Douglas Stafford Operations Director Ben Sargeant celebrates 10th anniversary
By Jamie White – Head of Communications
Douglas Stafford Operations Director, Ben Sargeant, is celebrating 10 years at the Mystery Shopping and Performance Improvement Company.
Douglas Stafford – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – is the UK’s leading mystery shopping company, providing bespoke customer experience programmes to companies in a range of industries across the United Kingdom.
Ben joined Douglas Stafford in 2004 as a Graduate Trainee after completing a Computing and Media degree at the University of Portsmouth. Ben’s first role was in the Quality Control Department, before being assigned to the Special Projects Department. Ben quickly became a key team member involved with Video Mystery Shopping projects and conducted many mystery shops across the UK himself.
Twelve months after joining Douglas Stafford, Ben joined the Field Scheduling Team where it was his role to allocate mystery shopping assignments to the company’s UK network of mystery shoppers. Ben was also involved with training and developing the mystery shoppers, along with testing and purchasing Video Mystery Shopping equipment.
A year later, Ben joined the Project Management Team and held a portfolio of national clients across a range of industries. He played a key role in helping to grow the department.
In 2008, Ben’s responsibilities within the company increased when he was named Field Development Manager. He was instrumental in putting in place a field scheduling structure for its regional controllers in Northern Ireland, Scotland, the North East and the Midlands to enhance the training, recruitment and growth of the mystery shopper network.
Ben said: “Douglas Stafford is a great business to work for and the opportunity and progression that I have seen is testament to a business that wants to develop from within.”
In 2009, due to continued expansion, Douglas Stafford moved its Head Office to 1000 Lakeside, Portsmouth and Ben became Operations Manager. He was put in charge of various departments in the company, before being named as Operations Director in October 2010, overseeing the overall day-to-day running of the company and its departments.
Ben added: “The business is in the strongest position it has ever been in, with continued growth in new business, along with our highest ever client retention level. We continue to invest heavily into all areas of the business, especially our IT infrastructure, to ensure we deliver the best level of service to our clients.
“The transformation of the business that I have seen over the last 10 years has been amazing and something that I feel honoured to be part of. It has only been possible due to having such a great team of individuals working with me.”
