U.S. Industry Analysts
With in-depth knowledge of the industries they serve, our industry analysts help clients understand and react to changes in the market by thoroughly examining the key drivers behind category performance and trends.
Elizabeth Lafontaine
Lafontaine serves as the director of thought leadership, focused on uncovering insights about the retail consumer and crafting stories using The NPD Group’s robust data assets to provide strategic direction to retailers and manufacturers. She works closely with NPD’s senior leadership and industry advisors and analysts to drive thought leadership initiatives across the organization. Elizabeth …
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Kristen McLean
Kristen McLean is the executive director of business development and the primary industry analyst at NPD Books. Kristen is a 25-year publishing industry veteran. Her career has spanned many roles, including retailing, buying, field sales, marketing, and business development. This experience gives her an unusually deep perspective as a market analyst. A widely-recognized expert in …
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Leen Nsouli
Leen Nsouli is the Industry Analyst for The NPD Group’s Office Supplies division. Since joining NPD in 2013, Leen has been focused on providing manufacturer and retail clients with sales and marketing insights, and category management solutions utilizing NPD’s portfolio of data assets to help accelerate growth in brands’ strategic areas of operation. Prior to …
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Mat Piscatella
Mat Piscatella’s career has spanned the entertainment software industry, including tenures with Warner Bros and Activision. His industry experience ranges from business planning, analysis & forecasting, to operational and strategic planning. A self-proclaimed “game geek,” Piscatella has worked in the industry for close to 15 years. Video game brands he has worked on include Call …
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Maria Rugolo
Maria Rugolo is a Director and Industry Analyst of Fashion Apparel heading up NPD’s Apparel Market Insights team, driving insights and addressing industry challenges through deep levels of analysis and expertise. Maria joined NPD in 1999 as an Analyst of retail and consumer fragrance information. In 2011, Maria moved into a fashion apparel role where, …
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Darren Seifer
As the food and beverage industry analyst for The NPD Group, Darren Seifer provides insights to food companies and other food-related organizations based on NPD’s daily tracking of U.S. food and beverage consumption attitudes and behaviors. Seifer continuously monitors all aspects of what U.S. consumers eat and drink away from and in home — plus …
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Natallia Bambiza
Natallia Bambiza, Manager and Makeup Category Analyst at The NPD Group, is an expert in the prestige makeup category. Her passion for data and the category, combined with her prior experience in consumer goods and marketing, helps Natallia address industry challenges through deep levels of analysis and thoughtful insights. Natallia joined NPD in 2018 following …
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Nathan Shipley
Nathan Shipley is Executive Director, Industry Analyst, for The NPD Group’s Automotive Aftermarket division. With more than 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, Nathan works closely with manufacturers and retailers to help them better understand marketplace dynamics through leveraging NPD’s vast array of data resources and expertise. Nathan has presented at industry events …
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John Buffone
John Buffone is an Executive Director, Industry Analyst, for The NPD Group’s Connected Intelligence practice. With over 20 years of experience in the consumer research and entertainment industries, John has advised many of the largest media and consumer technology brands in the industry. He offers his industry expertise on trends that focus on how connected …
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Dirk Sorenson
Dirk Sorenson, Executive Director, Industry Analyst in The NPD Group’s Sports practice, covers the bicycle, outdoor, and team sports equipment categories. Dirk travels extensively to provide insight on the U.S. sports landscape to the cycling and outdoor equipment manufacturing and retail communities. Dirk’s knowledge of data-bound product management strategies is sought after by top global …
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Kristen Classi-Zummo
Kristen Classi-Zummo is a director and industry analyst covering fashion apparel on The NPD Group’s Market Insights team. She provides deep data analysis based on her industry expertise, offering thoughtful insights into the present and future of fashion and retail. Kristen presents industry trends to manufacturers and retailers, including state of the industry presentations and white-space …
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Jacquelyn Wenskus
Jacquelyn Wenskus, Director and Fragrance Category Analyst within The NPD Group’s Beauty practice, is an expert in the prestige fragrance category. Her extensive background in data analytics combined with her knowledge and passion for the industry enables her to provide relevant and actionable insights for brands and retailers across the fragrance market. Jacquelyn joined the Beauty …
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