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Canada-based global trend-tracking and prediction technology firm RIWI has acquired the majority of the assets of survey and non-conscious data collection platform CoolTool. At the same time, the company reported 2023 revenue up 50% to $US 4.18m, relecting a previous acquisition. More
Kantar Media has promoted Rachel Macey to serve as Managing Director, TGI & Insight, UK and Ireland, replacing Sarah Sanderson who is stepping down. The firm has also promoted Trevor Vagg to Director, Insight, leading Kantar Media's Insight and Sport teams. More
British firm STRAT7 Jigsaw has promoted Sarah McKee to the role of Managing Director, taking over the day-to-day running of the business from founders Ann Morgan and Sue Van Meeteren, who will move to focus on key accounts and improving collaboration between Jigsaw and other STRAT7 Group companies. More
London-based retail testing tech firm Virtual Store Trials (VST) has appointed Jenny Hall as Research Director. More
Argentina-based mobile panel and synthetic data specialist Livepanel has announced the launch of a platform called N-INFINITE, which it says allows clients to self-generate synthetic survey data in a matter of minutes. More
Strategic insight consultancy Firefish has hired Ajibola Bolarinwa as a Director in its US business, based in Los Angeles. More
In the US, Dylan Mabin is leaving out of home (OOH) audience measurement body Geopath, after sixteen years with the organisation and three as its President. He will stay until a replacement has been recruited and onboarded. More
UK-based brand and communications research agency The Nursery has appointed former 2CV exec Rob Hartley as Head of Social Research. More
Kantar, has appointed James Lavell in the new role of Chief Commercial Officer for its Profiles Division - the group's Centre of Expertise for panel management as well as home to its portfolio of custom research services. More
London-based Streetbees, whose platform captures and analyses in-the-moment feedback via mobile from 3.5 million 'bees' around the world, has integrated photo and video capture capabilities into its AI-powered market research tool, SBX. More
Legislation in the US state of Nebraska which would have taxed 'advertising', explicitly including ad measurement and effectiveness research, has been pulled from the slate before a vote, according to the Insights Association, which was part of a coalition opposing it. More
Berlin-based experience research software platform Brainstork is entering the UK market, and has hired Ben Leet as UK Partnership Lead on a freelance or 'fractional' basis. More
Purchase transaction insights firm Behaviorally has partnered with China-based eCommerce giant Alibaba to offer the former's pack testing products on the latter's TMIC (Tmall Innovation Center) platform, allowing users to assess the impact of packaging design and eCommerce visuals in the country. More
Ipsos has reported continued solid growth in the first quarter of the year, with revenue up 4.5% in organic terms, to EUR 557.5m. The EMEA and Asia Pacific regions led the way with revenue up more than 9% in each case (organic) while the Americas saw a 3.2% decline. More
NIQ's digital product content division Brandbank has launched a new product data optimisation solution, Content Health+, providing insights into category comparison and content benchmarking. More
UK insight agency Simpson Carpenter has appointed Alexander Holmes as Senior Research Director with expertise in Automotive, Digital Entertainment and Tech, while Martyn Turze joins as Research Director heading up a new specialist sector, Sports. More
Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of legendary ad agency Ogilvy UK, has joined creative effectiveness platform DAIVID in the capacity of Strategic Advisor. More
DIY online survey pioneer SurveyMonkey has promoted Priya Gill to Global Head of Marketing, leading its marketing strategy and execution across all markets. More
UK marketing budgets grew strongly in Q1, although slightly less rapidly than in the previous, record-breaking quarter, according to the IPA's Bellwether report. Slightly more respondents reported rising market research budgets than falling, reversing the trend of the previous quarter. More
Former 2CV, GfK and Walnut Unlimited researcher Antonio Margaritelli has joined London agency Disrupt Insight as a Research Director. More
First party data specialist TestSet has launched in the European market, backed by recently-launched research and data sector investment firm ACKWEST Group. Leading the region from London as MD is Colin Turner-Kerr, joined by Dina Patel as Director of Operations. More
In California, veteran food and beverage product development firm Mattson has announced the acquisition of Chicago-based Hyde Park Group Food Innovation (HPG) - giving it its first location outside the Bay Area of San Francisco. More
In Leeds, UK, insight agency STRAT7 Researchbods has launched an AI survey chatbot which it says will improve data quality and participant engagement for its clients, bringing deeper insights from open-ended questions. More
Research tech company SightX has promoted Cameron Rau to a newly created position, Head of Customer Success and Research, responsible for helping customers make the most of the company's new products and approaches. More
Panel company Intra Research has appointed Helle Raun Oddershede as its new CEO, taking over from Marina Moshenska who moves into the role of Chief Operating Officer. More
Insights technology and panel provider Toluna has appointed Lucia Moir as Chief Operations Officer and promoted Priyanka Sarkar to Chief Research Officer. More
AI-based consumer research platform Bounce Insights has brought in Aaron Peck as Regional Commercial Director, North America, as it expands into the US. The company has also added Ian Kiernan to its board as Non-Executive Director. More
British-based insight agency Opinium has promoted Wez Eathorne to the new role of Global Head of Brand, Comms & Product Research. More
New York- and Austin, Texas-based b2b restech company Emporia Research has secured $4.7m in a seed round of funding, to expand its platform's capabilities. This will include further investment in AI, engineering, sales and data partnerships. More
British online audience measurement body UKOM has appointed 25-year Nielsen exec Sarah Miller as its Technical Consultant. More
Customer insights firm DMR has announced the appointment of nine new staff, having completed a successful first institutional funding round at the end of 2023. More
In California, marketing firm Power Digital has enhanced its nova Intelligence platform with the launch of Creative Affinity, an ad creative analysis module designed with support from Meta engineers. More
Manchester-based startup North AI has secured £280,000 grant funding from the UK's Innovation Agency, and a further £300,000 in a round led by SFC Capital. The firm provides an AI-powered predictive insights platform for the media and entertainment industry. More
In New York, UX research ops specialist Rally has raised $8.8m in funding, to help promote it to a wider audience and further develop its technology. More
London-based marketing group Unlimited, parent of insight agency Walnut, is to join Accenture Song, the business services behemoth's 'tech-powered creative group'. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. More
London-based researcher High Tech Dev has rebranded as HTAIR, reflecting a significant change in its mission and vision (focused around AI); and has appointed Nigel Woodliffe as Chief Customer Success Officer. More
Nordic and DACH-focused small and medium-sized business specialist Nalka Invest is to acquire European data collection firm Norstat from its current parent, Triton, for an undisclosed sum. More
London-based Truth Consulting has announced five promotions: Catherine Anstead, Victor Reynoso and Kate Stratton become Directors, while Taiye Akin-Akinyosoye and Tom Sweeney are now Senior Consultants. More
Purchase transaction analytics specialist Behaviorally has announced a number of recent promotions, including Ethel Klein and Mavis Tong to VP Customer Success, Stephen Omogbehin to Vice President, IT, Coraline Petipas to Director, Customer Success and Natasha Gonzalez to Director, Behavioral Qualitative. More
In the UK, MR industry veterans and Firefish execs Jem Fawcus and Richard Owen have launched a new company, QualifyAI, with a mission 'to automate qualitative research without stripping it of its humanity'. The partners say this is possible for the first time thanks to AI. More
Washington, DC-based research consultancy PSB Insights has promoted Colleen McCauley to SVP of Marketing, serving on the firm's Executive Team and working directly with CEO Dave Gordon. More
Santa Monica, CA-based research tech firm Fuel Cycle has enhanced its Research Engine platform with the addition of Universal Connections, a feature allowing users to run projects from within insight communities using their preferred insights tools, whether or not they are fully integrated with the platform. More
Custom market research firm AMC Global has appointed Jennifer Binelli as Senior Research Director, Strategy & Insights, and made a number of promotions including Ashley D'Annunzio to VP of Qualitative Insights and Reene Kalola to Senior Research Director, Strategy & Insights. More
US-based international data collection and research tech company Sago has launched a formal specialist Health offering, building on longstanding expertise in the sector and fronted by EVP of Healthcare Shannon Childs. More
UK-based strategic research and planning consultancy STRAT7 Incite has continued a recent series of senior hires, bringing in Alex Banks as Senior Principal. Last month John Tearle and Emma Davies rejoined the company in senior roles. More
Manchester, UK-based product intelligence platform Vypr has appointed Glenn Porter as Chief Commercial Officer. More
Ohio, USA-based MarketVision Research has promoted Colleen Hennegan to Senior Vice President, recognising her leadership of the firm's successful Online Communities practice. More
Data collection and research services firm Bilendi & respondi has extended the functionality of its BARI AI-powered research assistant to include quantitative projects. More
Canadian insights association CRIC has launched annual awards for the country's analytics and research professionals. More
Ipsos has announced senior role extensions for five employees in its qualitative division Ipsos UU, in India, as it gears up for product launches and 'ambitious growth targets'. The five are Sapna Parmar, Neha Dutta, Shelly Jain, Geetika Singh and Ashwini Sirsikar. More
In New Jersey, USA, healthcare reputation management and patient feedback solutions firm rater8 has closed a Series A round of funding, for use in expanding its market reach to medical practices and hospitals of all types and sizes, and growing its team. More
Web and app digital experience analytics firm Glassbox has appointed former Instructure exec Michelle Suzuki as Chief Marketing Officer. More
Florida-based immersive advertising technology firm Trivver has unveiled technology which it says is the first to allow brands and organizations to measure viewability metrics in Extended Reality (XR) environments. More
UK-based consumer and B2B researcher 2CV has announced eleven promotions, including Chris Oatey and Jon Smetherham to Regional Directors, responsible for leading the Asia team based in Singapore; and in the UK Kar Hoo Lee to Associate Director of Data Services and Abigail Plank to Associate Director. More
In the US, the 'Joint Industry Committee' (JIC) formed in January 2023 to provide more rapid accreditation of ad currency providers than the MRC has awarded full certification to Comscore and VideoAmp, but delayed a final decision on iSpot until June. More
Technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group has announced the launch of a new AI software research practice, via its software insights division Ventana Research. The launch complements that of the Group's Enterprise AI Advisory business, launched in January. More
Consumer information and credit reporting company TransUnion has partnered with researcher MRI-Simmons, promising clients 'improved actionability across the addressable marketing ecosystem'. More
Texas-based data collection and research solutions provider Veridata Insights has promoted Jennifer Miller to Vice President of Global Qualitative Solutions, and Paul Mastrianna to Senior Director of Sales, while Natalie Blahut joins in a full-time capacity as Qualitative Project Manager. More
In the US, Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. (RMS) has appointed retail operations veteran Doug Sweet as Administrative Office Coordinator. More
German CX management software company moveXM has announced the acquisition of two Dutch SaaS sister companies specializing in customer and employee feedback and customer review software - Feeddex BV and 5-Star Specialist BV. More
In Birmingham, UK, full service social research agency M.E.L Research has appointed Ayesha Lynn-Birkett as a Senior Research Executive, and promoted Angela Parton to Telephone Unit Manager. More
Consumer intelligence provider NIQ has partnered with burger giant McDonald's USA to develop a new module called Cultural Resonance, part of its BASES ad testing portfolio. More
MCI, a tech-enabled business services conglomerate headquartered in Miami Beach, FL, has agreed to acquire Atlanta, GA-based Market Force Information, whose range of CX solutions includes customer feedback surveys, mystery shopping, operational audits and competitive benchmarking. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) as issued a joint statement with the 'JIC' set up at the beginning of last year by OpenAP, the Video Advertising Bureau and a group of TV broadcasters - to clarify the distinct roles and approaches of the two bodies. More
Dutch insights-based consultancy SKIM has appointed Adrien Bourgeois as Relationship Director, based in Paris and responsible for driving the growth of client partnerships in France. More
Eponymous online survey firm SurveyMonkey has promoted Jing Huang to VP, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Katie Miserany to SVP and Chief Communications Officer, and Craik Pyke to VP, Infrastructure and Security Engineering. The firm now boasts gender equality at both the C-Suite and VP levels. More
In London, Havas Media Network UK has joined cross-media measurement initiative Origin, completing the representation of the global marcoms networks within the programme. There are now 51 funding stakeholders in total including advertisers, media owners and advertising agencies. More
Australian owned agency TKW Research Group has launched a new call centre in Suva, Fiji, promising 'CATI-quality data at online survey prices'. More
Insights and experience tech company PG Forsta has appointed Mike Thompson as Chief Analytics Officer, and says he will drive the development of new AI-driven capabilities and products, following the company's commitment to invest $500 million in the area over five years. More
British Out-Of-Home (OOH) measurement body Route has promoted General Manager Euan Mackay to the role of Chief Strategy Officer, leading the organisation's strategic direction as it readies for a new research contract starting in April next year. More
London-based audience researcher RSMB has appointed Alison Finch as Client Account Lead with responsibility for radio audience currency RAJAR, replacing Anne Robshaw who is leaving the company after seventeen years. RSMB is an independent company jointly owned by Kantar and Havas. More
Southeast Asia-based qual and quant marketing intelligence and panels provider Divergent Insights has appointed Swagata Moitra Ghosh to its Leadership Team as VP Global Research and Insights. More
In the US, Comscore has been granted accreditation by the Media Rating Council (MRC) for the Total Household Rating and Average Audience estimates in both its national and local TV Time Based Grid reports. The award means Comscore is currently the only company accredited for its local TV measurement. More
Ipsos has launched an Out of Home (OOH) advertising solution promising to help users assess and optimise OOH creative in as little as 24 hours. More
US-based online data collection company Full Circle has appointed Dynata veteran Jason Henderson as a Sales Manager with a focus on West Coast customers. More
In Australia, video-based insight consultancy Qualie has appointed Lena Kelly as Senior Researcher and Strategist. More
Mishcon de Reya (MDR Group), a business services group with a focus on legal advice, has launched a market insights and analytics business called MDRi, providing strategic advisory services to businesses worldwide. Simon Tye will lead the new division as Chief Executive Officer. More
US firm Decision Analyst has promoted Bonnie Janzen to President, taking over the role from founder Jerry W. Thomas, who continues to serve as CEO More
British-based ad impact measurement and forecasting specialist System1 Group Plc has appointed Mike Perlman as Chief Commercial Officer and Alex Banks as SVP of business development for The Americas. More
In the US, neuro- and behavioral science specialist HCD Research has appointed Rachel Czapla as Senior Director of Global Research and Consulting. More
This month sees the launch in London of a new agency, Wren Insight, focused on customer closeness and led by qual researchers Jude Terry and Hannah Beech. More
Market Research charity the MRBA has three days to run on its 2024 auction. Bidding for two tickets to Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras tour (Wembley Stadium concert, August) currently stands at £1,500, but those with more modest budgets can bid for bottles, days / meals out and other items. More
European research agency Bilendi has appointed Cecilia Glauser as the Country Manager for Sweden, replacing Björn Söderlin. More
Birmingham, UK-based qual insights platform Voxpopme has a new CEO. Andy Barraclough is a co-founder of the firm and until now served as its CTO. He succeeds Lonnie Mayne, who moves to the role of Chairman of the Board. More
Former ORC and Join the Dots / InSites Consulting exec Edward Wheeler has joined BVA BDRC as Head of Business Development. More
Consumer and B2B research agency 2CV has promoted Sabine Cronick to the role of CEO of UK/EU, and James Redden to CEO of US and APAC. More
San Diego-based omnichannel consumer data and analytics platform Daasity has acquired Red Fox Analytics, which provides analytics for for retail-focused CPG brands, for an undisclosed sum. The combination promises merchants online and off-line sales, distribution and marketing data in one place. More
In the UK, Samsung's advertising division has become the first CTV backer of Origin, the ISBA's cross-media measurement programme. More
Attention measurement specialist Amplified Intelligence has teamed up with photo sharing app Snapchat and media agency OMD to assess how audiences engage with Snapchat's augmented reality (AR) Lenses. More
US measurement standards organisation The Media Rating Council (MRC) has appointed Hannah Bolcar as Director, Measurement Audit Operations. More
US-based insights and strategic consulting firm M/A/R/C Research has appointed Michael Feehan as Senior Vice President and Practice Leader in its recently-expanded Health and Well-Being Division. More
SurveyMind, a UK-based AI transcription and analysis start-up, has announced upgrades including single-click analysis of transcripts to reveal key themes, differences and connections between a predefined set of interviews. More
In West Palm Beach, Florida, MR industry veterans Hugh Davis and Keith Price have launched ACKWEST Group, a holding company which will focus on buying and developing emerging tech-driven enterprises in the consumer insights and marketing services sector. More
Former Dynata Chief Gary Laben has joined retail and consumer goods analytics and inventory optimisation firm Trax, as CEO. More
UK television and video ad currency provider Barb has announced a major upgrade to its CFlight cross-media campaign reporting service. The tool now promises advertisers and agencies comprehensive campaign performance data against fourteen key traded audience groups. More
Canadian-owned market research and analytics firm Leger has upped its stake in remote, AI-driven advertising test platform CUBE AI to 51%, having been a minority shareholder since 2022. More
In Toronto, Canada, survey software firm Q-Fi Solutions has been acquired by co-founder and CTO Rafael Mangra, who is relaunching the company with a range of branded solutions. Mangra was previously a minority shareholder while the majority of shares were owned by The Logit Group. More
Recently-launched research operations hub BioBrain has appointed Market Xcel veteran Ashwani Arora as Director of Strategy and Insights, and a Partner in the business. More
President Biden has signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024, which among most other federal agencies provides the U.S. Census Bureau with its budget to September 30th. At $1.382bn, the Bureau's fund is well below the $2bn that Census stakeholders had urged. More
In London, Verve has announced the promotion of its former Joint Head of Insight Richard Preedy to the newly created role of Executive Director and Head of Artificial Intelligence. The firm is 'relaunching' itself to emphasize its focus on 'three intelligences': Artificial, Human and Cultural. More
Australia's Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) is to expand its regional audience surveys, conducted by Xtra Insights, to include more markets this year, while for the first time CATI surveys will be supplemented by the launch of online survey sampling in eight markets. More
In the US, consumer insights firm C+R Research has partnered with Nexxt Intelligence to offer clients 'deeper and more insightful responses' from survey participants using AI. More
UK audience measurement authority Barb has promoted Caroline Baxter to Chief Operating Officer, with a remit to work alongside CEO Justin Sampson on driving the organisation's move towards cross-device measurement and total campaign performance reporting. More
North of England-based, employee-owned research consultancy DJS Research has announced eleven promotions across its Research and Operations teams, including Kieran Hart to Senior Research Manager, and Claire Williams, Olivia Holt and Lucy Holland to RM. More
Research platform Discuss has announced a Spring round of new product features, including expanded GenAI summaries for global research; a new one-stop-shop consumer reach tier for global brands; off-platform research capabilities; and enhanced machine transcription. More
Similarweb has announced the acquisition of ad intelligence specialist Admetricks, whose software will now form the core of a new Similarweb Ad Intelligence product. More
In the UK, business-to-business insights forum The Business Intelligence Group (BIG) is to be reintegrated as a network of the Market Research Society (MRS), a status it held in the 1990s before moving to independent operation. More
Manchester, UK-based fieldwork firm Omnisis has teamed up with business and politics publication The Economist to launch an interactive tool predicting how people may vote in the next general election. More
UK-based MR operations company Cobalt Sky has appointed Mina Odavic as Head of Business Development, overseeing relationships with key clients and generating new business opportunities. More
EMEA communications firm Instinctif Partners Group has appointed Julian Walker as CEO; having recently added Jim Donaldson as Non-Executive Chair, and Dr Matilda Andersson as MD of its subsidiary, British-based insight firm Truth. More
Adelaide, Australia-based attention measurement specialist Amplified Intelligence has appointed Anthony Capano as EVP Global Head of SaaS. More
US-based audience measurement company VideoAmp has unveiled a big data and technology 'engine' called VALID, which measures and targets cross-platform audiences and promises more efficient media spending, higher conversion rates and more accurate data for publishers. More
Insight and customer analytics group STRAT7 has announced twenty-one appointments / promotions, including four senior promotions at Crowd DNA, and the creation of eight new roles. More
NIQ, the consumer intelligence company previously part of Nielsen and now combined with GfK, has launched a Global Media Division, which it says is 'designed to enhance the value advertisers derive from their marketing efforts' - and has appointed Lana Busignani to lead it. More
Behavioural understanding specialist iMotions has unveiled EduLabs, a platform integrating biometric technology solutions for use by academic institutions, departments and students. More
Digital ads trade body IAB Europe has published a first set of European recommendation for metrics and measurement standards covering Retail Media digital advertising. More
Fitchburg, MA-based MR services and technology firm Jibunu has launched MR-LEAP, a solution designed to redefine efficiency in survey programming services. More
Rakuten Insight Global has announced the integration of Singpass, Singapore's national digital identity, as part of its proprietary panel verification process. More
Ipsos has launched InnoExplorer, which uses generative and analytical AI to help clients accelerate innovation cycles 'from months to days' and improve success rates. More
Leap day - also apparently known as Rare Disease Day - sees the launch of a new insights company, PatientSight, operating a subscription based platform connecting life science organizations with survey findings for rare disease patients, analyzed and displayed in dashboards. More
Brand tracking specialist Tracksuit has raised $13.5m in Series A funding, which it will use for its official launch in the US and UK markets, and to expand its research and platform capabilities. More
AI-based insights firm Yabble has updated its synthetic research tool Virtual Audiences, allowing users to upload and integrate their own proprietary datasets to tailor the personas of synthetic respondents to suit their business. More
In the US, former Ipsos execs Dana Keilman and Nicole Munsey have launched Morning Light Strategy, which will provide insights and strategic guidance for clients looking to drive growth in the 50+ market. More
Mike Trotman, We Work With Data co-founder and long-time ASC committee member who worked on some of the standards which have guided the technical side of the profession over the past twenty years, passed away at the end of January. More
Marcoms group Stagwell has reported full year 2023 revenue of $2.53bn, down 6% year on year, and adjusted EBITDA of $360m, down 20%. However the company reports strong new business, good growth in EMEA and for its Marketing Cloud suite, and is forecasting a return to growth in 2024. More
Marcoms group Stagwell, the owner of the Harris Poll and Harris X brands as well as Maru Group, has launched a new global research community called Unlock Surveys, with plans to add more than 200,000 high-quality, active survey members in 2024. More
London-based Humankind Research, which specialises in research for positive social impact, is adding a team offering standalone quantitative projects, and has hired Laura Moore and Amy Watson to lead it as Head of Quant and Quant Research Director, respectively. More
Insights platform mTab has secured $15 million in growth credit financing, from Kayne Anderson Growth Capital, with which to accelerate its global expansion, add customers in new industries and continue enhancing its technology. More
In the US, Allison Wilt and Steve Ingledew have launched ContextualY, a specialist B2B research agency whose four founding Principals between them boast more than a hundred years of experience supporting technology clients and stakeholders. More
GenAI-based consumer emotion and sentiment specialist Glimpse has appointed former Cint and Dynata researcher Mike Steinberg as Vice President of Business Development. More
New Jersey-based applied behavioral science insights agency has appointed Brian O'Hara as VP of Business Development, and Trisha Nagpal and Anushka Bhansali as Behavioral Associates. More
In Antwerp, Belgium, design-tech company iVisual has launched AI-based branding and packaging intelligence technology which it says will 'transform the way companies develop branding and packaging'. The new firm has appointed Julie Dumoulin as its CEO. More
WPP has reported preliminary results for the full year 2023, with revenue (less pass-through costs) of £11.86bn, up 0.9% on a like-for-like basis, and operating profit down more than 60% to £531m. More
Germany-based facility and data collection provider quotapoint has appointed Stephan Schmid, former Managing Director of Schlesinger Group Germany, as Director / Member of Management. More
In Canada, qual research tech firm Recollective has launched two new services, Recollective Connect and the Recollective Qualtrics Integration, helping research agencies and brands to engage their research participants 'seamlessly and efficiently'. More
Ipsos has reported organic, constant currency revenue growth of 8.8% for the fourth quarter of 2023, and 3% for the full year, with operating profit stable at an all-time high of 13.1%. More
The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) has launched a new Socio-Economic Classification System, ISEC, which it says is 'far more representative, stable and less volatile' than its predecessor, NCCS. More
Research tech company SightX has appointed former US marine Dr. Brad Smith as its first VP of Strategy, with a remit to lead advancements in user-centric innovation, enhance user experience and bolster the company's go-to-market capabilities. More
Transaction data specialist Behaviorally has expanded its business development team in New York with the appointment of Director Peter Cloutier, and in Chicago where Shane Schultz joins as a Manager. More
CX and research tech group Forsta has appointed Jason Saylor, formerly of MAXimum Research, as Business Development Director. More
In Congress, New Jersey Republican representative Jeff Van Drew has introduced legislation which would close down the annual American Community Survey (ACS), which replaced the old decennial census long form in 2005 and is described as 'essential to the development of representative samples'. More
US-based healthcare sector insights firm Apollo Intelligence has acquired GlocalMind, a tech-driven MR services and panel company operating in the same sector. More
Chandler, Arizona-based researcher Ironwood Insights Group (IIG) has announced the acquisition of Maryland-based qual provider The Research Group and its focus groups and recruiting division Observation Baltimore. Barbara Gassaway, President and founder of The Research Group, joins IIG. More
In the US, OvationMR has recently made three appointments: Alex Sutter has been promoted to VP of Qualitative Insights while Cara Christensen and Hiram Santiago join the company, both with the title of Director, Insights Solutions. More
Yahoo has launched a rapid insights solution called PurpleLab, based on Qualtrics technology - initially in Australia and Southeast Asia. More
Longtime Ipsos exec and current Global Head of Audience Measurement Liz Landy is to leave the company at the end of this month. Daniel Wong-Chi-Man will step up to Lead the Audience Measurement Service Line globally, while Ipsos iris leader James Oates will add responsibility for the business in the UK. More
In San Francisco, consumer insights, marketing strategy and training firm Ignite 360 has announced that founder and Chairman Rob Volpe will resume his role as CEO from next week, as current Chief Lisa Osborne leaves for an insights leadership role at a healthcare nonprofit. More
Ipsos has appointed former Ofcom and Aviva exec Kerri-Ann O'Neill as Chief People Officer for UK and Ireland. More
Packaging, NPD and shopper specialist PRS IN VIVO has appointed Richard Bordenave as global Chief Behavioral Officer. More
In the US, broadcasting and publishing network Nexstar Media Group has appointed Stacey Lynn Schulman as its first EVP, Platform Marketing and Intelligence. More
Kantar has announced a partnership with computer vision and attention measurement specialist Realeyes, integrating the latter's Verify identity recognition software into the former's anti-fraud software QubedAI. More
Glassbox, which provides data and insights on the digital experience for web and mobile applications, has launched a new solution called 'Voice of the Silent' (VoS). The firm says traditional VoC programs capture feedback from an average of only 4% of customers. More
UK-based agency Firefish Group has announced five promotions and seven new hires across the business. Fenella Twohig, Ciara Larkin, Rebekah Smith, Karen Chong, Chloe Lee, Jamie Robertson and Jonathan Dance all join the company. More
Harrogate, Yorkshire-based firm Harlow Consulting has appointed Kathryn Purdy as Research and Operations Director, and Joel Galilee in an entry-level Researcher role. More
Ipsos India has expanded the role of Archana Gupta, adding responsibility for Shopper Research and for developing the firm's base of young talent; and has hired former NIQ exec Malavika Mani as Executive Director, servicing large accounts in the west zone. More
Northern European mystery shopping and customer service improvement specialist Dive has acquired Danish mystery shopping firm Shoptimizer. More
UK-based agency davies+mckerr has appointed former Crowd DNA Director David Power as Head of Quant. More
succeet, one of the world's largest MR trade shows and the biggest in the DACH region, is to move from its traditional October slot to February, with 'succeet24/25' due to finish a year from today. The organisers say the move is in response to requests from long-standing exhibitors and associations. More
London-based insights consultancy Savanta has launched a new customer experience framework which it says will help companies more accurately drive revenue growth. More
In the UK, audience measurement body Barb has awarded the contract for a new piece of research, the CFlight Landscape Study, to insights consultancy BVA BDRC. The work will help barb to estimate TV audience size and profile for various platforms and to understand the dynamics of household VOD consumption. More
Online sample marketplace and research tech company PureSpectrum has appointed former Ipsos, Nebu and Bilendi exec Ian Roberts as Business Development Director for EMEA, based in London. More
In London, year-old digital MR agency Potentia Insight has announced six new hires across its project management, information security and analytics divisions: Abubaker Omer, Steve Burton, Bill McDivitt, Vanessa Jackson, James Edwards and Shaun May. More
US firm Ironwood Insights Group has appointed Jeb Bullis to lead the expansion of its Ironwood Online offering, and Stuart (Stu) Cohen to focus on the growth of its full service division. More
Australian market research technology platform Glow is developing its sustainability metric the Social Responsibility Score (SRS) as a standardized, cross-industry initiative and says it is currently being integrated into the offerings of Kantar, PwC Australia and other research and advisory businesses. More
Canada-based sister firms Rival Technologies and Reach3 Insights have appointed Kristine Steuart as Chairperson and two new members for the Board, Ipsos veteran Gary Bennewies and serial entrepreneur Brian Craig. Meanwhile Paula Catoira, who in a previous employment was Steuart's Chief of Staff, is promoted to CMO. More
PureSpectrum has appointed former Qualtrics and Dynata employee Mani Padmanabhan as Senior Client Director for Asia, based in Singapore. More
Canada-based analytics and MR solutions provider Torfac has appointed Srinivas K M as Director of Client Development, based in Bangalore, India. More
Customer and employee experience firm Medallia has announced four AI-based innovations - Ask Athena, Intelligent Summaries, Smart Response and Themes - geared to personalising customer and employee experience; and has launched a fully self-service MR tool, Medallia Agile Research. More
London-based brand measurement company On Device Research has appointed Gulshan Mahay in the new role of Account Director, in its commercial team in the UK. More
Ipsos has appointed Ziad Issa as the new Media CEO in the MENA region, succeeding Elie Aoun who has decided to step down after 32 years at the company. More
In the US, newly launched data collection firm Fusion Healthcare Fielding has launched the Health System Executives Panel, comprising C-Suite and Director level executives from healthcare organizations from hospitals and clinics to health systems and managed care entities. More
Consumer intelligence provider NIQ has announced two key leadership changes in the Asia Pacific region. Pacific MD Megan Treston will transition to a regional role as APAC Consumer Panel Service (CPS) Product Lead, while recent arrival Pete Sheridan steps into her old role. More
Consumer data giant Circana has announced changes to its commercial organisation including the appointment of former CPG sector President Jeremy Allen as Chief Commercial Officer. Tim Bush, currently President, General Merchandise, will retire by the end of the year after two decades at Circana and NPD. More
In New York, Nielsen has announced it will expand coverage of its National TV out-of-home (OOH) panel this year, in order to 'fully represent all US TV households'. More
First-party data provider Dynata has recently appointed long-time Toluna marketing leader Janice Caston as EVP of Marketing, and Rebecca Bello as VP Product. More
Nielsen is suing rival TV audience measurement firm VideoAmp for alleged infringement of two recently-issued patents concerned with the correction of viewing data skewed by 'phantom' or 'zombie' viewing. More
Food, facilities and hospitality services provider Sodexo has announced the global launch of an Accelerator Programme with categories for entrepreneurs in data analytics and customer experience. More
Former Ugam Solutions and Discuss exec Vinay Raj Rao has launched BioBrain, a platform which claims to 'seamlessly connect the entire research ecosystem' for improved efficiency and deeper insights. More
MR operations company OpinionRoute has announced three senior appointments: Kayla Cousineau has been promoted to COO, Mary Herzak hired as SVP, Growth, and Richard Ratcliff promoted to the new role of Chief Trust Officer. More
Within the BVA-BDRC group, data collection and analysis firm Perspective Research Services has promoted Jade On to Commercial Director, and Henri Dubier to Client Services Director; while mystery shopping and auditing company ESA Retail has added Ops Director Chris Kennedy to its Board. More
Agile and automated market research platform Zappi has appointed Nataly Kelly as Chief Marketing Officer and promoted Babita Earle from EVP of Global Enterprise Partnerships to International MD. The firm also recently hired Melissa Clucas as CFO. More
Brand measurement company On Device Research has appointed Allan Breiland in the new role of Research Director ANZ, tasked with expanding and tailoring its brand measurement solutions across the region. More
Human8 has promoted Amy Perifanos, previously VP of Commercial Solutions North America, to global Chief Portfolio Officer, with a seat on the Global Leadership Team. More
Automated in-home product testing platform Highlight has announced changes to its leadership team, with the appointments of Priyanka Carr as COO and President, and Deirdre Norris as VP of Product. More
French audience metrics company Médiamétrie has announced that its UK subsidiary TAPE Consultancy will be rebranded to operate as part of Glance, its international division. More
Australia-based insights and data business Pureprofile has announced revenue up 8% to $AUD 24m for the half year ended 31st December, and EBITDA of $AUD 2.4m, up 6% or 21% on a like-for-like basis. More
UK-based 'human understanding' agency Walnut Unlimited has announced eleven recent promotions, including that of Becky McGee to Research Director and Yaasir Aslam, Alex Baines, Rachel Ellis and Adam Gilbert to AD roles. More
Minneapolis, MN-based consultancy Foresight Strategy has appointed Luke Lilienthal as Business Analyst, Jakob Anderson as Associate and Kaela Haines as Office Manager. More
Toluna has appointed Lucie Claire Vincent Ortiz to its Board of Directors. As a senior operating executive in multinational consumer product companies, including Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Philip Morris International, she will advise the Board with a particular focus on the needs of this sector. More
In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has given permanent status to its Business Insights and Conditions Survey (BICS), which was introduced in 2020 as a rapid feedback tool for how companies were coping with Covid-19. More
Manchester-based kids, parents and family specialist The Insights Family has secured a £5.6m investment, with which to continue and accelerate its rapid global growth. More
Software business Enghouse Systems has combined features from its Nebu and Survox products and rebranded them as Enghouse Insights. More
Healthcare specialist Research Partnership has launched a new Alzheimer's Disease tracker in Germany, Japan and the US, as part of of its syndicated Therapy Watch series. The firm plans to expand the service to other key European markets this year. More
Purchase transaction insight provider Behaviorally has announced the launch of GLADYS, a platform collating and analysing data extracted from the moment of purchase to give clients real-time insights to launch effective packaging designs. More
London-based ad measurement and impact optimisation firm DAIVID has promoted its EMEA MD Barney Worfolk-Smith to the role of Chief Growth Officer. More
US-based insights agency OvationMR has agreed to acquire AI-driven qual platform Qualibee, for an undisclosed sum More
Fresh from appointing a new Board President last week, West Dover, VT-based nonprofit insight industry education and training institute MRII has announced the appointment of four Board members: Tatyana Bacon, Katie Gross, Finn Raben and Stan Sthanunathan. More
Chicago-based full service custom qual and quant firm C+R Research has appointed Erin Barber as President and Chief Client Officer, and Paul Metz as CEO. Former President and CEO Robbin Jaklin has retired after 36 years at the company. More
In the US, healthcare MR firm Klein & Partners has announced a strategic alliance with recently-formed brand optimization and corporate strategy specialist thinqinsights. Their stated long-term goal is to merge the two organizations. More
Mainz, Germany-based consumer insights and research tech firm Horizon has partnered with London's Bolt Insight, promising to provide clients with 'dynamic, conversational and behavior-driven consumer data in the pre-market phase'. More
Insights consultancy Nature has appointed Gareth Joe, formerly Associate Strategy Director at branding agency Principals, as Brand Strategist. More
Ipsos India has appointed Shrutika More as Country Service Line Leader for the Creative Excellence vertical, with immediate effect. She joins from pharma firm Abbott Healthcare. More
Denmark-based behaviour analytics software firm iMotions has launched version 10 of its platform, promising 'deeper research possibilities with enhancements for setting up, building and managing studies and study design'. More
MR and analytics group YouGov has promoted Tom Fisher to Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), aiming to deepen its relationships with blue-chip clients. More
Agile research tech and hyper-niche panels firm Borderless Access has appointed Robert Pierson as Head of Business Development for the US and Canada. More
Dynata has appointed three senior directors: Derek Brown as VP Australia and New Zealand, based in Sydney; Michael Fegan as VP North Asia, based in Hong Kong; and Russell Carter as Country Manager in Singapore. More
London-based Firefish Group has rebranded its quant and data analytics business the numbers lab as 'Firefish Data', reflecting its evolution into an agency delivering 'fully connected, integrated and agile human insights consulting, driven by AI, connected data and new technologies'. More
New York-based Radius Global Market Research has acquired London's Strive Insight Limited, for an undisclosed sum. More
Nonprofit insight industry education and training institute MRII has appointed a new Board President, Jonathan Lepisto of U.S. Bank, who has been a Board member since 2017. More
Insights tech and panel provider Toluna has promoted Scott Axcell, formerly Head of Marketing for North America, to Chief Marketing Officer. He also joins the executive leadership team. More
Shanghai-based fieldwork and research services provider Holden Healthcare has welcomed a partner in Korea to its Asia Physician Panel Alliance (APPA). Seoul agency Nownfuture joins existing partners Seed Planning in Japan and The Owl Consulting Company in Taiwan. More
Insight and communities firm Verve has announced eighteen promotions across its locations in London, Manchester, Sydney, Iasi (Romania) and Johannesburg, including the appointment of Kim Howard as Semiotics Research Director. More
In the USA, medical MR company MedSurvey has appointed Laurie Shapiro as SVP of Global Partner Strategy, helping to expand the firm's global capabilities and partnerships. More
Susan Sabanos has joined US data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd as Vice President of Research & Strategy. More
In the USA, retail Voice of the Customer solutions provider First Insight, Inc. has acquired SnapRetail, a digital marketing platform helping retailers and brands to boost in-store traffic and online sales - for an undisclosed sum. Both companies are based in Pittsburg. More
European data collection and research tech firm Bilendi & respondi has enhanced its Discuss multi-channel research platform, adding moderation skills for its AI research assistant 'BARI'. More
In Washington, DC, WPP-owned research and analytics consultancy PSB Insights has appointed former Phoenix Marketing International VP Dr. Qi Jiang as Vice President of Advanced Analytics. More
Hamburg, Germany-based market research platform Appinio has announced two appointments geared towards rapid expansion: Samer Ragheb as Director of Marketing and Viktoriya Vasileva as Director of People & Culture. More
Insights and CX platform DISQO has promoted David Karp from VP of Customer Success to Chief Customer Officer. More
WPP is examining a possible sale of its remaining stake in Kantar, according to sources quoted by Bloomberg. More
Insight agency Vital Findings has appointed Iwan Thomis, formerly a Partner at Material+, as Chief Strategy Officer. More
British-based consumer and sensory researcher MMR has appointed Evelyn Huang to head up its qual research in China. More
GfK has completed the sale of its European Consumer Panel Services business (CPS GfK) to YouGov, a divestment required under competition law as part of the German-based global group's merger with retail data giant NIQ. The deal has been valued at around EUR 315m. More
Community-centered CX and insights firm Alida has a new CEO: Efrem Ainsley is promoted from COO to succeed Ross Wainwright, who recently stepped down from the role. More
Canada-based analytics and MR solutions provider Torfac has appointed Eric Harring as Senior Director of Client Development, US, based in Texas. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of I&O Research, described as the largest research agency in the public sector in the Netherlands. More
Audience data and omniscreen measurement tech firm SambaTV has announced a partnership with independent cross-media dataset HyphaMetrics, combining data from the former's opted-in devices and the latter's panel. More
Real-time brand tracking and campaign evaluation firm Delineate has appointed former Publicis Sapient exec James Betteley ('JB') as its new Chief Technology Officer. Former CTO James Stewart transitions to a newly created Chief Operating Officer role. More
Texas-based data collection firm Veridata Insights has appointed former Dynata exec Justin Wilbur as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), and says it added fifteen to its headcount in 2023. More
European data collection firm Norstat has completed its integration of UK company Panelbase, which assumes the Norstat name as of today. More
Kantar Media may be up for sale in 2024 for 'as much as £1bn', according to reports on Sky News. More
In Pittsburg, USA, retail sector VoC specialist First Insight, Inc. has launched an app called My INSIGHT, promising merchants, designers and planners better understanding of their consumers for purposes including assortment building and rationalization. More
US professional body the Insights Association has announced four new members for its Board of Directors: Kai Fuentes of Ebony Marketing Systems; Katie Gross from Suzy; Microsoft's Barry Jennings; and Jim Lane of Directions, Inc. More
French TV measurement company Médiamétrie has expanded its services to measure viewing across four screens as well as Out-of-Home, as of this month. More
New York-based consumer insights firm Buzzback has launched a new qualitative research platform called Studio, aiming to make custom qual a 'dynamic, agile and easy experience' without sacrificing quality. More
In London, media measurement and optimisation platform Integral Ad Science (IAS) has rolled out Quality Attention, a new product combining media quality, eye tracking and machine learning. The firm says the resulting transparent metrics will help advertisers increase ROI and boost conversions. More
US-based insights firm Echo MR has rebranded as '10K Humans', a name it says reflects 'the incredible community of individuals who make us who we are', rather than simply products and services. A number of new solutions have also been added to the portfolio. More
The Insights Family, which provides intelligence focused on kids, parents and families, has relocated its Manchester headquarters to a larger space in the city centre, and has launched in the Republic of Ireland - described as its first 'Tier 2' market. More
Multicultural marketing agency Sensis has launched a specialist transportation division, SensisConnect, with a focus on public engagement / consultation and optimising communications. More
In the UK, Leeds-based full service agency Boxclever has appointed Lisa Lawrence as Operations Manager and Lucy Hampson as Quantitative Director. More
In Mumbai, professional body the Market Research Society of India (MRSI) says the country's market research and insights industry grew by 17.6% in 2023, reaching $US 2.9bn - the world's third largest, overtaking China. The Society expects further strong growth to $3.4bn in 2024. More
Insights group Human8 has announced a change of leadership at its cultural and creative consultancy Space Doctors. Co-founder and MD Fiona McNae will leave the company at the end of this year, after 22 years, to be replaced by Gareth Lewis and Cato Hunt. More
In New York, MSI (The Marketing Science Institute), has announced the appointment of Dr. Tulin Erdem as its next Academic Executive Director for a two-year term beginning on July 1st 2024 - succeeding John G. Lynch Jr. The Institute is a division of the ARF. More
London-based research operations platform Ayda, which facilitates fast and easy payment of incentives to respondents, has appointed Susie Spencer as Digital Product Design Consultant, and Ben Leet and Laura Lilienthal in contract / 'fractional' roles as CFOO and CMO respectively. More
At fast food chain McDonald's, former VP Global Insights and Analytics Michelle Gansle has been promoted to Chief Data and Analytics Officer. More
Ipsos India has appointed former Nielsen exec Unni Hariharan as Executive Director leading its Tech and Ecommerce business. More
