertise in market and consumer research within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. He excels in thought leadership and data storytelling, utilizing diverse data sources to uncover hidden market trends and drive impactful results for major FMCG companies.

In his role, Chris is responsible for generating forward-looking insights that assist brands and manufacturers in navigating the evolving food and retail landscape. He has collaborated with both emerging manufacturers and renowned industry leaders, helping them achieve their goals through actionable, data-driven strategies. His extensive project portfolio spans multiple categories and channels, including traditional brick-and-mortar stores and eCommerce.

Darren Seifer

Vice President, Thought Leadership Home, Family, and Baby

As NIQ’s Vice President of Thought Leadership for Home, Family, & Baby, Darren Seifer (pronounced sigh fur) helps organizations decode how consumers care for their homes and family members. Known for blending analytical rigor with compelling storytelling, he transforms complex consumer and cultural signals into clear, actionable insights.

Darren leverages his 25+ years of CPG/FMCG research experience to help shape strategy, spark innovation, and elevate understanding of the modern household. He is also a frequent speaker at industry events and has been quoted in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC Nightly News, and Bloomberg.

Jack O’Leary

E-Commerce Strategic Insights Thought Leader

As Director of eCommerce Strategic Insights at NielsenIQ (NIQ), Jack brings over a decade of expertise in digital commerce. Throughout his career, Jack has led groundbreaking research on digital, e-commerce, and omnichannel strategies, helping businesses navigate the evolving retail landscape.

Jack has also served as a global consulting leader, delivering tailored e-commerce and omnichannel solutions to clients worldwide. His insights have been featured in several publications, including The New York Times, MarketWatch, Retail Dive, and Supermarket News.

Kaleigh Theriault

Beverage Alcohol Thought Leader

As Director of Beverage Alcohol Thought Leadership at NielsenIQ (NIQ), Kaleigh Theriault brings nearly a decade of experience in data analytics, client consulting, and category expertise. She leads the development of thought leadership across the beverage alcohol landscape—translating complex data into meaningful, actionable insights for brands and retailers.

With a deep understanding of analytics design, reporting, and database tools, Kaleigh has worked across all client levels, delivering strategic guidance that drives decision-making in a dynamic and trend-sensitive industry. From premiumization to the rise of the sober curious movement, her insights help clients stay ahead of evolving consumer preferences.

Rachel Bonsignore

Consumer Trends Thought Leader

As a Vice President on the Consumer Life team at NielsenIQ (NIQ), Rachel Bonsignore is a seasoned market research professional specializing in cultural insights and predictive consumer trends. With over two decades of experience, she helps leading brands across CPG, retail, tech, food/beverage, media/entertainment, and apparel uncover actionable insights and fresh opportunities to stay ahead of market disruptions.

Rachel is passionate about the evolution of consumer culture and the forces shaping the mass marketplace of the future. She previously led custom communications research at Kelton Global, where she developed headline-driven research methodologies for major brands like Pfizer, Charles Schwab, and the National Geographic Channel. Earlier in her career, she developed and executed strategic communications campaigns for clients such as Amazon.com and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

A frequent speaker on current and future trends, Rachel has presented at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show and Nexus conferences. She is also an experienced industry mentor and has been published in ESOMAR’s Research World.

Sherry Frey

Health & Wellness Thought Leader

As Vice President of Total Wellness at NielsenIQ (NIQ), Sherry Frey brings more than three decades of industry experience, helping clients across the fresh, CPG, and wellness industries navigate evolving consumer behaviors and market dynamics. She combines forward-thinking insights with practical strategies, empowering brands to stay ahead in an increasingly wellness-conscious world.​

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With a background in market research, innovation, and consulting, Sherry is a sought-after speaker at national and international industry events. She is frequently called upon by media and analysts as an expert on consumer health, wellness, and environmental trends. Her perspective extends beyond personal well-being to include the interconnected health of people, communities, and the planet.

Steve Zurek

Category and Shopper Insights

As Vice President of Thought Leadership for U.S. Advanced Analytics at NielsenIQ (NIQ), Steve Zurek leads thought leadership initiatives focused on the future of CPG, pricing, promotion, and assortment. With more than 30 years of experience in sales, category development, and analytics, Steve brings deep expertise in understanding shopper behavior, optimizing retail strategies, and driving business growth.

Before joining NIQ, Steve held leadership roles at PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Gillette, Quaker Oats, and Haleon (GSK) Consumer Health, where he developed innovative category and pricing strategies that shaped the industry. A recognized expert in CPG trends and analytics, he has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, CNBC, and Good Morning America.