Research Industry Suffers a Big Loss
Unfortunately, I received some very bad news yesterday. Robert S. Shulman, Chairman and CEO of Markitecture, passed away. Robert had a very storied career. Years ago, he was CEO of Yankelovich, Clancy and Shulman and co-founder and CEO of Copernicus. He has over 30 years of consulting experience in new product marketing, strategic market planning and brand development.
Robert was also a Professor of Marketing at the Graduate School of Business, Columbia University. He is the co-author of a number of books including: Simulated Test Marketing, Marketing Myths that are Killing Business and The Marketing Revolution.
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I had the privilege of knowing Robert for over 20 years. In fact Yankelovich, Clancy and Shulman was my first client when I worked for Field Facts way back in 1985. Robert without question was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met in my life. I can still recall a number of stimulating discussions with him regarding the research industry, the N.Y. Yankees and of course his family.
Robert was a very giving person and was on the boards of Immokalee Foundation for Children, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Self Development Corp., Smokenders, Save the Sound, Ocean Conservancy, Temple Shalom and the Westport Arts Center.
To the Shulman family, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
To Robert, we miss you already.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:38 am
I am saddened to hear of Robert’s passing. Robert was a great man, fantastic marketer and world-class salesman. When I was a Yankelovich, his sales abilities were a legend.
When Robert started Clancy, Shulman with Kevin Clancy, he wooed away a few key players from Yankelovich - Peter Krieg, Lisa Carter and myself. We were so impressed with the potential that Robert promised that we easily left a highly respected research firm and joined Robert’s team.
Robert hired me as a senior research associate and later promoted me to Group Vice President. I will always be grateful for his leadership, the skills he taught and the advancement he made possible in my own career.
Today I own my own marketing research and consulting firm, Edna Luther & Associates, Inc. Robert’s entrepreneurial spirit certainly influenced me geatly to have the courage to start my firm.
Robert, I and all of your alumni from Yankelovich Clancy Shulman will greatly miss you and cherish the lessons we have learned from you.
November 28th, 2006 at 8:53 am
Merrill, Thank you for your kinds words. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family but it is the sentiments from people like you that ease our pain.
November 30th, 2006 at 10:15 am
Robert Shulman was, and even with his passing remains one of my most valued and respected mentors. There were things that he taught me that I didn’t realize the value of until years later, indeed I’m sure there are lessons that I have yet to realize and will only discover some time in the future.
I’d lost touch with Robert over the years but his influence remained and his presence was always near, especially when I needed it most. My regret is that I never expressed my gratitude, never told him how important he’d been to me.
There was always tomorrow, the thought that I should give him a call, try to get back in touch; there was, of course, plenty of time. Maybe later, maybe next week, wouldn’t it be good to catch up and tell stories, we’d laugh and even argue again, yes, I should give him a call.
His passing came much too soon. In this there is yet one more lesson he gives.