Consumer data and analytics firm NIQ has announced the launch of NIQ Labs, an innovation center which it says will 'harness the collective power of top-tier talent and capabilities acquired through strategic M&As'. More
DRNO's News Editor of seventeen years Mel Crowther passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Mel has been a wonderful colleague and the driving force in making this publication what it is today, as well as a well-loved figure in the industry, and I'm sorry I know her loss will come as a shock to a lot of you. More
Leeds-based MR agency Blue Yonder Research has expanded its team with five appointments: Louise Emmerson and Gabriela Butler as Trainee Research Executives, Tracy Hodgson as Sales and Purchase Ledger, Michael Holmes as Data Analyst and Dario Carvalho as Trainee Field Executive. More
In Chicago, fast-growing agency QualSights has appointed Tod Johnson and Karyn Schoenbart to its Board of Directors. More
Boston, US-based data management and workflow automation tools specialist Formstack has acquired Chicago-based DIY online surveys firm Formsite. More
UK-based B2B, healthcare and tech sector researcher RONIN International has appointed Venu Bendapudi as Vice President of US Sales. More
In Southampton, PA, USA, medical MR company MedSurvey has appointed Sonia DeMarco as Vice President of Strategic Accounts, leading strategic partnerships and ensuring overall project success. More
UK-based pharma researcher Purdie Pascoe has launched a US office and appointed Sabera Hyderally as Head of MedTech. More
London-based research operations platform Ayda has expanded its incentive payout capabilities to offer payments in USD and Euros - and its country coverage to 52 states worldwide. More
Manchester, UK-based agency Mustard has appointed Steven Searle as Data Operations Manager, Anna Hilliard as an SRE and Jennifer Burke as an MR Apprentice. More
New York-based CPG industry customer insight platform Yogi has announced a $10m Series A round of funding, with which to accelerate growth including product development and the expansion of client support. More
Consumer research platform GWI has appointed former OAG tech leader Nick Dearden as CTO, based in its UK headquarters in London. More
Marcoms group Stagwell, the owner of the Harris Poll and Harris X brands as well as Maru Group, has announced European expansion plans with the launch of a 'global hub' office in London next month, and the promotion of James Townsend to serve as its first CEO of EMEA. More
Veteran UK commercial broadcaster ITV has created a new team, The ITV Insights Group, bringing together its experts in market and media research, analytics and data science. The team will be led by Neil Mortensen, previously Director of Audiences. More
US-based tech insight provider Discuss has enhanced its capabilities for scaling qual research with the latest release of its People Experience Platform, featuring expanded 'Genie' generative AI tools and advanced global asynchronous research features. More
Australian TV audience measurement body OzTAM says its Virtual Australia (VOZ) measurement solution is on track for launch in 2024, with media agencies set to begin embedding the VOZ database in their systems in the coming months. More
Automated research tech provider quantilope has launched an AI 'co-pilot' called quinn, which it says will drive efficiencies in advanced method consumer research. The tool was developed in partnership with Microsoft. More
London-based consultancy Thinks Insight & Strategy has appointed former Ipsos exec Andrew Johnson as a Partner: and Paul Carroll and Jonny Harper as Directors. Eoin Campbell joins as an AD and Lucy Keartland as Research Lead. More
'In The Moment' emotive analytics firm Blue Yonder Research has been granted a patent in the US, UK and Europe for its Clickscape technology, which links measured emotions to specific moments in real time. More
Savanta has announced the acquisition of North American-based shopper insights agency Explorer Research. More
Ipsos has appointed Eleni Nicholas as Chief Client Officer, with seats on the firm's Executive Committee and Group Management Committee. More
UK ad currency provider Barb has awarded three contracts for audience measurement services: MetaBroadcast retains the metadata contract and adds the provision of interim overnight programme logs, while Clearcast will provide interim overnight commercial spot logs. More
Insights technology and panel provider Toluna has confirmed key leadership positions including regional Managing Directors, following its summer acquisition of MetrixLab. More
Kantar has launched a research panel focusing on the beauty industry in India, continuously tracking and reporting purchases made by shoppers across four categories: face, eyes, lips and nails. More
The Board of Washington, DC-based opinion researcher American Directions Research Group (ADRG) has appointed Kevin M. Kelly as its new Chief Executive, effective immediately. More
In Vancouver, BC, Canada AI-based engagement and survey platform ThoughtExchange has secured $13.5m in equity financing, with which to expand its operations and footprint. More
Research platform Fastuna has launched a 'conversational agent' named Mia, which it says will deliver insight and generate ideas. More
In New York, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed Tom Lynch to lead its Workforce Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (WIDE). More
Co-innovation and experience strategy consultancy Bounteous has expanded its leadership team with the addition of two new Senior Vice Presidents. More
We are 25! On 29th Nov 1998 the first job ad appeared on mrweb.com. We're celebrating with the relaunch of our directories, under a new brand and with an ambitious new approach; and with Thank You's to our regular advertisers and some special offers for new ones. More
Kantar Australia has promoted Mark Kennedy and Colin MacArthur to the joint role of Managing Partner, Consulting, replacing Dennis Wong who is leaving the company after fifteen years to pursue his own freelance consulting business. More
Healthcare and life science insights firm Apollo Intelligence has appointed Susan J. Young as Chief Financial Officer. More
UK-based insight and foresight platform Signoi has launched a tool called Personalysis, aimed at transforming data sources such as segmentation reports into lifelike Personas. More
As the only charity supporting the research industry, the Market Research Benevolent Society (MRBA) is making a special push in December to help colleagues in financial need this Christmas and New Year. More
Consumer insights platform Getwizer has appointed veteran media and entertainment researcher Bruce Friend as its new CEO, replacing Gilad Gans who has held the role for the last three years. More
US firm Aha Insights Technology has launched Aha Moments, a rapid response video capture solution, including a tool for making video highlights reels as well as AI-powered analysis features. More
European data collection specialist Norstat has reappointed Marc Leimann as its new Managing Director in Germany, starting January 1st. He previously held the role from 2015 to 2020. More
Mobile survey tech company Livepanel has appointed former Delineate Chief Ben Leet as a Strategic Advisor. More
Dubai-based consumer research company Twentify has launched a tool called Qualsight.ai, promising more effective qualitative research with help from AI. More
UK TV audience measurement and ad currency body Barb has outlined a timetable for its upgrade to unified TV advertising metric CFlight. The organisation has also hired Luca Vannini for the newly created role of Head of Campaign Audiences, leading delivery of total campaign reporting. More
US firm InContext Solutions, which offers 3D simulation software for retail, has launched a behavioral insights prediction model called Arrangement AI, using machine learning and AI prediction models to generate insights for planogram arrangement concepts. More
SurveyMonkey has rolled out its new technology - 'Build with AI' - globally. The software is powered by OpenAI and more than twenty years' of the company's data, allowing users to draft a survey by just describing the desired survey or goal. More
In the US, full-service data collection and fraud prevention solutions firm Rep Data has appointed Karen Gardner as Chief Financial Officer, while Riley Croft joins as Vice President of Sales. More
European data collection specialist Norstat has appointed Birgit Aasmäe as Managing Director of its business in Estonia. More
Consumer testing platform Stickybeak, which recruits respondents for testing and research through social media platforms, has partnered with online sample marketplace PureSpectrum to ensure clients can reach 'any consumer niche anywhere in the world'. More
In the US digital marketing agency Marketwake has acquired Punchlist, a no-code visual-first feedback management and collaboration tool - for an undisclosed sum. More
Jude Olinger, CEO of US research firm the Olinger Group has announced that after three decades he will step down from his role to 'pursue a new opportunity' outside the MR industry. Michael Vasquez, who joined in 2022 as EVP of Client Solutions, is taking over the CEO role. More
Insights consultancy Verve has launched an AI-generated solution called 'Intelligent Personas', which generates personas representing source segments within community panel datasets. These can be substituted for real respondents in difficult or repetitive research projects. More
British Out-Of-Home (OOH) measurement body Route has hired Eda Incekara as its first Marketing and Insight Manager, while Aidan West joins from CCData in the new role of Data Engineer, to help automate, 'wrangle' and surface Route's audience data. More
In the US, industry body the Insights Association (IA) has hired Shannon Danzy for the new role of Senior Director, Research Strategy, with a remit to provide its membership and the insights and analytics profession with data needed to improve the quality of their research practices. More
US-based agency Kepler has incorporated YouGov's Profiles and BrandIndex solutions into its service, to provide clients with market intelligence on a range of categories, for use in media planning and buying decisions. More
UK-based cross-party thinktank Demos has merged with non-profit Engage Britain, which focused on policy-making and research spanning citizens assemblies, community conversations, and democratic tech tools such as Pol.is. The Engage Britain brand has now ceased to operate. More
British-based reputation specialist Echo Research has partnered with UAE-based branding and creative comms consultancy All About Brands to provide on the ground support to its clients based in the region, supported by its existing teams in both the UK and USA. More
Manchester, UK-based full-service pharmaceutical insight agency Blueprint Partnership has been re-named 'Beyond Blue'. More
In the UK, recently opened research agency Disrupt Insight has appointed former Walnut Unlimited exec Holliday Fitch-Peyton as Director. More
In the US, full-service MR and consulting firm Accelerant Research is to acquired boutique marketing insights agency Voccii. Terms of the deal, which will close at the end of the year, have not been disclosed. More
Kantar has launched a proprietary attention framework, which uses facial coding and new gaze monitoring components to give advertisers measures of both active and passive attention, and uncover how well ad content captures the attention of viewers on a second-by-second basis. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has expanded in Melbourne and Sydney with eight new hires, including Joe Curran in the newly created position of Head of Operations. More
In the UK, digital market research agency Potentia Insight has hired Danny Kelly as Director of Data Processing and Mark Ellis as Associate Director. More
Research tech firm SightX has launched a Generative AI 'consultant' called Ada, which the firm says can suggest which experiments to run, and build projects to provide users with the best audience to target. More
Healthcare industry insights provider Real Chemistry is expanding its European presence, with the addition of four new leaders and the opening of a second UK office, in Manchester, early next year. More
In the UK, government-funded public body the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has announced a £17m investment, to establish two new bodies and address major societal challenges via research into human behaviour. More
Behavioral science consultancy Protobrand has appointed former Nielsen and MarketCast employee Andrew McDonough as Director of Research, based in its Boston office. More
Media and entertainment giant NBCU has made EVP of Measurement and Impact Kelly Abcarian redundant, according to a report in industry publication Ad Age. Chief Data Officer John Lee takes over her previous responsibilities relating to measurement and research. More
UK-based strategic insight and customer analytics group STRAT7 has launched a generative AI tool called strat7GPT, which ingests and analyses unstructured data uploaded from any text-based source, including verbatim survey responses, transcripts, PDFs, presentations and call logs. More
Consumer intelligence business NIQ has launched an omnishopper panel, which exceeds 30,000 Australian households and provides data for around 70 retail banners across a number of sectors. It is underpinned by a mobile consumer rewards app which captures data from 250,000 receipts per month. More
Consumer and sensory research agency MMR has appointed long-time Kantar exec Ansie Collier as Global Innovation Director, working remotely from South Africa. More
Asia-focused online MR specialist GMO Research has launched an API connection method called 'Organic Sampling', which it says will enhance targeting accuracy, improve user satisfaction and promote a 'significant uptick' in survey completion rates. More
London-based insights and analytics growth consultancy Freemavens has appointed former Black Swan Data exec Lauren Warnock as Analytics Director, while former Kantar Consulting exec Stephanie Holt joins as Senior Consultant. More
Ben Marks, the founder and former CEO of London-based youth insight and panel business YouthSight, has set up a new MR agency called Electrify Research, aiming to improve understanding of home-owner decisions on heat pumps, EVs, rooftop solar and other green home options. More
US and European commercial real estate intelligence firm Green Street has acquired London-based Local Data Company (LDC), which provides proprietary data and insights on the British retail and leisure market. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
US-based family entertainment and dining group CEC Entertainment has hired Mark Kupferman as Chief Insights and Marketing Officer for its flagship brand, Chuck E. Cheese and its virtual kitchen brands. He also takes overall responsibility for all insights and research. More
Toluna has confirmed its senior team following the June acquisition of MetrixLab. The firm's Chief Sales, Research, Technology and Financial Officers will remain in role while former MetrixLab Global HR Director Hans Verhulst becomes Chief People Officer and Jolique Weelink Chief Insight Officer. More
In Canada, online community platform Recollective has hired long-time tech sector sales exec Costa Constantakis as Chief Revenue Officer, responsible for driving returns while developing and executing strategies to support the firm's next phase of growth. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Dijana Justic as Global Director, Marketing Communications. Eline Witteveen, Peter van Drunen and Romeo Ramaekers have also joined the company with the title of Research Expert. More
European data collection group Norstat has handed over management of its research panel in the Republic of Ireland to its newly acquired UK subsidiary Panelbase. More
Consumer data giant Circana has announced an agreement to give clients of marketing tech company The Trade Desk access to its Media Lift solution, providing authenticated audience targeting and multi-retailer measurement. More
Dallas-based personalization platform Monetate has launched a Journey Analytics tool, allowing users to view and evaluate customer experiences and behavior, including comparison of different promotional or operational variants under consideration. More
UK-based real-time brand and campaign tracking firm Delineate has announced a round of promotions, including Steffan Evans who becomes Production Director in the firm's new Technology and Operations Centre, opened in Wales last month. More
Less than a year after setting up its ad intelligence unit Vivvix, Kantar has sold it to US-based MediaRadar, which now aims to become 'the definitive source of advertising data and insights'. More
In London, agile consumer insights platform aytm (Ask Your Target Market) has appointed research tech veteran Johnny Caldwell as Client Director, EMEA & APAC, supporting its continuing expansion into global markets. More
Marcoms group Stagwell, which owns the Harris Poll and Harris X brands as well as Maru Group, has announced a revenue decline of 7% to $618m, for the third quarter of 2023. It has also announced the acquisition of social media marketing solutions provider Movers and Shakers LLC, for c.$15m in cash. More
Vilnius, Lithuania-based consumer data platform provider Syno International has promoted Mantas Stirbys to serve as its Chief Operating Officer. More
Qual insights platform Voxpopme, known for its asynchronous video surveys and analytics, is launching an AI-powered tool called Live Interviews, promising to make in-depth qualitative research 'faster, smarter and more economical'. More
In the US, evidence-based healthcare consulting firm KJT Group has appointed long-time Market Strategies International exec Katy Palmer as SVP Strategic Accounts. More
In the US, former TNS and Lynx Research Consulting exec Chris Hauck has launched a new agency, SCORE Metrics, which aims to improve on traditional NPS methods by setting responses in a competitive context. More
Harrogate, UK-based qual and quant research and consulting services provider Harlow Consulting has appointed two new Associate Directors, James Legard and Carolyn Black. More
Strategy consultancy The Forge has appointed Laura Halliday as a Director in its Brand Strategy practice, based in London. More
UK-based Ascential, the information and analytics company once known as EMAP, has announced it will sell its digital commerce and consumer research units for around £1.4bn, so as to focus on its events business. More
Ipsos has acquired New Zealand's CBG Health Research Ltd from its previous owner, research and telehealth services firm Reach Aotearoa. More
US research firm SMARI has moved into a new location in the First Internet Bank Building in Downtown Fishers, Indiana. The company is returning to office-based work after a few years 'completely virtual'. More
In Australia, official television audience measurement body OzTAM has responded to Foxtel's launch last week of its own ad currency service, saying it 'poses the risk of confusion in the market' and that 'the industry has clearly stated that it wants one service to measure Total TV'. More
Qualtrics' fast customer feedback business Delighted has launched Delighted Surveys, challenging template-based quick response providers like SurveyMonkey and Typeform. More
Ipsos has reported third quarter revenue of EUR 588m, representing organic growth of 4.3% and restoring year-to-date organic growth after shrinkage in the first half. All the group's global regions shared in the Q3 growth, with EMEA leading the way. More
Insights consultancy Verve has announced six promotions across its European team, including Lydia Martin to Research Director. More
DIY online survey synonym SurveyMonkey has launched Build with AI, a survey creation feature powered by OpenAI's GPT-3 software. More
AI-powered ad creative effectiveness research platform DAIVID has appointed Dan Best as Strategic Advisor, Clients. More
Ipsos has acquired Ireland's Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A), which provides opinion and social research studies, as well as market studies - and will combine it with its own operations in the country to become 'the market research leader in Ireland'. The firm will be known as Ipsos B&A. More
Northern European mystery shopping and customer service improvement specialist Dive has announced the acquisition of Swedish counterpart Custitude, for an undisclosed sum. More
London-based consultancy Thinks Insight & Strategy has reshaped its leadership structure with co-fonder Ben Shimson stepping into the CEO role; and promoted Richenda Devereux to Operations Partner. More
Kantar has announced a 'broad expansion' of AI capabilities within its brand strategy and creative development portfolio. They include Link subscriptions, to help stretch ad testing budgets; celebrity recognition in Link AI testing; predictive eye tracking; big data for threat detection; and help with 'sonic branding'. More
Toluna has promoted Dixit Chanana to the role of MD for India, including MetrixLab India and with full responsibility for the development of the Indian business of both brands. More
Panel provider Bilendi & respondi has added a 'Niche Sampling' offer, giving access to 'incredibly specific target groups', including those based on geolocation, transport routes used, rare medical conditions, niche product consumption, sports interest and b2b characteristics. More
Divested government policy and comms advisory business Kantar Public will be rebranding globally as 'Verian' from November. More
In the US, strategy, innovation and insights firm Quester has announced a consulting partnership with former Escalent SVP Gwen Ishmael. More
US trade body the Insights Association (IA) is urging the District of Columbia to reject a proposal described as putting a tax on consumer data. More
UK TV audience measurement and ad currency body Barb has issued an invitation to tender for its Establishment Survey and panel recruitment contract. The panel will be expanded next year to include 7,000 homes. More
Singapore-based decision science firm Blackbox has partnered with Qualtrics to launch SensingSG, a platform giving real-time insights into community sentiments, attitudes and behaviour in Singapore. More
Today sees the launch of Ipsos RISE, which combines the group's corporate reputation and public affairs expertise with AI to provide 'a ground-breaking platform for modern brand, risk and reputation management'. More
Streaming service Netflix has made ad measurement a 'top priority', and will build on a recent partnership with Nielsen in the US to offer similar capabilities to partners in other countries, according to co-CEO Greg Peters. More
AI-based insights solution Yabble is to enter the European market, and has appointed Ben Leet as Head of Sales, Europe. The firm is headquartered in New Zealand. More
Users of consumer research platform Attest can now enhance surveys with video responses, adding a qual element to the firm's existing quant offer and bringing them together in its dashboard. More
Insight-based consultancy SKIM has named Jeff Haselum as Managing Director, US, based in New York. He replaces fifteen-year company veteran Jeroen Hardon, who after five years leading the US team now returns to HQ to serve as Global Lead, Methodology and Analytics. More
UK-based consumer and B2B researcher 2CV has appointed former Morar HPI and Kadence International exec Phillip Coote as Vice President of New Business. More
Newcastle, UK-based research consultancy differentology has appointed Stuart Tagg as Head of Clients. More
Nielsen has launched its ONE Content cross-media measurement solution in a first country, Denmark, with plans to roll out around the world over the coming months. Sister product Neilsen ONE Ads is already available in twenty markets. More
Australia-based data and insights company Pureprofile has appointed former Brandwatch Chairman Mark Heeley as a Non-Executive Director. More
Boston-based MR and behavioral science consultancy Protobrand has appointed Marc Chester as Director of Business Development More
Dublin-based agency RED C Research and Marketing has promoted Jane Dunleavy to Director, and John Rogers to Associate Director. More
UK-based coding software provider codeit has launched a tool called themeit, which automatically extracts themes, autocodes verbatim data and applies sentiment analysis using generative AI. More
Neighborhood networking service Nextdoor has launched new solutions to help users measure and optimize ad performance, both on- and off-line. More
Research tech firm SightX has moved its VP Global Commercialization Daryl Maloney McCall to focus on regional growth in Europe and APAC, as its offering and client base in these regions expands. More
UK-based B2B, healthcare and tech sector researcher RONIN International has appointed David Sutterby, formerly Director of Telephone and Online Operations at QRS Market Research, as Director of Client Services. More
British, tech-based insights and data firm Delineate is moving its headquarters to Ceredigion, on the west coast of Wales, and says it will build its team there to some 50 employees. More
In-the-moment video research platform Indeemo has upgraded its platform to allow users to import depth interview and focus group content directly from Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and to analyse them 'in minutes' using Generative AI. More
dentsu has announced agreements with seven media partners who will use the global marcoms group's own proprietary system for ad buying and placement. The system taps subsidiary firm Merkle's Merkury database and M1 audience profiles, and gets its audience estimates from VideoAmp. More
Swiss-German-based customer experience analyst ISC-CX has announced the promotion of four female employees to director-level positions: Mujinga Muyombo, Márta Jakab, Lorella Graziano and Lama al Rifai. More
In the UK, STRAT7-owned cultural insight and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has appointed Elliot Pigram as its new Global MD. Pigram will take the reins on 1st January next year from founder and CEO Andy Crysell, who will move to the position of non-executive Chair. More
Marcoms group Stagwell has announced details of a suite of integrated, AI-based research products on which its Harris Poll and Maru agencies are working together. To be known as 'Harris Quest', this will include AI-enabled self-service polling and other 'instant information' SaaS solutions. More
Needham, Massachusetts-based in4mation insights (i4i) has promoted John Nicholson to be its first Chief Technology Officer. The firm offers marketing performance measurement and optimization solutions with a focus on Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM). More
Australian TV measurement body OzTam has appointed Karen Halligan, most recently a Partner at KPMG, as its new Chief Executive. More
Origin, the cross-media measurement initiative of the UK's advertising trade group ISBA, is to work with US-based cross-screen analytics provider Samba TV, to test television data from the latter's proprietary automated content recognition (ACR) technology. More
DIY online research pioneer and enterprise feedback platform SurveyMonkey has added MaxDiff Analysis features, using industry standard Best-Worst scaling methodology to assess respondent's preferences. Existing customers on Advantage or higher plans get the tools for free. More
New Jersey-based research and education publishing company Wiley has announced that its President and CEO Brian Napack is stepping down from the roles, to be replaced immediately as Chief Exec on an interim basis by Matthew Kissner, who has taken the interim role once before. More
Stockholm-based enterprise insights platform Stravito has appointed former Adyen and Surfly exec My Truong as its Vice President of Marketing. More
Toronto-based conversational AI company Nexxt Intelligence | inca, has announced the launch of inca AI Coding, which codes open-ended survey data. More
In New York, healthcare research veterans Jerry Arbittier and Chris Lee have launched Fusion Healthcare Fielding, offering 'full service fielding solutions' for the sector. More
In Los Angeles, brain decoding software platform Arctop has announced a $10m Series A funding round, which it will use to accelerate the commercialization of its tech translating brain activity into real-time information for third party applications. More
Eye tracking hardware and software specialist Tobii has launched a product called UX Explore, allowing researchers to conduct eye tracking and attention measurement studies and tests at scale via mobile phones. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition from InMoment of the New Vehicle Customer Study (NVCS), described as the largest and longest-running syndicated automotive program in North America. More
Rewards and payment solutions provider Virtual Incentives has appointed former Ipsos, Kantar and Nielsen exec Frank Kelly as Market Research Practice Lead, based in Boston, Massachusetts. More
Adelaide, Australia-based omnichannel attention measurement company Amplified Intelligence has partnered with AI firm Chalice Custom Algorithms to combine its attention data with smart bidding technology. More
In Manchester, UK, insight agency Mustard has appointed Richard Lomax as Senior Research Manager, Bruna Pani as Digital Marketing Executive, and Grace Tomlinson as Research Executive. More
Research platform Fastuna has announced the departure of its MD of five years Maria Soroka, and the appointment of Ipsos veteran Rimantas (Rimas) Remontas to replace her. More
NPAW, which offers analytics solutions for online media companes and has offices in Barcelona and New York, has launched a content optimization tool called Publisher Analytics. Features include real-time A/B testing for content elements. More
In Manchester, UK, product intelligence platform Vypr has promoted its CFO Chris Williams to CEO. He replaces founder Ben Davies, who the firm says will maintain a key role in the leadership team as it looks to scale up. More
In the US, data collection company Rep Data has acquired data quality and anti-fraud software platform Research Defender. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Kantar Media has signed an agreement with Romanian industry TV measurement body ARMA, to continue providing broadcast TV ratings to the market until the end of 2027. More
In New Zealand, insights platform Yabble has launched a product which offers real-time interaction with virtual audiences that emulate real customers. More
Insights consultancy Verve and full service agency Basis have formed a global partnership to develop an initiative called 'CoLab' - to address the 'growing respondent quality problem'. More
Boutique agency Intuit Research has partnered with Kantar's Profiles division to launch a syndicated survey called Media DOTS (Media Data on Target Segments), tracking the profile, mindset, media habits and product consumption of the general population (aged 12 to 64) in Hong Kong. More
In the UK, insights agency Blue Marble has appointed Katy Allen as an Associate Director, and Emma Rose as a Graduate Research Executive. More
Panels and behavioral data specialist Netquest has appointed Jordi Guix as Client Solutions Director, signalling 'a new era of strategic growth and innovation', according to the firm. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has appointed Adrian Bachmann as Associate Vice President, Consumer Insights for its new Central Canada division. More
In France, former Cint COO JD Deitch has launched Passaggio, a company helping insight and analytics firms among others to achieve operational excellence. More
London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy continues to grow its team with eleven hires in the last quarter. Nick Downes rejoins as Research Director while Ella Jenkins and Chloe Juliette join in AD roles, and Alex Beard as Senior Client Lead. The firm has also promoted eleven. More
Audience measurement division Kantar Media has launched its Campaign Audience Validation product in Chile. More
Global insights consultancy Human8 has announced that co-founder Kristof De Wulf is to step down from the CEO role, with Camille Nicita taking over from next Monday. Katherine Ephlin, currently North America Head of Operations, will replace Nicita as MD North America. More
In Johannesburg, pan-African data and analytics firm Sagaci Research has announced the launch of SagaCube, a dataset based on regular questioning of consumers in 26 countries across the African continent. More
Barcelona-based qual fieldwork specialist Q2Q Global has appointed MR industry veteran Tim Kunkel as Vice President of Client Solutions, based in New York state. More
Insights consultancy Verve has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Deidre Sullivan as Senior Vice President, North America. She is based in New York. More
The Board of not-for-profit the Media Research Users Council India (MRUCI) has elected Shailesh Gupta as Chairperson and Shashank Srivastava as Vice Chair. More
In the US, online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has made its PureText respondent screening solution available as an external API, which it says will add a 'critical layer of security and confidence' while saving hours of manual text review to any insights platform. More
ScotCen, the Scottish branch of the UK's centre for independent social research NatCen, has retained Holyrood's Scottish Health Survey contract for the 2024 to 2026 waves. More
Online survey specialist SurveyMonkey has launched a solution called Forms, to help users create web forms with purpose-built templates, customizable fields and third-party integrations, as well as advanced features including data and workflow automation tools. More
US-based research logistics company Communications for Research (CFR) has been renamed Qlarity Access. More
In the US, strategy and insights firm Quester has launched a brand-building methodology called DRIVE, which the company says 'puts real people and their love and emotional connection to brands at the heart of the creation process'. More
In Sorbiers, France, former QualWorld and SODA International employee Karolina Jasek has launched Conwalia, a full service boutique MR agency focused on on the health and wellness sector. More
Texas-based data collection firm Veridata Insights has officially opened an office in Bulgaria, where it has employed remote team members for some time. More
In Needham, Massachusetts, data modeling and analytics provider in4mation insights (i4i) has launched Optimetry, described as an 'always-on' SaaS optimization tool giving clients access to 'marketing mix model data for dynamic scenario planning over the life of marketing campaigns'. More
In New York, Horizon Media has appointed Scott Lukas as Senior Vice President of Human Intelligence in its WHY Group, which analyzes culture, people and brands. More
Human insight business One Minute to Midnight has launched a dedicated global quantitative unit called 'One Minute to Midnight & Counting'. More
London and China-based insights and analytics growth consultancy Freemavens has launched a machine learning model called 'TILT', to help businesses identify which real-world factors are impacting the performance of a category or brand. More
Insight tech specialist Rival Technologies has expanded its mobile research platform with new AI-based reporting and chat branding capabilities. More
US-based youth and family researcher Smarty Pants has promoted Danielle Place to the role of Director and Megan Bowling to Senior Analyst. More
Ipsos North America has launched an industry-wide initiative called 'The Path', a forum for insights and analytics leaders to share details about their careers and advice to inspire the 'next generation of professionals'. More
Canada-headquartered opinion researcher the Angus Reid Group has appointed long-time Toluna exec Patricia Chapin-Bayley as President, United States. She is based in New York. More
Full service research agency mindline has appointed five former execs from consultancy Happy Thinking People, for its new Berlin-based qual unit mindline explore. More
Kantar Australia has promoted Allan Breiland and Sharon Hilton to serve as Joint Heads of Media Effectiveness. They replace Straford Rodrigues, who is leaving the business at the end of September after more than fourteen years in Australia, the US, the UK and Singapore. More
The UK's TV audience measurement body Barb has upgraded its API to include non-linear viewing on broadcaster video-on-demand (BVOD); subscription video-on-demand (SVOD); video sharing services and viewing on PCs, tablets and smartphones. More
In London, custom MR agency Tapestry Research has appointed former Firefish Numbers Lab exec Sam Elphinstone as Research & Strategy Director. More
Los Angeles-based research company MarketCast has launched a brand tracking solution combining consumer data, ad performance data, and a 'brand fandom' framework, to help marketers understand how their brand's performance is shifting. More
In New York, former Medefield and Dynata exec Brendan Egan has set up a healthcare fieldwork and sampling firm called Brightside Research Solutions, with targets including patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare B2B stakeholders. More
London-based charity the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has begun its search for a new Chief Executive Officer, following current CEO Guy Goodwin's announcement that he will be stepping down from his post next May. More
In the US, consumer intelligence platform MFour has launched two AI tools which it says will enable anyone to conduct, analyze and implement market research 'like an expert'. More
In the UK, full service agency Kokoro Global has appointed long-time Blue Yonder exec Hannah Rogers as New Business Director. More
New York-based Target Research Group has acquired food intelligence platform Spoonshot, with whom it has collaborated for the last two years developing Foodbrain+, an AI-based innovation and consumer testing tool. More
DIY online survey pioneer SurveyMonkey has appointed former Cloudflare and AWS exec Amit Prakash as Chief Marketing Officer. More
Leeds, UK-based full service agency Boxclever has appointed two new Qualitative Research Directors, nine-year Basis Research veteran Taryn Needham and Emma Kirk, who spent a similar amount of time at Join The Dots and InSites Consulting. More
In Idaho, USA, a new proprietary healthcare MR panel has launched. Enos Answers is led by CEO Jason Freeman, former COO of SurveyHealthcare. More
US firm Infuse Reviews has launched out of stealth mode, offering an 'all-in-one' platform to help businesses manage their online reputation, gather customer feedback and enhance customer experiences. More
Ipsos India has appointed Shalini Sinha to lead two of its verticals: Brand Health Tracking (BHT) and Creative Excellence (CRE). She reports to Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India More
Untold Insights, which combines customer insights with AI, has launched a Gen Z AI persona through which it says users can have a 'direct conversation' and gain insights from their target audience segments. More
Long-time Nielsen exec Karthik Rao has been named as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, replacing David Kenny who moves to the role of Executive Chairman. More
First-party insights data company Dynata has appointed Brad Brockhaug for the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). He is based in New York. More
In Tokyo, GMO Research has launched a function to identify and exclude 'ghost completes' from its Asia Cloud Panel, which currently comprises 48.9 million consumers across sixteen countries and regions. More
Joint industry cross-media measurement programme Origin is partnering with media research specialist Differentology, to deliver its quarterly UK Media Landscape and Enumeration Survey. More
In the UK, healthcare insights company Research Partnership has promoted Andrew Stokes to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer. More
In the US, specialist agency Integro Health has appointed Kristie Boland as Head of its Behavioral Sciences practice. More
US-based facial analysis tech firm Affectiva has launched a new metric within its Emotion AI offering, measuring attention signals such as gazing away, speaking and drowsiness, on behalf of brands, advertisers, entertainment companies, and their market researchers. More
Ipsos has appointed former Bureau Veritas Director Caroline Ponsi Khider as Chief Communications and Brand Officer; and Dr Bonnie Bain as Global Head of Healthcare. Bain replaces Michael Spedding, who retires at the end of the year. More
Transatlantic quant and qual insights firm Illuminas has announced a merger with Rockbridge Associates, pooling expertise in sectors including technology, financial services, travel and education. More
Indian healthcare and medical fieldwork specialist Krea eKnowledge has launched an agile research offering called 'Kyte', promising rapid turnaround research services to pharmaceutical, life sciences and health-tech companies. More
Nielsen is planning to lay off 9% of its global workforce, in order to cut costs and 'realign revenue'. Employees received the news in a statement issued on Wednesday, and the cuts are expected to affect around 1,000 members of staff. More
In the US, video feedback platform Discuss has added new features to its People Experience Platform, including generative AI-powered research summaries, enhanced asynchronous research tools, and an expanded network for global recruitment. More
Tugce Bulut and Oliver May, the co-founders of London-based mobile intelligence platform Streetbees, have left the business. The company is now led former Chief Commercial Officer, Vidisha Gaglani, and previous Chief Technology Officer Sean O'Connell. More
In India, Kantar has launched a solution called Sensory eValuate, which uses research to help evaluate consumer products using the five human senses. More
Insights-based consulting firm SKIM has opened an office in Paris, France - its fourth location in Europe and tenth worldwide. More
US-based analytics and advisory firm Escalent, formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace, has promoted Arundhati Mehrotra to the role of Executive Vice President of Global Delivery. She is based in India. More
In the US, human experience platform dscout has launched a usability testing feature; and added a new user type, the Contributor Seat, allowing stakeholders to get more involved in the project process without handholding by research specialists. More
In the US, business data and analytics provider Dun & Bradstreet has launched its first Global Business Optimism Insights report, tracking the sentiment of businesses around the world. More
Nielsen is to make the 'Big Data' element of its Nielsen ONE hybrid service 'available for measurement' this month. Although this has yet to gain accreditation, the MRC's George Ivie says he is not looking to block a move which appears to promise substantial benefits for smaller networks. More
In the US, the Census Bureau has embarked on a final test of the AIES (Annual Integrated Economic Survey), which will consolidate seven of its annual business surveys into a single measure. On full launch next year the surveys will sample around 385,000 small, medium and large companies. More
MR and advisory company Savanta has announced the extension of its Business Tracker to France and Germany, promising a comprehensive view of business attitudes based on 1,000 interviews a month in each country. The Tracker currently runs in the UK. More
In France, qual healthcare fieldwork specialist QualWorld has launched a new venture called Experts Advice, focused on the recruitment of established healthcare subject-matter experts on behalf of clients including financial institutions and startups. More
Automated insight-gathering and sample management platform Cint has appointed former Kantar, Dynata and TikTok researcher Bella Tao as Head of Sales in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), based in Sydney. More
US-based qualitative and rapid research software developer EthOS has added a screen-recording tool, backed up with features including verbal commentary by subjects; automated transcriptions; and AI-powered analysis. More
Baltic States-based full-service MR firm RAIT has acquired a 70% stake in Danish research firm Wilke, creating what the firms call a 'truly Northern European network'. More
The US market for insights and analytics has increased 14.3% in the past year to $71bn, after 16.6% growth last year, according to the 2023 Top 50 report by professional body the Insight Association. More
Leeds, UK-based consumer intelligence firm STRAT7 Researchbods has opened a business unit dedicated to ensuring the integrity of respondents taking part in online quant surveys. More
In the US Circana, the company formed from the merger of IRI and the NPD Group, has launched what it describes as its first 'guided survey solution'. Fast Feedback Guided Surveys taps the consumer insights platform of partner firm Zappi and targets 'small to midsize CPG brands'. More
Experience management firm Qualtrics has launched a 'Complaints and Grievances solution', to help healthcare clients gather and act on feedback from patients, and improve the quality of care. More
London MR and CX firm Watermelon Research has spun out a technology-focused operations agency called Calico, billed as a 'one-stop shop' for the operational needs of other insight firms. More
Alchemer, the experience management and enterprise feedback tech company once known as SurveyGizmo, has appointed former Qualtrics and Oracle exec Brandon Hodges as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). More
In Singapore, sensory research specialist MMR has appointed former Reckitt Benckiser and Givaudan insights professional Wanni Xu Sensory Director in its Asian division. More
In Texas, MR and opinion polling firm ReconMR has appointed Christian (Chris) Riepe as SVP of Consumer Insights and Research, leading a newly established Insights and Analytics Division. More
In the UK, operations support MR business Omnisis has launched a brand called WeThink for its public opinion polling work. More
Melbourne-based Mobile Digital Insights CEO and founder James Fergusson is stepping down from his role, to take up the position of Chief Commercial Officer, while continuing as Chair of the company's Board. David Somers, former Head of Africa and COO, replaces Fergusson as CEO. More
TRA Labs, the ventures arm of Australian insights firm TRA, has partnered with innovation studio Previously Unavailable to launch Ideally, a platform promising 'fast, affordable and accessible customer insights to help bring great ideas to life'. More
In the US, the Census Bureau has announced it will establish a new federal Advisory Committee to consult on meeting the challenges posed by the next decennial count in 2030. More
Los Angeles-based research firm MarketCast has appointed Marisa McMahon as Head of Client Service for Technology and Platforms, responsible for relationships with major clients including video games publishers, software and hardware makers, and tech platforms. More
Data, analytics, and insight consultancy MESH Experience has appointed media veteran Brian Jacobs as a Non-Executive Director focused on managing investor relations, as it looks to scale. More
In Red Bank, NJ, custom online research communities specialist KL Communications (KLC) has hired Karen Duffy as Senior Director, Insights & Client Relations, and Berkeley Madison Lowe as Insights Technology and Operations Apprentice. More
In Birmingham, UK, M.E.L Research has appointed former ONS exec Ben Thatcher as Qualitative Research Director and former DJS researcher Gayle Higginson as Research Manager. More
Austin, Texas-based research and CX software and solutions firm QuestionPro has added a new feature, QxBot, to its platform, making use of generative AI to offer users the power to build 'quick, creative surveys... in seconds' via a conversational interface. More
Former MarketCast and Netflix researcher Zoë Friend has joined broadcaster NBCUniversal as EVP of Consumer Insights. More
In the UK, digital market research agency Potentia Insight has appointed former BVA Group exec Greg Berry as its first IT Director. More
Ireland-based publisher and RED C Research owner The Business Post Group has acquired research-based consultancy services provider Relish Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
Agile research solutions and panels firm Borderless Access has appointed James Robinson, Pradipta 'Paddy' Bhattacharjee, Ashok Veetal and Lauren Tuch as new members of its senior sales team in the US, UK and MENA regions. More
In India, survey programming and data processing platform Cursory Technologies has launched an AI-powered automation tool called 'Brisk', which provides do-it-yourself and 'do-it-for-me' solutions for survey programming, data tabulation, quality assurance and verbatim analysis. More
UK radio measurement body RAJAR has announced that two people will fill the role of long-time Research Director Paul Kennedy, when he steps down after 22 years of service: John Carroll as Director of Research and Audiences, and Charles Lawrie as Research Operations Director. More
Automated physical product testing platform Highlight has raised $18m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate its product roadmap, expand its community of 'Highlighters', and grow its team. More
In the US, long-time industry exec AJ Keirans has launched a consulting and field services company called Good Human Partners (GHP). More
Kantar has expanded its Worldpanel Central America (CAM) consumer panel to cover the Dominican Republic. The newly enlarged panel measures consumer behaviour across 63% more households in the CariCAM (Caribbean and Central American) region. More
In the US, experience management (XM) specialist Qualtrics has launched new purpose-built video feedback solutions, which use generative AI, real-time analytics and predictive insights to help organizations conduct 'smarter, faster research', and respond faster to customer needs. More
In the UK, recently launched research and consultancy firm Pegasus Insight has appointed former Verve / BVA BDRC exec Chris Whitmore as Director, to help drive business growth. He is the third member of the new team. More
CX and insights firm Alida and insights platform Discuss have deepened their partnership to extend the former's qualitative research solutions, adding Discuss's moderator capabilities to Alida's managed service offering in its Video Discussions product. More
US market research firm SMARI has appointed former Research Now and Precision Sample Vice President Pat Goodnight as VP of Business Development, a step change for the 40-year-old company which had previously focused on referrals. More
Ian Brace is to stand down as Chairman of UK market research industry charity the MRBA after twenty years, to be replaced by Motif's Virginia Monk. More
Israel-based ad optimization company Nexxen has partnered with UK-based attention measurement platform Lumen Research, to deliver the latter's 'first' omnichannel solution to advertisers across CTV, online video and display. More
US research and training company Burke Inc. has promoted Tara Marotti to the role of company President, while John Thomas moves into her previous role as Chief Client Officer (CCO). More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has created three new geographical divisions: Western, Central and Eastern Canada. More
Berlin and New York-based user and brand research specialist eye square has appointed former Mondelez / Mars exec Chrissy Love as Executive Director, leading the firm's new US Shopper Insights division. More
In the UK, a group of AI sector specialists are launching a qualitative research analysis chatbot called CoLoop, through which researchers can upload interviews, ask questions and receive referenced answers which instantly link back to verbatim and audio / video evidence. More
