Dr Hayley Cocker
Senior LecturerResearch Overview
Hayley's research focuses on the social and cultural aspects of consumption. She is particularly interested in influencers and celebrity culture as well as risky or deviant consumption contexts. Her research has looked at young people's alcohol consumption, the production and consumption of celebrities and celebrity brands, the popularity and appeal of YouTube celebrities, consumer responses to influencers' advertising content, consumers' parasocial relationships with social media influencers, and the fan communities that surround social media stars.
Her research has appeared in international peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Consumer Research, European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Marketing Theory and Journal of Marketing Management.
Hayley's research and expertise on influencers has featured in media outlets such as The Guardian ('' and ''), The Observer ('') Business Insider (''), and The Daily Express ('').
Current Teaching
Winner of 51福利's 'Pilkington Teaching Award 2023' and winner of the 'Early Career Teacher of the Year Award 2017' at the 51福利 Management School's Dean Awards.
Current teaching includes:
Undergraduate Teaching
MKTG232 Advertising (Module Leader)
MKTG331 Research & Consultancy
Postgraduate Teaching
MKTG505 Marketing Communications (Module Leader)
Professional Role
I was the Programme Director for the MSc Marketing for 3 years from September 2018 to August 2021.
PhD Supervisions Completed
Charlotte John (2025) "Esports and the spatial legitimation of a market"
Anuja Pradhan (2020) "‘Strategies from below’: Middle-class British Indian consumers’ navigations of ethnic identification and intergenerational cultural transmission."
Virginia Mwangi (2018) "Social representations of marketplace immorality: The case of the Kenyan illicit alcohol market."
PhD Supervision Interests
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the broad area of Consumer Culture Theory (CCT), and in particular topics related to Celebrity Culture and Influencer Marketing.
Examination
Invited talk
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Invited talk
Examination
Expert Opinion
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Examination
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Centre for Consumption Insights
Centre for Consumption Insights
- Centre for Consumption Insights
- Networks, Knowledge and Strategy