Today, independent creative agency Big Spaceship continues to expand its experience design, data, and analytics capabilities through the appointment of Tarirai Chivore as VP, Strategy & Analytics and Tiffany Vurek as Experience Director. Chivore will report to SVP, Strategy & Analytics, Dan Bort, who previously held his role, while Vurek will report to Executive Creative Director of Product, Chris Huban.
Chivore will manage Big Spaceship’s research and analytics discipline. Tapping into his deep cultural knowledge of consumer research, he will help the agency’s clients reach new audiences, including Gen Z. Chivore will provide strategic leadership in acting against insights around the attitudes, needs, and behaviors of today’s consumers, developing specific proprietary tools for the agency, among other efforts.
“Big Spaceship is an agency of progress both internally and externally. The team lives the values they articulate, embodying a true culture of diversity, collaboration, and forward thinking,” said Chivore, VP, Strategy & Analytics. “I’m obsessed with custom research and look forward to building new offerings across data, analytics, and performance that meet clients’ growing needs – and help them respond to the next generation’s changing behaviors and attitudes.”
As Chivore enhances its data and analytics offering, Vurek will shape and grow the experience practice, scaling the team and identifying opportunities for Big Spaceship to improve how people experience the brands they engage with everyday in meaningful and valuable ways.
Chivore and Vurek will work across clients including Chase, PepsiCo, Google, and JetBlue, among other brands. Their hires come on the heels of the agency naming Huge alumna – and former Big Spaceship Managing Director – Ranae Heuer as its new CEO, with Founder and former CEO Michael Lebowitz stepping into the newly created role of Executive Chairman.
“Tiffany and Tari’s wealth of knowledge and perspectives will further cement Big Spaceship as the go-to source for cultural and behavioral intelligence, as well as outstanding product and service experiences,” said Ranae Heuer, CEO. “Both have the experience and leadership skills to help us make progress as an agency, as well as for our clients to ultimately drive results and maximize return on investment for their businesses.”
Chivore has over a decade of experience in digital marketing at brands and agencies alike. Prior to joining Big Spaceship, he led data and analytics at Ogilvy’s Social Shop, building social intelligence systems for brands such as Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods, and James Hardie. Chivore also worked at PepsiCo, MRM, and, most notably, Laundry Service, where he developed the analytics practice from the ground up. His career began in publishing at The Economist, where he helped launch the magazine’s social media program before embarking on his agency-side journey across Publicis, IPG, and WPP.
A strategic digital experience leader with nearly two decades’ experience, Vurek has led digital product transformation and omnichannel initiatives worldwide. Prior to joining Big Spaceship, she held user experience roles at FULLBEAUTY Brands, Samsung, Sony, and Gap. Vurek also served as DE&I Advisory Board Chair for the Design Leadership Forum and a leadership member at AIGA New York.
“I love that my job is to deeply understand user behaviors and design experiences to be more human,” said Vurek, Experience Director. “Now, I’m excited to apply my learnings and capabilities to Big Spaceship’s stellar roster of clients. Michael, Ranae, and the entire team share my deep belief in curating a seamless user experience, while also celebrating collaboration and camaraderie.”