Netherlands research-based consultancy IR-Insights has appointed long-time media, advertising and insights specialist Paul van der Veer as a Research Consultant. More
Ipsos India has promoted Neha Munshi to the role of Country Lead, Ipsos Digital, with immediate effect. She joined the company as a Research Executive as recently as 2017. More
In the UK, long-time Illuminas exec Julian Adams has launched an agency called De Novo Research, which will aim to 'understand people through the summation of their experiences'. More
In the US, nonpartisan public opinion polling, MR and analytics firm Noble Predictive Insights has appointed election analysis specialist David Byler as Chief of Research. More
In the US, online sample specialist Full Circle Research has promoted Thomas Pampinella to Senior Director, Programming & IT; Christina Cox to Senior Director, HR; and Reem Ganim and Jamie Stehlin to Senior Business Unit Leader. More
Washington, DC-based public opinion interviewing services company American Directions Research Group has appointed Theresa Anderson as National Director of Operations, with complete oversight of all survey data collection interviewing operations, training and quality control. More
Rakuten Insight Global has appointed Darci Greco to its US Sales team as VP Client Development, Americas. More
UK-based healthcare insights company Research Partnership has appointed Sue Wild as President, US Pharma, while Tom Donnelly joins as a Director in the US MedTech division. Both will be based in the firm's Fort Washington, PA offices. More
Experience management platform Qualtrics has launched a solution called Digital Experience Analytics (DXA), allowing client organisations to create visual replays of consumers' behavior on the web. This includes frustration signals like error clicks, 'rage clicks' and 'mouse thrashes'. More
European data collection company Norstat has promoted Jacob Lagerstedt to Regional Director for International / UK / Ireland, while Janis Romanovs takes over his previous position as Managing Director for Norstat International. More
MENA-focused online research firm Tawasol has launched a fortnightly omnibus called Omniview, promising organizations in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt 'rapid and affordable' market intelligence. More
In the US, four former execs of new product advisory service Top Box Associates have launched a research agency called Innovate Wisely, focused on new product development. More
UK insight agency Walnut UNLIMITED has named Jane Rudling as its new Managing Director, succeeding Chris Bland. The firm has also appointed two Research Directors - Vanessa Henry to lead its shopper proposition, and Raluca Usery in the Qualitative team. More
AURA, the UK's association of clientside researchers, has a new Chair: Ruth Hinton has replaced Tim Steere who has led the organisation for four years. More
Behavioral science insights agency Beesy has hired Brian Jenkin as Business Strategist, Jim Sharp as Head of Product Engineering, Luka Dragutinovic as Compliance Associate, Eileen Miller as Senior Behavioral Association, and Cyndhia Varshni and Shounak Bose as Research Managers. More
Australia-based global data and insights organisation Pureprofile has reported a 23% rise in full year revenue to $43.7m - with revenue for the ANZ market up 16% to $26.9m and for rest of the world up 35% to $16.8m. More
The US Census Bureau is preparing for the 2030 census with several launches, including that of an online tool giving the public access to information about the 50-plus research projects being conducted. More
In the US, full-service insights company A—B has acquired polling and civic research firm Avalanche Insights, whose technology helps clients reach people of color across the market and political landscape. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Australia-based research agency Mobile Digital Insights (MDI) has hired former Behaviorally exec Inna Merenkova as Managing Director for Europe, charged with building a standalone MDI Europe business. She is based in London. More
New York-based consumer insights tech firm Suzy has launched an AI-powered tool called Qual Analysis, providing enterprise brands with rapid insights through transcripts and project summaries. More
Ipsos has announced results for the second quarter of 2023, returning to very modest organic revenue growth thanks to a strong performance in emerging markets. The group says its business is 'returning to a more usual pattern' after Covid and is on course for a good year. More
European data collection specialist Norstat has acquired UK company Panelbase, strengthening its position in Western Europe and adding around 370,000 adults to its UK panel. Panelbase's Paul Wealleans will head up the combined company as MD for Norstat UK & Ireland. More
In the US, Echo Research has appointed Scott Epstein as Chief Strategy Officer, based in its Austin, Texas headquarters. Also joining the company are Monica Martinez, Todd Exler and Jana Rosewarne. More
Sports marketing agency Wasserman has reached a deal to acquire London-based marketing and brand experience agency CSM Sport & Entertainment from marketing services group Chime. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online survey specialist SurveyMonkey is expanding its Dublin office, as it lays out plans to invest in artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics. The moves follow its recent acquisition by a consortium led by insights sector investment firm Symphony Technology Group (STG). More
US firm Fuel Cycle has launched a platform called Research Engine, promising brands access to any audience through dynamic insights communities and global networks. More
Ipsos has added an early-stage creative development solution to its platform - 'Creative|Spark Early' - to enable users to screen creative ideas, visuals, storyboards" and videoboards for advertisers in as little as 24 hours. More
Newcastle, UK-based research consultancy Differentology has appointed former Flamingo exec Anniki Sommerville as Strategic Insights Director. She is based in London. More
First-party data company Dynata has appointed former SSI MD Mark Lepine to lead its APAC business. He is based in Hong Kong. More
In the US, full service firm MarketVision Research has announced a dozen new appointments, including Jackie Osborne as a Human Resources Generalist and eleven new Research Assistants. More
Sweden-based eye tracking tech firm Tobii has announced results for the second quarter of the year, with organic revenue growth of 5% to SEK 185m ($US 17.8m), but EBIT still negative and little changed at SEK -48m (-50m a year earlier). More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of West African MR agency Omedia, from French audience measurement company Mediametrie. More
Nielsen has announced a multi-year renewal of its agreement to license Comcast's return path data for its de-duplicated audience measurement solution Nielsen One. The new deal also broadens usage to include local TV measurement across all the 94 media markets the two companies share. More
Total UK marketing budgets appear to be rising again, according to the IPA's quarterly Bellwether Report, but the authors say the rise is driven by record investment in short-term focused sales promotion activity. Views of MR budgets were little changed with slightly more respondents (2.9%) reporting decline than growth. More
Stockholm-based enterprise insights platform Stravito has appointed Vignesh Swaminathan as Vice President of Product, responsible for overseeing product innovation and growth, and with a specific focus on its recently introduced generative AI capabilities. More
Stockport, UK-based firm BEAM Fieldwork has appointed former Research International, TNS and Toluna exec Genevieve de Sutter in the new role of Director of Fieldwork, overseeing the delivery of UK and International Fieldwork and Give Opinions project recruitment. More
UK-based strategic insight and customer analytics group STRAT7 has announced a number of key promotions to support its FY2024 growth strategy and serve global clients: including the promotion of Peter Kneale, currently Group MD of STRAT7 Incite, to a group level role, Strategy Director, STRAT7. More
UK-based consumer and B2B researcher 2CV has launched three AI-assisted research solutions, covering chatbot surveys, analysis and qualitative probing. More
Rewards and payment solutions specialist Virtual Incentives has partnered with panel management software company Sample Ninja, promising 'effortless' delivery of payouts to panels and communities. More
London-based mobility intelligence company Huq Industries has raised £4m in equity funding, which will fuel its expansion into new international markets and further development of its Huq Signals platform. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of the Insights business of Big Village Australia, including expertise in public sector research, employee research and customer experience. More
US firm Precision Sample has added Pete Aitkin and Jason Silver to its sales team as VP Client Development and Senior Director, Client Development respectively. More
Asia Pacific-based reputation and policy management specialist Sandpiper Group has launched a Research & Insights company, focused on supporting communications and public affairs practitioners and led by Craig Young as interim Managing Director. More
In the US, online survey operations company OpinionRoute has launched an enterprise-level workflow platform called NavigatOR, helping researchers to streamline processes and enhance data quality via a combination of tech and industry expertise. More
In London, video feedback platform Discuss has hired David Bailey for the newly created role of Sales Director, tasked with building business relationships in the EMEA and APAC regions. More
Next15's data, MR and advisory company Savanta has expanded to Mexico, where it has appointed recent JD Power exec Erika Alfaro as a Director. The firm has also hired Casey Ford, Carolyn Beschner and Jiachen (Jackie) Zhang as Research Analysts in the USA. More
In the US, panel and sample firm Full Circle Research has appointed long-time Dynata exec Tasha Keehler as Senior Business Unit Leader, based in Texas. More
Nigeria-based MR and strategy firm Pierrine Consulting has launched a data collection company called AfrikanInsights, in Lagos, led by Managing Director Ben Akpotaire. More
In the US, family-owned customer experience specialist BARE International has appointed Jason Bare as company President, replacing Michael Bare who has been named Chief Executive Officer. Former CEO Dale Bare has announced her retirement. More
US-based international data collection and research tech company Sago (previously known as Schlesinger Group) has appointed Katharine Reagan as Chief Revenue Officer, while promoting Raj Manocha to Chief Client Officer. More
Ipsos has launched a pack screening tool called FastPack, grounded in behavioural science and promising results in as little as four hours. The tool is currently available on the global group's self-service online MR platform Ipsos.Digital, in the US, the UK, Australia, India and South Africa. More
US-based continuous testing specialist Tricentis has acquired no-code mobile test automation platform Waldo for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, video feedback platform Discuss has appointed former Qualtrics exec Jesse Thomson as Vice President of Engineering, responsible for continuing development of its People Experience Platform. More
Global membership association ESOMAR has launched a task force to address the use of artificial intelligence in the research, insights and analytics sector. More
Leeds, UK-based consumer intelligence firm STRAT7 Researchbods has opened an office in New York, its first in the US. Former Echo-MR exec Steve Becker joins to help expand the firm's US operations. More
US-based quant insights and health data analysis firm Cytel has paid an undisclosed sum for French consulting and research firm stève consultants, which specialises in market access, real-world evidence (RWE), and health economics and outcomes research (HEOR). More
Toronto, Canada-based Dig Insights has appointed former GutCheck CRO Jessica ('Jess') Gaedeke as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).| More
In the UK, full-service agency Vision One has promoted Alex Brown to the role of Director of Insights, with responsibility for the recently expanded Insights team and with a seat on the Board. More
Automated insight-gathering and sample management platform Cint has launched a solution to enable businesses to license its verified audiences, built from more than 290 million consumers who have accessed the platform to qualify for participation in surveys. More
In the US, behavioral research and strategy firm InsightsNow has appointed Stephen McIngvale as Senior Research Director, Shannon Benson as Research Director, and Joshua Lim as Insights Analyst; while Angel Requena rejoins the company as Project Director. More
Customer experience analyst ISC-CX has launched a self-assessment tool called 'Close the Loop - Powered by AI', with which clients can identify and rectify operational deficiencies uncovered by audits or mystery shopping, while continually improving the customer experience. More
GfK has entered into an agreement to sell its European Consumer Panel (CP) business to YouGov, as part of its deal to merge with NielsenIQ (NIQ). Terms of the CP sale have not been disclosed. More
Public policy evidence and advisory business Kantar Public has acquired European policy research and consultancy company PPMI, which is based in Vilnius, Lithuania. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In London, Kantar has hired former eBay / Amazon exec Bérengère Chaintreau-Fuchs for the newly created role of Global Panel Director in its Profiles division. More
In the UK, Daniel Singham has returned to fieldwork and data collection business Yonder Data Solutions to take up the newly created role of Commercial Director. More
Consumer behaviour specialist Circana, formed from the merger of IRI and The NPD Group, has launched a solution called 'AlwaysOn Analytics', allowing clients to analyze real-time data using advanced algorithms, to give immediate insights. More
In London, marketing group MSQ has appointed long-time Kantar exec Eleanor Lloyd-Malcolm as co-Managing Director of its data-driven consultancy, Freemavens. More
UK-based marcoms group UNLIMITED has launched a division called Unlimited B2B, bringing together the specialist strengths of its comms and marketing agencies Nelson Bostock and TMW Business, to helps clients improve conversion through every stage of the buying journey. More
In London, healthcare consulting and market research firm Day One Strategy has appointed former Ipsos exec Joel Jitell as Global Head of Operations. More
In the US, nonprofit organization the Market Research Institute International (MRII) has added Globalpark and OvationMR co-founder Jim Whaley to its Board of Directors. More
Australia-based mobile insights consultancy MDI has acquired a majority stake in Moroccan based research agency Insightek, for an undisclosed sum. More
Business support body the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has announced the launch of an Insights Unit, bringing together its existing research portfolio and aiming to develop 'a broader range of polling and analysis services'. More
In the UK, insight consultancy Bryter has hired Robert Downer as Senior Insight Consultant and Charlie Wood as Associate Insight Director, both in its Technology and Gaming team; along with four promotions in its healthcare team. More
In the UK, research and strategy consultancy Redblue has appointed Chloe Finnegan as a Director in its qualitative team. More
Insights tech and panel provider Toluna has added four standalone MaxDiff solutions to its end-to-end platform, Toluna Start, allowing clients to integrate a MaxDiff question into their surveys and quickly identify which names, taglines, claims and varieties matter most to their target audiences. More
In Australia, MR and customer experience consultancy Bastion Insights has launched a research panel called Golden Voice Community, to understand the divide between culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups and the wider community. More
UK-based business, healthcare and tech sector researcher RONIN International has appointed Terry Sweeney as Head of North America. More
In North America, Havas Media has partnered with attention measurement specialist Adelaide to build a proprietary advertising attention measurement metric called the 'Meaningful Ad Unit' (MAU). More
TV ad industry tech platform FreeWheel has partnered with ad research and tech firm MediaScience to launch The Viewer Experience (VX) Lab, which will conduct research to help advertising buyers and sellers understand the impact of ads on viewer experience and performance. More
In the UK, behavioural insights agency Canvas8 has launched 'Toolkit' - a suite of five products for 'fast turnarounds, agility and affordability'. Leading the launch is Becca Smith, who has been named 'Head of Toolkit'. More
In Australia, professional membership body The Research Society has announced that Julie Regan is retiring from her position as QPR Manager and Managing Editor of the industry body's publication, Research News Live. After nearly twenty years with the organisation, her final day will be July 5th. More
In Singapore, Kantar has hired long-time Nielsen exec Kartikeya (Kartik) Varma for the dual role of Head of Creative and Media, Singapore, and Head of Media, APAC. More
In the UK, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has appointed theory-based impact evaluation specialist Barbara Befani as a Research Director in its Centre for Evaluation. More
Video insights provider Voxpopme has partnered with Microsoft to launch a tool called Voxpopme AI Insights, promising 'faster, smarter and more economical' qual research, with analysis available in seconds rather than hours. More
Austin, Texas-based MR software and services firm QuestionPro has acquired PathosAI, which analyses consumer emotions and motivations. More
US broadcaster Fox Corporation has appointed long-time FOX Sports executive Mike Mulvihill, as President, Insights and Analytics, a new role overseeing the research, analytics and strategic planning teams across FOX Sports, FOX Entertainment and Tubi. More
In the UK, statistics and data professional membership body The Royal Statistical Society has appointed Dr Sarah Cumbers, currently the Evidence and Insights Director at Lloyd's Register Foundation, as its new Chief Executive from September. More
Redwood City, California-based CX platform provider Cyara has announced the acquisition of CentraCX, an SaaS-based Voice of the Customer solution designed specifically for contact centers. Terms were not disclosed. More
Northumberland, UK-based insight agency DRG (Dipsticks Research Group) has appointed Eleanor Finnon to its Board of Directors; promoted Gary Chow to Client Services Director; and appointed Tim Raglan as Client Account Manager for Panelbase. More
Research panels and services company Bilendi & respondi has relaunched its Discuss tool with new qual research features based on ChatGPT. More
Ghent, Belgium-based insight consultancy Human8 has announced the appointment of eleven new partners - it now has 36 worldwide. Meanwhile the founders / co-founders of three companies it previously acquired - Join The Dots, Columinate and Direction First - are stepping down. More
In London, citizen engagement platform Commonplace has received an investment of £2.1m from investors led by transatlantic VC firm Beringea, and will use the funds for continued expansion including growth of its client base. More
Strategic insights consultancy Nature has announced six appointments in its Melbourne office: Antony Lakey as an Associate Director, Charlotte Summers and Simon (Si) Hunt as Senior Consultants, Shawn Christensen as a Consultant, and Ruhi Patil and Ernest Fu as Analysts. More
Customer Engagement specialist Verint has launched a new Experience Management tool promising 'experience insights at scale across a brand's customer touchpoints'. Features include direct and 'inferred' feedback collection, advanced CX analysis, rich reporting and automated actions. More
MrWeb has partnered with insight sector organisation GreenBook, publisher of the GRIT Report and the GreenBook Directory, and organiser of IIEX events, to further expand the reach and appeal of its job board, currently in its 25th year. WIRe (Women in Research) and ESOMAR are already partners. More
WPP's media investment company GroupM has launched a service called Total TV Measurement, which it says will help its clients in the UK understand the value of addressable TV. More
UK insight agency Walnut Unlimited has appointed Yasmin Ramikie and Elaine Thompson as Research Directors, and Bethan Crisp as Associate Director in the Qualitative team. More
Nearly two thirds (63%) of MR professionals say they are 'very' or 'completely' satisfied with their job, in a survey by non-profit consortium MRII and the University of Georgia. The survey looked in detail at learning and growth opportunities and researchers' satisfaction with them. More
Havas Media Network (HMN) has rolled out its CSA consumer behavior specialist business across its global network, promising clients improved understanding of customer data and higher ROI through analytics and machine learning solutions. More
In London, custom MR agency Tapestry Research has appointed Hana Hussein, Rebecca Munns and Danielle Robertson as Research Managers. More
Nielsen has launched a cloud-based platform called Media Data Room (MDR), which provides a means to access and share respondent level analytics from big data sets. The firm says MDR will ultimately replace all its previous forms of data distribution, including FTP and custom apps. More
Consumer insight consultancy BVA BDRC has promoted Lucy Watts, James Myring and James Bland to MD roles, overseeing the Financial and B2B, Media, and 'On the Move' divisions, respectively. The firm has also promoted Richard Stevenson and Kiran Kuttappa-Gold to its Board. More
Portugal-based media measurement platform Mediaprobe (previously known as MindProber) has appointed former Kynetec exec AJ Johnson as Chief Operating Officer, based in London. More
UK commercial radio industry body Radiocentre has re-appointed Donna Burns - this time as Head of Insight - after a four-year break from the organisation. More
Canada-based analytics and MR solutions provider Torfac has appointed Izzy Nurdin as Director of Client Development, Europe, based in London. More
In London, Thinks Insight & Strategy (previously known as BritainThinks) has made four appointments, including Gabrielle Ferdinand as Research Lead. The firm has also promoted five members of its team. More
In the UK, digital market research agency Potentia has appointed three execs - Tom Stacey as a Director, Chase McCulloch as Senior Account Director, and Sarah Condon as Marketing Manager. More
Agricultural and animal health analytics and insights firm Kynetec has acquired software development and analytics business Systematics International, which reports on machinery volume statistics for worldwide closed and open data exchanges. More
Australian-based omnichannel attention measurement company Amplified Intelligence has upgraded its attentionPLAN tool to add what it calls Attention-Adjusted Reach Curve (AARC) functionality - filtering out non-attentive impressions. More
Strategy and insight consultancy Basis has appointed Rory Luk as a Manager in its New York-based health division. More
Kantar has announced its intention to sell its remaining specialist healthcare businesses, Kantar Profiles' Health unit and Kantar Media Healthcare Research (KMHR), to fieldwork company M3 Global Research. More
In India, analytics and insights company Course5 Intelligence has raised a further $53m in funding, which will be added to a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) 'war chest' of around $80m. More
In the US, enterprise AI company SymphonyAI has acquired business intelligence provider 1010data, for an undisclosed sum. More
Local marketing solutions company Rio SEO, which is in the process of integrating with MR software firm Forsta, has launched the Local Experience (LX) Platform, an integrated suite of local marketing and customer experience solutions. More
In the US, long-time MR sector exec Andrew Postell and his wife Lisa have launched a company called The Qual Recruiter, specializing in providing both B2B and consumer respondents for qualitative research studies. More
Tokyo's GMO Research has partnered with playtesting and games user research platform PlaytestCloud, to offer online user testing services for mobile games on GMO's ASIA Cloud Panel. More
In the US, linguist Fernando Castro has launched a company called New England Language Services, to help market research agencies and strategy consultancies interview and understand multicultural audiences for the brands they serve. More
Nigeria-based MR and strategy firm Pierrine Consulting has officially opened offices in Kenya and Ghana, to support clients in the East and West African regions. More
Kantar has launched an ad creative testing solution called LINK+, built on its LINK normative advertising database and integrating the firm's ad testing capabilities into one solution, with results available in as little as six hours. More
Ipsos has promoted Jyoti Malladi to the role of Managing Director, Research, in India, where she is responsible for business management, driving audience measurement business strategy. She will also oversee the setting up of a media analytics hub supporting the entire APAC region. More
First-party data platform Dynata has rolled out its proprietary inBrain survey-based monetization platform to the Asia Pacific region - specifically in Australia, India, Japan and New Zealand, with other Asian markets scheduled this year and next. More
Portugal-based consumer neuroscience platform MindProber has been renamed Mediaprobe, reflecting what it says are breakthroughs in 'next-gen measurement' across all media. More
In Australia, industry body Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) is to launch its audience measurement system 'Radio 360' tomorrow, 6th June, with the release of the third GfK metropolitan radio survey of the year. More
Conversational AI company Nexxt Intelligence | inca, has updated its inca SmartProbe API to cover twenty languages. The firm has also launched inca SmartProbe Professional with targeted and trained probing capabilities. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based survey vendor marketplace and collaboration platform Inex One has launched a feature called 'Survey Multi-Source Capability', allowing users to collaborate with multiple providers within the same survey project. More
Research software and solutions firm Forsta has announced a partnership with automated insight-gathering and sample management platform Cint, to fight survey fraud and improve data quality and security for the MR industry. More
US-based consumer insights firm Touchstone Research (TSR) has promoted Jillian Brangi and Nicole Mowry to Senior Project Director roles in its Quantitative Research division. More
Apollo Intelligence, which provides insights to the healthcare and life science industries, has upgraded its platform with machine learning (ML) sampling-based intelligence to research the right healthcare professional panelists at the right place and time. More
MR technology platform Glow has appointed Marc Chester and Yige Ma as Sales Directors in the UK and Hong Kong, respectively, while Adam Portner joins the firm's US Advisory Board. More
In New Zealand, insights platform Yabble has launched a plugin on the ChatGPT plugin store, using social media and global trend data alongside AI to generate research samples in minutes. More
UK broadcasting group ITV has launched a free measurement consultancy for its advertisers, called Geo-X, providing tools for them to run 'geo experiments' to prove the effectiveness of their campaigns. More
Brighton, UK-based social media listening and content marketing analytics firm Brandwatch has expanded its MR offering with the addition of Reddit Social Panels, tapping the consumer discussion site's communities and posts for fast, in-depth audience analysis. More
Former Schlesinger Group VP Kasia Churchill has joined Brighton, UK-based fieldwork and research services provider Roots Research, as Head of Business Development. More
Canada-based holding company Rival Group has promoted Jennifer Reid to the position of co-CEO, alongside her brother Andrew Reid. More
Ghent, Belgium-based consumer insight provider Human8, until recently known as InSites Consulting, has partnered with Japan-based SevenSeas Marketing Research, to help the latter develop communities for its clients in Japan. More
TV audience rating body BARC India has appointed former Nielsen exec Dolly Jha as Chief of Product and Research. More
In the UK, Aspect Viewing Facilities is returning to the centre of Manchester with the opening of a new facility next month. The company has run just one facility, in Stockport, for the past two years but says the 'time is right' for a city centre presence again. More
Stockholm-based enterprise insights platform Stravito has promoted Lloyd Yoo to the role of Head of North America, with American brands accounting for around 40% of the company's business. More
In the US, data collection company Rep Data has appointed Steven Snell as Senior Vice President of Research. More
London-based advertising effectiveness specialist System1 has launched a new service called Test Your Ad Digital, which it says will predict and improve the commercial impact of digital advertising. More
In the US, qualitative and rapid research software developer EthOS has launched a generative AI-based qual analysis tool called Instant Insights More
Following the announcement on Friday of the imminent departure of CEO Parves Khan, ESOMAR says it will extend Joaquim Bretcha's interim tenure as Director General to September 2024, helping to provide continuity. More
US-based Groopit, which helps clients crowdsource insights from employees, has raised $3.5m in a seed funding round, which it will use for continued product innovation. More
In India, analytics and insights company Course5 Intelligence has raised $28m in a round of funding, which it will use to ramp up its investments in innovation and advanced AI technology including deep learning, computer vision, natural language and generative AI. More
Former Illuminas MD Frank Ma has launched a qualitative research business called One16 in Singapore, focusing on market / user exploratory studies, concept testing, post-launch tracking and UX research. More
Global trade association ESOMAR is to lose the services of CEO Parves Khan, who has announced she will leave at the end of June, and will focus on charitable and non-exec work before taking up a new as-yet unannounced role. She will also join a new ESOMAR AI Taskforce. More
Ipsos has acquired Shanghai Focus RX Research, aiming to strengthen the expertise of its Pharma Insights business and support its Healthcare Insights division. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Video insights provider Voxpopme has launched what it claims is the first AI-powered video survey - Smart SurvAI - allowing insights professionals to create survey questions with the help of OpenAI's ChatGPT. More
Africa-based MR and strategy firm Pierrine Consulting has launched a Development Studies division in Lagos, Nigeria, to help clients understand the social, economic and political dynamics that shape communities and impact development outcomes. More
In the US, insights and strategy consulting firm M/A/R/C Research has acquired Horowitz Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
Ghent, Belgium-based behavioural research specialist EyeSee has promoted Joris De Bruyne to the position of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding founder Olivier Tilleuil who has moved to a Board position. More
US research and training company Burke Inc. has promoted Ken Strunk to the role of COO, responsible for all research operations, ensuring the talent and resources across the organization are aligned to match client and business needs. More
SAM Sensory and Consumer Research has appointed Pushan Tagore as Managing Director, Germany. He replaces Sebastian Graper who will focus on further developing SAM's qualitative research capabilities as International Director Qualitative and Co-Creation. More
Experience management solutions provider Survey2Connect (S2C) has launched an AI-powered assistant called XEBO, to help businesses 'create surveys swiftly, effortlessly detect pain points in the customer journey, and suggest recommendations to enhance customer experience'. More
End-to-end insight platform provider Toluna has agreed to acquire research solutions provider MetrixLab from its Japan-based owner Macromill, Inc., for an undisclosed sum. Macromill will take a minority equity stake in Toluna and the two will work closely. More
Nielsen has said it will phase out the last paper diaries for radio listening by 2025, replacing them with mobile diaries allowing data collection via mobile phones, tablets and laptops. More
Media group NBCUniversal has extended its partnerships with measurement firms Comscore and InnovidXP, allowing advertisers to transact in local markets using the former's data, and analyse impact in more depth via the latter. More
Andrew Edwards has announced his resignation as Chair of data and insights provider Pureprofile, effective immediately, and will be replaced by five-time company-founder and pioneering NASDAQ woman CEO Linda Jenkinson. More
London-based research tech company Walr has appointed former System1 General Manager Stefan Heidenreich as Head of Key Accounts. More
SAM Sensory and Consumer Research has acquired UK-based sensory and product research specialist PPL Insights, for an undisclosed sum. More
Media and entertainment giant Warner Bros. Discovery has announced new measurement and attribution partnerships with 605, ABCS Insights, DISQO, EDO, LoopMe and Pilotyly, to demonstrate the impact of ad campaigns across its portfolio. More
MR sector digital services provider Bilendi & respondi has appointed Tim Corrigan to lead a new sales team, based in a new office in the north of England. More
North of England-based full service agency Blue Yonder Research has hired Elspeth Bradley for the newly created position of Qualitative Insight Director. More
In New York, consumer insights specialist MRI-Simmons has received continuing Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its consumer study, including the Doublebase USA study and MEMRI analytics tool; and a new accreditation for its Insights Platform. More
Glasgow-based Taylor McKenzie Research (TMcK) has launched a quarterly omnibus called Happenin'?, to provide a representative snapshot of Scottish opinion. More
Patient intelligence company Talking Medicines has added a tool called Drug-GPT to its PatientMetRx platform, to provide healthcare ad agencies with insights about the lived experience, opinions and sentiment of patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs). More
US-headquartered shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has expanded its Chicago team with the appointment of Julie Jimoh as Vice President, Client Development. She takes over from Joe Corace, who has been promoted to SVP. More
North of England firm DJS Research has promoted Alex Belcher to Associate Director, based in Glasgow, and Anna Hegarty to Senior Research Manager based in Kent. More
Online survey and research services provider QuestionPro has acquired Patient Safety Group (PSG), which offers a tech platform to help health systems and hospitals collect and analyze patient and employee safety insights. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Research software and solutions firm Forsta has added a self-serve visualization and data storytelling solution called Forsta Studio Canvas to its Human Experience (HX) Platform, combining data with imagery to illustrate the journey of customers and employees. More
Employee experience (EX) platform Simpplr has appointed former Brandwatch exec Aykut Firat as its first Chief Data Scientist. More
SurveyMonkey parent Momentive has reported a GAAP loss of $23.8m in its first quarter, improving on a loss of $35.0m in the same period last year. Revenue was up 2% to $118.8m, from $116.9m in 2022 Q1. More
Print industry insight firm Keypoint Intelligence has acquired ProPrintPerformance, which provides competitive intelligence platforms and training services to sales and marketing professionals in the digital production print industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, AI-based employee experience (EX) platform Simpplr has raised $70m in a Series D round of funding, which will be invested in company growth and platform expansion. More
In the UK, data collection provider Prevision Research has launched an omnibus service called Trade Tracker, offering access to data on tradespeople such as builders, decorators, electricians, plumbers, handymen and roofers. More
Kantar has launched an 'always-on' brand performance tracker called BrandNow, delivering daily benchmarks and short-term forecasts for 25 product and service categories. The solution is initially available for tracking US and UK markets. More
US-based panel and sample firm Full Circle Research has hired long-time Dynata exec Gabe Dworet as its first Chief Revenue Officer. More
Munich-based UX software crowdtesting firm Testbirds has received an undisclosed seven-figure amount of revenue-based loan investment from Round2 Capital, and will use the money to expand its customer base. More
Former Kantar Health Global CEO Lynnette Cooke has joined the Strategic Advisory Board of Apollo Intelligence, which provides data and insights to the healthcare and life science industries. More
Australia agency Inlight has launched a service called the Digital Experience Benchmark, to help companies evaluate user experience of a digital product or service against best practice guidelines and heuristics. More
Digital media measurement and verification firm Integral Ad Science (IAS) has partnered with attention measurement platform Lumen Research, to provide clients with an improved way to track which ad impressions have captured attention and are likely to lead to a business result. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has expanded its Amplify ad development system, co-developed by consumer brands including PepsiCo, McDonald's and Reckitt, to help marketers optimize and validate their digital and TV advertisements at every stage of the creation process. More
London-based strategy and insight consultancy Basis has appointed Kelsey Fredrick as Operations Director; Josh Tahan as a Director; Sakina Jivanji as Senior Research Executive; and Jane Platt as Research Executive in its Basis Health division in the US. More
UK-based insight industry language specialist Empower Translate has appointed Jonny Bates as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), responsible for all revenue generation processes within the agency. The firm has also hired Adina Salant as Vendor Manager, based in Romania. More
Ipsos exec Tasneem Ali has joined the group's AI-enabled social media intelligence business Ipsos Synthesio as its Head in the UK. More
In the US, AI-powered B2B insights agency NewtonX has appointed tech industry exec Tim Bruno as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). More
Australia-based consumer data company Pureprofile has expanded its research panel through a partnership with AsiaPacific shopping rewards and payments platform ShopBack. Shoppers can earn cashback by completing surveys. More
Data collection company Norstat has launched an initiative called 'Norstat Quarterly Data', reporting on the views of consumers from fifteen countries across Europe. More
In the US, data collection company Rep Data has appointed Anna Pezzulli and promoted Joel Nelson, both to the position of Senior Vice President of Sales. More
In the US, data-driven marketing company Stirista has acquired lifecycle marketing tech firm Customer Portfolios, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, full-service social and MR agency IFF Research has promoted eleven of its employees, including Marc Cranney to Research Director. More
In San Francisco, AI-powered MR platform AiFlow has raised an undisclosed amount of private equity funding, which it will use to bolster technology currently being piloted by three large-cap private equity firms. More
In London, research and strategy consultancy MTM has appointed Jonathan Stone as Director and Head of its Technology & Telco practice; Becky Ferguson as Director and Head of the Media & Advertising practice; and Michael Thompson for the newly created role of Head of UX Research. More
UK-based consumer intelligence platform QuMind has appointed Ian Ralph as Head of Research, with responsibility for building a Centre of Excellence for MR and insight techniques. More
US-based international data collection and research tech company Sago has promoted Steve Mast to the newly created role of Chief Product Officer and Carlo Marcelino to Chief Technology Officer, replacing Troy Anderson who has left the company. The firm was previously known as the Schlesinger Group. More
Following the news that it filed for bankruptcy in February, US-based ad tech and data company Big Village has sold its Insights and Agency business units to holding company Bright Mountain Media for approximately $20m. More
Experience management firm Alida has enhanced its Total Experience Management (TXM) platform, with the addition of a mobile feedback app to help organizations build 'stronger connections with hard-to-reach customers'. More
In the US, Nielsen says it will not be participating in the 'JIC' formed by a number of broadcasters earlier this year to certify audience measurement providers, unless the new body addresses concerns in areas including methodology, missing platforms, Nielsen IP, and the JIC's relationship to the MRC. More
In Manchester, UK, former Insights Family product chief Jonathan Watson has today launched a new insight platform focused on the food and drink sectors, with tools covering brand and media tracking, consumer profiling and trend-spotting, backed by 1,000 shopper interviews each month. More
In New York, zero party data platform Pulse Insights has launched an automated feedback module called AI Tuner, enabling deployment, integration and optimization of AI models and applications powered by them. More
European data collection and MR agency Norstat is rolling out its TestingTime self-service user experience (UX) respondent recruitment platform to Sweden. More
London-based voice analytics firm Phebi, which already uses AI to identify nonconscious emotion, has added generative AI to summarize research results and enable additional interaction with them. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Brad Martinez as Programming & Data Visualization Specialist and Rachel Lenz has a Project Director, while promoting Emily Trentacosta to VP of Strategy & Insights. The firm has also promoted six other employees. More
Ipsos has reported a 2.9% drop in Q1 revenues to EUR 532m, with organic decline of 2.8%. The firm had said when presenting its 2022 annual results that it anticipated a 'tougher first quarter'. The total is still 26% up on the figure for Q1 2019, pre-Covid, and Ipsos says it expects annual growth of c.5%. More
Research software and solutions firm Forsta has launched a qual research tool called Forsta Discussions, allowing clients to plan, conduct and monitor video focus groups within its 'Human Experience' (HX) platform. More
Consumer insight provider Human8, until recently known as InSites Consulting, has expanded its services to the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, where Senior Business Director Kurt Thompson will lead activies from Dubai, UAE. More
In New York, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has reinstated accreditation for Nielsen's National Television Audience Measurement (TAM) service, which it suspended in September 2021. The move comes just in time for the start of the 2023-24 upfront ad planning and buying season. More
Brand and marketing insights company Shapiro+Raj has appointed Carrie McDowell as Director, Quant Operations; Adam Weil as Director, Life Sciences; Samantha DuBois as Director, Strategy; and Jaspal Singh as Director of People. Meanwhile Carol Tobler is promoted to Senor Director, Marcoms. More
Paris-based social media-sampled insights firm Episto has opened an office in London, and appointed former Nielsen and Lucid employee Julie Tebeka to lead it. More
EFAMRO, the European federation of MR trade associations, has added a membership package for companies in countries with no official organisation representing the market and social research sector. More
MR and analytics company FactWorks has promoted Anchal Chhabra to the role of co-Chief Executive Officer at its office in San Francisco. She will work alongside current CEO and company owner Axel Bichler. More
Luxury markets specialist Altiant has expanded its Millionaire Media Consumption Subscription service to Hong Kong and Singapore. More
YouGov has appointed Meta Platforms exec Steve Hatch as Chief Executive Officer from 1st August. He will take over from co-founder Stephan Shakespeare, who will become Non-Executive Chair, replacing Roger Parry. More
Healthcare fieldwork specialist M3 Global Research has acquired Med Planet, which provides qual MR services to the healthcare industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Apollo Intelligence, which provides data and insights to the healthcare and life science industries, has appointed Kelley Schudy as Chief Global Commercial Officer, while Chris Mars joins as EVP of Sales for its InCrowd subsidiary. More
Momentive has rolled out three recently launched survey creation features for SurveyMonkey Enterprise and paid customers in the UK and Ireland. More
US Hispanic and multicultural markets research specialist ThinkNow has launched proprietary panel management software called ThinkNow Base. More
Kantar Media has been commissioned by the Association of Philippine Broadcasters (KBP) to conduct a series of radio surveys which will serve as the country's currency for radio audience measurement. More
Nielsen has launched an audio measurement service called Market-Wide Total Line Reporting (TLR) to enable clients in PPM (Portable People Meter) markets to gain a market-wide view of streaming audio consumption. More
Next15 insight subsidiary Savanta has rolled out its MillionaireVue quarterly omnibus in six European markets - France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. More
Ipsos has promoted Pedr Howard to the newly created role of Executive Vice President and Head of its Creative Excellence team in the US. More
US-based insights and strategic consulting firm M/A/R/C has appointed Michelle Sugent, Sarah Eaton and Sara Cerra as Directors, while Sherry Mohanty joins as Client Support Manager, Matt Ruppe as Client Support Director, and Tyler Konan as Director of Development. More
In Ireland, RED C has hired long-time Kantar exec Robin McGhee as a Director, to focus on qual research and further developing the group's strategic planning offer. Meanwhile two other former Kantar execs, Aya Sako and Patrick McHugh, are also joining the team. More
US-based online consumer research and rewards platform Prodege has appointed Stuart Gullock as Vice President, Sales and Rajdeep Chana as Director, New Sales. Both are based in the UK. More
US-based MR tech and survey programming firm Jibunu has launched a solution called QA Note Tool, to help improve the survey review process for internal teams and their clients. More
Ipsos-owned B2B researcher Xperiti has launched a solution called Vepp, which it says will flag fraudulent profiles and ensure that only genuine respondents can participate in online surveys and panels. More
New York-based market intelligence platform Native AI has raised $3.5m in a seed funding round, to expand its services helping brands to digitally clone their target customers into test groups, ask them questions and instantly get actionable recommendations. More
In the US, qual MR recruitment specialist Focus Insite has promoted Stephanie Tatum to Director of the Consumer Division, Elisa Garcia and Ruth Lasley to Project Manager, and Haley McInturff and Sarah Smith to Assistant Project Manager. More
Kantar has announced a new growth strategy for the APAC region; launched a tailored platform in China; and plans to quadruple the size of its Indian panel. More
Behavioral science-focused social research agency Fors Marsh has acquired full service social impact marketing firm Brunet-García. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, digital optimization specialist Amplitude has enhanced its product experiment platform, Amplitude Experiment, to help simplify A/B testing and run concurrent experiments without exposing users to more than one testing scenario at a time. More
Ipsos is planning to add two new members to its Board of Directors - Àngels Martín Muñoz, currently General Manager for Olympics at Atos; and Florence Parly, former Minister of the French Army. Their appointment is subject to a vote at the firm's AGM on 15th May. More
Global insight and customer analytics group STRAT7 has acquired UK-based strategy, insight and planning consultancy Rainmakers CSI for an undisclosed sum. The company will be integrated into Incite, which STRAT7 acquired in 2021. More
Video-based insight provider UserTesting and user experience (UX) specialist UserZoom have merged under the former's brand name. The merger follows the separate acquisitions of the two companies by private equity firm Thoma Bravo. More
Ben Leet has stepped down as CEO of UK-based insights and data firm Delineate, with former CEO and company founder James 'JT' Turner resuming the role. More
Netherlands-based agencies Blauw and USP are among the customers of MR software supplier Nebu affected by a security breach which may involve data on around two million residents of the country, according to press reports. More
Data science and real-world testing provider HeadSpin has announced a strategic investment from Atlassian Ventures. Funds will drive its development of tools for DevOps teams, as well as 'synthetic observability' features, promising clients faster time to market and better product quality. More
Dublin and London-based researcher RED C has added Ciara Reilly and Bryan Cox to its Group Management Team. More
In the US, Ipsos has partnered with video feedback platform Discuss to enhance its offering in live virtual feedback and fast online qual, among other areas. More
Paris-based OpinionWay has appointed long-time BVA execs Lea König and Truong Nguyen as joint leaders of its new Mystery Shopping Luxury division, while Sophie Archambot Corbière joins from Strategir to take over the management of the Corporate & Marketing Luxury division. More
Behavioural science-based marketing and MR consultancy System1 has added an audio-only element to its 'Test Your Ad' tool, allowing advertisers to optimise their audio ads for different audiences. More
European data collection and MR agency Norstat has appointed former InSites Consulting exec Kjell Massen as Head of Quantitative and Business Development in the Netherlands, starting this Friday. More
US-based data collection firm Veridata Insights has added five new employees to its team, including Vinay Kumar Singh as Associate Director of Panel Operations and Supply, and Karan Jaiswar as Senior Data Analyst of Survey Solutions, both based in India. More
In Australia, survey platform Conjointly is offering an AUD 20k research grant, open to researchers from any field who are interested in applying market research techniques to the problem of AI safety. The grant is open to both individuals and teams. More
