Obituary: Barry Pritchard

AQR was sad to learn of the death at 60 of Barry Pritchard, of a heart attack, on December 28th, 2009.

Founder of The Planning Partnership, his career spanned both qualitative research and, before that, time at three of the UK's best ad agencies (CDP, BMP and GGT). He was well liked and respected in both worlds, and inspired many who are now in senior roles themselves. Behind his soft Scottish burr, his twinkling eyes and his mischievous grin Barry was a staunch defender of great advertising and an attacker of bullshit.

As Disraeli's friend George Smyth says, "He was a cynical sentimentalist who advised people to sip life slowly — and for his own part drank it down at one gulp."

Roddy Glen
Roddy Glen Associates

This article was first published in InBrief magazine, March 2010
Copyright © Association for Qualitative Research, 2010