Top social media analysts leave Forrester and IDC
News is that IDC Research Director Rachel Happe (Twitter handle, blog) and Forrester VP & Principal Analyst Charlene Li (Twitter handle, blogless for now) are leaving their firms.
These departures are big blows for both firms, though in different ways. Rachel was really IDC’s sole expert on social media so her departure eliminates a big piece of IDC’s intellectual property on this market. Forrester has a team of social media experts, so expertise is not the problem. For Forrester, Charlene’s departure is a loss of prestige and credibility as Charlene is one of the most highly visible experts in this market. Obviously neither loss is a fatal blow to either firm, but they need to work to fill the holes quickly.
(Added 7/3/08 at 5 am PT. Links to Rachel’s and Charlene’s blog posts)
Leaving IDC…Joining Mzinga Rachel
Why I’m Leaving Forrester Charlene
Here is an update on Charlene via Twitter “Looking at options, likely will be on my own with a combo of blogging, speaking, consulting, and influence building”
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