US-based customer intelligence platform InMoment has added new features including 'Smart Summary Generator', based on AI technology ChatGPT, into its Experience Improvement (XI) Platform. More
In the US, audio, imaging and sensing technology provider DTS has launched a solution called 'DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal', offering radio broadcasters insights into how listeners are engaging with their content from their cars. More
Signoi co-founder and long-time industry exec Andrew Jeavons has joined US-headquartered off- and online data collection agency Eyes4Research as a Non-Executive Director (NED). He is based in the UK and starts the new role next week. More
In the UK, consumer and sensory research agency MMR Research has partnered with conversational AI company Nexxt Intelligence, to integrate the latter's inca SmartProbe API service into its consumer surveys. More
Global insights and media agency Hotspex has acquired a majority stake in Shanghai-based brand insight, strategy and innovation consultancy The Silk Initiative (TSI). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In New York, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has begun the process of mapping the pool of attention measurement providers, to create an 'Attention Atlas' as part of its ARF Attention Validation Initiative. More
UK-based consumer research platform Attest has appointed Sana Ayub as Chief Financial Officer, Anne Katrine Vestergaard Jensen as Vice President of Marketing, and Ilhan Mehmet as Vice President of People. More
Market and customer research company Vision One has launched an Advanced Research Unit (ARU), staffed by neuromarketing and insight specialists. The new team will focus on understanding the conscious and unconscious decisions and motivations driving consumer purchasing behaviour. More
UK audience measurement body UKOM has extended its endorsement of Ipsos' iris solution to 2027, following what the global agency describes as a 'series of successes'. In addition, Ipsos has added online video data insights to the iris platform. More
US-based research platform dscout has acquired Panelfox, a software platform to help researchers manage their recruitment process. The firm has also established a presence in the UK, led by former Lucid exec Ben Hogg; and has hired two senior execs in the US. More
Two former senior execs of marketing and MR consultancy System1, former CEO Stefan Barden and ex-CFO James Geddes, are calling for board changes including the retirement of Rupert Howell as Chairman and NED, and the moving of founder John Kearon into an NED role. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has enhanced its PureScore respondent scoring system, with an update to its algorithm that has learned and evolved using the data from more than ten billion sessions since the system's launch three years ago. More
British Out-Of-Home (OOH) measurement body Route has issued an invitation for partners to design a measurement system for out-of-home advertising on posters and screens across Great Britain. More
In the UK, consumer and B2B agency 2CV has promoted Ruth Noble to the role of Head of Quantitative Research; while Hannah Davies will now lead the Life & Style division and James Maxfield the Financial Services division. More
Ipsos has appointed Tom Juetten as Executive Vice President and Service Line Lead for its US Innovation Practice, which provides clients with insights on the entire innovation process, from ideation and concept testing to post-launch evaluation. More
London-based MR data visualization and PowerPoint automation specialist Indico Labs has appointed former Streetbees exec Joel Miller as Strategic Product Director and ex-Nielsen VP Dimitra Spiliotopoulou as Head of Sales. More
Global insight and data membership organisation ESOMAR has elected Ray Poynter as its 2023-2024 Council President, replacing Kristin Luck of ScaleHouse, who has completed her two-year term. More
In the UK, healthcare MR firm Day One Strategy has appointed oncology specialists Jo McDonald, as a Partner, and Gemma McConnell as Research Director. More
In the US, MR survey platform GroupSolver has launched an online solution called QuantQual, combining qualitative and quantitative research in one process. More
SurveyMonkey parent Momentive has agreed to be acquired by a consortium led by insights sector investment firm Symphony Technology Group (STG), for approximately $1.5bn. More
Canadian survey software provider Voxco has been acquired by TAP Software Holdings, an investment vehicle managed by Terminus Capital Partners, for an undisclosed sum. More
Consumer and B2B agency 2CV has promoted Karine Pepin to SVP and Head of Quant, and Amy Spencer to SVP and Head of Qual. The pair are based in San Francisco, and now jointly lead the firm's US offices. More
In the US, investor-focused primary research platform BWG Strategy has acquired OTR Global, which conducts in-depth interviews with industry customers, suppliers, vendors, distributors and executives in more than 25 countries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Experience management firm Qualtrics is to be acquired by tech investor Silver Lake, in partnership with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), for around $12.5bn in cash; and will become an independent, privately held company. More
Consumer insight provider InSites Consulting has changed its name to Human8, defining itself as a 'human-driven consultancy, connecting brands with people and culture to drive positive change'. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy provider Leger has launched a research-driven digital performance agency called Leger DGTL, integrating its performance measurement agency Ressac in the process. More
In Australia, strategic consultancy The Influence Group has appointed Shannon Kenna as Managing Director of the Canberra offices of both its research and brand strategy business Pollinate and the group as a whole. More
Armenian product testing and validation platform Prelaunch.com has secured $1.5 million in seed funding, and says it will use the funds to expand in the US and elsewhere, and to develop its product. More
Industry bodies the Insights Association (IA), MRS and ESOMAR have announced they will collaborate, along with survey sampling conference SampleCon, to 'fight fraud' and address ongoing risks to data quality. More
Consumer research and neuromarketing platform CoolTool has launched an automated approach for testing video ads, with multiple non-conscious measurement tools working simultaneously to evaluate visual attention, emotional engagement, implicit and explicit impact. More
Online panel provider Intra Research has expanded into eighteen new territories, bringing the total number of European countries it covers to 34. More
In the UK, Opinium CEO James Endersby has been elected as Chair Designate of the Market Research Society (MRS). He starts the role next month, and will replace Zappi SVP Sinead Jefferies as Chair twelve months later. More
Martin Walls, the founder and former Managing Director of B2B data collection business Prevision Research, died on Friday 24th February at the age of 68, after a lengthy battle with cancer. More
In the US, radio broadcast company Saga Communications has hired long-time Nielsen / Arbitron exec Mario Christino for the newly created position of Corporate Director of Research. More
Bidding is open now for the annual auction run by UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA). The event will run until 9pm on Thursday 23rd March. More
In Germany, European data collection company Norstat has appointed former Schlesinger Group exec Ivana Slukan as Head of Qualitative. More
In the US, recently merged consumer data and insights firms Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and The NPD Group have named the combined company 'Circana', which CEO Kirk Perry says conveys the business's 360-degree, full-circle understanding of the consumer and market. More
In the US, Applied Marketing Science (AMS) has hired academic Dr Tao Sun as Testifying Survey Expert, tasked with providing survey evidence and expert testimony on matters related to trademark and 'trade dress' infringement, false and deceptive advertising, and class action litigation. More
Global agency Ipsos has appointed Richie Jones as its new Chief Client Officer in the UK. More
Qual data collection software firm itracks has partnered with Lumivero, the developers of qual data analysis software NVivo, aimed at streamlining the qual research process and bringing the two parts more seamlessly together. More
Panel management platform Sample Ninja has announced a partnership with Research Defender, aiming to further improve their capabilities in fraud detection. More
In the UK, the government has appointed two senior execs from NatCen to its 'Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel' (ETAP), which aims to support the design and delivery of robust, high-quality evaluation across government. More
In New York, former Qualtrics exec Kimberly Bastoni has joined consumer insights tech firm Suzy as its first Chief Revenue Officer. More
China-based fieldwork and research agency Holden Healthcare has established a partnership alliance called the Asia Physician Panel Association (APPA), aiming to enhance physician panel access across APAC, inclusive of difficult to access markets. More
Jon Priest, SPA co-founder and former CEO of Future Thinking, has joined the Board of full service social and market research agency IFF Research, in the role of Non-Executive Chair. More
US-based International data collection and research tech company Schlesinger Group has been re-branded as 'Sago', which Executive Chairman Steve Schlesinger says is not merely a name change, but also a commitment to an 'inspiring new chapter' in optimizing the firm's offerings. More
Ipsos India is making three changes to its leadership team from the beginning of April, including moving Vincy Jathanna to the newly created role of Vice President of Operations. More
NielsenIQ, the consumer intelligence business which split away from its Media wing two years ago this month and is now combining with GfK, has rebranded as NIQ. Accompanying this, the firm says it is undergoing 'a significant transformation' and is committed to providing the 'Full View' of global consumers. More
MrWeb's RAIDAR real-time ranking of top companies operating in analytics, insight and data is now fully operational, and you'll see financial results, CEO changes and other items from tonight's Daily Research News reflected in tomorrow's top 40. More
US survey software and solutions firm QuestionPro has acquired Pundit Consultantz, a healthcare innovation and go-to-market commercialization consultancy based in Chicago. Pundit's founder and CEO Arti Bedi Pullins becomes QuestionPro's President and Chief Healthcare Officer. More
Savanta has promoted Danielle Rodriguez to Chief Commercial Officer and Mark Martins to Chief Services Officer, both with seats on the firm's global Board and both retaining existing roles and responsibilities in addition. More
Shopper insights firm Behaviorally has extended its TransactionPath suite with the launch of two new services, ShelfPath and DecisionPath, designed to understand 'New Retail' consumers shopping seamlessly across physical, social and other digital channels. More
In Toronto, Canada, opinion researcher the Angus Reid Group has appointed Andrew Grenville as Executive Vice President of Research. More
UK television audience measurement body Barb has appointed Khaled Serafy as its first Head of Data Science, charged with reviewing, verifying and developing the organisation's complex methods and models. More
Verve, which focuses on culture, communities and 'smart digital research', has launched a 'hub' in Melbourne, Australia and appointed Christina Tonkes to lead it as Senior Director. Meanwhile Mirjam Grari joins the team in Sydney. More
In the UK, kids, teens, parents and family market intelligence specialist The Insights Family has made eight new hires across its Technology, Research, Customer Success and Support divisions - as well as four promotions. More
Toronto, Canada-based custom MR provider Research Strategy Group (RSG) has appointed former MRS and AURA Chairman and veteran client-side researcher Danny Russell as its first Non-Executive Director, helping MDs Anne Coulter and Jim Peterson grow the business. More
Next15's data, MR and advisory company Savanta has launched its first European Consumer Confidence survey, which will be run quarterly to understand a range of factors, including awareness of brands' sustainability and data privacy actions. More
Real-time consumer feedback platform OnePulse has secured a £420k follow-on round of funding, adding to previous investments of £1.5m in 2021 and £2.1m last year. The latest funds will be used to expand the firm's teams in the UK and US, and build on its existing international client base. More
'Data creation' platform Walr has appointed former Savanta EVP Peter Flower as Chief Operating Officer, while Tariq Badar joins as Chief Financial Officer. Meanwhile co-founder Patrick Fraser is stepping back from the day-to-day running of the firm, but will remain a Non-Executive Director. More
Canadian marketing services and data firm Environics Analytics (EA) has partnered with consumer and audience insights company Vividata to launch a database called Opticks Digital, designed to provide a multi-channel view of the online Canadian consumer. More
Tim Urmston, the founder and President of US-based qualitative insights and innovation consultancy SEEK Company, is to retire at the end of March, when Courtney PeGan will take over the role. More
Non-profit organization Women In Research (WIRe) has appointed four members to its 2023 Advisory Board - Jo Brockhurst, Shazia Ginai, Damon Jones and Cherie Leonard. More
In the UK, behavioural science consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has appointed Atticus Research founder Matt Dobbin and former Facebook researcher Andrew Goll as Directors. More
BARB, the UK's television audience measurement body, has announced a commitment to expand its measurement of audiences to include 'fit-for-TV' content on video-sharing platforms. At the same time the organisation has changed its company name to Barb Audiences Ltd. More
US research and training company Burke, Inc. has promoted Mike Webster for the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer, after more than 28 years with the business. More
BVA BDRC subsidiary Alligator Digital has named Paul Russell Managing Director. He is already MD of sister company Perspective Research Services. More
Manchester, UK-based full service MR agency Mustard has promoted Molly Hilton and Joe Stanley to Research Manager roles, while hiring Emma France as Senior Research Executive, and adding Izzy Tooze and Nadja Moncolova to its graduate scheme. More
Ipsos and IAB Australia have announced that the new Ipsos iris digital audience measurement currency will be launched in early March, following its official endorsement by the association's Board and Measurement Council. More
A European Parliament Committee has expressed serious doubts about the proposed 'adequacy decision' giving the green light to the latest rules for the transfer of data to and from the US. LIBE says the US commitments lack the robust safeguards and redress mechanisms required by GDPR. More
Panel management platform Sample Ninja and sample marketplace Zamplia are teaming up to provide users with a unified platform for conducting market research More
Communities specialist InSites Consulting has announced an expansion of its Executive Committee and the appointment of a first Chief Growth Officer - Managing Partner Tom De Ruyck. More
UK-based Verve, whose expertise includes community panels and culture, has announced the promotion of marketing and comms head Vicki Britton and the appointment of former Streetbees and Kantar exec Jadwiga Kozubek as a Director; as well as a raft of other promotions and hires. More
Consumer and sensory research agency MMR Research Worldwide has announced the opening of a facility in Wokingham, Berkshire, designed to help FMCG firms improve their pack and product experience. More
SurveyMonkey parent Momentive has reported revenue up 8% to $480.9m for full year 2022. The rise is the net effect of rapid growth in the 'sales-assisted' segment - up 27% to $181.3m - while self-serve business remained flat at $299.6m. However the firm says it will also cut 14% of its workforce. More
In Stockholm, audience measurement body MMS (Mediamätning / Skandinavien AB) has announced the expansion of its 'total measurement' cross-media ad currency service, operated by Nielsen. More
Dublin and London-based researcher RED C has launched an online platform called RED C Direct, allowing clients to test their own ad creative, backed by the firm's survey design, sampling expertise, effectiveness model and norms. More
MR consultancy Reach3 Insights has teamed up with The Keller Advisory Group on a new solution offering marketers early-stage consumer feedback on the potential impact of experiential brand activations. More
Ipsos has reported 2022 annual revenue up 12% to EUR 2.4 bn, representing organic growth of 5.6%. In the final quarter of the year, the business grew by 8.8%, including nearly 4% organic growth. More
Danish broadcasters DR, Bauer Media, Danske Medier and Radio 4 have renewed their agreement with Kantar for the measurement of radio audiences in the country, until at least 2028. More
In the US, data collection company Rep Data has promoted Ryan Rothe to the role of Chief Revenue Officer, to lead revenue-generating activities including new business development, client relations, marketing, and RevOps. More
Netherlands-based full-service agency MWM2 has appointed former GfK and Nielsen exec Andy Hut as Managing Director, replacing Govert van den Bos who will now focus on growing the MWM2 group. The Group also includes PR agency Hibou, Crowdtech and Innervoice. More
HR software developer GoCo has acquired Canadian employee experience and people analytics platform WFHomie for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has hired Ashley D'Annunzio for the newly created role of Director of Qualitative, while Shelbi Webb joins as a Project Director. More
In Bangkok, qual research and cultural insights specialist FUEL Research & Consulting has been renamed FUEL Asia, reflecting its growing presence and workload across the continent. More
Ipsos has acquired business-to-business researcher Xperiti, which has operations across the US, Israel and the Philippines. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, three former execs of Hall & Partners and Basis Health - Nicola Harte, Scott Kressner and Soumya Roy - have opened a healthcare-focused insights business called Integro. More
Former Lightspeed, Ipsos and Schlesinger exec Matthew Seabrook has joined agile research solutions and panels firm Borderless Access, as its sales representative in the UK. More
In the US, experience platform Discuss has appointed former Pollfish CFO Jeff Tagliabue as Chief Financial Officer. More
In London, behavioural research consultancy the Irrational Agency has appointed Sonia Quadri as Operations Director, while Helen Brown joins as an Associate Director. More
Conversation AI and automation specialist Uniphore has acquired Hexagone, which combines various voice, visual and text-based data to provide insights into human behavior. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, The Insights Family has hired Voxpopme co-founder Tom Williams as Chief Growth Officer, while moving Clive Maudsley to the role of COO. Founder Nick Richardson moves to Chief Strategy Officer, following the appointment of Rachel Bardill to lead the Marketing and Partnerships team. More
In the US, Kristin Masoud has returned to online community specialist C Space as Vice President, Managing Director of its Health division. She replaces Corey Schwartz, who had held the role for the past nine years. More
Consumer behaviour specialist ViewersLogic has launched a panel to measure individuals' media consumption, TV and digital ad exposure, online and off-line purchases, and location data over time, 24/7. More
In the US, market research technology and survey programming company Jibunu has added medical transcription features to its video / audio response capturing tool. More
AdTech company Infillion has acquired global MR company Phonic, which helps build voice and video surveys, and records and analyzes consumer interaction with technology and web sites. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
British tabloid newspaper The Sun has made its consumer insight tool 'Sun Polls' available as a commercial service for brands and educational institutions. More
London-based immersive product shopping platform Situ Live has raised £1m in an investment round, which it will use to further develop its technology and increase sales and marketing activity. More
Online survey and research services provider QuestionPro has acquired the assets of Cardiff, Wales-based survey creation platform doopoll, for an undisclosed sum. More
Experience management specialist Alida has added new personalization, reporting and privacy capabilities to its TXM platform (Total Experience Management), including a personalization solution based on survey participant profiles and behavior. More
MedTech services specialist ClariMed has acquired UK-based medical 'human factors' and market research provider Harvey Medical. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Portuguese consumer neuroscience-based media research platform MindProber has appointed former Oracle Moat Product Head Irina Dzyubinsky as Chief Product Officer. More
London-based strategic insight consultancy Firefish has appointed Richard Owen as Group Head of Innovation, with a seat on its Board. More
In the US, data quality and anti-fraud software platform Research Defender has promoted Teal Canady to Vice President of Technology, and Dan Fletcher to Vice President of Operations. The company has also appointed Josh Roberts as an Operations Analyst. More
Online community specialist C Space has promoted Kisha Payton to the newly created role of Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, while Claire Kennard, Andy Fitzgibbons and Neha Mittal join the company's Senior Consultancy EMEA team. More
In the US, Nielsen has announced it is to market Edison Research's 'Share of Ear' and 'Podcast Metrics' services to ad agencies. More
Enterprise tech company Syncfusion has added its business data analysis tool Bold BI to the SurveyMonkey App Directory, enabling users to import data from SurveyMonkey to create, customize and share business dashboards. More
In London, agencies See Research and Sherbert Research have partnered to combine See's global MR operations with Sherbert's specialism in kids, youth and family research. More
London-based crowdsourcing, idea management and 'open innovation' platform Wazoku has launched a dashboard called Mindpool SME, to help small and medium-sized businesses listen to, understand and act on employee feedback. More
Northern European mystery shopping and client feedback collection agency Dive Group has acquired MRtec, which provides mystery shopping services in Poland. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, Ipsos has named long-time company exec Lindsay Franke as President and Service Line Cluster Lead for North America. More
Australian market research technology platform Glow has opened an office in the US, where Chrissy Brogan has been hired for the newly created role of Director of Market Development. The firm has also made appointments and promotions at its headquarters. More
In Australia, mystery shopping agency Lonergan has acquired Prime Auto Mystery Shopping and qual recruitment agency Ava Research, boosting its mystery shopper numbers to 40,000 nationally and its qual database to more than 70,000 respondents. Terms of the deals have not been disclosed. More
In the UK two former employees of qual firm The Sound, James McLintock and Stuart Knapman, have founded a network called the Future Studio, comprising nine independent insight, strategy and innovation specialists who are already working with agencies and clients in the UK, US and LATAM. More
UK-based sampling agency Sample Answers has promoted Martin Cawley to the role of Managing Director, and relocated its offices to St Albans in Hertfordshire. More
Kantar has added a price sensitivity module to its Concept eValuate suite, to help brands identify the ideal price range for new products. More
Behavioural science research and consulting agency PRS IN VIVO, in collaboration with sister agency BVA BDRC, is expanding its services in the APAC region, through the opening of a new office in Australia. More
UK television audience measurement body BARB has launched the beta of an API which it says will give clients more flexibility into how they access its viewing data. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has appointed John Crowley as a Director in its Sydney office. More
Momentive has launched three survey creation features for its SurveyMonkey Enterprise solution and paid customers in the US. These include language personalization features, additional best/worst question types, and a multilingual e-mail collector. More
Australia-based consumer data firm Pureprofile has announced revenue up 21% to $AUD 12.8m for the quarter ended 31st December, the second of its fiscal year 2023. More
Manchester, UK-based mobile device data firm RealityMine has announced a formal partnership with a long-time collaborator, panel recruitment and data sourcing specialist Amplify MR, offering clients global private community and panel access. More
In Sydney, online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has appointed online research veteran Chris Mawn as ANZ Director of Clients. More
In New York, behavioral science insights agency BEESY has announced three appointments including Marie Hollowell as Chief Operating Officer. Luke Wiggins joins as a Senior Research Manager and Paige Shomsky-Barker as Research Operations Manager. More
In New York, shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has launched PackPath, a qualitative suite which taps 'the world's largest behavioral pack design database' to predict the potential of pack designs to grow clients' in-market sales. More
Agile research solutions and panels firm Borderless Access has appointed Matthew Worden, formerly of firms including Dynata, Vision Critical and Fuel Cycle, as Vice President - Sales (Americas). More
Shopper behaviour specialist Kantar Worldpanel has promoted Francisco Luna to Country Manager, leading the division in Mexico. More
Big Village, the ad tech and data company formerly known as ENGINE, has appointed Jeron Hernandez as VP Client Development, based in Chicago. More
Ipsos India has promoted six members of its team, including Pallavi Mathur Lal to the role of Senior Director, Content and Communications; and Madhurima Bhatia to Media Engagement and Partnerships Lead for India and the Asia Pacific region (excluding Greater China). More
Kantar has promoted Jane Ng and Paromeeta (Paro) Mathur Banerjee to General Managers of its Insights division in Singapore and Malaysia, respectively. More
In the US, data collection firm Rep Data has added long-time Research Now exec Kurt Knapton to its Board of Directors. More
Global sampling and research tech firm InnovateMR has acquired Ivy Exec, which offers access to a network of more than 2.5 million B2B professionals for qualitative research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Employee-owned user experience (UX) research and design company ReSight Global has acquired a controlling interest in India-based competitor PeepalDesign, for an undisclosed sum. More
In London, the Association for Survey Computing (ASC) has secured the status of a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC), a special type of limited company which exists to benefit its community rather than private shareholders. More
In the UK, market research viewing facility and meeting space i-view London has promoted Sam Grey to the role of Managing Director. More
BVA BDRC subsidiary Alligator Digital has appointed former respondi / HPI Research exec Faraz Zamyadi as Client Partnerships Director. More
BARB, the UK's television audience measurement body, has awarded its panel expansion recruitment contract to Ipsos, which will grow the nationally representative panel of households from 5,150 to 7,000 homes. More
UK-based research technology platform Walr has appointed former Forsta exec Penelope Bloom as Head of Enterprise Sales. More
New York-based Cypris, a market intelligence platform built for R&D and innovation teams, has raised $4m in a Series A round of funding, which it will invest in AI applications designed to help decrease 'time to insights' for users, and to create new opportunities for innovation discovery. More
Portugal-based media research platform MindProber has appointed former Formula E media exec Sebastian Tiffert as Vice President of Client Development, charged with driving its expansion in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. He is based in London. More
In the UK, full service agency BMG Research has appointed long-time NatCen exec Caroline Turley as Client Leadership Director. More
BVA BDRC subsidiary Alligator Digital has promoted Maria Butylina to the role of Client Services Director, working alongside Jerry Flynn, the firm's Programming Director. Four other promotions have recently been announced. More
In the UK, consumer insight consultancy BVA BDRC has appointed Matt Costin as Chief Executive Officer, replacing co-founder Cris Tarrant who takes the position of Chairman. Meanwhile Caroline Ahmed has been named Chief Commercial Officer. More
In the US, behavioral science and MR consultancy Protobrand has appointed former employee Pal Marton Afzelius to Chief Executive Officer, taking over from founder and Chairman Anders Bengtsson. More
US-based MR industry change management consultancy Cambiar has appointed Kahren Kersten as an Equity Partner, thereby expanding its offer to include UX, design and innovation agencies and functions. More
In Tokyo, GMO Research has launched a service called Z.com Engagement Lab, through which consumers can receive rewards for participating in surveys. More
UK market research budgets continued to contract during the final three months of last year, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. Total marketing budgets grew during the period however, despite expectations that the economy had entered a recession. More
In Australia, Kantar has expanded its Commercial and Sustainability leadership teams with four senior appointments. Ryan France is increasing his brand strategy role to lead the company's Sustainability practice, while Kim Ruyten will implement the company's ESG capability. More
Global online communities specialist InSites Consulting has acquired Munich-based MR and innovation consultancy Happy Thinking People, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, mobile survey platform GeoPoll has hired long-time RTI International exec Charles Lau as its first Chief Research Officer. More
Texas-based data collection firm Veridata Insights has promoted Katie Ozdemir to the role of President of Global Qualitative Solutions, Natalie Clancy to VP of Operations, Nathaniel Cuellar to Project Manager, and Michael Nichols to Operations Team Lead. More
Branding Science Group has promoted Jo Gryniewicz to the role of President of the company in the US. More
UK-based 'data creation' platform Walr has expanded in the Asia Pacific region with the appointment of Lamia Lee as General Manager, tasked with heading up its operations in the region. She is based in Sydney, Australia. More
In the UK, long-time BBC Children's exec Rachel Bardill has joined kids, teens, parents and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family, to lead its Marketing and Partnerships team. She is based in Manchester. More
As of today, you can filter MrWeb's recently-launched real-time ranking of top companies providing MR, insights, data and analytics activities, to include just one type (eg Full Service) or one headquarters country. Another ten firms have been assessed and added, making it a top 40. More
UK-based insights and data firm Delineate has announced two senior hires, Arun Mylavarapu as VP of Client Success and Simon Sketchley as Head of Data Services. More
Structured and unstructured data and text analytics firm Lexalytics has expanded its capabilities for eleven of the languages it supports, to help global organizations better understand their customers. More
In the US, research firm Applied Marketing Science (AMS) has named Patricia (Patty) Yanes a Testifying Survey Expert, acting as an authority in applying conjoint analysis as a basis for damages models in class actions. More
Following last month's news that Nielsen is restructuring its business into three global units, and the departure of five of the firm's senior managers, the company has confirmed it is reducing total headcount to 'roughly in line with where it was a year ago'. More
In the US, President Joe Biden has called for legislation to protect users' privacy by limiting targeted advertising, and banning it completely for children. More
Long-time Unilever insights leader BV Pradeep has joined the global advisory team of digital MR products and solutions company Borderless Access, with a remit to help the company design strategies for acquiring and expanding its client base. More
In Belgium, Kantar has appointed long-time Nielsen exec Sabine Vermeulen as Innovation Director. More
In New York, self-service, real-time insights platform Glimpse has appointed long-time Lucid exec Jay Popovich as Chief Revenue Officer; Adam Bai as Chief Strategy and Client Service Officer and Karen Strauss as a part-time Strategic Consultant. More
US media ratings consortium OpenAP and TV ad trade group the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB) have teamed up with a group of TV broadcasters to form a joint industry committee (JIC) and create a certification process for emerging cross-platform measurement solutions. More
Text analytics software firm Relative Insight has launched Relative Health - a solution to help pharmaceutical, healthcare, biotech and medical device companies and their agencies analyse and visualise industry-specific text data. More
UK-based consumer intelligence platform QuMind has launched a feature which applies MaxDiff analysis to help companies align their products and services with what matters most to their customers. More
Kantar has appointed Cheong Tai Leung as Chief Executive Officer of its Insights Asia Pacific business. She is based in Singapore and takes over from Wayne Levings, who will now focus exclusively on his role as Kantar's Chief Client Officer. More
UK-based healthcare insights company Research Partnership has appointed Gareth Phillips as its new CEO, as co-founding Directors Mary Assimakopoulos and Mark Jeffery step back from the day-to-day operation of the business. They remain on the senior team as advisors. More
In the UK, insights agency Blue Marble has hired Olivier Boelman and Amelie Treppass as Research Directors and Brigid Eades as a Research Executive, following strong growth in 2022. More
Pharma and biotech insight and analytics firm SAI MedPartners has acquired Waltham, MA-based primary MR firm Fulcrum Research Group, which also focuses on the healthcare and biopharma sectors. More
In the US, data collection and consumer insights firm CRG Global Inc. has purchased the HUUNU predictive intelligence asset from prediction market research company Cipher. More
The ARF's Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement has appointed former GroupM and MediaPost journalist and marketer Tameka Kee as Deputy Managing Director. More
Alchemer, the experience management and enterprise feedback tech company once known as SurveyGizmo, has announced the acquisition of mobile CX specialist Apptentive. More
Ubiquitous MR industry figure Ray Poynter has teamed up with his son, engineer Will Poynter, to offer a new, free tool for creating word clouds. Users get a draft cloud which they can then refine to change layout, exclude or accentuate particular words or phrases, and other options. More
Ipsos has announced two appointments to its global Executive Committee: Valerie Vezinhet as Chief People Officer and Michel Guidi as Chief Operating Officer. More
More than two years after first announcing its Nielsen One cross-platform measurement solution, and a year after the start of 'Alpha' testing, Nielsen says it is ready for a full launch of the first elements next week. More
Cincinnati, Ohio-based insights and analytics firm Directions Inc. has promoted Elizabeth (Beth) Finn to Chief Client Officer, leading the account team and overseeing the firm's client relationships and engagements. More
Fairfield, NJ-based digital imaging industry product testing and analytics firm Keypoint Intelligence has appointed Nancy Byrne as Vice President of Marketing. More
A judge in Amsterdam has ruled that ESOMAR's election misconduct allegations against its former CEO found 'no support in the facts whatsoever', and the organisation has written to members to say as much. More
Ad measurement, planning and optimization platform VideoAmp has announced a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to measure cross-screen campaigns across the latter's portfolio of news and entertainment brands. Following a test with Omnicom, the service will offer a transaction currency for ads. More
That's it for another year from DRNO - our next issue will be for January 3rd 2023. Our very best wishes for a Merry Christmas to all those of you celebrating it, a Happy New Year to all readers, and a big Thank You as ever for your support and feedback in 2022. More
Today we're launching RAIDAR. Like an industry top 30 companies list, but instead of publishing it once a year, we'll update it every day based on yesterday's DRNO stories and other company data; show our workings; include companies never before considered; and allow sorting by a long list of criteria. More
Nielsen is restructuring its business into three global business units, according to online publication AdAge: Nielsen Audience Measurement, Nielsen Analytics and Gracenote. Current COO Karthik Rao will become CEO of the first of these. More
Continuing our focus on Data Visualization, E-Tabs CEO Benjamin Rietti dispels the myth and discusses how automation can be a winning option for syndicated projects, omnibus reporting, copy and concept testing, multi-segment, and even customised and ad hoc work. More
Following a request from professional body the Insights Association, a Bill introduced in the US Congress would require the Census Bureau to provide much greater detail on its controversial Ask US Panel project. More
Business Process Management (BPM) solutions provider WNS has acquired platform-based research and analytics firm The Smart Cube for $125m. WNS has also bought procurement platform consultancy OptiBuy for EUR 30m. More
NowVertical Group (NOW), which combines human expertise and big data analytics, is to acquire two UK-based data analytics specialists - Smartlytics Consultancy and Acrotrend Solutions - for a total of $6.45m. More
Text analytics specialist Canvs AI has added translation capabilities to Canvs MRX, allowing users to analyze open-ended text from multiple languages, directly on the platform. More
Toronto-based physician insights and engagement platform KeyOps has raised CAD $4m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to fuel expansion in the US, while growing its physician network across North America. More
In the US, the Boards of Directors of not-for-profit audience audit organizations the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) and BPA Worldwide have approved a plan for the two to merge. The aim is to increase trust across media channels through 'innovative service development'. More
Israel-based mobile survey software and analysis solutions provider Dooblo has launched a tool called Dooblo Insights, to help operations execs increase fieldwork productivity, drive data quality and increase delivery speed. More
Manchester, UK-based experiential field marketing agency Splatter Connect has launched a tool called FIELD CONNECT, which can be used to collect data in real time from field visits to retail outlets. More
Kantar has launched a team called Global Connected Data Solutions, within its audience network Profiles division, to help advertisers maximise the value of their first-party data. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has appointed Jack Koch as SVP Research and Insights and Pam Zucker as SVP, Chief Strategy Officer. Additionally, Chris Bruderle's role has been expanded and he now has the title VP, Industry Insights and Content Strategy. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has raised $170m in growth capital, which it will use to expand data sets across new markets, verticals and categories; power its platform innovation with emerging technologies; and continue expanding its team globally. More
CEO Jami talks to MrWeb's Nick Thomas about how she came to be co-founding and growing a data collection business for the 21st century; embracing the tech, but keeping customer service front and center. Taken from the 'Data Visualization' special issue, out now. Available either to read or watch. More
In the US, Marketing Systems Group (MSG), which provides tech, services and information solutions customized for the survey, sensory and MR sector, has promoted Srinath Sankar to the role of company President. More
Lee Gazey, former Hall & Partners Global CEO of Health, has joined London-based consultancy Brand Dynamics as Head of Health Dynamics, a specialist team working with health and pharma clients. More
Melbourne, Australia-based in-the-moment researcher Mobile Digital Insights (MDI) has opened a new office in Kenya, and has appointed Agnes Odongo as Research Consultant East Africa. More
SurveyMonkey and GetFeedback parent Momentive has brought in Rich Sullivan as CFO, overseeing all aspects of its finance function. More
Online survey, CX and EX software firm QuestionPro has appointed Marc Mandel as Vice President of North American Sales & Account Management, leading its Customer Experience Go-to-Market teams for the continent. More
US-based strategic consultancy and MR firm KS&R has appointed Kathleen McKnight and Dan Conners to its Board of Directors. More
US-based media metrics body the CIMM is to launch five new Working Groups to support its mission promoting innovation in media measurement, metrics and data. They are Cross-Media, Multi-Currency, Content, TV Data and CTV / Streaming / Programmatic. More
Brighton, UK-based insight and foresight platform Signoi has unveiled a new service analysing videos from any source, and including the use of higher-order semiotic frameworks which it says can 'pinpoint significant shifts in motifs within a video, and ultimately capture the whole narrative in its essence'. More
Following last week's news that ESOMAR is to rerun its Council elections after uncovering 'serious misconduct', the industry body is to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to schedule the rerun, agree an extension to the sitting Council's term, and brief members on its investigation. More
In the US, full service shopper behavior specialist Alter Agents has appointed Heather O'Shea as Chief Research Officer, and Casey Willard as Chief Analytics Officer, while promoting Eddie Francis to the role of Chief Operating Officer. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has given both its new Sustainability Research Award and this year's Liz Nelson Grand Prix Award to The Behavioural Architects and New South Wales Department of Planning & Environment, for work which resulted in an increase in tree planting in Sydney. More
Chicago-based QualSights has launched a platform called 'Product Consumption Intelligence', to passively measure behavior in the home. More
Insights and CX platform DISQO has appointed Scott Henderson, a Salesforce veteran of more than twenty years, as its new Chief Financial Officer. More
Consumer research platform Catalyx has appointed Jenny Kieras, formerly of The Insights Family, as Global Head of Accounts. More
In the US, Research Results has appointed former MarketCast and Phoenix MI employee Jeremy Engelin as Senior Vice President, Field Management, working remotely from upstate New York. More
Industry body ESOMAR is to rerun its elections for Council after uncovering what it calls 'serious misconduct'. The association has fired two members of staff, but stresses that no complaints have been made about the conduct of candidates. More
Australian customer insights and advisory consultancy Fiftyfive5 has been acquired by professional services giant Accenture for an undisclosed sum. More
Long-time Kantar CFO Olivier Lefranc has joined automated insight-gathering and sample management platform Cint, as Chief Financial Officer, based in Paris. More
In Australia, data collection agency TKW Research Group has acquired mystery shopping specialist Retail Reality, for an undisclosed sum. More
Next15's data, MR and advisory group Savanta has merged four previously acquired companies - ComRes, MSI, YouthSight and MindSpark - under the Savanta brand name. More
Insight firm MetrixLab has opened an office in the Philippines, and has appointed Bernadette Verde as Senior Client Director, based in it. More
Continuing our month-long focus on Data Visualization Sandro Kaulartz, Chief Innovation and Product Development Officer at Ipsos Social Intelligence, talks to MrWeb's Nick Thomas about Topic Modelling, data hybridization and the democratization of data science. Available to read or watch. More
On-demand data collection service Shepper has launched a solution allowing UK retailers and marketers to check how products and promotions are being offered in physical stores, within a day of briefing, and with insight reports returned in under 48 hours. More
Kids, teens, parents and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family has appointed Clive Maudsley as Managing Director, replacing Will Pearce, who had held the position for less than a year. Meanwhile founder Nick Richardson is stepping down from as CEO to focus on specific areas. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has hired long-time ad agency exec Trudi Sampola for the newly created role of Director - People and Culture. More
Our 2022 Data Visualization special issue is published today. In this featured article, Forsta's VP Global Sales Manny Rodriguez outlines a strategy for designing and implementing visualizations that 'reach audiences, tap into their mindset and encourage them to make a move'. More
Ipsos has announced the sale of its people-counting and footfall solution Retail Performance, to US-based RetailNext, in which it will take a minority stake. More
Ecommerce enablement platform AppHub has acquired Reviews.io, whose software facilitates customer reviews, loyalty programs, surveys and the management of user-generated content. Reports suggest the buyer paid around $72m in cash and shares. More
Ipsos has appointed former GfK/Nielsen exec Istvan Hajnal to lead its new dedicated Audience Measurement Data team, in the Netherlands. More
Global online communities specialist InSites Consulting has appointed Els De Paepe as Chief People Officer (CPO). She succeeds former Join the Dots CEO Quentin Ashby, who has moved to the role of Global Head of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). More
Continuing our month-long focus on Data Viz and with the special issue out tomorrow, Infotools CEO and co-founder Ant Franklin argues that industry leading data visualization involves a perfect blend of art and science, and explains how to achieve that balance. More
Research and CX tech provider Forsta has appointed long-time FinTech exec Henry Pooley as Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region. He is based in Sydney, Australia. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has opened an office in Helsingborg, Sweden, servicing global and local clients in the Nordic region and led by Client Consultants Pontus Egnér and Henrik Dieden. More
Chicago-based QualSights has raised $7.7m in Series A funding, earmarked for recruitment, expansion of sales and marketing functions, and investment in R&D. The Board of the rapidly-growing company now includes Mitch Barns and Gian Fulgoni. More
In Australia, former Kantar and Hall & Partners exec Steven Howlett has joined independent marketing and communications agency Bastion as MD of its Bastion Insights division, based in Melbourne. More
In the UK, Kantar Public has appointed former ONS exec Ed Dunn as Senior Director in Population Studies. More
In the UK, sensory and consumer research agency MMR Research Worldwide has appointed former long-time Kantar execs Simon Quirk, as Head of its Oxfordshire-based Research team, and Phil Jones, as Global Account Director in London. More
Consumer sensory insights specialist MMR Research has opened a new 'ASEAN sensory hub' facility in the Pasir Panjang area of Singapore. More
UK full service agency Boxclever has appointed Amy Thomson as Qualitive Research Director in London, while Alison Gilbertson joins as Analytics Research Director, based in the firm's Leeds headquarters. More
Beginning a month-long focus on data visualization, the Forsta CEO talks to MrWeb's Nick Thomas about empathy, athletes, M&A, investing in tech, and 'seeing the future through mountains of data'. Available to read or watch. More
In New Orleans, full-service data collection firm Rep Data has announced the closing of a $6.25m Series A round of funding, and says it will continue the rapid expansion of its team. More
London firm FlexMR has enhanced its suite of analysis and reporting tools with the launch of ActivateMR - using a variety of in-platform data collection sources to help researchers build collaborative, real-time dashboards. More
Consumer insights provider Toluna has acquired the qualitative research technology platform developed by online MR specialist Further, for an undisclosed sum. This technology will be integrated into the end-to-end solution Toluna Start, to launch a new service called 'Toluna Start Qual'. More
In the US, the audit committee of the Media Rating Council (MRC) has voted to continue its suspension of Nielsen's National TV Ratings service, but says that reinstatement could occur 'relatively soon' following 'significant progress' by the company on most issues. More
US-based company Vizit, which captures consumers' interactions with online commercial imagery to generate models of their visual preferences, has raised $10m in a Series A round of funding. More
Digital advertising body IAB Tech Lab has launched an initiative aiming to provide structure and standards for ad buying across all TV formats / platforms, including the development of video watermark technology and open-source, auditable measurability for tracking ad creative. More
Ed Keller, co-founder of consumer conversation specialist Keller Fay Group, is joining non-profit MR educational institute the MRII (Market Research Institute International) as Executive Director, effective from Monday (November 14th). More
Stockholm, Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science specialist Nepa has appointed Sonja Thorngren as Chief Financial Officer, following the recent resignation of Ann-Christine Fick. Thorngren will join the company and the group management team on 6th February next year. More
Inex One, operator of an 'Expert Network Marketplace', has launched a platform allowing users to connect and chat with survey vendors, send requests for quotes, receive bids, select providers and run projects all in one place. More
International data collection and research tech company Schlesinger Group has hired former Kantar Americas CEO Reed Cundiff as Chief Executive Officer, following Steve Schlesinger's move into the role of Executive Chairman. Meanwhile Isaac Rogers becomes company President. More
In the US, experience management group Momentive has launched a solution for its SurveyMonkey platform, which it says will help product managers, marketers, insights professionals, pricing managers and other professionals determine the optimal price point of a product in hours. More
The US Census Bureau has moved Albert Fontenot to the newly created role of Executive Senior Advisor for Decennial Census Programs, with long-time employee Deborah Stempowski taking over his previous position as Associate Director for the Programs. More
In Australia, research and brand strategy consultancy Pollinate has launched a Sustainability division, to help organisations understand society's expectations in the area, and adjust business goals to meet shifting demand. More
Insights provider MetrixLab says it is trialling a methodology allowing respondents to answer survey questionnaires using voice recordings. More
Mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research (ODR) has launched a solution called Omnichannel Brand Impact, to provide brands, ad agencies and media owners with single source measurement for multi-media campaigns. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has acquired US research company 360 Market Reach, which works across the CPG, retail, health and wellness, luxury and travel sectors. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, customer and employee engagement specialist PeopleMetrics has acquired market research consultancy The Melior Group for an undisclosed sum. More
Knowledge management platform Stravito has launched a feature called 'Scrapbook', through which individuals can 'recycle and reuse' the most relevant insights from multiple reports. More
Australian omnichannel attention measurement company Amplified Intelligence has expanded to the US, opening an office in New York and hiring former Unruly exec Alex Khan for the newly created role of EVP Global Partnerships. More
Online community specialist C Space has appointed Iraisa Jones as Global Chief People Officer (CPO), replacing Phil Burgess who has left after eleven years to start a new venture. More
SurveyMonkey owner Momentive has reported a net loss of $20.3m during the third quarter, down from $22.9m a year earlier, while revenue rose 6% to $121.4m. More
US data company Epsilon has expanded to the LatAm region through the acquisition of Buenos Aires-based Retargetly, which provides audience insights and measurement capabilities to clients across Latin America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, multi-mode healthcare fieldwork company GlocalMind has appointed long-time Dynata exec Tim McCarthy as Senior Vice President, Client Services. More
In Australia, research and brand strategy consultancy Pollinate has opened new offices in two state capitals, Brisbane and Adelaide. More
In the US, Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School has integrated iMotions' biosensor research platform to launch an on-campus human behavior lab called X-Lab, which is dedicated to advancing academic research and integrating it into the school's curriculum. More
London-based strategic insight agency Truth Consulting has appointed former Yonder director Hamish Asser as Senior Director, to help grow the company's quant offer and capabilities. More
In the US, video feedback platform Discuss has added a number of privacy and security capabilities to its 'Made for Pharma' solution, enabling experiences to be shared while mitigating the risks associated with so doing. More
ESOMAR has announced the election of Nikki Lavoie as its 2023-2024 Council President, replacing Kristin Luck who has completed her two-year term and will now serve an additional two years in an ex-officio capacity. MindSpark founder Lavoie is currently Council Vice President. More
MR and customer and employee experience tech firm Forsta has partnered with CX data specialist GemSeek to launch predictive net promoter scores (pNPS), through which clients can access predictions about 'silent customers' who don't respond to surveys or submit feedback. More
Kantar has hired Barbara Yacuzzi as Chief Financial Officer, Americas, while for North America, Paul Evers has been named Chief Client Officer; Henry Tam, EVP Sales; David Boyd COO; and James Potter, Chief Brand Solutions Officer. More
Culture, community panels and smart digital research specialist Verve has launched a service called 'People & Planet', to help brands develop consumer-centric ESG strategies and initiatives (environmental, social and governance). More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insights business Vypr has raised an additional £3.4m, which it will use to scale its product intelligence platform and consumer app, and invest in its commercial and product teams. More
Dr David Theodore Bottomley AM, who has died aged 97, started one of the first market research consultancies in Australia, and convened the first meeting of what later became the country's national research association (now The Research Society). More
Neuro-Insight Chief Executive Shazia Ginai is moving on from the role next month to become Chief Growth Officer at fast-expanding research platform Catalyx More
Insight firm MetrixLab has added a hybrid AI-powered tool called PACT Instant to its suite of packaging design testing solutions, promising in-depth evaluation of existing and new designs with results in as little as 48 hours. More
Dynata has appointed a new Chief Executive: former Dodge Data and Analytics head Mike Petrullo replaces longstanding leader Gary S. Laben. More
Video-based insight specialist UserTesting, Inc. is to be acquired by private equity firms Thoma Bravo - the owner of Medallia and J.D. Power - and Sunstone Partners, for around $1.3 billion in cash. The investors both have shares in UserZoom, and say they will combine the two companies. More
Australian broadcast industry body Commercial Radio & Audio will introduce a new hybrid audience measurement system for its GfK metropolitan radio surveys, from March next year, and describes it as 'the most significant investment and change to [radio measurement] in Australia since ratings began'. More
Ipsos has reported a 14.3% increase in reported third quarter revenue, to EUR 601.5m from EUR 526.3m a year earlier. Organic revenue growth was 5.3%, while 8.0% resulted from currency effects. More
Hard-to-reach audience access provider Smart Connect Research (SCR) has appointed former MIS Managing Director Romain Leray as Chief Revenue Officer, working remotely from France. More
British-based video feedback and analytics company Voxpopme is to acquire US company HubUX, which provides a platform and service for quick turnaround qualitative and user experience (UX) research. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Culture, community panels and smart digital research specialist Verve has appointed seven new graduates at its office in Manchester and headquarters in London. More
In the UK, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is warning organisations to assess the public risks of using emotion analysis technologies, before implementing these systems. The regulator says those firms which do not 'act responsibly' will be investigated. More
A third (33%) of the global public personally trust market research companies, compared to 19% who don't, according to the latest GRBN Global Trust Survey. More
Mobile phone data firm RealityMine and app-based data firm Qrious Insight have partnered, to offer behavioural custom panel building and community management along with behavioural targeted surveys for brands and their agencies. More
US-based DISQO has appointed former Google exec Nicholas Weaver as VP of Engineering, leading development of the firm's B2B SaaS product portfolio, as well as its consumer-facing mobile and desktop applications. More
Experience management specialist Alida has added a product called 'Conversational Surveys' to its Total Experience Management (TXM) platform, to drive higher engagement with customers through interactive feedback. More
Australia-based consumer data company Pureprofile has announced record revenue of $12m (up 17%) and EBITDA of $1.0m for the quarter ending September 30th - despite a decision to shutter its Pure.amplify Media business in the UK. More
Video-based insights provider UserTesting has upgraded its 'Human Insight Platform' to help clients observe and understand how their customers feel and why. They include what the firm says is the virtual environment equivalent of a one-way mirror for focus group observation. More
Digital Technology Advisory Group (DTAG), the former Cello Health unit recently sold to a private equity firm, has announced an investment in brand sustainability insights specialist Citizen Good Consulting. More
In New York, purchasing behavior specialist Behaviorally has launched the PackPower Score, a one-number predictor of the sales impact of new packaging designs. More
New York-based end-to-end consumer insights platform Suzy has announced a number of product enhancements including the addition of video open-ends, Max Diff choice rankings, and an integrated data visualisation tool, Data Explorer. More
London-based strategic insight consultancy Rainmakers CSI has announced new hires including Megan Bateman as a Consultant, and Diellza Osmanaj and Sonny Dewhurst as Associate Consultants; and has promoted George Randell and Chris Tough to Senior Consultant roles. More
Full service B2B research-focused Australian agency ACA Research has announced five new hires: Senior Account Managers Phil Newbold and Natasha Burnley; Account Manager Melissa Borg, Account Executive Paj Johnstone and Graduate Researcher Angus McLachlan. More
SurveyMonkey owner Momentive Global Inc has been approached regarding a possible sale and is discussing its options with advisors, according to Bloomberg. More
Auckland, New Zealand-based insight consultancy TRA Group (The Research Agency) has appointed futurist and trend forecaster Laura Mulcahy in the newly created role of Director, Cultural Strategy. She is based in its Melbourne office, where two other senior hires have also been announced. More
Paris-based experience optimization company AB Tasty has acquired Epoq internet services GmbH, an AI-driven recommendation and smart search solution headquartered in Ettlingen, Germany. More
In the UK, brand and communications research agency The Nursery Research & Planning has appointed Tasleem Rehmatullah as Account Director in its Health team, and Nicola Wright as Account Director in its Quantitative team. The firm has also made four promotions. More
SurveyMonkey parent company Momentive has made 11% of its workforce redundant, as part of what it calls a restructuring plan to improve operating margins and improve efficiency. More
The shareholders of northern European research firms RAIT, Dive and Intra have agreed to move the companies under a new holding company called STATCO. Ownership and branding of the individual businesses will remain unchanged. More
Netflix has joined Disney+ in signing up with BARB, the UK's audience measurement body - a major move forward in measurement of streaming services and the first time Netflix has joined an industry-owned audience currency. More
In London, data collection services provider Teamsearch has hired former Askia exec Nick Southwood in a newly created business development role. More
Canada-based holding company Rival Group has appointed long-time Mintel exec Shawn Vaughn as Chief Growth Officer, leading Go-To-Market teams across both its mobile-first insight community platform Rival Technologies and its experiential insight specialist Reach3 Insights. More
London-based in-product research platform Ribbon has raised £2.6m in a seed round of funding, for use in continuing to build out its technology and grow its team. More
US-based Notably, which helps teams collect, analyze and share qualitative research, has raised $1.5m in an investment round. Funds will boost engineering, machine learning capabilities and overall company growth. More
Ad tech and data company Big Village (formerly known as Engine) is to add visualization technology from customer experience and research tech firm Forsta to its CARAVAN Omnibus Surveys, allowing clients to create results presentations for sharing with exec teams and stakeholders. More
In the US, marketing platform Okendo has launched a customer intelligence solution called Connect, allowing eCommerce brands to collect consumer insights at scale and deliver more personalized commerce experiences. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has hired Aliya Hasan for the newly created role of Strategy Director, based in Melbourne. More
US-based data collection and digital research agency Azure Knowledge has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Remek Gabrys as European Business Unit Head in London, and Justin Blomgren as Vice President of Client Development, based in Atlanta, GA USA. More
Text analytics specialist Canvs AI has launched a connector for the Forsta Survey platform, enabling users to import responses to open-ended questions, along with relevant cross-tab data, directly into Canvs for analysis. More
Hello Ara, which conducts research through conversations rather than surveys, has officially launched a 360 degree AI-based methodology called #Explore, to help brands engage 'future users'. A discussion of the approach won best paper at ESOMAR Congress 2022, held in Toronto last month. More
Kantar has added three new brand metrics to its Link AI for Digital predictive tool - Aided Awareness, Consideration and Purchase Intent - which it says 'make it possible to forecast digital ad effectiveness and brand consideration in as little as 15 minutes'. More
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order outlining US commitments to safeguarding personal data in transfers between the States and the EU. The rules slot into the new Privacy Framework agreed in principle in March this year, intended to replace the fallen Privacy Shield arrangement. More
Global sensory and consumer research agency MMR Research Worldwide has promoted Jennifer Brown to the role of US Managing Director. More
UK television audience measurement body BARB is looking for suppliers to recruit for an expanded panel. Submissions are due by 7th November 2022, with work beginning in January. More
In the US, ad measurement and optimization platform VideoAmp has released a solution called 'Second-by-Second Ads Viewership', offering actualized results with inputs from both Smart TV ACR and STB viewing data across more than 39 million homes. More
New York-based qualitative research platform Sympler has appointed long-time Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) execs John Schiela as Chief Client Officer and Kristin Jutton as Head of Marketing. More
Indian healthcare and medical fieldwork specialist Krea has re-appointed Sridhar Mani, this time as Chief Revenue Officer, based in the firm's Chennai headquarters. More
New York-based Revelio Labs has raised $15m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to expand its offering for corporate HR and strategy. More
In the US, holding company Buffalo Groupe has acquired full-service specialist research company Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) USA, and its ActionWatch subsidiary, for an undisclosed sum. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has acquired a minority stake in Cube, which specializes in user experience (UX) and consumer neuroscience. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Kantar has appointed Steve Silvers to lead its newly combined Creative & Media Solutions business, with responsibility for growth strategy and product innovation for the division. He is based in the US. More
London-based design research agency The Big Picture (TBP) has promoted Chris Aukett and Laura Pereira to serve as Joint Managing Directors. Former MD John Cassidy becomes company Chairman. More
Google has announced that its Surveys and Surveys 360 solutions will no longer be available after November 1st, as it believes in their current form they are no longer the best way to help businesses of all sizes run custom market research. More
Kantar's TGI consumer data team has partnered with location intelligence company Adsquare to help brands build targeted, cookieless and ID-free localised ad campaigns in Great Britain and France. More
Research technology provider Cobalt Sky took home two gongs at this year's MRS Operations Awards, including the main prize, the Premier Award for Operational Excellence. The awards ceremony took place at The Curtain, in Shoreditch, London, last Thursday evening. More
In the US, consumer research and strategy consultancy Bastion Insights has appointed long-time Hall & Partners' exec Joanna Fanuele as Chief Executive Officer. She replaces outgoing CEO Chris Hubble, who founded the agency in 2009. More
Global online communities specialist InSites Consulting has appointed former Crowd DNA exec Erryn Balzan as Business Director, based in Sydney, Australia. More
Research agency 2CV has added Matt Haydock as Research Director in its UK Qualitative team; Jonathan Smetherham in its Singapore team as Research Director; and Heath Gregory in the US as an Associate Director. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science specialist Nepa has announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Ann-Christine Fick, has resigned for 'personal reasons'. Fick will remain at the company until December, and a search for her replacement has commenced. More
SurveyMonkey parent company Momentive has added AI-based solutions to capture brand and market insights and improve product experience; enable customers to survey multiple audiences at once; and to reach niche or specialized audiences. More
New York-based consumer trend insights business Cassandra has hired Claire Richland as Manager of its syndicated young consumer study, the Cassandra Report. More
London-based strategy and insight consultancy Basis has appointed Paul Eccles as Managing Partner its Health division in New York. More
Sampling and ResTech company InnovateMR has expanded its senior supply team with the appointment of Gaurav Sharma as Vice President of Global Sample in India, and Mark Rasmussen as Senior Director of Global Supply, based in the US. More
GfK has transferred Dave Melnick to a newly created role, Commercial Account Development lead for its Consumer Life trends study in North America. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has opened an office in Los Angeles, headed by recently appointed David Stewart. The firm has also hired Hina Hussain as Head of Agency in New York, and Radha Patel as a Director in Singapore. More
London-based mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research has appointed M:Metrics co-founder Seamus McAteer as an independent Director, to help build the business in North America and advise on overall product and corporate strategy. More
In the US, HR analytics dashboard Employee Cycle has closed a $2.5m seed round of financing, which it will use to support the development and launch of its Employee Data Platform (EDP), and to hire for its sales, marketing and engineering departments. More
Hong Kong-based DOOH (digital out-of-home) performance marketing automatization tool Displayforce has raised EUR 500k in a pre-seed round of financing, which it will use to expand further into Europe and enhance its sales and marketing. More
Long-time Kantar group CEO Eric Salama has been appointed as Global Chair of recently divested unit Kantar Public. More
Ipsos has appointed 24-year company veteran Jean-Michel Mabon in the role of Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, responsible for overseeing buys in connection with a growth plan the group announced in June. More
In San Francisco, user experience (UX) research firm AnswerLab has raised an undisclosed sum of funding from media, entertainment and comms investor Shamrock Capital. The investment will drive the continued growth and expansion of AnswerLab's service and team. More
Research and customer / employee experience technology provider Forsta has announced upgrades to its online focus group solution InterVu, integrating high quality video and audio for virtual experiences, enhancing sharing features, and adding quick polls and other features. More
In the UK, insight agency Relish has made three senior hires: Tamara M'Bazbaz joins as a quant-focused Insight Director, while Huw Williams and Gemma Baldwin both return to the company. More
US-based verbatim analysis software firm Ascribe has announced a new release of its AI Coder, which it says enables responses to be coded and a summary delivered within an hour. More
Dublin, Ireland-based research agency Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A) has hired former RDSi director Davina O'Donoghue as a full-time Board Director. More
Indian-owned consumer insights company Hansa Research has partnered with experience management platform Qualtrics, to help organizations monitor their brand health performance and build their brands in the country. More
Automated insights platform Zappi has hired MRS Board Chair Sinéad Jefferies for a newly created role with a global remit, Senior Vice President of Customer Transformation. More
Dublin-based RED C Research has promoted five members of its team, including Brian Greene to the position of Head of Data Analytics. More
Toronto, Canada-based online and telephone data collection agency The Logit Group has agreed to acquire the assets and business of US-based Issues & Answers (I&A), including its Virginia Beach head office. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, healthcare market research firm InCrowd has launched a syndicated MR solution called 'Essentials' to provide life sciences companies with ongoing, real-time access to market performance metrics. More
In the US, full service shopper behavior specialist Alter Agents has appointed former Hall & Partners US CEO Michelle Castle as Chief Innovation Officer. More
Experience management (XM) platform Qualtrics has launched a system of XM Benchmarks, to help organizations compare their customer satisfaction, patient perceptions and employee engagement levels against industry peers and competitors. More
In the UK, full-service agency IFF Research has appointed Hilary Burkitt, Sarah Cheesbrough, Daniel Pearmain and Jagjit Dosanjh-Elton as Directors in its London office. Dosanjh-Elton has been named the company's first Chief Financial Officer. More
Culture, community panels and smart digital research specialist Verve has appointed Kylie Fitzpatrick as a Director in its Manchester Hub. Additionally, the company has made hires in Sydney and London, along with six London promotions. More
In Canada, spatial analytics platform Cognitive3D has raised $2.5m in a seed funding round, and says it will double headcount during the next eighteen months. More
Data and research tech company Schlesinger Group has launched 'Quantitative Recruitment-as-a-Service', to help users build online communities / panels globally. The firm has also appointed former Ipsos SVP of Operations Joe Mulvaney as Senior Vice President of North American Qualitative. More
In New York, automated consumer research firm quantilope has appointed Elizabeth Carducci, a founding member of CX platform Medallia, to its Board of Directors. More
On-demand insights provider Toluna has appointed Jeff Claypoole as General Manager, Americas, responsible for sales and revenue growth in the region. More
In Melbourne, Australia, strategic insights consultancy Nature has added five new staff: Katy Oakley as Head of Marketing; Rachel Leticia as Design Specialist; and Mikayla Samuels, Khushboo Pandey and Sophie Wallis as Associate Directors. More
German research firms Exevia GmbH and Psyma Health & CARE have announced a merger, and with immediate effect will operate within the larger Psyma Group AG as Psyma+Exevia Health GmbH. More
In New York, trade body the Advertising Research Foundation has launched a new initiative called the ARF Attention Validation Project, which aims to 'inform the market' about the workings of different attention measurement solutions and the extent of their replicability and 'convergent validity'. More
US-based 'customer-centric' insights specialist Gongos has promoted Meaghan Hafner to Vice President, Health Care. More
Ipsos India has launched a new large sample, nationwide omnibus running multiple times per month and offering rapid turnaround research. More
Viewer engagement metrics firm TVision and attention measurement specialist Lumen Research have announced a formal partnership promising cross-platform attention measurement for US and UK customers; with TVision developing a new UK-based, opt-in panel. More
Berlin-based, AI-powered brand tracking and consumer insights platform Latana has raised EUR 36 million in a Series B round of equity and debt financing. Funds will be used to scale Latana's marketing and sales operations, grow its consumer-facing product teams, and for R&D. More
In North Carolina, US. media research firm Coleman Insights has appointed Scott Musgrave as the newest member of its executive team, focused on sales and starting on Monday 12th September. More
Private equity firm Beringer Capital has spent an undisclosed sum to acquire a majority stake in Toronto, Canada-based Dig Insights. More
Online survey and research services firm QuestionPro has expanded to Japan with the opening of a Tokyo office, and appointed MR veteran Satoshi Komatsuzaki to lead it as Country Director. More
In San Francisco, custom MR company Logica Research has appointed Brian Sheil as a Senior Research Manager; Malini Hari as Research Lead; Sumi Duttaray as Market Sizing and Analytics Lead; and Julia Buffolino as Marketing Research Analyst and Operations Support. More
Next15's data and insights division Savanta has acquired London-based research firm Motif, a 40-strong consumer and b2b agency providing expertise in customer experience, brand strategy and proposition development. Terms were not disclosed. More
Community panels pioneer and culture expert Verve has launched ignite@VERVE, a new offer combining its heritage in communities and smart digital research with a range of proprietary tools including AI, a global network of 'cultural and creative individuals', and a new cultural values framework. More
Global insight and data membership organization ESOMAR has appointed Gabriela Kusters as Head of Global Marketing, responsible for extending existing marketing initiatives and growing awareness of the association around the world. More
Norwalk, CT-based full service insights firm RTi Research has appointed former M/A/R/C Research and ORC International exec Sherrie Binke as EVP Business Development. More
BARB, the UK's television audience measurement service, has announced an industry consultation on the extension of its reporting to include all television and 'television-like' content on video-sharing platforms; and appointed former Vodafone exec Paul Evans as an independent adviser to lead it. More
US-based panel and sample firm Full Circle Research has appointed former Ipsos exec Alexandrine de Montera to its leadership team as Chief Product Officer. More
Full service UK agency Boxclever has announced four senior hires: Alice Hesmondhalgh as Office and Events Manager; Tom Dreaves as Quant Research Director; Beth Metcalf as a Qual Research Director; and Lauren Skardon as an Analytics Research Director. More
Analytics and insight company MESH Experience has announced the launch of a global center of best practice, to be known as MESHtopia, and led by Global MD Dana DiGregorio and Data Quality Manager Martin Daniel. More
California-based grocery technology company Instacart has acquired Eversight, an AI-powered platform for CPG brands and retailers, which among other features allows clients to continuously test customized pricing and promotions directly with customers, at scale. More
In London, B2B marketing specialist alan. has announced the launch of a research division called Integrated Intelligence, which it says aims 'to fundamentally change how B2B marketers understand their industries'. Josh Cohen and Emilie Pirson will lead the new unit. More
London-based full service consumer and B2B MR agency Sapio Research is moving to its fourth new home in just six years, this time in Borough, near London Bridge. More
Melbourne, Australia-based specialist market research employment agency Flow Recruitment has expanded to Sydney, where it has appointed Amanda Cotesworth as Associate Director. More
In the US, sensory evaluation and full-service qual and quant consumer product research firm Curion has been acquired by private investment firm Summit Park, for an undisclosed sum. More
Fieldwork recruiting services provider Field Scope International has opened an office in South Africa, its second base on the continent. More
London-based data platform Walr has promoted Yaron Brenman to the newly created role of Chief Information Officer, following its recent ISO 27001 accreditation. Brenman is based in New York. More
Kantar has announced unaudited results for the first half of 2022, with 'gross revenue' up 5% (at constant currency rates) to $1.832bn and adjusted EBITDA up 6% to $310m. Unadjusted, revenue was down 1.8% to $1.566bn, while one-off events contributed to an operating loss of $88m. More
Nielsen has written to clients to inform them that the set-top box and Smart TV 'big data', to be added into its National TV reporting next month, will not yet be used for transaction / ad currency purposes as previously planned, due to the need to address 'variability' and 'stability' issues. More
In the US, movie theater ad network National CineMedia (NCM) has announced a deal with real-time TV measurement company iSpot, using the latter's ad catalog and verification of ad plays for 40m US Smart TVs to calculate and report on incremental reach from NCM ads over linear TV. More
Online survey and research services provider QuestionPro has announced the acquisition of Madison, WI-based Digsite, which provides qualitative research capabilities and a collaborative insights platform. More
Gary Bennewies, CEO of Ipsos Canada, has announced his retirement after nearly four decades with the company. From September 1st Cynthia Pachovski, President, Market Strategy and Understanding (MSU) for Canada, will replace Bennewies on an interim basis while a new CEO is selected. More
Emerging markets business and point-of-interest (POI) data provider dataPlor has announced plans to extend its coverage from 100 to 150 countries by the end of 2022. More
London-based mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research has hired former Nielsen exec Simon Clarke for the newly created role of Commercial Lead for Singapore and the APAC region. More
Dynata has announced the formation of a Global Research and Data Sciences Center of Excellence (COE), led by Steven Millman and bringing together the expertise and methods of its Research Delivery, Panel Sciences and Data Sciences teams. More
Explo, an analytics solution for visualizing and sharing data with customers across any platform, has raised $12m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate the development of its product roadmap. More
New York-based ad agency XenoPsi and London-based behavioral science-led marketing agency Astroten have launched the Consumer Behavior Lab (CBL), promising to improve the effectiveness of clients' marketing messages and the channels where they are placed. More
US-based direct marketing company Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has launched a platform called PCH Consumer Insight, which offers access to market feedback and intelligence on new products, packaging, pricing and marketing messages. More
Zurich-based mobility analysis platform Teralytics has acquired the Streetlytics mobility data business from location infrastructure software firm Bentley Systems. Bentley is investing in Teralytics, but financial details have not been disclosed. More
Insights Association subsidiary CIRQ (the Certification Institute for Research Quality) has been accredited to audit and certify MR and data analytics companies to the ISO 27701 Standard, which supports compliance with the EU's GDPR, California's CCPA, and other data privacy requirements. More
India-based Ugam is to take the name of its parent company Merkle, which acquired the data and analytics company in 2019. The Ugam brand will be retired. More
Agriculture and animal health specialist Kynetec has promoted Colin Siren to the role of Chief Operating Officer for Animal Health. He replaces Jeff Gaidos, who is taking a step back from the business, but will continue on a part-time consultancy basis. More
In the UK, fast fashion retailer Primark has hired former Tesco brand leader Michelle McEttrick for the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer, with overall responsibility for marketing and customer communications, customer insight, and sustainability strategy. She will join on 19th September. More
Germany and US-based MR tech provider quantilope has moved its London office to a larger space, following a one third growth in its UK-based headcount during the past six months. More
Wine consumer sensory and attitudinal data and analytics platform Quini has updated its self-serve QUINI DATA platform, with the addition of a dashboard delivering topline consumer insights about a product, at a glance. More
Nielsen has set out a timetable for the provision of cross-media audience measurement in Thailand, following its selection by broadcasting industry body ADTEB last year. The firm says it will deliver its full Cross-Platform Ratings service in the country in the first quarter of 2023. More
YouGov has promoted Laura Robbie, previously MD Australia, to the role of CEO of the Asia Pacific region, replacing Julien Chevignon who becomes CEO for Western Europe. More
In London, behavioural research consultancy Irrational Agency has appointed Adam Warner as Head of Marketing, Lilla Magony as Associate Research Director and Francis Raho-Jeavons as a Senior Research Executive. More
US trade body the Insights Association has filed comments with California's CPPA aiming to limit the negative impact of the state's privacy rules in the insights industry. Separately, the FTC has begun the process of drafting new privacy rules which are likely to restrict online data collection. More
Retail data and research firm VST (Virtual Store Trials) has promoted Charlotte Kiddle to the newly created position of Chief Research & Partnership Officer. More
In the US, digital experimentation and AI company Conductrics has integrated customer survey capabilities into its A/B testing, experimentation and optimization platform, to enable customer experience (CX) professionals to use direct customer feedback as a part of their processes. More
CX and insights software and advisory services company Maru Group has launched a platform which it claims is the 'world's first' to measure implicit response passively and accurately across all question types. More
A group of five consultancies have come together to launch an initiative called Diversity Unlimited, aiming to encourage corporates to buy research, analytics and insight solutions from diverse-owned businesses. More
US-based automated employee experience and customer experience platform Aisera has raised $90m in a Series D round of funding, which it will use to accelerate expansion and its global growth and go-to-market strategy.` More
Research software firm Forsta has acquired crowdsourcing and innovation platform HelloIgnite, which helps companies collect, share and manage innovation ideas from employees in order to improve experiences for customers. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the UK, long-time healthcare sector researcher Hannah Osborn has launched an agency called Pure Healthcare Strategy, providing clients with bespoke life sciences marketing intelligence and strategic advice. More
In London, insight consultancy Firefish has appointed former Flamingo exec Joella Vera Bril as a Director, combing human insight and cultural strategy to help clients answer business and brand challenges. More
UK insight agency Walnut Unlimited has appointed Emily Abbott as Research Director in its FMCG team, while Thalita Parizotto joins as Associate Director in the Shopper division. More
London-based entertainment research and consulting firm Ampere Analysis has opened its first international office, in Culver City, Los Angeles; and appointed a team of four there, led by Executive Director Guy Bisson. More
Almost two thirds (64%) of MR and social research agencies across Europe participating in trade body federation EFAMRO's 'Moodindicator' survey believe research revenues will increase in the next year. More
Online research, data and analytics tech firm YouGov has expanded in Latin America with the opening of an office in Mexico City, serving the research needs of brands and agencies in the region and providing operational support for the firm's work across the Americas. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research has hired former GfK and Nielsen exec Mihir Inamdar for a newly created role, Commercial Director, based in Singapore. More
Australian insight consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed former Kadence MD Phil Steggals as Head of Consulting for the APAC region. He is based in Singapore. More
In the US, Deckchair Data founders Chris Robson and Scott Laing have joined customer centricity specialist Gongos as Senior Directors, Data Sciences, as their business is merged into the Gongos group. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Bulgaria-based online panels provider JTN has opened an office in Denmark, to be run by Business Development Director Maria Lassen Pedersen, supported by Helle Raun Oddershede who has been named Business Development Manager. More
In India, strategy consulting firm Oncofocus Solutions has spun off its primary market research unit into a separate business within the group, called decodeMR. More
In the US, Ironwood Insights has hired three former Interviewing Service of America (ISA) employees - Gregg Stickeler, as Vice President, Key Accounts, and John Roses (JR) and Ed Coscolluela, as Project Managers. The firm has also opened a new call center in Rexburg, Idaho. More
Research software firm Forsta and local marketing platform Rio SEO, which are both owned by Press Ganey, are combining. Both will continue to serve current clients under their existing brands, while Forsta has welcomed all Rio SEO employees to its sales, ops, product and engineering teams. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Out of home audience measurement body Geopath has partnered with in-store audio advertising network Stingray, to measure retail-based, digital audio out-of-home (AOOH) advertising impressions in the US. More
Density, which helps companies measure, analyze and optimize physical office space, has acquired Paris, France-based data science company Prevision.io. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, online sampling technology firm InnovateMR has hired Ross Green as its first Chief Financial Officer. More
In New York, full-service agency E2E Research has launched a digital signature tool called Inscribee, which facilitates the collection of electronic signatures from participants at any stage of the online or off-line research process. More
Global MR membership organisation ESOMAR has appointed Parves Khan as its new Director General and Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of Finn Raben earlier in the year. More
Enterprise insights platform Stravito has partnered with search-based survey analysis specialist KnowledgeHound, to help clients centralize all insights and survey data in a single platform. More
Kantar has launched a fast-turnaround solution called Brand Equity Evaluation, to help users quickly answer questions about brand equity strength in a competitive environment, and how to improve it. More
New York-based language and tech solutions provider TransPerfect has opened a 300-seat contact center in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. More
Nielsen has announced the launch of the methodology it will use to give media buyers reach metrics for YouTube comparable to those provided for linear TV. The measurement spans computer, mobile and connected TV devices. More
Consumer data company Pureprofile has issued a business update for the period ended 30th June 2022, with full year revenue up 39% to $AUD 41.7m, and EBITDA up 28% to $AUD 4.0m. More
Video-based insights provider UserTesting has added advanced features to its Instant Insights post-test analysis solution, promising to further speed up the process of uncovering key customer perspectives. More
Ipsos has reported second quarter revenue of EUR 574.0m, representing organic growth of 2.1% (reported growth 8.9%). After exceptional results in Q1, the group cited global events and the end of Covid measurement contracts - as well as strong comparatives from Q2 2021 - for the lower figures. More
Global association ESOMAR has released its annual ranking of the Global Top 50 Insights Companies, with an ever broader definition of the term giving an unfamiliar look to parts of the list. More
Retail data and research firms dunnhumby and VST (Virtual Store Trials) have teamed up to launch 'Planogram Publisher', which promises to make retailer Tesco's planogram data accessible to CPG brands. More
John Musgrove, currently Head of Insights and Research at broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has been appointed in the new role of Head of Research for industry body Commercial Radio Australia. More
Total UK marketing budgets continued to grow at a solid pace in the second quarter of 2022, according to the latest Bellwether Report from ad association the IPA; but market research was not among the gainers, with budgets falling for a net 6.5% of companies. More
In the US, analytics and advisory firm Escalent has appointed Laura Lopez as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). She replaces Todd Shorr, who has retired. More
Data and research tech solutions company Schlesinger Group has partnered with CX and insights software and advisory services company Maru, to launch 'Quantitative Insights Communities', giving its clients access to qual, quant and advanced research methodologies in one platform. More
UK TV audience measurement body BARB has hired former InSites Consulting exec Matt Laycock for a newly created position, Audiences Director. He joins on 26th September. More
UK-based customer insights and communities platform developer Researchbods has launched 'Expert Lab', providing clients with training and support for its proprietary insight community platform, ex-plor. More
In the US, online sample provider EMI Research Solutions has launched a measure of sample quality called SQOR (Sample Quality Optimization Rating), which combines assessments of pre-study traffic health, in-study participant behavior and post-study data validity consistency. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has launched 'Business Essentials', a suite of products which it says offers a 'low cost, high value alternative to traditional research and insights'. More
Long-time Nielsen and Univision audience researcher Ceril Shagrin, described as 'a fierce champion of transparent and inclusive measurement', died peacefully in Miami on July 3rd, at the age of 89. More
New York-based consumer insights tech firm Suzy has launched a solution called Global Audiences, giving users access to them alongside US audiences, on one platform. More
Information services company Dialectica has launched a solution called B2B Surveys, which it says makes methods traditionally associated with B2C insights available to business and investment professionals. More
In Australia, omnichannel attention measurement company Amplified Intelligence has appointed Anneliese Urquhart as Chief Product Officer (CPO). More
In the US, insights process management firm OpinionRoute has launched an in-survey fraud and quality assessment tool called ResponseID - the third product in its ID Suite collection of data 'quality-as-a-service' solutions for market research companies. More
In LA, predictive consumer insights company Vault AI has appointed former National Research Group (NRG) execs Ethan Titelman as President of Client Solutions, and AJ Giovannetti as SVP of Product Strategy. More
In India, consumer insights provider Hansa Research has appointed former Kantar exec Sandeep Ranade as Executive Vice President and Quantitative Head. More
New York-based language and tech solutions provider TransPerfect has opened an office in Bologna - its third in Italy, adding to the company's existing presence in Milan and Rome. More
Recent and ongoing disruption of markets and economies is driving growth in demand for market understanding research - faster even than that in new product development, brand and comms - according to a new survey of MR and marketing professionals by consumer insights provider Toluna. More
Consumer intelligence company Talkwalker has made available to third parties the benchmarking solution developed for its annual Brand Love report - offering marketers measurement of what it calls the drivers of brand love: passion, trust and customer satisfaction. More
The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) has named Manish Makhijani, Global Insights Director of Hindustan Unilever, as President of its Managing Committee for the period 2022-2024. He takes over from Sandeep Arora, EVP and Global Head - Research & Analytics Solutions at Datamatics. More
Video insights provider Voxpopme has launched Project Templates, providing a library of ready-made video surveys for running qual research and helping scale customer conversations. More
UK-based consumer and sensory research agency PPL Insights has added four new team members: Amanda Stephens in its Fieldwork and Operations team, and three recent graduates. More
Long-time Market Measures exec Crispin Boon has returned to the Hampshire, UK-based full service insights consultancy as a Director, while Stef Larden joins as Commercial Director and Michael Fine as Board Advisor. More
Insight group STRAT7 has announced organic growth of 30% for the financial year just ended; along with 5 appointments. Among them, former Bonamy Finch MD Paul Carney becomes a Partner in the Consultancy practice, with former Head of Advanced Analytics Paul Jackson filling his previous role. More
AdTech and data company ENGINE has been re-named Big Village in the US, continental Europe and Australia. The rebrand does not include ENGINE Group UK, which was acquired by Next 15 earlier this year. More
In the UK, shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has appointed Patrick Young as Vice President of Client Development, based in its London office. More
US-based online consumer research and rewards platform Prodege has acquired German tech-based market research and sample supply company BitBurst, which connects millions of targeted respondents with surveys every year. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In Australia, market and social research agency McNair yellowSquares has acquired focus group recruitment agency Qualitative Recruitment Australia (QRA), for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, advertiser association the ISBA has named Tom George the first Chief Executive Officer of Origin, its joint industry, cross-media measurement programme. He will take up his role in September. More
Forsta, the company formed last year through the merger of research software firms Confirmit and FocusVision, has launched Digital Diaries, a mobile ethnography app designed to obtain qualitative insights at scale. More
In the UK, customer experience marketing agency Gekko has partnered with behavioural insight specialist CloudArmy to offer a neuroscience research service helping brands understand customer thinking. More
Nielsen has continued the roll-out of its Identity System for Digital Ad Ratings, launching in seven new Asian markets, seven in Europe and in Mexico, South Africa and New Zealand. More
In the US, audience measurement and digital advertising firm Quantcast has launched a suite of brand measurement and optimization solutions to help digital marketers plan, activate and measure video, native and display brand campaigns across the web and on connected TV (CTV). More
Sydney-based media consultancy and tech business Audience Precision has announced an end-to-end platform called Precise360, tapping consumer behavioural data to create a 'full media strategy guidance system' which it says enhances the entire marketing process. More
Full-service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Yvette Westerbaan as a Client Consultant in the Netherlands, and Tia Best in the same role in the UK. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has added five new members to its Research and Project Management teams. More
New York-based consumer insights platform Suzy has launched a service called Suzy Live Focus Groups, allowing researchers and marketers to run qual and quant research in one connected platform. More
In the US, cultural intelligence company Collage Group has raised $25m in an inaugural round of growth capital, which it will use for investments in sales and marketing, and for continued development of its data science and technology platform. More
NielsenIQ and GfK have announced an agreement through which the two firms will be 'combined', with NielsenIQ's owner Advent International being the majority shareholder. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Canadian trend tracking and prediction tech firm RIWI has agreed to acquire Paris and Istanbul-based business Research on Mobile (ROM). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Ipsos has launched a user experience (UX) facility called the Ipsos Experience Lab in the Franklin Center in downtown Chicago, providing space for focus groups, interviews, device tests and simulations. More
MR industry platform Significant Insights has opened the call for nominations for its annual 'Global 30 Under 30' awards, with judges looking for young insight leaders, innovators, creators and thinkers who have already made a 'huge impact' during their careers. More
British-based automated speech recognition platform Speechmatics has raised $62m in a Series B round of funding which it will use to support expansion across the US and Asia-Pacific, and to improve infrastructure - particularly the capacity of it data centre. More
In the US, the Market Research Council has appointed MESH Experience founder Fiona Blades as this year's President. More
US-based conjoint analysis and MaxDiff tools provider Sawtooth Software has hired former Boxclever Consulting exec Dean Tindall as Director of Client Services, Europe, based in its newly created Manchester, UK office. More
London-based insight consultancy Basis has announced record results, with annual revenue up 20% to £27.4m for the year ended March 2022. More
In Australia, communications agency Think HQ has appointed qual researcher Som Sengmany as Multicultural Insights Director in its CultureVerse division, which provides diverse research, strategy and creative production. More
In the UK two former executives of research firm Trinity McQueen, Chris Handford and Daniel Eddy, have launched a new full-service product consultancy, Waveform Insight Studio. More
Mobile-based Indonesian consumer insights platform Populix has won a further US$7.7m in a Series A round of financing, for use in continuing to optimize its existing products and to release new services. More
UK-based data collection firm RONIN International has added an office in Lancaster, serving as a desk research, CATI and digital recruitment hub. With space for around thirty people, the location is part of the offices of RONIN's parent, digital marketer Rippleffect Group. More
Melbourne-based Mobile Digital Insights (MDI) has announced 'exponential' growth over the last twelve months, hiring Christine Laurenssen as Business Director Africa, David Somers as COO, Hellen Sillis as Global Head of Qual, Sam Stelitano as CFO and Sarah Gill-Kildea as Insights Director. More
In Los Angeles, insights, strategy and design agency Hypothesis has promoted Maria Vallis to the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Jeff Seltzer, who will join founder Maria Stark as an Executive Board Member. More
Kantar Australia has appointed Bethan Hockey in the newly created role of Head of Sustainability in its Insights Division. More
Paris-based MR data and tech firm Bilendi has expanded to the Netherlands with the opening of an office in Amsterdam, appointing Luigi Casula as Country Manager. The company has also created a new Dutch panel with more than 30,000 members. More
Israel and US-based consumer insights platform Getwizer has upgraded its WizerOne technology, with improved machine learning algorithms for the coding of open-ended text and data cleansing, and the optimization of PowerPoint presentations. More
Brazil-based digital marketing specialist Stefanini Group has acquired eCGlobal, developer of a collaborative platform for online insights communities and branded social media networks. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In New York, media services agency Horizon Media is testing Comscore's local TV measurement solution as an alternate currency for 2023 planning and buying. The firm currently uses Nielsen. More
Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint has added Tina Daniels, MD at Google, and long-time IBM exec Liselotte Engstam to its Board of Directors. The pair bring experience in tech, media measurement, engineering and international management. More
Experience management platform Qualtrics and customer workflow products provider ServiceNow have partnered to launch an app promising to improve employee and customer service experiences. More
Kantar has launched a cross-category search prediction tool called Emerging Trends; added a suite of products and enhancements to its creative testing portfolio on Kantar Marketplace; and opened the iLab innovation centre. More
In Canada, research tech firm Potloc has raised CAD$35m in a Series B round comprising new equity funding and debt financing. The investment will be used to accelerate go-to-market strategy in North America and Europe, including recruitment of 120 more staff in Montreal, New York and Paris. More
In the US, healthcare MR consultancy Research Partnership has appointed Janet Powers as a Director in the MedTech division. More
The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed academic Colin Campbell as the Editor in Chief for its Journal of Advertising Research (JAR). His term begins in September, when John Ford steps down after eight years. More
Tokyo-based MR sample provider GMO Research is expanding to North America with the opening of a subsidiary in New York City, headed up by Christa Arite. More
British research tech company Walr has appointed former System1 Research exec Ben Walton as its first Chief Commercial Officer. More
London-based rapid research firm Bolt Insight has received £1.275m investment from B2B tech venture capital company 212, to be used for development of new products, staff recruitment in its research and commercial teams, and expansion into new markets. More
Strategic insight agency Truth Consulting has appointed Kamaljit Kaur as a Director to support the growth of its office in Frankfurt, Germany. More
Auckland, New Zealand-based insight consultancy TRA Group (The Research Agency) has appointed Nikki Davey as Head of Innovation, and Ngaia Calder and Tara Collins as Directors in its growing Sydney team. More
Independent British-based insight consultancy Trinity McQueen has announced sales of £7.4m in the year ending March 2022; some ten per cent up on the pre-pandemic figure (year ending March 2020). More
In the US, AI-powered conversation intelligence provider Invoca has raised $83m in a Series F round of equity financing, at a valuation of $1.1 billion. The firm will use the funds to expand internationally and pursue acquisitions. More
In New York, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has announced a five-year extension to the contract of Executive Director and CEO George Ivie. More
First-party data platform Dynata has appointed former employee Arun Kumar as Vice President, Southeast Asia and India, leading the business and teams across the region. More
Kantar has hired long-time Merkle exec Will Bordelon as Chief Executive Officer of its Insights business in the Americas. He will join on July 11th. More
In the UK, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) says it will officially launch its Centre for Children and Families - first announced more than a year ago - on Monday 27th June. More
UK-based MR agency OnePoll has appointed Amy Price as Research Manager, while making five other hires across its London and Bristol offices, and promoting two researchers in Bristol. More
Matt Britton started digital research platform Suzy in 2018, named it after a favourite song, worked with other non-researchers to build it, and got to $25 million annual recurring revenue 'faster than Salesforce and Qualtrics'. An interview with MrWeb's Nick Thomas - available as video or in print. More
London-based insight consultancy Basis has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Laurie Visee as Head of its US Quantitative Offering. More
Ipsos has unveiled a four-year plan to accelerate growth and shareholder value. This will include the group spending between EUR 100m and EUR 200m per year on 'smart acquisitions', while doubling its investments in data analytics, technology and 'knowledge panels'. More
UK-based agency group UNLIMITED and ad agency group Pablo have jointly won a £22m Cabinet Office contract, which will combine the former's Human Understanding Lab with the latter's creative expertise, to help deliver public service communications. More
London-based voice analysis technology firm Phebi has partnered with Toronto-based insights tech firm Ignite Connexion, which will provide Phebi with marketing, sales, implementation and customer support services across Canada. More
Consumer data company Pureprofile has appointed long-time Kantar exec Ashish Pandey as Head of Sales - Data & Insights, US and India. More
Kantar has announced an industry-wide cross-media planning initiative for Brazil, bringing together representatives from the country's media groups and platforms to help design an upgraded measurement solution. Kantar then plans to launch the solution before the end of the year. More
In New York, consumer insights platform Getwizer has promoted Jennifer Allison to the position of Chief Commercial Officer. More
Product testing platform Maze has raised $40m in a Series B round of funding, for use in developing new solutions, including further investment in its new participant management solution Reach. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has issued a draft version of its Outcomes and Data Quality Standards - the next phase of an ongoing project to standardize the measurement of outcomes resulting from advertising exposure. There will now be a 60-day public comment period. More
San Diego-based MR startup GroupSolver has added a feature called 'Idea Pool Manager' to its survey platform, allowing users to converse with consumers and then receive a digestible summary of the data in real time. More
New York-based language and tech solutions provider TransPerfect has opened a contact center in El Paso, Texas, which will act as the hub for the firm's Connect division. More
In the US, first-party data platform Dynata has acquired online panel and audience technology company Branded Research for an undisclosed sum. More
In Paris, Ipsos has appointed Dan Lévy as Group Chief Financial Officer, from June 10th, replacing Laurence Stoclet who has been with the business for nearly 24 years. More
UK TV audience measurement body BARB has hired Caroline Baxter for the newly created role of Research Operations Director, and will recruit an Audiences Director to work with her. The creation of these two roles follows the resignation of Research Director Simon Bolus. More
Online sampling technology firm InnovateMR has appointed Chris Kosar as Director, Client Development; Veeraj Keshwala as Manager, Client Development; and Kristen Vance as Senior Programmer. More
Insights and research agency TRA and industry body ThinkTV are partnering to provide insights for New Zealand-based marketers, about the country's favourite TV ads. More
In the US, healthcare-focused private equity firm Frazier has acquired Apollo Intelligence, which provides data and insights to the healthcare and life science industries. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has opened its first office on the African continent, in Johannesburg, South Africa, appointing Nanzala Mwaura as Managing Director and Rentia Kraucamp as Research Director. More
European customer service specialist Dive has acquired Sweden-based agency Nordic Mystery Shopping for an undisclosed sum. More
UK-based customer insights and communities platform developer Researchbods has appointed fourteen new team members since the beginning of April, including Chris Manko as Head of Engineering. The firm has also made nine internal promotions. More
In Australia, outdoor ad platform Wrappr has partnered with Nielsen to launch LIFT, a campaign measurement and attribution platform offering full-funnel attribution for ads on its sites, powered by an opt-in mobile location database. More
MR and analytics company GutCheck has launched a conjoint solution called Interactive Concept Developer, which uses a hybrid approach to help marketers with the process of creating new products or services, by narrowing down the possible combinations of attributes, features and price points. More
In the US, MR tech firm GroupSolver has raised $2.5m in a new funding round, which it will use to continue to expand its survey platform and accelerate its go-to-market strategy. More
US-based insights software firm Heap Analytics has announced the acquisition of digital experience firm Auryc, to create what it says is 'the market's only comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analytics in a single solution'. More
Research, CX and employee experience (EX) technology provider Forsta has launched what it calls a Human Experience (HX) Partner Program for Market Research Agencies, allowing them to fully white label integrated VoC programs hosted on its technology platform. More
London-based culture, communities and 'smart digital insight' firm Verve has strengthened its strategic insight offer with the appointment of former Hall & Partners and Breaking Blue exec Dr Adele James as Behavioural Scientist. Digital anthropologist Lily Echanis also joins the firm. More
Ipsos has appointed former MB Canada, GfK and Kantar exec James Conrad as EVP in its Market Strategy and Understanding (MSU) team. More
In Australia, M&C Saatchi-owned MR agency The Source has launched a kids and youth research and insight division, named after the children's game 'Duck, Duck, Goose'. More
Swiss/German in-store and omnichannel customer experience analysis specialist ISC-CX is opening an office in Brazil, to support LatAm businesses and brands. More
Ipsos has appointed Dr Jessica Ozan as the new Head of Education, Children and Families (ECF) within its Public Affairs division. More
Irish MR industry body AIMRO has appointed David Berry, Commercial Director of Kantar Worldpanel, as its New Chair. More
Kantar has announced unaudited results for the first quarter of calendar 2022, including pro forma, currency-adjusted gross revenue up 6% to $911m, and adjusted EBITDA of $144m, up 16% from a year earlier and almost twice the pre-Covid Q1 2019 figure. More
Online communities expert InSites Consulting has made seven new hires for its Johannesburg office, including three senior appointments: Research Directors Simone Kakana and Heike Viviers, and Business Development Manager Danie Botha. More
US agency Smarty Pants has promoted Christina Massey to the level of Senior Director, Research and Insights - known locally as 'Insights Sage' - after nine years at the company. More
In Australia, communications consultancy SenateSHJ has acquired Di Marzio Research, whose Director Paul Di Marzio joins the acquiring firm as Head of Research, based in Melbourne and leading a new practice, SenateSHJ Insights. More
In Dubai the Advertising Business Group, a non-profit organisation advocating for responsible advertising and communication in the MENA region, has appointed Ipsos as its partner for its ad currency UAE Cross Media Measurement project. More
Knowledge management platform Stravito has launched a visual insights tool called Atlas, allowing clients to explore and integrate their market research findings, and present insights in a 'bitesize' visual format. The firm has also hired Steffen Bilde as Chief Product Officer (CPO). More
Touchstone Research has made five recent appointments: Patricia Lopez and Michelle Richard as Senior Qualitative Analysts, Jack Keelan and Erik Erwin as Senior Project Directors, and Michael Kozloski as a Senior Quantitative Analyst. More
Manchester, UK-based market research and MR support agency Omnisis has announced two senior hires to support rapid growth: Stephen Ward joins as an Operations Consultant and Sabrina Holland as a Senior Data Analyst. More
Automated insight-gathering and sample management platform Cint has announced further leadership changes following its December acquisition of Lucid. CFO Joakim Andersson and COO Andy Ellis are stepping down, replaced respectively by Britta Mittler (interim) and Jake Wolff. More
In Australia, consumer data giant NielsenIQ is to offer clients access to 'one of the biggest receipt panels in Australia', promising new understanding of 'the most important retail consumer group - the omnishopper'. More
Text analytics software firm Relative Insight has added ESOMAR President and WIRe founder Kristin Luck to its Advisory Board and former Cint leader Richard Thornton to its Board of Directors. More
In the US, video feedback platform Discuss has appointed Josh Martin as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Sales. More
In the UK, full-service agency BMG Research has opened an office in the London Bridge-based News UK Building, having closed its previous London base during the pandemic due to working from home. More
UK-based mobile phone data firm RealityMine has launched a solution called RealLife Events, through which clients can deliver surveys to users, triggered by digital behaviour such as using a specific app, web site or making specific search queries. More
Healthcare specialist M3 Global Research has acquired Germany-based pharma-insight GmbH, which offers a portfolio of MR services to the life sciences industry, including access to a dedicated healthcare panel. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Retail tech provider Virtual Store Trials (VST) has launched a solution called 'E-commerce Fixture Testing', which offers a virtual simulation of eCommerce sites and apps through which CPG brands can conduct tests. More
Kids and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family has appointed former Kidz Global SVP Ivan Colecchia as Senior Vice President, International Development. He is based in Italy. More
In the US, experience management specialist Qualtrics has launched a solution called Community Pulse, allowing state and local government departments to use technology to understand and respond to the experiences of their constituents. More
US-based private equity firm KKR has acquired a majority of survey software firm Alchemer, with an investment of undisclosed size funding '[accelerated] growth through marketing, product innovation, industry partnerships and strategic mergers and acquisitions'. More
Ipsos has appointed Mark Polyak as its President of Analytics in North America, with a key role in integrating 'multisource, real-time, data-driven and actionable insights' into the group's core operations. He was previously Ipsos' Chief Analytics and Data Officer in Public Affairs. More
B2B Account Experience and VoC software firm CustomerGauge has appointed Confirmit veteran Tim Hannington as Chief Revenue Officer. More
As Nielsen rolls out a new solution for measuring media consumption in Saudi Arabia, mena.tv, a B2B marketplace for TV Content in the Middle East and North Africa, has launched a platform providing daily audience data for around five million UAE-based viewers. More
US-based sampling tech firm InnovateMR has strengthened its focus on data quality and survey fraud mitigation by appointing Sarah Adkins, a former client, as VP of Quality & Research. More
In the UK, insight business Walnut Unlimited has appointed four new Research Directors and two Associate Directors. More
In the US, out of home (OOH) audience measurement body Geopath has given acting President Dylan Mabin the role permanently. More
Kantar has launched Link AI for Digital, an artificial intelligence-powered ad testing solution designed specifically for digital ad formats. More
Lang.ai, which helps CX teams draw insights from conversations, has raised $10.5m in a Series A round of funding. The money will help improve software to understand what each customer is saying at any point in their buying journey, and correlate this data with their purchase history. More
Oxfordshire, UK-based brand, NPD, category and shopper consultancy Touchstone Shoppercentric is moving all its staff to a four-day working week - with full-time salary - from 6th June. More
International data collection and research tech company Schlesinger Group has acquired Canada-based programmatic sample provider Opinion Capital, for an undisclosed sum. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has expanded its consultancy team with the appointment of Ben van der Werf and Sonja van den Berg, based in Utrecht. More
Kantar has agreed to acquire Reading, UK-based app survey platform and fraud prevention technology provider Qmee, majority owned by private equity firm capital D. Qmee will become a part of Kantar's primary research division Profiles. More
Location intelligence and marketing software company Reveal Mobile has launched a self-service platform for out of home (OOH) campaign measurement, known as Mira. More
Nielsen has announced the end of its 45-day 'go-shop' period, in which the Board has investigated the potential for alternatives to its recently-announced acquisition by a consortium of private investors; and says no proposals have been submitted. More
US intelligence gathering specialist Fuel Cycle has enhanced its self-service Ignition Research & Insights Solutions (Ignition Solutions), to enable users to generate 'fast and actionable insights' for 'almost all possible use cases'. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based in-store intelligence and personalization specialist Nexite has Raised $67m in a Series C round of funding, which brings the company's total funding to $100m. More
Independent social and market research agency IFF Research has made two dozen promotions - equivalent to 20% of its team - following 18% revenue growth in 2021-2. More
US-based consumer panel firm Full Circle has appointed long-time TNS researcher Jamie Stehlin as its newest Business Unit Leader, to establish an office in Ohio. More
SurveyMonkey parent Momentive has launched a new solution for concept and creative testing, Idea Screening. The tool promises 'quick, AI-powered insights on early-stage ideas, claims or concepts'. More
Kantar has sold its Kantar Public business to private equity firm Trilantic Europe for an undisclosed sum. Following the sale Kantar Public will establish itself as an independent evidence and advisory company for government and public sector organisations. More
In the US, branded payments specialist Blackhawk Network has integrated its incentives and rewards platform Rybbon with the services of MR developer Q ONE Tech, to provide customized multi-country reward experiences for panel members while improving engagement. More
US-based Measured, which helps brands identify media's incremental contribution to business outcomes, has raised $21m in a new round of investment. The firm plans to use the funds to support further innovation, as user-level tracking restrictions increase. More
In the US, consumer insights platform DISQO has acquired Feedback Loop, which automates research processes such as generating surveys, sourcing consumers, and analyzing and uncovering insights across areas including message and concept testing. Terms were not disclosed. More
Consumer insights provider Toluna has expanded to Thailand, where it has hired former Nielsen exec Chumphol (Marc) Sivawettakul as Business Development Director, Southeast Asia. He is based in Bangkok. More
UK-based customer insights and communities platform developer Researchbods has launched a dedicated creative division called 'Studio', which will work with all teams across the business to enhance its creative offering. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has acquired programmatic sampling technology assets from Dalia Research, for use in further expanding its PureSpectrum Marketplace. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Australia, culture, community panels and smart digital insight specialist Verve has appointed Rikki Pearce as Managing Director and Head of its new 'Global Advanced Quant and Analytics' practice. More
New York City-based B2B marketing research agency Adience has opened an office in London, where it has appointed James Keeling as Vice President. More
In the UK, social research practice Basis Social has appointed Victoria Harkness as a Senior Director, spearheading its quantitative offering. More
Sho Pogoni has returned to Auckland, NZ-based customer intelligence agency Perceptive as Data Science Team Lead, tasked with providing data science as a supplementary service for other teams (CX and Research), and as a standalone service for bespoke client projects. More
Cincinnati, OH-based full-service firm MarketVision Research has hired licensed attorney Benjamin de Seingalt as its first Director of Compliance and Privacy. More
Nielsen has reported first quarter revenue of $877m - a rise of 1.6%, but with organic real-terms growth of 3.4%. Adjusted EBITDA fell around 4% to $372m. More
UK-based consumer and sensory research agency PPL Insights and France-based consumer and shopper research specialist Strategir have formed a joint venture, to provide a broad range of research services linking all elements of the consumer journey. More
In Manchester, UK, culture, community panels and smart digital research specialist Verve has appointed former InSites Consulting exec Gav Holt as Executive Director in its senior team. More
Experience management platform Qualtrics has launched a solution called Employee Experience ID, providing organizations with a unified view of their employees' experience with the company over time, and measuring employees' preferences, engagement, performance and feedback about work. More
MrWeb and its job board partners ESOMAR and WIRe have launched a section dedicated to supporting Ukrainian insights and analytics professionals, whether refugees or those remaining in the war-torn country. This includes free job board postings and candidate registration services. More
In the US, industry body the Insights Association (IA) has appointed directors in three newly created positions: former Nielsen exec Cindy Neumann as Director, Research; Aman Ayalew as Director, Marketing; and Charlene Darko as Director, Chapters, Committees & Councils. More
In London, online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has appointed long-time Kantar Profiles exec Andy Cayton as Executive Vice President, tasked with developing and implementing solutions for clients across the firm's product suite. More
Data and research tech company Schlesinger Group has promoted Chawntae Applegate to the role of Executive Vice President of Global Client Solutions. More
The WindAcre Partnership LLC, now comfortably the largest Nielsen shareholder with 27.3%, says the share price could triple in the next three years and will host a webcast tomorrow arguing for a rejection of the Consortium bid. Meanwhile reports suggest the ratings firm could regain its MRC accreditation soon. More
In London, all-in-one research operations platform Ayda has appointed former Cint exec Richard Thornton as Chairman and Advisor, following a successful investment round. More
Online community specialist C Space has promoted three team members, while appointing former Kantar Consulting exec Ella Majava as Practice Director for Innovation and Consulting, and Risham Nadeem as a Business Director. More
User experience (UX) platform WEVO has added an AI tool which it says helps user researchers go from 'experience test' to 'ready insights' in minutes. It has also updated its platform with a new dashboard and enhanced diagnostics. More
US-based customer experience (CX) specialist Zendesk has reportedly appointed an advisor to explore a potential sale, just two months after rejecting a takeover bid from a private equity company. More
Marcoms group Stagwell, owner of the Harris and Harris Poll brands, has acquired data-driven eCommerce specialist Brand New Galaxy (BNG), which offers a range of business intelligence and data engineering, analytics and strategy services. Terms were not disclosed. More
London-based insights agency Opinium has hired music economist Chris Carey to lead its newly launched Music, Media and Entertainment division. More
US-based customer experience solutions provider VHT has taken the name of its Mindful suite of solutions, claiming this 'aligns it with its philosophy of how enterprise brands should treat people'. More
Ipsos has reported 12.3% first quarter organic revenue growth and a 17.5% reported increase to EUR 547.8m. The firm says it is planning an 'exciting range' of potential acquisitions in key sectors and territories, especially in the USA. More
In Manchester, UK, corporate reputation specialist Steve Leigh has opened a research, measurement and evaluation consultancy called Sensu. The firm promises to help clients understand their audience; track reputation, profile and influence; and improve the quality of communications. More
ESOMAR has appointed Geraldine Proust as Head of Public Affairs and Professional Standards, responsible for leading global advocacy efforts; managing industry relationships and strategic partnerships; and developing and enforcing global regulatory professional standards for the industry. More
In the US, analytics and advisory firm Escalent, formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace, has added three new Vice Presidents to its Automotive Insights and Advisory practice; John Bankes, Daniel Hall and Richard Clarke. More
AI-powered MR software firm Remesh has launched a solution called Flex, allowing hosts to hold an asynchronous session for up to 5,000 participants and analyze qual data as the session progresses. The firm has also introduced multi-language capabilities. More
SAM Sensory and Consumer Research has appointed long-time Happy Thinking People exec Sebastian Gräper as Managing Director, Germany. More
Consumer intel giant NielsenIQ has made an undisclosed amount of investment in mobile consumer rewards app Fetch Rewards, whose thirteen million monthly US active users have submitted more than two billion receipts. The deal allows NielsenIQ to enhance its Omnishopper panel. More
Ipsos has opened an offshore Data Services Centre in Mumbai, to handle offshore production work initially for North America, and later for other global markets. Haribabu Rajendran takes the reins as Managing Director. More
Measure Protocol, a blockchain-based marketplace for consumer behavioural data, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding, which it will use to further develop its technology and ramp up its marketing and sales efforts. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has appointed long-time industry exec Ron Franscella as Executive Vice President, tasked with developing and implementing new client solutions across the firm's product suite. More
Rival Group Inc., owner of Rival Technologies and Reach3 Insights, has given current ESOMAR President Kristin Luck a seat on its Board of Directors. More
CRIC (The Canadian Research Insights Council) has promoted John Tabone to the role of Chief Executive Officer. More
US insight communities firm Fuel Cycle has integrated with customer insights platform UserTesting to help users to reach and manage networks of their own customers. More
London-based predictive visual analytics platform Dragonfly AI has raised £3m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to target growth across Europe and North America, scale up its sales engine, and invest in product development and R&D. More
In Germany, MR and innovation consultancy Happy Thinking People has appointed Kathrin Wilfong as Research Director and Veronica Freni as Project Manager in Munich, while Marta Kuszyk-Goraya joins as a Project Manager in Berlin. More
More than a third (38%) of consumers incorrectly recall their digital shopping journey behavior, according to the findings of a new study conducted by consumer insights platform DISQO. More
In New York, behavioral science insights agency BEESY has appointed long-time Ipsos exec Pam Vanover as Director, Research Operations. More
London-based MR data visualization and PowerPoint automation specialist Indico Labs has announced a $350k seed round of investment led by Michael Halberstam, the former Chairman of data collection group ISA. The funding will be used to accelerate the development of key product features. More
In San Francisco, self-service product analytics specialist Kubit has raised $18m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate company growth. More
Shopper insight specialist Behaviorally has appointed Cindy O'Flanagan as Vice President, Client Development in its New York City practice. More
Digital user experience insights specialist UserZoom has received an unspecified amount of strategic growth funding from investment firm Thoma Bravo, the owner of CX management firm Medallia. The funding values UserZoom at $800m. More
Toronto, Canada-based CPG research specialist Hotspex has appointed former Procter & Gamble insights leader Luis Ladd as SVP, Product Innovation and ResTech. More
Canada-based research tech specialist Torfac has appointed former Branded researcher Vishal Yadav as Senior Director, Client Development, leading the expansion of its Sales team in the EU and APAC. More
Behavioural science consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has hired 29 new members of staff across its global offices - twelve in China, seven in Australia, and ten in the UK. More
In New Zealand, research and insights agency TRA has appointed Irena Bakker as Head of People and Capability, while Stephen Churchman joins as Head of Design. More
Major league consumer data and insights firms IRI and The NPD Group have announced they are to merge, promising clients 'a view of total retail purchasing and consumption trends powered by advanced, predictive analytics' on IRI's Liquid Data technology platform. More
YouGov has launched a dataset called Global Profiles, to help brands, agencies and media planners understand their global audience. Data comes 43 markets, with five more to be added in August. More
Canadian survey software provider Voxco has launched a no-code data analytics platform called Voxco Intelligence, promising to unlock users' customer data using predictive analytics, AI and machine learning models. More
In Sofia, Bulgaria, online panel firm JTN has promoted Yoanna Yordanova to Client Success Director, overseeing its Key Accounts and New Business teams and replacing Raycho Garnenkov who is stepping down from the role. More
In the US, Ipsos has appointed former Kantar exec Whitney Krause James as a President of the US organization, leading several lines of business. She joins on April 4th and will be based in New York. More
Global MR association ESOMAR has named Leger President Jean-Marc Leger and Datum International CEO Urpi Torrado as Ambassadors for new regional 'hubs' in North America and Latin America, respectively. More
In Edinburgh, qualitative text analysis software firm Quirkos has launched an updated version of its flagship solution, which works entirely in a web browser. More
In London, programme audience analyst TAPE Consultancy has promoted Beatrice Rossmanith to the role of Managing Director, as existing MDs Paul Youngbluth and John Peek prepare to leave the company in the summer. More
British video-based insight company Vox Pops International has become employee-owned through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). More
Portugal-based consumer neuroscience platform MindProber has appointed former Microsoft Sports exec Stewart Mison as Vice President of Sports. He is based in the UK. More
Text analytics platform Relative Insight has secured a £5m investment, for use in expanding its operations in the US and for new product development. More
Nielsen has entered an agreement to be acquired by a private equity consortium led by Evergreen Coast Capital Corporation and Brookfield Business Partners, together with institutional partners, for $28 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $16bn. More
The United States government and the European Commission have trailered a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework, addressing concerns which led to the demise of the last one in mid-2020, and allowing data to flow more freely again between the two. Critics are already clearing their diaries for 'Schrems III'. More
India's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has named IPG Mediabrands India CEO Shashi Sinha as President, succeeding Punit Goenka, MD & CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises. More
French digital experience monitoring company Kadiska has raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding and says it will open an office in Boston, USA, this month. More
In the UK, insights platform QuMind has promoted Alan Hargreaves to the role of Managing Director, with Board level responsibility for the entire operation and co-responsibility for innovation. More
Customer insights platform UserTesting has added Internet of Things (IoT) test templates for its 'Human Insight Platform', to gain user feedback and help understand how IoT and digitally connected devices perform. More
In the US, entertainment insights business MarketCast has acquired ad and brand measurement specialist Phoenix Marketing International, for an undisclosed sum. More
Andy Cumming, co-founder of Curiosity Research and European MD at InSites Consulting, died of sudden heart failure at his home on 12th January. More
Ipsos has merged its business in Bolivia with MR and public opinion firm CIESMORI. More
Digital research specialist MetrixLab has appointed Ed Harrison as Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand. He replaces Vincent Blaney, who is returning to the UK in June to take up a position at the firm's London office. More
Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) has announced the recruitment in Sydney of the first panel participants to wear electronic watch meters to capture their radio listening. This is part of the roll out of GfK Radio360, which moves the industry from paper-based surveys to the majority use of e-diaries. More
Shopper insight specialist Behaviorally has opened an office in New York, where it has appointed former InSites Consulting exec Jeff Haselum as Senior Vice President, leading the practice. More
Netherlands-based audience measurement specialist Beatgrid has emerged from stealth mode, adding to its Board of Directors former Nielsen Catalina Solutions CEO Matthew O'Grady and oOh! Media founder Brendon Cook. More
New York-based language and tech solutions provider TransPerfect has moved its Manchester, UK office to a larger facility, where it has created a number of new jobs across technology, media and project management. More
Nielsen's Board of Directors has opted 'not to proceed' with the unsolicited acquisition proposal reported last week from a private equity consortium, valuing the company at around $15bn. The decision follows major shareholder WindAcre's announcement that it would fight the deal. More
Ipsos has launched its self-service, end-to-end online market research platform Ipsos.Digital in fourteen markets in Asia. More
Kantar Public, the global group's evidence and advisory business for governments and the public sector, has appointed current WPP exec Kathryn Cooper in the new role of Global Head of Behavioural and Communications Advisory. More
More than one million households completed Scotland's Census 2022, ahead of Census Day which was yesterday, 20th March. More
In the US, research platform dscout has raised $70m in a Series C round of funding, for use in market expansion, continued technology and product development, and hiring initiatives. At the same time the firm has announced the appointment to its Board of former Lucid President Brett Schnittlich. More
Despite suspending its business in Ukraine, Kantar has decided to continue paying salaries to employees there until the end of the war. More
In the US, online qual research platform Aha! Insights Technology has launched a range of new features, including moderating, analytic and dashboard tools. More
Private equity firm Arsenal Capital has merged Cello Health and four of its other firms to launch Lumanity, offering medical sector product development, market access and commercialization services. Former Cello Health Insight CEO Nicola Cowland becomes the new firm's Global President, Insight. More
New Zealand-based insights agency TRA Group (The Research Agency) has opened an office in Sydney, Australia, and is transferring Terri Hall to it in the role of Managing Partner. She takes up the post on 1st April, and reports to MD and founder Andrew Lewis. More
In the US, employee feedback management specialist WorkHound has raised $12m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to expand its headcount and product offerings, and grow its presence in additional markets. More
US-based customer experience management specialist Medallia has launched a solution called Athena Studio, allowing organizations to create custom AI models and analytics for unstructured data, without any coding. More
US MR agency KS&R has acquired the Buyer Persona Institute (BPI), which helps clients understand how, when and why buyers make the choices they want to influence. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In New York, shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has appointed Jennifer Engel as Senior Vice President, Client and Market Development, USA. More
Nielsen's shares soared by around 30% to $22.85 yesterday, after it was reported in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that the firm is in talks to be acquired by a group of investors in a $15bn deal. More
In the US, mystery shopping agency A Closer Look has launched a specialist division covering the senior living sector. More
Nielsen is suing measurement and attribution specialist TVSquared, claiming that it infringed a patent entitled: 'Methods and Apparatus to Collect Distributed User Information for Media Impressions and Search Terms'. The ratings giant's claim includes lost profits. More
In the US, enterprise co-creation platform Vurvey has launched a tool to help brands gather feedback from customers scanning QR codes. More
In the US, Civicom Marketing Research Services has launched MyQual, a DIY research package for independent researchers offering an all-in-one tool for depth interviews and focus groups. More
In New York, in-home product testing platform Highlight has raised $7m in a seed round of investment, including money from Momentive CEO Zander Lurie; Richard Thornton, former CEO of Cint; Tom Bernthal, CEO of Kelton; and Max Mullen, founder of Instacart. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has promoted seven employees, including Erin Russeck for the newly created role of Chief Research Officer. Kelly Jasper moves into Russeck's previous position, EVP of Corporate Strategy & Innovation. More
Barcelona-based feedback platform Typeform has received $135m in Series C funding, for continued expansion of its team, product development and extension of strategic partnerships. More
Harris Poll owner Stagwell Group has reported on a year of rapid growth, with a pro forma net revenue rise of 11.3% in Q4 of 2021 and 14.5% over the full 12 months. More
Dutch-based agency DVJ Insights has announced three more senior hires: Ashley Endenburg joins the management team as Finance Manager, Matthias Hallmann as Senior Business Partner in Germany, and James Robinson as Client Consultant in the UK. More
Nielsen is to launch its Identity System in Australia, Germany, India and Japan, in April, with six other economies to follow later in the year. More
In New Zealand, insights platform Yabble has added a feature called Count to its Hey Yabble product, to help analyze unstructured text data for theme and sub-theme counts, and then add sentiment analysis to provide an understanding of audiences. More
In the US, the head of TV advertising trade group the VAB has written to Nielsen CEO David Kenny 'seeking the immediate cessation' of the firm's new 'Big Data' monthly impact releases. Nielsen says the VAB does not represent the overall video marketplace and has not raised the questions with it previously. More
Community panels and smart digital research firm Verve is to open a Global Centre of Research Innovation in Sydney, Australia, and has appointed Dan Alexander-Head to lead it. More
US data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions LTD has opened a CLT and viewing facility in Seattle, and appointed Nik Kocher to manage it. More
In New York, trend spotting agency sparks & honey is to launch two new practices: Youth Culture and Policy & Philanthropy, to be headed up respectively by newly promoted VP Hannah Hickman and SVP Robb Henzi. More
Momentive - formerly SurveyMonkey - has announced a $200m share repurchase program and plans for a renewed focus on delivering stockholder value. The firm has also promoted Priyanka (Pri) Carr from General Manager of its MR business, to COO. More
Ipsos India has announced the appointments of Garima Mall and Pooja Doshi as Executive Directors. Mall will service Market Strategy & Understanding (MSU) and Brand Health Tracking (BHT) Clients in Mumbai and Bengaluru, while Doshi will work on key CPG accounts and drive business development. More
UK-based research tech company Walr has appointed former CBRE exec Emily Whiting as Chief of Staff, and former Accenture leader Keziah Wonstolen as a Non-Executive Director. More
In the US, boutique agency empatiX Consulting has hired former ORC international / Engine director Okie Emuoyibo as Senior Vice President. More
In Canada, customer intelligence specialist Alida has appointed Mary Kay Evans as Chief Marketing Officer, to drive the company's overall marketing strategy and partner with the exec team to steer the company's next phase of growth. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Miriam Konz as Executive Vice President, heading up an additional Client Services team to support expansion of the firm and project capacity. More
US-based advertising and brand specialist Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has appointed Brigette Lytle as Senior Vice President - Client Services. More
London-based Take Note, which offers transcription, captioning and note taking services for the market research sector, has been acquired by AI-based transcription and captioning solutions provider Verbit. Terms were not disclosed. More
Continuing our focus on 'Measuring Brains & Bodies', Pedro talks about sweat, motor racing, suppliers who always say Yes, investors who always said No, banning the bull and embracing the (one-trick) pony, and how EDA (electrodermal activity) can grow into a currency for media engagement. More
UK-based healthcare insights company Research Partnership has been acquired by healthcare services partner Ashfield. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, online survey and research services firm QuestionPro has launched a practice called Positive People Science, to help companies use data more effectively when building an employee experience strategy. More
In the US, real-time television ad measurement company iSpot.tv has acquired TV viewing solutions and analytics company Tunity, which measures viewing behavior in bars, restaurants, gyms, transportation hubs and other public spaces. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, sensory evaluation and consumer product research firm Curion Holdings has opened a Consumer Center in Natick, Massachusetts, to expand its innovation insights services in the New England area. More
In the US, Momentive has launched a service called Guided Employee Experience, allowing in-house HR execs to analyze employee feedback data alongside company goals, strengths and weaknesses, and then use Momentive to develop a plan around their organization's needs. More
MrWeb's special issue on 'Measuring Brains and Bodies' is launched today: viewing and downloading the 72-page pdf supplement is free: click the cover or the link below; or read on for the second part of Michelle Niedziela's article, which offers a guide to Best Practice in consumer neuroscience projects. More
Manchester, UK-based Acumen Fieldwork has launched a B2B and Social Research department, which will focus primarily on hard-to-reach groups - ranging from those who are disenfranchised from society to key decision-makers in named occupations. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has appointed long-time Ipsos exec Elena Speer to lead its sales team in the Northern European region. She is based in London. More
Long-time Kantar exec Richard McLeod is re-joining the business as Head of Media, leading its work for brands and agencies looking at how consumers engage with media and advertising. More
In the UK, full-service agency Boxclever has appointed qual specialist Sara James and quant specialist Tom Coombes as Research Directors. More
In the US, video feedback platform Discuss has added a solution called Self Captures to its platform, to enable companies to gather in-depth, short form experiences from target audiences, whenever convenient for them to take a video or photo related to a task or video survey. More
Scotland's 2022 Census, postponed for a year due to Covid, is launched today (February 28th). The Census for England and Wales went ahead last year despite the pandemic. More
In the Netherlands, full-service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Emily Lando as Director Research & Operations, responsible for carrying out client projects and directing the activities of the Research team. More
Shareholders of customer experience (CX) specialist Zendesk have this evening rejected the proposed acquisition of Momentive, parent of SurveyMonkey. Despite Momentive shareholders giving majority support, the acquisition agreement will now be ditched. More
Emotion analytics specialist Realeyes and media quality measurement agency Adelaide have partnered to help advertisers uncover the value of attention insights across both creative and media. More
In Australia, media research specialist Xtra Insights has named Colleen Rolleston Coordinator of its Regional Radio Audience Measurement Survey (RRAMS), in charge of its radio audience measurement team. More
Ipsos has reported a 16.8% increase in annual revenue to EUR 2.14bn for 2021, with overall organic growth of 17.9%. Perhaps more significantly, the figures represent impressive organic growth of 10.4% when compared with 2019. More
Continuing our focus on 'Measuring Brains and Bodies', HCD Research's Michelle Niedziela runs through the key techniques in 'neuro', with advice on where to use them. The second part of the article, looking at Best Practices, will appear in DRNO when the pdf special issue is published early next week. More
In the US, television conglomerate Discovery and Omnicom Media Group have commenced a trial exercise with Comscore and VideoAmp, aiming to offer new currencies to advertisers in the 2022-23 Upfront season. More
UK-based agency group UNLIMITED has launched an insights platform called LUCA, which it says automates the gathering and analysis of digital data sources to deliver human understanding for brands. More
Kantar Public has appointed three senior policy evaluation experts - Richard Lloyd as Senior Director in its Evaluation practice in London, Leong Chan-Hoong as Head of Policy Evaluation and Data Analytics in Singapore, and Laetitia Dansou as Director of Policy Evaluation in France. More
GfK CEO Peter Feld has decided not to seek an extension to his contract, and will leave the company on March 14th. CFO Lars Nordmark will step into the Chief Exec role on an interim basis, while COO Joshua Hubbert has been added to the Management Board. More
Marcoms group Havas has acquired UK-based digital experience agency Inviqa in what it describes as a 'substantial' eight-figure deal. More
On-demand insights firm UserTesting has added 'social media commerce' templates to its platform, allowing companies which are building products to obtain opt-in feedback from shoppers on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and WhatsApp. More
Auckland, NZ-based customer intelligence agency Perceptive is to open an office in the country's capital, Wellington, and has appointed former NielsenIQ manager Roman Konopka there as Research Director. More
US-based B2B insights solutions provider OvationMR has appointed Joseph Jordan as Senior Vice President of CX and Innovation. More
Kantar has announced senior appointments to strengthen its team in Australia. Straford Rodrigues returns from NA as Head of Media and Marketing Effectiveness; Lee Catlin joins as Senior Director, CX; and Head of Creative Irene Joshy has moved back to Melbourne from Singapore. More
Apollo Intelligence has appointed former Dynata EMEA MD Colin Turner-Kerr as Managing Director, International. More
In the UK, former IFF Research director Mark Speed has joined data collection and analysis specialist Rigour as Head of Research. More
Australian insight consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed Kai Lufen as Head of Research Operations, leading a team of technical specialists with core capabilities in data integration, automation, visualisation and data governance. More
Century City, CA-based research firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) has hired former LRW Group exec Syed Hasan for the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer. More
Four insights companies - Ipsos, IVP Research Labs, Schlesinger Group and Shimmer Research - are partnering to provide live biometric monitoring and analysis for this year's Super Bowl. More
Strategic insight consultancy Firefish has hired Elisa Dominguez as Vice President of Qualitative & Multicultural Insights, based in Los Angeles, CA. More
Automated insights platform Zappi has reported $50 million in sales in 2021, representing more than 30 percent growth in twelve months; and the hiring of more than 100 new employees during the year. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has acquired French-based qual and user experience specialist MindSpark Research International, for an undisclosed sum. More
Less than a year after its formation from software firms Confirmit and FocusVision, research tech pioneer Forsta has been acquired by healthcare experience specialist Press Ganey, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, market research and analytics company GutCheck has launched an online qualitative co-creation solution called Agile Creative Think Tank (ACTT), to integrate the voice of customer (VOC) into exploration, innovation and creative development projects. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has promoted Nicole Duckworth to the role of Head of Europe and Global Commercial Excellence, with a seat on the Board of Directors. More
In Israel, app monetization software developer ironSource has launched a tool called App Analytics, to provide developers of apps and games with insights on user engagement and live operations. More
Continuing our focus on 'Measuring Brains & Bodies', HCD's VP of Research & Innovation talks about a career in 'neuro' (with a rat allergy); quantifying the stress of bad audio on a Zoom call; whether any perfume can live up to one of those weird ads; and much more besides. Available to watch or read. More
B2B information services provider Euromoney Institutional Investor has acquired US-based people intelligence specialist Boardroom Insiders for $25m in cash. More
Online panel provider Intra Research has launched four new panels, covering Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. More
Manchester-based full-service MR agency Mustard has appointed Rebecca Harris as Research Director, while welcoming back Amy Harrod and Joe Stanley as Senior Research Manager and SRE respectively. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has appointed former dunnhumby exec Will Blackett as Executive Vice President, Consumer. More
Continuing our focus on 'Measuring Brains and Bodies', MindProber's Pedro Moreira looks at the company's use of electrodermal activity (EDA) to analyse the extraordinary success of the hit TV show. What worked best, and why? [Spoiler Alert: this makes reference to surprise scenes etc.] More
Data collection company Norstat has acquired Oslo, Norway-based firm Polling & Statistics for an undisclosed sum. More
Data collection and research services company Schlesinger Group has appointed Troy Anderson as Chief Product & Technology Officer and Ellie Ahmadi as CMO; and promoted Rob Ramirez to Chief Client Officer and Sue Maldonado to Chief of Staff to the CEO. More
Texas-based data collection firm Veridata Insights has reported 150% year-over-year revenue growth and fifteen recent hires, having opened offices in Canada, Bulgaria, India and the UK. More
In the UK, East Anglia-based participant recruitment agencies Creative Medical Recruit (CMR) and Healthcare Fieldwork have merged to form a new company, MediVoice Recruit. The firm will offer recruitment for Human Factors and usability studies as well as general healthcare MR. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Alecia DiVita as Senior Project Director, Diane Gaede as Research Director and Drevin Shafer as Project Director, focused on designing and managing qual and quant research projects for CPG and consumer healthcare clients. More
Omnicom Health subsidiary Adelphi Research has promoted Ratna Wynn from EVP, Head of Research, Operations and Innovation to the position of President, US, overseeing all Stateside research, operations and finance. More
In the UK, newly appointed Information Commissioner John Edwards has launched a 'major listening exercise', inviting businesses, organisations and individuals to provide details about their experiences of working with regulatory body the ICO. More
Cassandra, the ENGINE Group's young consumer trendsetting insights business, has launched a syndicated study on Generation Alpha - defined as ages 0 to 11 - and plans to release the results this quarter. More
Consumer insights platform DISQO has hired former Red Bull Global Head of Intellectual Property David Squellati as General Counsel, leading the firm's legal department. More
Saj Arshad, Chief Customer & Marketing Officer at Santander UK, is to be the next President of the Market Research Society (MRS). He will take up the position at the beginning of April, following the end of Jan Gooding's five-year term. More
Los Angeles-based entertainment research and content testing platform MarketCast has acquired audience research firm Invoke for an undisclosed sum. More
Data collection company Norstat has acquired Nordic online data supplier Userneeds, for an undisclosed sum. The deal adds approximately 130,000 panelists to Norstat's existing consumer panels across the region. More
China-based data collection firm Holden Healthcare and Japanese healthcare researcher Seed Planning have announced a partnership enhancing physician panel access across hard-to-reach markets in the Asia Pacific region. More
Kantar has made its Link AI ad testing solution available on the Kantar Marketplace on-demand research platform. More
New York-based full service agency Radius Global Market Research (Radius GMR) has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Star Mountain Capital. More
Insights and CX firm Alida has added new features to its Total Experience Management (TXM) Platform, including the ability to ingest indirect customer feedback by monitoring social media reviews. More
UK-based group Cello Health has sold its Digital Technology Advisory Group Ltd (DTAG), which includes 2CV, The Value Engineers (TVE) & Signal Agency, to private equity firm Vespa Capital. More
Online sampling technology firm InnovateMR has received an undisclosed amount of funding from private equity firm CIVC Partners and a 'significant investment' from Innovate founders Matt Dusig, Gregg Lavin, George Llorens and former President Michael Anderson, as well as from current shareholders. More
John Downham, BMRB's first Research Officer and former MD, and a pioneer within the MRS, ESOMAR and other research organisations and initiatives, has died aged 97. More
In Australia, customer research platform Dovetail has raised $63m in a Series A round of funding, for use in continuing to build its core platform and expanding its product portfolio. More
In the US, market intelligence solution provider TapResearch has launched a tool called Player Insights, to provide mobile game developers with access to player feedback in real time. More
UK branding specialist Yonder Consulting has appointed Kate Langford as Recruitment Manager, responsible for acquisition of talent across the whole business. More
In Germany, online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has appointed former Bilendi exec Sebastian Wezel as Sales Director, Central Europe. More
Wearable tech is everywhere, and offers great potential for collecting data, but how useful is it right now for answering specific research questions? Kathryn Ambroze, Manager of Behavioral and Marketing Sciences at HCD Research continues our month-long focus on 'Measuring Brains & Bodies'. More
US-based behavioral insights consultancy Behaviorally has launched a division called eFluence, to help brands drive sales at the digital shelf level, and influence the omnichannel shopper journey. Former Chief Commercial Officer Scott Brill will lead the new division as MD. More
New Zealand-based insights agency TRA Group (The Research Agency) has made three appointments in its Australia office - Mark Hutchinson as product owner of its new brand management tool Streamlight; and Andie Lowings and Alex Forrester as Business Directors. More
London-based mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research has hired Jonathan Clark for a newly created role, Chief Growth Officer. Clark is tasked with increasing membership of the firm's proprietary consumer panel, Curious Cat App. More
UK-based research and data business Delineate has integrated Ipsos' survey data collection technology Askia into its own Proximity end-to-end platform, which connects brands with their consumers in real time. More
Florida-based data collection firm Global Survey has acquired a minority stake in Canadian artificial intelligence-based DIY MR platform Emozo Labs, for an undisclosed sum. More
Chicago-based insights agency C+R Research has promoted Jorge Martinez-Bonilla to the role of Senior Vice President and Partner. More
Kantar Public has hired long-time YouGov exec Tom Burgess for the newly created role of Global Panels Director, supporting its probability-based citizen panel, PUBLIC Voice. More
Former Schlesinger Group Germany MD Stephan Schmid has joined SCHÖTTMER - RESEARCH HUB in Hamburg, as Unit Director. More
UK-based kids and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family has expanded its services to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina and South Africa. More
UK-based tech-led insight agency FlexMR has launched 'Rapid Response', an on-demand service delivering answers vetted by a team of researchers, in hours or days. More
In the first feature from our forthcoming special issue on neuroscience techniques, Michelle Niedziela and Glenn Kessler from title sponsor HCD Research give an introduction to the progress and potential of the field, and cut through some of the hype and misconceptions surrounding it. More
Online communities specialist InSites Consulting has acquired US-based 'customer-centric' specialist Gongos, for an undisclosed sum. More
UK-based research and data business Delineate has hired Debbie Stephens for the newly created position of Product Research Director, overseeing the execution and launch of the firm's research products roadmap. More
In the UK, market research sector staffing firm Pollen Recruitment has appointed former Kantar Public exec James MacGregor as a Senior Consultant, with a focus on public sector clients. More
In the US, interviewing services provider American Directions Research Group (ADRG) has promoted Eleanor Ty to the post of National Director of Operations / Client Services, with oversight of interviewing operations, training, quality control and project management. More
In Oslo, Norway, the country's MOC audience measurement body has extended Nielsen's contract for radio measurement, which was due to expire in twelve months' time. More
In the US, knowledge management platform Bloomfire has appointed Ben Little as Chief Executive Officer, as Mark Hammer moves to an advisory role, for personal reasons. More
Fonto, the recently launched Australia-based consumer data business headed up by former Kantar and Nielsen leader Ben Dixon, has raised $6m in capital with which to accelerate its growth and expand its suite of services. More
In the UK, Ipsos MORI has appointed Reema Patel as Head of Deliberative Engagement. She joins from independent research body the Ada Lovelace Institute. More
Media and entertainment company WarnerMedia has selected Comscore, iSpot and VideoAmp as measurement partners, tasked with building a new suite of technologies to count viewers across linear, digital and connected television. More
Ipsos has brought together its existing UK advisory units into one practice, employing more than 50 specialists. Murat Demiral will lead the practice as Head of Advisory, and joins the UK Management Committee. More
Former Phoenix Marketing International President Marjette Stark has been named President of non-profit MR educational institute the MRII (Market Research Institute International), having served on its Board of Directors since 2015. More
In New York, financial sector marcoms agency MKP communications has added a qualitative 'Survey-Based Program' and quantitative 'Big Data Program' to its existing offer, to help financial institution clients build more effective marketing programs. More
In the UK, social research and behaviour change specialist M.E.L Research has appointed former GfK exec Kirsty Marshall as an Associate Director in it Quantitative team, while Michael Deeming joins from BMG as Assistant Data Services Manager in the Operation team. More
Five employees of the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) have been recognised in the New Year's Honours list, including Alex Lambert OBE - Deputy Director, Covid Infection Survey Operations, for services to statistics and public health in the Covid-19 pandemic. More
This is the last edition of DRNO for 2021 - we'll be back on Tuesday 4th January. From all of us at MrWeb to all those of you celebrating it, a very Merry Christmas; and to all of you, thanks for reading this year and best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2022. Here we look backwards and forwards briefly... More
India-based emotion AI specialist Entropik Tech has launched a multi-platform eye tracking platform, which works on both web and mobile devices. More
US-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has acquired Canada-based mobile qual survey platform HatchTank. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the UK, full service social research and behavioural insights specialist M.E.L Research has appointed Kate Owen as Research Director and Claire Bennett as Associate Director in its Qualitative team. More
Programmatic sampling and research tech firm Lucid, headquartered in the US, has announced a multi-year agreement with UK-based consumer research platform Attest. More
In the UK, sensory and consumer research agency Sensory Dimensions has promoted Jane Randal and Nicola Stendhurst to Research Director roles; Lauren Henry and Catriona Quigley to Associate Director; and Sairah Vivian to Financial Controller. More
In New York, career development platform Ivy Exec has launched a dedicated B2B market research division called Ivy Insights. More
UK-based innovation charity Nesta has acquired Behavioural Insights Limited (BIT), previously known as the 'Nudge Unit', in a £15.4m deal. More
New York-based consumer insights platform Suzy has acquired beauty sector-focused research platform Poshly.com (also known as Lucky Analytics). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
London-based business intelligence provider GlobalData Plc has acquired automotive research and data firm LMCA Holdings Ltd and agribusiness specialist LMCI Holdings Ltd, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, accreditation body the Media Rating Council (MRC) says it has commenced a new audit of Nielsen's Digital Ad Ratings (DAR) service, including for the first time the firm's measurement of mobile devices and connected TV (CTV). More
In Sweden, knowledge management platform Stravito has launched a series of integrations with companies such as Mintel, to enable users to discover, manage and share all their enterprise market research more easily. More
North of England-based DJS Research has hired fourteen new members of staff across a range of departments, including William Scott as Associate Director, and Amy Greenwood and Sylvie Harding as Research Managers. More
In the US, consumer insights platform DISQO has appointed long-time Walmart exec Yannis Pavlidis as Vice President of Data Science and Analytics. More
In the UK, social research and behaviour change specialist M.E.L Research has hired long-time DJS executive Elliot Simmonds for the newly created role of Client Solutions Director. More
Growth strategy firm ScaleHouse has appointed former Dynata / Zappi product development expert Tiama Hanson-Drury as an Advisor. More
Hollywood research firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) has appointed video game researchers Maurice Scarborough and Randy Flores as Executive Directors, while Dan Hoyt joins as Senior Research Manager and Justin Iatropoulos as Research Manager. More
YouGov has given Özge Akçizmeci Üstün a newly created role of Strategic Account Lead for the Benelux region, aiming to increase its presence in the area. More
North of England-based full service qual and quant agency Swift Research has appointed Tom Parkman as Head of Insight. More
Pharma specialist M3 Global Research has announced the acquisition of Sydney, Australia-based fieldwork firm Ekas Marketing. More
Saudi Arabian ad currency body MRC (Media Rating Company) has announced a schedule for the roll-out of its television and video audience measure, in partnership with Nielsen. More
NielsenIQ has acquired Paris-based Foxintelligence (Foxintel), which tracks and measures eCommerce activity based on anonymized transaction data collected from consumers through dedicated apps. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Indian consumer insights provider Hansa Research Group is opening an office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. More
Research and analytics group YouGov has acquired Zurich, Switzerland-based market and social research agency LINK Marketing Services AG. Terms were not disclosed. More
Forsta, the company formed through the merger of Confirmit, FocusVision and Dapresy, has announced a global partnership with London-based Phebi.AI, allowing clients to make use of Phebi's advanced voice analysis technology for qual and quant research on Forsta's end-to-end platform. More
In the US, marketers Shane George and Tom Cherrey have launched a platform called BrandTruth, which uses artificial intelligence and 'proven psychology' to help organisations understand their 'brand essence' and drive the brand development process. More
Greater Washington DC-based Full Circle Research has promoted four members of its team. Dee Boyd becomes Director of Operations, Jenn Philips Vice President of Sales - East, Rob Tryson Vice President of Finance, and Christina Cox Director, HR. More
Guy Maxwell has returned to insight business Walnut Unlimited as Head of Qualitative Research, after six years as Global Head of Qual Research at MMR. He replaces Lyn McGregor, who left in September and is now a consultant at Pollinate. More
First-party data platform Dynata has acquired brand and advertising research consultancy Ameritest, for an undisclosed sum. More
Kantar has been awarded a contract by the Azerbaijani television industry, to supply technology for the launch of a new TV audience measurement currency in the country. More
Swedish eye tracking developer Tobii has confirmed that Anand Srivatsa will take up the position of Chief Executive Officer from this Thursday, 9th December. He replaces co-founder Henrik Eskilsson, who announced his intention to step down in April. More
Australian market research technology platform Glow has received a seven-figure amount of financing from tech funding business Tractor Ventures, which it will use to further develop its products and platform and to accelerate its international expansion. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has given this year's Agency of the Year Award to London-based insight firm Opinium, which had previously been shortlisted eight times in nine years. More
In Edinburgh, Ipsos MORI has appointed Lisa Sutherland as Head of Behavioural Science in Public Affairs. More
In Canada, insights and CX firm Alida has appointed Gaurav Bhide as Vice President of Corporate Development, with a remit which includes driving M&A strategy. More
Kantar has reported revenue of $2,681m for the first three quarters of 2021, up 11% at constant currency although still down 5% from 2019 figures; and EBITDA of $445m, up 52% on 2020 and 39% (organic growth 33%) versus the same period in 2019. More
In Toronto, Harris Poll owner Stagwell Group has brought together two units of its recently merged business MDC Partners to form a new agency, DonerNorth. The two are creative, digital and media experts UNION and shopper innovation and insights firm 6 Degrees. More
In the UK, full service agency Boxclever has appointed Hannah Chevrier and John Tearle as Research Directors. More
In New York, research-on-research body the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has announced that it is developing a guide to Converged TV Measurement Providers across the US. More
In the US, customer and employee engagement specialist PeopleMetrics is to acquire the assets, people and client contracts of full service agency the Center for Strategy Research (CSR). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Former hotel sector marketer Daniel Diosi has launched an MR software firm called Market Sampler, offering a self-service tool which uses an AI-based programmatic survey delivery method to reach a potential global audience of more than 1.9 billion via over four million public web sites and mobile apps. More
In the US, the ARF and the NYU School of Professional Studies have launched a new program, the 'ARF Certificate in Marketing Optimization and Insights', teaching methods of diagnosing marketing problems and evaluating the effectiveness of campaigns. More
The Stagwell Group, owner of the Harris and Harris Poll brands, has opened a regional headquarters in Singapore, where it has appointed Randy Duax as Managing Director, Asia Pacific. More
Crispin Beale, former Chime I&E CEO, has joined US-based Behaviorally in the newly created role of company President, overseeing all client service and business development efforts across Europe, Asia and North America. More
US-based youth and family researcher Smarty Pants has appointed two Research Associates - Tom Foreman, based in Nashville; and Sabrina Roth in New York City. More
US-based customer experience management specialist Medallia has acquired patient experience specialist Fields Healthcare Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
Nielsen is suing panel-based TV audience measurement firms HyphaMetrics and TVision, claiming separate patent infringements. More
In Australia and New Zealand, Nielsen has launched a client engagement platform called STADIUM, offering a solution for media evaluation, advertising intelligence and consumer behavioural data all in one place. More
UK audience currency body BARB has announced it will add viewing figures for SVoD (Streaming Video On Demand) and video-sharing platforms into its daily reporting, with the upgrade completed next Monday. More
In London, Ipsos MORI has promoted Trinh Tu to the role of Managing Director of Public Affairs. She was previously Head of Business Growth, Public Affairs. More
Ian Forrester, former Insight Head at video tracking platform Unruly, has launched an AI-powered ad research platform called DAIVID, which automates ad testing by using facial coding, eye tracking and computer vision data to predict human attention levels and emotions. More
Ipsos has launched an early stage creative development solution called Instant|Labs, providing clients with an understanding of the potential of creative and ideas within just one day. More
New Delhi, India-based online quant research and respondent engagement specialist Internet Research Bureau (IRB) has appointed long-time Nielsen exec Sarah Hillis as Sales Director, based in its London office. More
Paris-based MR and research tech firm Bilendi is to acquire German sample and panel provider respondi Group for an undisclosed sum. More
London firm Redblue has appointed Tim Coughlan as Associate Director, while Lydia McDonald joins as Senior Research Executive. More
Customer service improvement company Dive has acquired Finland-based mystery shopping and customer experience firm Palvelu Plus. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Los Angeles-based entertainment MR firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) has acquired London-based custom MR agency Tapestry Research. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has elected Roben Allong as its new President for 2021-2022. She succeeds Caroline Volpe, President of Compass Market Research, who held the role for the 2020-2021 period. More
Kantar has appointed Duncan Houldsworth to lead its Brand & Marketing ROI Analytics practice in North America. More
Greater Washington DC-based Full Circle Research has launched a Political division - in anticipation of 'an explosive 2022 election cycle' - and appointed Khary (KJ) Jones to lead it. More
US company Paradigm says it is on course to 'double its highest revenue year', having appointed four new members for its Go-To-Market team. AJ Keirans and Aaron Walton were hired earlier in the year, and are now joined by Matt Freitag and Adam Dietrich. More
Marketing and consumer insights platform Prodege has secured an undisclosed 'major' investment from private equity firm Great Hill Partners, for use in rapid organic expansion and for targeted acquisitions. More
In Manchester, UK, a new employee insight platform has launched. 'New Possible' promises a '360-degree solution' which helps clients understand their people and measures, assesses and benchmarks the culture of an organisation. SMEs are a particular target. More
Southeast Asian consumer research and analytics firm Milieu Insight has raised $5m in funding, for use in development of new products and geographical expansion. More
In Turkey, local industry committee TIAK has awarded Kantar a new contract to provide TV audience measurement in the country until at least 2027. More
US-based facial expression technology provider Affectiva has enhanced its Emotional AI technology with the ability to measure 'sentimentality' and 'confusion' - providing deeper insight into how viewers feel about content. More
Canada-based online sample and research technology specialist WiseWorks has been renamed Torfac, and has announced plans for 'extensive hiring and expansion' of its Technology and Development team, including more than 30 new positions. More
UK-based advanced analytics firm Marketscience has launched a marketing mix modelling approach called BaseDynamics, to quantify the short and long-term market effects of campaigns and strategies. More
Digital market intelligence company Similarweb, headquartered in Israel, has acquired San Francisco-based mobile measurement specialist Embee Mobile for an undisclosed sum. More
Consumer insights provider Toluna has promoted Susan Vidler to the newly created position of Global Chief Research Officer, leading the group's global research team and responsible for developing, defining and implementing best practices across the research function. More
Data and research services company Schlesinger Group has acquired Delvinia's automated research platform Methodify, and its online consumer panel AskingCanadians, for an undisclosed sum. The announcement coincides with the launch of 'Methodify Reimagined'. More
In the UK, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and a consortium of partners have been awarded a £215m contract to evaluate a programme focused on promoting good early childhood development called 'A Better Start', financed by The National Lottery Community Fund. More
San Francisco-based UserTesting has launched an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 14.2 million shares, through which it plans to raise $227m. More
Washington DC-headquartered consumer insights platform Morning Consult has expanded its daily tracking survey on brands, economic conditions and geopolitical risk from fifteen to more than 40 countries. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has launched of AI Pack Screener 2, an early-stage packaging design screening and optimization tool combining AI and human input from the firm's experts. More
European data collection company Norstat has appointed Graciella Garmann in the new role of Chief Commercial Officer, based in Oslo, Norway. More
ESOMAR and Austria's insight association VMÖ have responded to a scandal involving skewed polls allegedly conducted for former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz - stressing a policy of zero tolerance for unethical practices in an industry reliant on public trust. More
The U.S. Senate has confirmed veteran survey statistician Robert Santos as Director of the Census Bureau. Santos is the choice of President Joe Biden and was also endorsed by trade body The Insights Association (IA). More
Analytics and data sharing companies continue to attract serious VC funding. This week in the US and Canada, A/B Testing firm MarketDial, data sharing / management firms Reltio and Yellowbrick Data, data exchange Trufan and CDP Treasure Data between them won in excess of $430m. More
In the UK, founder Joe Saxton has sold nfpSynergy, an independent market research company specialising in not-for-profits, to his colleagues of ten years, co-MDs Cian Murphy and Tim Harrison-Byrne. More
In the US, Spanish-language media and content company Univision Communications Inc. is to use Comscore's data to provide its exclusive local audience currency for its new stations in the Orlando and Tampa, FL markets as well as in Washington, D.C. More
Business data and analytics veteran Dun & Bradstreet has agreed to acquire data onboarding and audience intelligence provider Eyeota and B2B data firm NetWise - strengthening its fast-growing Audience Solutions business and its capabilities in online B2B marketing. More
London-based full service agency IFF Research has launched an Energy & Environment team, providing insight to help inform environmental policy decisions and support sustainable business across the UK. Director Andrew Skone James will lead it. More
Gordon Heald, the social and political researcher who ran Gallup Poll in the UK from 1979-1994 and ORB International from 1994-2009, talked with popes and presidents, and came as near as anyone ever does to founding an MR dynasty, has died peacefully at his home aged 80. More
Product and package insights firm Curion Holdings has announced the acquisition of Minneapolis, MN-based consumer research firm Ravel - formerly Smith Dahmer Associates. More
Community panels pioneer Verve is opening a Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) next month in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has appointed Heather Tluczek and Meryl Dovey to lead it, as MD and Head of New Business Development respectively. More
European data collection provider Norstat has entered the Austrian market by opening an office in Vienna, to be headed up by Country Manager Matthias Höbarth. More
Australian insight consultancy Fiftyfive5 has made 33 new hires since July, boosting its teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore. They include Clare Bradshaw as COO and Helen Brocklehurst as NZ-based Head of CX. More
In the US, online sample specialist Full Circle Research has appointed industry veteran Thomas Pampinella as Director, Programming & IT, while adding a new office in Florida, the firm's ninth US city. More
US-based customer and employee experience management firm Medallia has launched a platform combining actionable user feedback metrics with 'complete' behavioural data for real-time optimisation of digital experiences. The firm's $6.4bn acquisition by Thoma Bravo was completed last week. More
Real life is back. The Munich trade show which is by many measures the insights world's largest relaunched successfully last week as a face-to-face event, and is already scheduled in for 2022. More
In the USA, ad industry association the ANA has announced it will conduct a pilot test with Los Angeles-based VideoAmp, continuing its search for a privacy-compliant Cross-Media Measurement solution. More
Conversation analytics specialist Spiketrap has teamed up with mobile phone chat survey firm Rival Technologies to offer researchers 'deeper quantitative insights from qualitative datasets'. More
CX and research technology company Forsta is partnering with AI-powered insight platform Lumoa, whose software has been integrated with Forsta's to offer clients advanced AI-driven analytics. More
Eyetracking hardware and solutions firm Tobii has announced third quarter organic revenue growth of 26%, the acquisition of Belgian company Acapela Group, and the issue of SEK 250m ($US29.1m) worth of shares to help fund this and the earlier acquisition of Phasya. More
Cross-platform TV ad measurement specialist TVSquared has rolled out its fully automated cookie-less solution Advantage XP in the UK and Germany. More
In a new-style public briefing this week, the MRC discussed its plans for upgrading and overhauling standards, including its move into the area of outcome-based measurement; and specifically highlighted problems developing standardised measurement for podcast audiences. More
In the UK, Ipsos has appointed former Advertising Association exec Karen Fraser as Senior Director, with responsibility for sustainability, creativity, trust and growth. More
Online customer service and CX firm Zendesk is to acquire Momentive, parent of SurveyMonkey, in an all-share deal which values the DIY survey brand and its associated companies at around $4bn. More
Germany-based insights automation platform quantilope has launched a solution for automating segmentation research. More
Mobile MR consultancy Reach3 Insights has appointed long-time Ipsos exec Siddharth Gopinath as Senior Vice President of Financial Services. More
Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint is to acquire rival firm Lucid for approximately $1.1 billion, of which c.$470m will be payable in newly issued Cint shares and c.$580m in cash. The deal should close by the end of the year. More
Ipsos has acquired UK-based employee research and experience firm Karian and Box for an undisclosed sum. More
Dutch marcoms network UmbrellaBrand Group has acquired DIY data collection platform CMNTY Corporation, for an undisclosed sum. UmbrellaBrand's CEO Jorgen Botermans says the deal provides the group with a stepping-stone to the North American market. More
Swedish eye tracking technology firm Smart Eye has acquired Danish emotional response software measurement developer iMotions for $46.6m. More
In Canada, Voxco Survey Software has appointed Anne Sobecki as Vice President of Customer Experience, leading its CX management offering. More
Long-time Kantar exec Tim Wragg has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of brand insights analytics and consulting agency Hall & Partners, succeeding Vanella Jackson who moves to the role of company Chairperson. More
Location data specialist Digital Envoy has acquired the analytics business of London-based Location Sciences. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Global data collection and research services company Schlesinger has appointed former Maru/Blue MD Rob Berger as Executive Vice President, Global Quantitative Solutions. More
London-based human behaviour understanding and prediction specialist Humanising Autonomy has raised $11m in a Series A funding round, for use in product development, growth in new sectors and expansion into new markets in Asia, Europe and North America. More
Real-time market research platform Suzy has announced plans to add 40 new jobs over the next three years as it establishes a technology hub in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. More
Australia-based digital research platform Pureprofile has announced unaudited revenue of $10.2m for the first quarter of its new financial year, up 61% year on year; and EBITDA of $1.1m, up 29%. More
Ipsos has posted third quarter revenue of EUR 526.3m, up 12.3% versus Q3 2020 and 5.4% - or 8.5% in organic growth terms - compared with Q3 2019. The firm says profitability is 'in line with the objectives for the year announced in July', with a slight improvement predicted in operating margin. More
Data collection and research services company Schlesinger Group has announced the acquisition of Australian qual research platform Telmy, for an undisclosed sum. More
UK marketing budget growth is at its strongest in more than four years, according to the 2021 IPA Bellwether Report. Narrowly positive results for market research spend ended six years of downward movement for the sector. More
Brisbane, Australia-based customer feedback technology firm Survey Dynamix has been acquired by CX software developer VHT. More
Research and analytics group YouGov has brought its recent Canadian sports research acquisition Charlton Insights under the main corporate brand. More
Full-service quant data collection firm Rep Data has added director-level executives to its team: Clark Clement as Director of Client Services and Sophie Martinez as Director of Finance and Accounting. More
Retail data provider The NPD Group is to be acquired by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F), with NPD Executive Chairman Tod Johnson and CEO Karyn Schoenbart retaining a minority stake in the business and continuing to serve on the Board. More
YouGov has reported revenue of £169.0m for the year to July 31st, up 18% in like-for-like terms and 11% reported. Reported pre-tax profit rose 24% to £18.9m, and adjusted operating profit rose 32% like-for-like (21% reported) to £31.2m. More
Toluna has appointed former Verint, Nielsen and Affinnova exec Kevin Daly in the new role of Chief Sales Officer. More
Cint has teamed up with audience profiling and targeting firm StatSocial to help clients target niche market research audiences, quickly and at scale. More
PureSpectrum has appointed former System 1 Research MD Lester Sualog to lead client development in Asia. More
UK radio listening currency provider RAJAR has confirmed that after an eighteen month gap, new audience figures will be published on Thursday 28th October; with an enhanced set of methodologies including the first use of panellists and MediaCell technology. More
In Flemington, NJ, neuro-behavioral consumer researcher HCD Research has announced a new user experience product, HCD NeuroUX. More
Raleigh, NC-based qual firm L&E Research has upgraded its 'Virtual Facility' HD Video Streaming solution, using Zoom technology on Amazon's AWS, and allowing researchers to log in to observe, chat, and record clips and highlights. More
Customer insights platform UserTesting has announced new features aimed at giving users 'a deeper understanding of diverse customer perspectives'. They include matching behavioral patterns with common pre-identified types, plus customization and preview options. More
Video attention measurement and emotion analytics specialist Realeyes has appointed former Brand Networks CEO Dave Fall as Chief Product Officer. More
UK-based insights company MindMover Group has changed its name to QuMind, already the name of its fast-growing self-serve MR platform. More
Data collection company Norstat has further expanded in the Netherlands, through the acquisition of Hoorn-based CG Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based iSpot.tv, which measures the brand impact of cross-platform television advertising, has acquired real-time TV ad measurement company DRMetrix for an undisclosed sum. More
Ipsos has announced the appointment of twenty-year Confirmit exec Wale Omiyale, as Global Head of Sales for Observer and Ipsos.Digital. More
Customer experience (CX) and research tech company Forsta has added new features to Dapresy's StoryCreator and StoryTeller tools, to enable users to build 'compelling, impactful PowerPoint presentations in record time'. More
In the UK, consumer specialist 2CV has appointed former Kantar Qual MD Alice Moss as Head of Qualitative Research; and promoted Ruth Noble to the role of Group Research Director, Head of Life & Style. Additionally, the firm has made two senior hires in the US. More
London-based community panels specialist Verve is planning to open an office in Manchester, which will initially be led by founder and CEO Andrew Cooper, who has relocated to the north of England; and Joint Head of Insight Richard Preedy. The firm has also hired three new execs. More
Investment company Legion Partners Asset Management is calling for a potential sale of Momentive (previously known as SurveyMonkey) and is threatening a 'boardroom battle' if the company doesn't 'engage in a meaningful way', according to financial news source Bloomberg. More
Industry association ESOMAR and survey analysis software provider mTab have partnered to expand on the 'Insight250' awards, set up earlier this year to recognise MR industry 'leaders, visionaries and pioneers'. More
Business intelligence provider ZoomInfo has launched a dataset called the Data Passport, providing access to regional and global data on companies and contacts across Europe and around the world. More
In Australia, Ipsos has appointed Troy Kohut as Director of its qualitative arm Ipsos Understanding Unlimited (Ipsos UU). He is based in Sydney. More
Data collection company Norstat has agreed to acquire Zurich-based TestingTime, which supplies test users and other study participants through a self-service platform. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, former Nielsen execs Tom Markert and Doug Pierce have launched a research and analytics company called TailWind Activation, offering real world and real-time feedback on television programming. More
New York-based customer lifecycle marketing company Zeta has acquired digital survey platform Apptness for $41m. More
Sweden's audience measurement body has extended and expanded the cross-media measurement services provided by Nielsen, which it has endorsed as the country's total measurement provider for TV and digital video from next April. More
Kantar has launched a creative measurement tool called Digital Video AI, which can be used to predict the performance of online video ads in under fifteen minutes. More
UK-based research and data business Delineate has appointed Mike Stroud as Marketing Director, responsible for driving marketing strategy. This includes launching the company's plan to shift to an SaaS model. More
The MRS has formalised its close ties with its Japanese counterpart the JMRA via a new partnership agreement. More
London-based software and solutions firm E-Tabs has added an automated Google charting integration to its report platform, E-Tabs Enterprise. More
Toluna has appointed Cate Rubenstein as SVP of Global Marketing, responsible for 'expanding and elevating' its brand. More
China-based data collection company Holden Healthcare has partnered with US-based Arbittier Opinion Panel Systems (AOPS), strengthening the latter's physician data collection services in China and Asia. More
US-based youth and family researcher Smarty Pants has appointed former Kantar director Jennifer Mellett as Research Manager, responsible for designing and leading custom research for the company's entertainment and toy and game clients. More
ScotCen Director Paul Bradshaw has been made a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, in recognition for the 'excellence and impact' of his work. More
New York-based consumer insights platform Suzy has launched an in-home usage testing (IHUT) solution, allowing consumers to physically test products - from unboxing and assessing packaging appeal, to journey mapping - and provide feedback to brands. More
In the US, customer experience (CX) optimization and personalization platform Evolv AI has launched a solution called Flows, offering insight into digital customer behavior and enabling clients to visualize where there are issues by specific element on any given web page. More
Sister firms Rival Technologies and Reach3 Insights have launched a mobile messaging-based customer insight solution called 'New Customer Experience', promising to help brands monitor the needs and expectations of customers they gained during the pandemic. More
In the US, out-of-home (OOH) data specialist Accretive Media has launched a suite of automated measurement products called Accretive Outcomes, which it claims is the first set of effectiveness measurement tools built specifically for the OOH market. More
London-based holding company STRAT7 has acquired Kin + Carta's strategic consultancy Incite, in a deal valued at £18m. More
The National Statistician, Professor Sir Ian Diamond, has set out a series of initiatives in response to the Inclusive Data Taskforce (IDTF) report and recommendations. The changes aim to ensure that issues facing Britain's most vulnerable and disadvantaged are fully covered in statistics and evidence. More
US-based mCube, which senses, captures and analyzes all types of movement data with a focus on the entertainment, sports, health and industrial sectors, has been renamed Movella. The change reflects the integration of two recent buys. More
US-based sample solutions provider InnovateMR has appointed former Nielsen exec Bryant Leech as Vice President, Agile Insights & Platform Solutions. He will focus on the firm's Vision Suite, which includes products for survey design, sample procurement and reporting. More
Ipsos has announced that Nathalie Roos will no longer be taking over as CEO, following the emergence of 'deep discrepancies' in her discussions with Didier Truchot. Instead, Ipsos MORI CEO Ben Page will take the top job, from November 15th. More
Behavioral science-based consumer insights firm Sentient Decision Science has appointed former System1 researcher Simon Wyld as SVP of Sales in its Sentient Insights division. More
Kantar has added creative and digital testing, concept and innovation testing solutions for users of its Marketplace platform in India. More
British-based agency group UNLIMITED has appointed Simon Collister PhD as Director of its Human Understanding Lab. More
In the UK, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has appointed Gillian Prior as Deputy Chief Executive. More
UK-based FlexMR has announced a 'Stakeholder Alignment programme', helping client companies to closely connect their insight and business teams, and to integrate research outputs into key internal working practices. More
Australia broadcaster Seven West Media has appointed former Nielsen Head of Research Solutions for APAC Craig Johnson as Head of Research and Insights, replacing Emelia Millward who is leaving the company and the country. More
Hamburg, Germany-based insights automation platform quantilope has appointed Joe Henriques as its new US President, leading its American Business Unit. More
Ottawa, Canada-based online qual recruitment marketplace QualRecruit Inc. has appointed Dan Bacsa as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel More
Kantar has announced a partnership combining its TGI consumer data with insights from out-of-home (OOH) audience measurement business Route, to launch a new ad buying platform promising highly targeted campaigns. More
Programmatic research tech platform Lucid has appointed Eric Denker as Vice President heading up its Corporate Development and Strategy. More
Kantar Public, the global insights group's public policy evidence and advisory division, has appointed social scientist Issac Lim in the new role of Head of Policy Development, Evaluation & Data Analytics within its Singapore business. More
Kantar has been selected by Origin, a joint industry initiative led by UK advertiser trade body ISBA, to supply a single source panel for cross-media measurement; adding to the recent launch of a 'Cross Media Performance' solution in Latin America, with Unilever among the early adopters. More
Nielsen has today announced an 'Impressions First Initiative', supporting what it calls an 'industry-wide move' to impressions-based buying and selling in local markets across the country. This will accompany the integration of broadband only homes (BBO) into its local metrics in January 2022. More
Canada-based holding company Reid Campbell Group (RCG), parent firm of Rival Technologies and Reach3 Insights, has rebranded as the Rival Group Inc. More
B2B information, analytics and eCommerce optimisation specialist Ascential (previously known as EMAP) has acquired digital shelf optimization company OneSpace. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, research and education publishing company Wiley has promoted Jay Flynn to Executive Vice President of its Wiley Research division. He replaces Judy Verses, who joined in 2015 and is leaving the organization for personal reasons. More
Digital Insights platform Heap has appointed Steve Love as CFO, joining recent C-Suite additions Sean Andrew - Chief Revenue Officer - and Chief Customer Officer Ahmed Quadri. More
TV audience rating body BARC India has appointed former Publicis CEO Nakul Chopra as Chief Executive Officer. He replaces Sunil Lulla, who left last month to pursue 'entrepreneurial ambitions'. More
CX and research tech company Forsta has appointed Brian Bhuta as Chief Product Officer, overseeing product development, leading innovation and evolving the architecture of the product suite. More
Reflecting the ever-increasing value placed on 'alternative data' by financial advisors and investors, Bloomberg is to make rich consumer purchase intent data for the US and China from Prosper Insights & Analytics available through its data marketplace. More
Research services and software company Schlesinger Group has announced the full integration of three of its acquisitions - Market Cube, 20|20 Research and Addison Research - under the Schlesinger Group brand. More
Online consumer researcher Invoke has launched Vis-a-Vis, a solution allowing clients to conduct face-to-face online focus groups using a range of rich, interactive elements. More
In New York, full-service MR firm 360 Market Reach has launched a solution combining consumer insights and targeted social media influencer feedback to support product development initiatives. More
Audience technology platform Eyeota has promoted Marc Fanelli to the role of Chief Operating Officer, and Rob Armstrong to Senior Vice President of Product. More
The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) has appointed former BARC India exec Derrick Gray as Vice President. More
Kirsty Fuller, CEO of video intelligence platform Big Sofa Technologies, is stepping down from the role and will become a Non-Executive Director from next January. She will be succeeded by Sam Curtis, current Head of Client Partnerships and Business Development, in a planned transition. More
In the US, online communities and co-creation specialist KLC has appointed Dan Womack as company President. He will work alongside founder Kevin Lonnie, who will remain the company's CEO. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has opened an office in Stockholm, Sweden, headed by Associate Director Sofie Brodén, who previously worked for brand development consultancy Grow as Manger Insight & Foresight. The firm has also made eighteen hires. More
Ipsos has agreed to acquire New Zealand's Infotools, whose software and services focus on 'harmonizing', analyzing, visualizing and sharing market research data. More
German MR tech provider quantilope has acquired UK-based qual video research company Plotto; and has announced the launch of inColor, which extends its existing Insights Automation platform as a standalone product for automated online qual. More
New York-based multivariate ad creative testing specialist Marpipe has raised $8m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to build out its platform, double its team by the end of the year and triple it in 2022. More
Savanta has reported the addition of a dozen new members to its US and Canadian teams in the second quarter, including Chuck Woelfel as VP in Research, Insight and Consulting; Patrick Byck as Director of Operations; and Marc Matthews as Director of Research. More
Comscore says it has developed 'the next generation of personification methodology', which will bring person-level measurement to its video products, expanding on its existing household-level information. More
Pierre Le Manh, Ipsos' CEO in North America, has left the company to pursue 'other opportunities', and been replaced by former Gartner exec Lorenzo Larini. More
In an open letter to the industry, Nielsen CEO David Kenny has responded to recent criticisms of the ratings giant's Covid era policies, but also conceded that the firm 'needs to move faster in advancing its measurement', was 'slow to explain' panel adjustments and generally 'hasn't been perfect'. More
Industry body Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) has partnered with GfK to roll out a system called Radio360, which will move the industry from paper-based surveys to the majority use of e-diaries and the integration of live streaming data. More
UK-based ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has acquired the business and assets of Chicago-based start-up Data Quorum, including its library of statistical tools. More
UK-based research and data business Delineate has announced senior management changes, with founder James (JT) Turner moving from the CEO role to that of President; COO Ben Leet stepping up to CEO; and former employee Chris Bunyan returning as Product Director. More
Professional associations ESOMAR and the Global Research Business Network (GRBN) have released two sets of guidelines - Primary Data Collection and Duty of Care - intended to strengthen the ethical standards framework available to their respective memberships. More
International data and research services company Schlesinger Group has launched a life-size virtual shopping aisle, which simulates an in-store shopping experience to gain in-context insights. More
In London, Basis Research's new social practice has appointed Ingrid Broch-Due as Associate Director, Connie Flude as Innovation Lead, and Elena Antoniades as Operations Director. More
In Ireland, RED C Research has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by one of its clients, the Business Post Group. More
In the US, recent Nielsen critic the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB) has launched the Measurement Innovation Task Force, comprising a group of research, analytics and insights execs who it says will design and deliver best practices and standards for the national TV ad industry. More
UK-based consumer and sensory researcher MMR Group has opened an office in Amsterdam, where it has appointed former Flavors & Fragrances exec James Gater as Regional Head, Netherlands. More
In the US, work insights platform Fin has raised $20m in a Series A round of funding, for use in sales, marketing and R&D. The company has also appointed former Twilio exec Evan Cummack as Chief Executive Officer. More
In London, full-service agency IFF Research has made eleven new hires in the last quarter, including Catherine O'Driscoll who re-joined in June as Associate Director after eighteen months at charity GambleAware. More
Consumer and shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has appointed Nicole Duckworth as Managing Director in the UK and Clément Dargent as Managing Director in France, while promoting Olivier Bardin to the position of Head of Switzerland, VP Client Development. More
UK-based insight agency Truth Consulting has appointed Tom Morgan as a Director, while Victor Reynoso joins as Lead Insight Planner. More
UK television marketing body Thinkbox has appointed Anthony Jones as Head of Research, replacing Oliver Robertson who has moved to a role at Amazon Advertising. More
GfK has expanded its gfknewron platform with the addition of market, consumer and brand data, along with predictive analytics. More
US-based verbatim analysis software firm Ascribe has launched two new features - Coding Assistant and Segment Coder - which it says will improve productivity and accuracy. More
UK-based brand and communications research agency The Nursery has hired long-time Cello Health exec Elena Geatches for the newly created position of Head of Health. More
Former dunnhumby CEO Guillaume Bacuvier has been hired as Global Chief Executive Officer of Kantar's consumer panel division Worldpanel. He succeeds Josep Montserrat, who takes on the role of Non-Executive Chairman. More
Research revenue for the Top 50 US-based insights and data analytics companies rose 4% to $48 billion in 2020, even as overall US GDP contracted 3.5% during the global Covid pandemic, according to the Insights Association's Top 50 Report. More
AI-driven 'knowledge-as-a-service' platform Lynk has extended its previous Series B round of funding with an investment from UBS's Investment Bank business division. The amount is undisclosed but brings total funding to date to $35m. More
In the Netherlands, research services agency DWise Consulting has hired former Kantar Profiles execs Claudia Doeland and Puisé Pang for the roles of Client Director and Partner. More
Experience management (XM) specialist Qualtrics has launched a framework called EX25. The firm says it has uncovered 25 key drivers through which employers can understand and respond to employees' changing expectations and take action to improve their engagement and retention. More
Business-to-business research provider B2B International has promoted Tom Percival to the role of Managing Director, leading its London-based team. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has suspended accreditation of Nielsen's National TV ratings service, and also cancelled an agreed hiatus for support of the company's Local Market efforts. The changes will take effect in mid-September. More
US-based sample solutions provider InnovateMR has promoted Chief Research Officer Lisa Wilding-Brown to the role of CEO. Co-founders Matt Dusig, George Llorens and Gregg Lavin, along with company President Michael Anderson, move to the firm's Board of Directors. More
In Australia, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has appointed Ipsos as its preferred supplier for digital audience data for a three-year term, commencing in the second quarter of 2022. Nielsen previously held the contract for nearly a decade. More
In the UK, Leeds-based full-service agency Blue Yonder has appointed former Black Swan exec Mat Sloan as Head of its comms specialist Brand:Lab, taking over from MD Richard Heath. More
In South Africa, full-service agency BMi Research has promoted Jenni-Ruth Coggin to Chief Executive Officer and Cindi Collett to Chief Operating Officer. More
First-party data and insights platform Dynata has appointed Dilip Nagaraja as Chief Technology Officer, driving the continued development of the firm's platform and automating the processing, access and distribution of its products. More
US-based customer experience (CX) specialist SeeLevel HX has partnered with Shop'n Chek Latin America to develop a new range of services. More
Northumberland, UK-based online research supplier Panelbase has appointed former Toluna exec Priya Nepoleon as Client Account Director, based in London. More
New York-based consortium the TV Data Initiative (TVDI) has set up an Expert Advisory Group (EAG), comprising execs from across the industry who will work with the founding members to help advertisers, programmers and distributors 'unlock the potential of the data-driven TV ecosystem'. More
In the US, user experience (UX) platform WEVO has added a Custom Questions feature to its WEVO Journey tests, enabling customers to add their own UX questions. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has appointed Jayanth Narasimha as Regional Director of Qualitative Research for the AMEA region. In this role, he will integrate early-stage qual solutions with MetrixLab's existing quant offerings for packaging, communications and creative testing. More
Consumer and fashion trend analysis and forecasting specialist WGSN has launched a Consumer Tech division, led by Silicon Valley-based Director Lisa Yong. More
London-based market research and healthcare translation specialist GlobaLexicon has been acquired by language services business Toppan Digital Language, for an undisclosed sum. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has acquired Pennsylvania, US-based full-service agency MSI International. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Vienna, Austria-based marketing analytics platform Adverity has closed a $120 million Series D financing round. More
In Bengaluru, India, digital MR product and solutions company Borderless Access has appointed Vittesh Kalambi as Vice President - Panel Solutions. More
Nielsen has asked the Media Rating Council (MRC) to pause accreditation of its national TV rating service, after claims it had underreported data during the pandemic. If approved, Nielsen will operate without the MRC seal of approval in a 'hiatus' period which could last for up to six months. More
Australia's total television measurement system VOZ has gone public, with reports now available on the Virtual Oz web site of operator OzTam, alongside the latter's Total TV reach reports and BVOD-specific reports. More
In the US, online qual research platform Aha! Insights Technology has announced an integration with Experience Management (XM) provider Qualtrics, augmenting its suite of strategic qual / quant activities and tools. More
Austin, Texas-based QuestionPro has launched a specialty audience panel comprised of cannabis enthusiasts (consumers) and 'budtenders' - gatekeepers to the products being sold behind the counter - and totaling more than 100,000 members. More
Cleveland, OH-based research technology and data collection services firm OpinionRoute has announced the appointment of Heather Hall as Senior Vice President of Marketing. More
Data collection and research services provider Schlesinger Group has launched QuantText, a chat solution used to add a qualitative phase to quant research. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Lea Ben-Akiva as EVP of Growth and Innovation. More
Consumer insights platform Toluna has added a range of new product development methodologies to its Start platform, including needs identification, ideation, and claims testing solutions. More
London-based youth insight and panel business YouthSight has hired six researchers, plus two new members for its Project Management team. This includes the appointment of former Yonder Consulting/Ipsos MORI exec Ralph Robinson as Senior Research Manager. More
In Canada, customer intelligence specialist Alida has launched an approach it calls Total Experience Management (TXM), promising to help organizations combine the voice of their customers and employees with the ability to deliver 'extraordinary' experiences. More
In the US, product assessment platform Statsig has raised $10.4m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to recruit for design, product, data science, sales and marketing. More
In the UK, insight business Walnut Unlimited has promoted Chris Bland to the role of Managing Director, overseeing the day-to-day running of the agency. He takes over from Jane Rudling, who will continue in her role as Head of Unlimited's Insights & Analytics division. More
UK audience measurement body BARB has launched metrics for 'total four-screen viewing', adding smartphones to its existing coverage of unduplicated reach and time spent viewing across TV sets, tablets and PCs. More
Momentive (formerly SurveyMonkey) has reported a 20% increase in second quarter revenue to $109.4m, from $90.9m a year earlier; with a 33% rise in Enterprise sales to $33.9m and self-service revenue up 15% to $75.5m. More
Survey2Connect has integrated its platform with WhatsApp, allowing clients to share survey links with respondents via the instant messaging program. More
New York-based location data specialist GroundTruth has been granted Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its location, place and visitation data sets. More
From September, Nielsen will begin placing approximately 3,000 newly designed Portable People Meter (PPM) wearable audience measurement devices with a subset of its nearly 60,000 active PPM panelists, as part of plans to modernize its panels and improve panelist experience. More
In the US, former Focus Pointe Global CEO Laura Livers has joined customer experience specialist SeeLevel HX as Executive Vice president, tasked with leading the firm's growth initiatives. More
In the UK, marketing insights provider dobney.com has launched an app called Conjoint Explorer, which helps improve conjoint analysis design and speed up the process of refining attribute and level descriptions. More
In the US, first-party data company Dynata has acquired consumer engagement and survey platform inBrain.ai, for an undisclosed sum. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has expanded its Essentials suits of tools with the addition of creative testing, employee experience and stakeholder perceptions modules. More
Community panels pioneer Verve has appointed Tesco veteran Simon Taylor as a Research Director leading its grocery specialism, supporting key client the John Lewis Partnership; and has announced seven promotions. More
Manhattan, NY-based sampling, field management and data collection firm Gazelle Global has announced the retirement of one of its co-founders, Harriet Naidus, and the full acquisition of the company by the other, Anne Tancredi Brown. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has added nine new staff, following strong growth in the last year. More
Fast-rising Manchester, UK-based researcher The Insights Family has announced a move to larger offices on the city's central King Street, and the opening of a satellite office in Mayfair, London, as well a roll-out in Poland and a number of hires. More
Aromyx, which has developed technology to digitize and quantify the information from sensory receptors in the human nose and tongue, has raised $10m in a Series A round. Funds will help increase capacity and automation capabilities, improve AI algorithms, and expand its lab and software teams. More
Tech-enabled MR and customer insights firm Maru Group has promoted two senior execs at its communities specialist Maru/Matchbox - Daniel Finder to the newly created role of President, Client Relationships; and Brent Snider to President, Chief Revenue Officer. More
Customer experience (CX) and research tech company Forsta has announced a partnership with CX and insights specialist Watermelon, to deliver CX expertise, methods and technology via Forsta's CX platform. More
London-based online specialist DigitalMR has been renamed DMR after expanding its artificial intelligence capabilities beyond 'digital' to include customer experience management, customer journey optimisation, alternative data for funds and other use cases. More
Sector specialist agency HRW (Healthcare Research Worldwide) has hired Jeremy Koloski and Alexandra Petrache as Behavioural Science Analysts in its HRW Shift division - Koloski in Manhattan, US and Petrache at the firm's headquarters in Oxford, UK. More
New York-based real-time MR software platform Suzy has closed a $50 million Series D funding round, more than doubling the total is has raised to date. More
Forsta, the recently merged business of research software firms Confirmit and FocusVision, has appointed former Adobe / OpinionLab exec Jim Reitz as Head of Sales for the Americas, Voice of Customer and Employee (VOC/VOE). More
In the US, Market Decisions Research (MDR) has promoted Patrick Madden to the role of President, after more than seventeen years with the business. He takes over from owner Curtis Mildner, who will take a new position as advisor to the management team. More
Scott Muller has returned to Australian media company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) in the newly created role of Head of Content Insights. More
Former Unilever exec Stan Sthanunathan has joined the Board of data and research services company Schlesinger Group and been named a Strategic Board Advisor at insights automation platform quantilope. More
In the US, video feedback platform Discuss.io has launched a suite of intelligence tools called Augmented Insights, to help brands and agencies access and mine large amounts of unstructured data. More
First-party data platform Dynata has hired former Verto Analytics CEO Pat Brennan as VP, Panel Development; while Nancy Brigham joins as VP, Research Science; John Talierco as Product Owner; and Naveen Goel as VP, India Operations. More
Continuing our focus on communities Dan Fleetwood, President, Research & Insights at QuestionPro, looks at how the firm's community management platform has helped battery giant Energizer gather rapid and regular feedback in a fragmented market where loyalty is low. More
UK market research budgets were revised down in the latest quarter, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report - extending the negative trend seen since the third quarter of 2015. However, the latest MR budget reduction was the 'softest' in two years. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has launched a predictive advertising tool called Amplify TV, to help brands uncover the impact of television advertising on sales and brand equity. More
Jerry Arbittier, co-founder of SurveyHealthcareGlobus (SHG), has set up a new consulting business called Arbittier Opinion Panel Systems (AOPS), supporting healthcare market research firms and panel operators. More
In the US, data collection firm Rep Data has appointed former SurveyMonkey / Lucid exec Mark Tzatzaris as a Partner. More
Northern European data collection company Norstat Group has acquired Amsterdam-based firm Respondenten.nl, giving it a first presence in the Netherlands and a full-time headcount of more than 180. More
Global consumer and shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has appointed former Nielsen exec Lisa Manuzza as Senior Vice President, Client & Marketing Development, in the US. More
In New York, consumer insights platform Morning Consult has added seven former Kantar executives and three from Ipsos to its Commercial team. More
Sample marketplace PureSpectrum has added an Australian office, and appointed Anthony O'Brien to lead it as Vice President, ANZ. Daniel Soh also joins the firm in Singapore as Senior Account Director. More
Online communities specialist InSites Consulting has announced 10% revenue growth for the fiscal year 2020-2021, adding 'up to EUR 66m worldwide'. More
Netherlands-based group Effective Media & Marketing (EMM) has launched an FMCG-focused agency called ASK-Opinions, which will combine online panel research with shopper and purchase data from more than 1.5 million brand and category buyers. More
Kantar has promoted Ilana Sanborn to the newly created role of Head of Kantar Marketplace, Asia Pacific. More
In the UK, insight industry language specialist Empower Translate has set up a new department focused on response data localisation needs. More
From our special issue published this week, KL Communications founder Kevin Lonnie talks about what's changed and what hasn't in twenty years running a communities business; about getting customers to solve clients' business problems; and getting space men to talk to each other. More
Kantar has completed its acquisition of consumer and market intelligence company Numerator from investment firm Vista Equity Partners, in a deal which it says will provide insights into the shopping habits of almost five billion consumers globally. Reuters' sources claim the deal is worth about $1.5 billion. More
London-based insights agency Opinium has appointed Ben Davis as Head of Data and Research Tech, overseeing all data acquisition and flow. In addition, Debbie Shuttlewood joins as a Research Director in the Customer Experience team. More
In Stockholm, Sweden, sample management platform Cint has appointed Marie-Louise Howett as Chief Human Resources Officer, responsible for guiding the company's global people, culture and workplace strategies. She replaces Johanna Isander, who left the firm in April. More
In the UK, consumer data company Pureprofile has hired former Dynata / Kantar Profiles exec Jon Wadsworth for a newly created role, Business Development Director, working across the UK and mainland Europe. More
Our 2021 Online Communities supplement is published today. In this article, Richard Preedy from title sponsor Verve looks at the role the company's community panels have played in the customer-focused transformation of retailer John Lewis. More
Hamburg, Germany-based insights automation platform quantilope is expanding to the UK with the opening of an office in London. More
In Australia, cultural insights and strategy company The Lab has hired eight new members of staff across its Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane offices. More
In the UK, Leeds-based quant fieldwork specialist Face Facts Research has appointed former Optimsa execs Julie Boreham and Amanda Baines as Project Managers. The firm has also promoted four members of staff. More
In Canada, online community platform Tribe has raised $7.5m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to hire across all departments, including product, engineering, customer success and marketing; and to continue building its technology. More
US-based customer-centricity specialist Gongos has launched a subscription offering, Value Exchange (Vex) Reports and Advisory Services, which incorporates a patent-pending modeling system linking revenue growth to Customer Performance Indicators (CPIs). More
MR and healthcare-focused translation & language services company GlobaLexicon has increased its headcount to 120, while growing its revenue 45% in the first half of the year. The firm has also doubled the capacity of its Translation Operations Centre in Spain. More
Enero Group, the parent of research firms The Leading Edge and The Digital Edge, has appointed Nick Burton as Group Strategy and M&A Director, based in its HQ in Sydney. More
Kantar has chosen a new Chief Executive - Chris Jansen, currently CEO of global schools group Cognita, starts in the role on 1st November. More
Twenty years to the day from its launch, North of England firm DJS Research has announced it is now an employee-owned business. More
Civic engagement tech provider Zencity has secured $30m in funds, which it says will allow it to 'double down' on product development and pursue its dream of 'allowing governments to 'run' on community input data'. More
Kantar has announced the formal integration of New Zealand's Colmar Brunton into its business, with the Colmar Brunton name to be phased out by the end of this year. All 121 staff in the country will join one of two new NZ divisions, Kantar or Kantar Public. More
Canada-based Dig Insights has added a new feature called Idea Split to its innovation insights platform Upsiide. Users can now assess a handful of validated ideas against critical business metrics, gathering quant and qual feedback. More
In the MENA region, Kantar has promoted Amol Ghate to Managing Director, MENAP and Nermeen Bedeir to Managing Director, Insights Division, Egypt. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has appointed former Nielsen CMO and We Work exec Marcy Shinder to its board of directors. More
Apollo Intelligence, the parent company of InCrowd and SurveyHealthcareGlobus, has announced the integration of SightX MR technology into its healthcare and life science data platform; and has made an undisclosed amount of investment in SightX. More
Germany has *something* to cheer about tonight, anyway, as does the market research industry: the October face-to-face Munich event often regarded as the global industry's biggest is confirmed as back on, under its new brand of succeed21, and new owners. More
In New York, the ARF (Advertising Research Foundation) is teaming up with seven data and insights firm on a study intended to establish unbiased measures for defining digital device and account sharing and usage. More
Continuing our focus on insight communities, Verve's Joint Head of Research talks about setting up the world's largest community panel; the boom in exploratory digital qual; and why he's seeing research better represented in board meetings than ever before. Available in print or as a video podcast. More
CXM & insights platform provider Alida has secured a US$10m debt facility, which the firm says will fuel its 'aggressive growth strategy and ambitious roadmap'. More
UK-based public sector research agency BMG has appointed former NatCen exec Sarah Kitchen as Client Development Director. More
Google's phasing out of third-party cookies is no longer imminent. After sending the marketing community into a frenzy with its decision 18 months ago to drop cookie support from Chrome, the firm this week put the deadline back to at least mid-2023, linking the move to pressure from UK regulators. More
Data-driven marketing tech company Zeta Global Holdings Corp. has announced a multi-year partnership with veteran business data firm Dun & Bradstreet to combine consumer and business data in a single private data cloud. More
US ad industry association the ANA is partnering with Comscore on a preliminary test as it seeks to develop a 'privacy-preserving cross-media measurement solution' for marketers. More
In the US, professional body the Insights Association has appointed Lisa Beck as Director, Account Development and Andrew McKinney as Director, Marketing & Strategic Accounts. More
Manchester, UK-based market research support agency Omnisis has appointed former InSites Consulting employees Anca Nisirius and Marie Cooper as Data Analysts, and Dylan Cliff as a Junior Developer. More
The UK government has asked Netflix, Amazon and other streaming services to disclose top-line viewing data for the shows they get from public service broadcasters the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has expanded its DACH business with a new office in Frankfurt and four senior appointments, following what it calls 'years of growing demand from local and global clients' in the region. More
Maryland, US-based Full Circle Research has enhanced its proprietary HoNoR (Holistic Next-Level Research) respondent validation service by integrating two products from voter data and targeting firm TargetSmart. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has hired former IBM exec Lauren Palmer as Senior Product Manager guiding its advertising research product strategy. More
UK-based customer insights and communities platform developer STRAT7 ResearchBods has launched a sentiment analysis tool called Conversation IQ, part of its ex-plor insight community platform. More
LA-based insights firm Echo MR has expanded its partnership with CXM and Insights platform Alida to Europe, just a few months after joining its partner network. More
San Francisco-based UserLeap, an AI-powered platform giving product development teams continuous and rapid qualitative user feedback, has raised $38m in a Series B funding round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. More
Canada-based Rival Technologies has announced a range of updates to its research platform aimed at streamlining and simplifying the gathering of consumer insights. More
US-based D3, known for its research in conflict regions and other challenging environments, has announced eight new hires, in line with 'the new research opportunities that have emerged this year'. More
Behavioural science consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) UK has hired Tom Coombes as Director of Quantitative Research, with a remit to build and develop the firm's methodologies. More
Data collection and research services provider Schlesinger Group has appointed Chris Kim, MD, as VP Human Factors in its Schlesinger Clinical Research business. More
Australia-based consulting business Fiftyfive5 says it has made 45 new hires in the last twelve months, 'across all geographies and levels', bringing its headcount to 147. More
Ipsos MORI has announced the launch of a Qualitative Research and Engagement Centre, bringing together its qual methods team, dialogue and engagement specialists and led by Director Michelle Mackie. The Centre will aim to 'bring the public voice into policy making'. More
US-based software and solutions provider QuestionPro has launched a knowledge management (KM) system called the Insights Hub, which offers an indexable and searchable platform for corporate research. More
The European Union has formally approved the 'adequacy' of the UK's data protection protocols for the transfer of personal data between the two. More
Canadian research tech and data collection company Delvinia has adapted its CRIS (Conversational Research Insight System), adding 'chat capabilities' for users of the group's Methodify fast turnaround research automation platform. More
In the US, language services agency SyncScript has launched a new division called SyncSupport, offering a curated approach to 'bridge the gap' between transcript and final report. More
Non-partisan research institution NORC at the University of Chicago and over-50s advocacy organization AARP have launched a survey panel called Foresight 50+, to provide insights from older adults living in the US. More
In the UK, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is launching a Centre for Deliberative Research, which will officially open next Wednesday with an online event. More
In New York, research-on-research body the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has partnered with media metrics technology company HyphaMetrics to launch the 'Passive TV Measurement Study', aiming to understand how time is spent across all TV platforms. More
UK-based sensory and consumer research agency Sensory Dimensions has appointed long-time Mars Wrigley qual specialist Gemma Cudjoe to lead its Qualitative practice. More
Momentive (formerly known as SurveyMonkey) has promoted Justin Coulombe to the role of Chief Financial Officer. More
In the UK, full-service agency IFF Research has promoted Kelsey Beninger to Research Director, while Christa Downing, Helen Greevy, Marc Cranney and Sam Selner move up to Associate Director roles in the Research team, and Eleonore Desnos becomes an AD in Operations. More
Media intelligence and analysis firm Isentia has been sold to comms software firm Access Intelligence for $AUD 35.6m (£19.4m). More
Kantar Public has rolled out its PUBLIC Hexis programme and policy evaluation approach to its hubs in Brussels and London. More
The directors of MR agency MM-Eye have launched a sustainability business change practice called The Say Do Company, promising to help clients drive profit through a combination of customer insight, business change management and sustainability expertise. More
In the US, healthcare sector MR platform Thrivable has closed a $1.7m round of funding, which it will use to expand its team across technology, research, data science, sales and marketing. More
Belgian companies One Inch Whale and Color Navigator have launched a joint venture, Research & Visual Nudging, which will combine insight techniques with the patented Color Navigator system to enhance services including predictive intelligence and neuromarketing. More
In New York, shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (previously known as PRS IN VIVO USA) has appointed long-time GfK exec Jola Burnett as Vice President, Client Development. More
In the second article from our forthcoming special issue, Toluna's Director, Digital Solutions Jack Lee sets out why communities are an ideal way for a brand to get closer to its consumers; and how to make the most of what they can offer. More
Former GutCheck ops leader Joe Giacobbe has joined international data and research services provider Schlesinger Group as SVP, Global Panels, leading its panel strategy and growth. He is based in Toronto, Canada. More
British-based tech-led insight agency FlexMR has launched a video-based service called 'Video Close Connection Programme', which facilitates one-to-one conversations between stakeholders and customers. More
As the insight world emerges from the shadow of Covid, 'only around 50% of formerly face to face activity will revert to type', says Verve's Andy Dexter, introducing a month of features focused on Online Communities, for our forthcoming special issue. More
Mark Inskip, the CEO of Kantar's UK and Ireland Media Division, has left the business to join staffing procurement firm Matrix SCM as Chief Executive Officer. He will be replaced on a temporary basis by EMEA MD Louise Ainsworth. More
In the US, data collection firm Rep Data has hired former Research Now ops exec Jeremy Antoniuk as Chief Operations Officer. More
Tobii Pro, which provides eye tracking solutions and services to understand human behaviour, has launched a mobile capability for marketing and advertising research conducted through its Sticky self-service online platform. More
Toluna has launched what it describes as 'the industry's first and only Enterprise Insights Subscription', giving clients 'limitless access' to its Toluna Start platform, expert personnel and insights from its global panel community. More
Strategic intelligence firm Aimpoint Research has appointed retired Colonel Ken Gilliam, former Director of Strategic Wargaming at the U.S. Army War College, to lead its Fusion business practice. More
Kids, parents and family research specialist The Insights Family and US experiential youth marketing agency InspiredConsumer have partnered to produce research solutions for clients in the US. More
Amsterdam-based research software developer Nebu BV has been acquired by Canadian enterprise software solutions specialist Enghouse Systems. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Kantar Public, the global group's government and public sector practice, has hired Damien Huang for the newly created role of Director for Policy Research, Development and Evaluation, in Singapore. More
In the UK, commercial radio industry body Radiocentre has hired former Kinetic exec Tara Wilkinson for the newly created role of Head of Insight. More
Business-to-business research provider B2B International has promoted its London MD Matthew Powell to the role of Vice President and Executive Director, North America, leading its Los Angeles Office. More
Kantar's first quarter revenue was up 3% to $896m, with six of its seven divisions delivering growth. This includes double digit increases from the group's consumer and shopper behavior specialist Worldpanel, and public policy services provider Kantar Public. More
Oslo, Norway-based data collection company Norstat has signed an agreement to acquire Danish MR counterpart DMA Research A/S. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, market research and analytics company GutCheck has appointed Dave Sibley as Chief Financial Officer, while promoting Jessica Gaedeke to the role of Chief Revenue Officer. More
UK-based insight agency Opinium has made seven new hires at its London office - three research executives and four interns. More
Experience management platform Qualtrics has launched a tool called Spotlight Insights, offering HR teams automated real-time collection and analysis of feedback from employees. More
Kym Frank has resigned as President of out of home (OOH) audience measurement body Geopath. According to Mediapost, her decision relates to complaints from Board members following the launch of several industry standards by the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA). More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has appointed Melanie LoBue as Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, based in the US. More
Kantar Public, the global group's government and public sector practice, has hired research scientist Rhoune Ochako for a new role, Country Director of its Development Practice in Kenya. More
Packaging and shopper / consumer behaviour specialist PRS IN VIVO has launched a product development research tool called InnoCompass, promising to help pinpoint ideas with the highest market potential. More
UK-based kids, parents and family panels firm The Insights Family has released a free report called 'The New Generation of Families', highlighting trends across Europe such as the future of education. Other versions of the report are available for North America, LATAM and APAC. More
NY-based research firm KJT Group has promoted Michaela C. Gascon to be its new CEO and President, as founder Kenneth J. Tomaszewski steps back but retains his role as Chairman. More
In Sweden, audience measurement group MMS has published the first figures on online video viewing using GfK's new reach model, Audience Ascription Model (AAM), and describes this as 'a major step toward providing total video ratings' for the country. More
Middle East and Africa-based full service agency 4SiGHT is to acquire an undisclosed stake in Dubai-based analytics and technology consultancy Anavizio, forming a partnership which will integrate market research and social media intelligence capabilities for 'holistic audience insights'. More
Entertainment sector software and data firm Whip Media has appointed former CBS Television SVP Research Eric Steinberg in the new role of Media Research and Insights Lead, overseeing its television and film research and analysis. More
In the US, online qual research platform Aha! has launched a tool called ClientStream, through which brand and corporate insights teams can observe live focus groups and IDIs without having to download Zoom or other software on to their desktops. More
London-based qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has expanded its team with the appointment of Sam Urbano as Research Executive, and Amber-Louise Large as Marketing and Events Intern. More
In the US, focus group and recruiting services company L&E Research has launched an online solution called Virtual Facility, which provides an option to host, record and live stream research without the need for a physical location or in-person participation. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has made three hires to support growth across the EMEA and APAC regions. The firm says its international sales team has doubled in size, and is planned to triple by the end of the year. More
The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) has launched guidelines recommending a move toward an impressions-based measurement system, providing both forecast and reconciled-as-delivered daily impressions. More
Broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has promoted staff for three new roles: John Musgrove to Head of Research and Measurement; Abi Wallis to Head of Sales Insights and Campaign Strategy; and Jasmine Beech to Client Insights and Effectiveness Director. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has promoted Laura Warby to Head of Agency for London/Amsterdam; Hollie Jones to the same role in New York City; and Dave Power to Senior Director of the firm's Crowd Numbers quant team. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has promoted Susan Vidler to the role of European Chief Research Officer, from her most recent role as UK MD for Harris. The firm has also promoted Olivia Senneville to Executive Vice President, Finance. More
Baltic States research firm RAIT has announced the acquisition of Sweden's Fürst Scandinavian Research. More
Kantar Public, the global group's government and public sector practice, has launched a data science platform and toolkit, 'PUBLIC Evidential', which promises advanced data blending and analytics to help 'build and enrich' the evidence base for public policy decisions. More
Britain's MRS has awarded the Gold Medal, its most prestigious honour, to former NOP MD Phyllis Macfarlane; and announced new fellows including research tech writer Tim Macer and two inspirational former Chairs of B2B research group BIG, Claire Labrum and Trevor Wilkinson. More
Kantar Public has appointed Ben Humberstone, a former Deputy Director at the Office for National Statistics in a newly created role, Head of Population Studies for the UK More
NYC-based real-time MR company Suzy has appointed Katrina Engelman as Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for building out the marketing function, driving marketing strategy and continuing to grow the brand. More
New York-based consumer emotion analytics platform Truthify has been granted a US patent for its 'emotion-optimized' advertising technology. More
Healthcare insights consultancy Research Partnership has appointed Chris Carles as a Director in Philadelphia and Andrew Way as a Research Director in its UK office. More
Tokyo-based online specialist Macromill has launched a Life Science Business, which will conduct research and acquire biochemical data relating to healthcare, and use panels for human clinical trials concerning health promotion and disease prevention. More
London-based insight agency Opinium has launched an EU Barometer, to provide a snapshot of consumer sentiment across the European Union. The service promises a ten-day turnaround, from questionnaire sign-off to data delivery. More
Digital MR company Borderless Access has appointed Nick Love as Principal Consultant - BA Health for Europe; Niraj Morey as AVP - Consumer Insight Services for the Middle East Region; and Donna-lee Ginsberg as Senior Account Manager for the US. More
US-based verbatim analysis specialist Ascribe has expanded in the EU, through the launch of a GDPR-compliant data centre in Germany. More
UK-based insights firm Walnut Unlimited has taken on five new recruits, including Elisha Temminck and Alex Banks as Associate Directors. More
Northumberland, UK-based online research supplier Panelbase is opening an office in central London, where it has appointed Monica Kaur and James Ward to grow the business. More
New Zealand-based MR software provider Infotools has updated its flagship Harmoni platform, with the addition of features for combining, analyzing and reporting on all types of data. More
In the US, Jamin Brazil and Bill Bloom have partnered to integrate their HubUX and FastFocus solutions, creating a DIY platform which they say will deliver 'fast, quality consumer insights'. More
In the UK, insights and polling specialist Perspectus Global, part of the GingerComms Group, has appointed former IFF Research Joint MD Mark Speed as an Associate Consultant. More
In Australia, comms agency Think HQ has brought its research department in-house, and appointed recent recruit Pauline Ho to lead it, in the role of Strategy and Insights Manager. More
Nielsen has appointed Alicia Olson-Keating as Australian Managing Director for Television Audience Measurement (TAM), starting next month. In her new role, she will support the new Total TV reporting and planning database, Virtual Australia (VOZ). More
The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) has released a guide intended to standardize methods for capturing mobile advertising IDs which represent consumers exposed to digital out of home (DOOH) media. More
Manchester, UK-based mobile data and survey tech company RealityMine has added a competitor intelligence tool, Experience SDK, to its product offering. More
YouGov has appointed Suzanna Mitrovich as Global Sector Head of Automotive. She worked previously as Global Client Success Director and Business Unit Leader at MaritzCX parent firm InMoment. More
Hamburg-based research platform provider Appinio has appointed former Cint Vice President Jan Gerspach as VP Strategic Partnerships. More
Consumer engagement specialist Higher Logic has acquired Canadian online customer community platform Vanilla, for an undisclosed sum. More
Global industry association ESOMAR has teamed up with NewMR, Confirmit and more than twenty other organisations for the next wave of its survey among buyers and users of insights, measuring how usage and purchasing patterns are evolving. More
In India, marcoms group Rediffusion Brand Solutions has launched a specialist consumer research and analysis division called Rediffusion Consumer Lab (Red Lab), offering market research, consumer understanding and trend spotting services. More
New Zealand-based specialist product development and sensory evaluation business Futurescape has been renamed Imagine Research. More
London-based youth insight and panel business YouthSight has been acquired by Next15's data and insights group Savanta. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has acquired Upwave's consumer research business Instant Insights, for an undisclosed sum; and has rebranded it as the PureSpectrum Insights platform. More
In Canada, research tech business Rival Technologies and sister company Reach3 Insights have launched a solution using mobile messaging and conversational research design principles to uncover insights from gamers. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally has appointed long-time Kantar exec Barbara Cador as Vice President, Growth Officer, EU, based in Spain. More
Indonesia-based consumer insights provider Populix has raised $1.2m in a pre-Series A round of funding, which it will use to roll out new products and expand its marketing efforts. More
Community specialists Tribes Research and Syno International have agreed a partnership whereby Tribes will migrate all its communities to Syno's platform. The latter includes a survey tool, data lake and research automation products. More
In the UK, international insight and strategy consultancy BritainThinks has appointed five Research Assistants as part of its internship scheme. More
Eye tracker developer Tobii is preparing to spin off its Dynavox arm, which develops speech generating devices, eye trackers and eye gaze/eye-controlled devices for people with disabilities and special needs. Along with the spin-off, Group CEO Henrik Eskilsson says he intends to step down. More
Kantar has launched what it says is South Africa's biggest ever consumer panel, measuring the FMCG purchasing behaviour of more than 6,500 local households at launch. More
SurveyMonkey has added several new listening, analysis and automation features to its customer experience management platform GetFeedback, capturing customer feedback in secure environments such as ATMs and offering AI-powered sentiment analysis. More
Experience management platform Qualtrics has launched a solution called Candidate Experience, to improve clients' recruitment processes using ongoing candidate feedback. More
Kantar Chief Executive Alexis Nasard has stepped down after just four months in the role. Deputy CEO Ian Griffiths will lead the company until a new appointment is made. More
The recently merged business of research software firms Confirmit and FocusVision has a new name, Forsta. Both the original companies will continue to operate as usual while the organisation continues its integration plans and brand strategy roll out. More
In Singapore, Kantar Public has hired Chor Mui for the newly created role of Head of Behavioural Insights, Communications and Experience Design. More
Digital ad trade body IAB Australia has says it will not at this point endorse the methodology for Nielsen's new-look Digital Media Ratings. The measurement giant announced a 'soft-release' of the new system last week, for clients only. More
In the US, online survey software firm Intellisurvey has appointed long-time industry exec Barry Kiernan as Vice President, tasked with building and strengthening the firm's partnerships and infrastructure. More
Shopper insights firm Behaviorally has expanded its EU team with the appointment of Adeline Adam as Vice President, Market Development, based in Geneva. More
A rift in the Australian readership measurement industry which opened a dozen years ago appears to be healing this week, as media alliance Think News Brands shutters its publisher-funded 'EMMA' measurement platform and resumes support for long-time currency provider Roy Morgan. More
Ipsos has posted revenue of EUR 466.3m in the first quarter of 2021, up 8.8% from Q1 2020 and up 10.5% from Q1 2019. Like-for-like, the increase was 14.1%, driven by a very strong performance in EMEA. More
The US Supreme Court has defined an 'automatic telephone dialing system' (autodialer) in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) as a device which must have the capacity to generate numbers randomly or sequentially, and not merely the ability to dial from a list. More
NBCUniversal has hired former Nielsen exec Kelly Abcarian as Executive Vice President, Measurement & Impact, tasked with pushing forward measurement solutions that reflect the 'all-screen future', while providing advertisers with new ad targeting opportunities. More
Insights and data firm Pureprofile has reported revenues up 25% to $7.1m in the first three months of 2021; and says it plans to launch new partnerships, plus panels in Europe and Asia. More
Consumer intelligence platform Toluna has announced two senior appointments: Kelly Albada Jelgersma joins the company as Vice President Global Head of Sales Operations, and Houston Itzen as Global Head of Pricing. More
Immersive research firm Further&Further has added four new members of staff to its North American team, including former Synovate CFO Richard McQuarrie as Finance Director; and says it plans to double in size. More
Today sees the launch of the inaugural 'Insight250' list, honouring MR industry 'leaders, visionaries and pioneers' who have been selected for their efforts in enhancing market research, enterprise intelligence and data-driven marketing. More
In the US, online sample company PureSpectrum has raised $17m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to continue building its team and to expand its product offering. More
In the UK, former Savanta and Charterhouse execs Julie Irwin and Kate Turner have launched a specialist financial and business services MR agency called Citrine Research, with expertise in new proposition development, comms testing and thought leadership. More
US and Canada-based recruitment specialist Rare Patient Voice (RPV) and patient-level data and insights provider Clinakos have announced a partnership. More
Insight consultancy Firefish UK has appointed Hannah Robbins as Senior Cultural Strategist, based in London. More
The Board of non-profit MR educational institute the MRII (Market Research Institute International) has appointed Stephen Kraus as its Executive Director, replacing Jeffrey Henning, who will continue as a Board member. More
Kantar has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Chicago-based consumer and market intelligence company Numerator from investment firm Vista Equity Partners. Sources suggest the deal is worth about $1.5 billion. More
Long-time Cint executive Richard Thornton has departed from the company for some 'planned time off with the family'. More
Central European research firms Integral, Sinus and Opinion have merged to form ISO, described as 'a medium-sized group, owner-managed and independent'. More
In the US, data quality and anti-fraud software platform SampleChain has been renamed Research Defender. More
Digital research firm Alligator has teamed up with rural qual recruitment expert FieldMouse to launch a panel of farmers and farm workers, Opinion Harvester. More
Four research firms based in Cincinnati, Ohio - Burke, Inc., Directions Research, EMI Research Solutions and MarketVision Research - have combined to launch an internship program aimed at widening the talent pool for the sector. More
TV advertising trade group VAB has written to Nielsen CEO David Kenny asking the ratings giant to submit to an immediate audit of its practices, as a result of what it says are 'under-counting' of viewing and lack of 'maintenance' of Nielsen panel homes during the pandemic. More
US-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has announced a multi-year investment to expand its household measurement panel to more than a million members. More
Emerging markets business and point-of-interest (POI) data provider dataPlor has launched regional POI datasets across Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with the addition of more than seven million new verified records. More
UK-based ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has appointed Alice Saje as Executive Vice President of Operations, to lead its Global Operations team across support, market expansion, fulfilment and business operations. More
New York-based enterprise-level employee and customer experience management (XM) company Questback has been renamed Tivian, and says it aims to 'reinvent the XM category'. More
US-based healthcare technology provider Cerner has completed its acquisition of Kantar Health for $375m in cash, subject to adjustment. More
In the US, full-service pharma market research and consultancy firm ThinkGen has appointed former GfK Healthcare exec Brian Hull as Chief Operating Officer. More
Online video research firm Discuss.io has launched a solution called 'Mobile Screen Share', through which research teams and consumers can share their mobile screens inside a meeting room and access a respondent's mobile screen and real-time movements on their device. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has expanded to the Asia Pacific region, where it has appointed former Cint exec James Rogers as Managing Director. More
In the US, Comscore has promoted analytics leader Michael Vinson to the position of Chief Research Officer. More
In the US, online community software platform Vesta has partnered with applied consumer neuroscience company HCD Research, to create a suite of emotional and psychological research tools to capture non-conscious feelings. More
Kantar and Ipsos have been awarded contracts to deliver what they say is the 'world's first true cross-media total audience measurement solution', in the Netherlands. The contracts combine measurement of viewing, listening, browsing and reading in a single, integrated system. More
International data collection and research services provider Schlesinger Group has acquired Canadian firm Addison Research for an undisclosed sum. More
YouGov has launched a templated suite of brand research approaches called Consumer Journey Diagnostics, which it says 'blends the depth of custom research with the cost-effectiveness and speed of syndicated data'. More
In London, the BBC's commercial subsidiary BBC Studios has hired Penny Brough for a newly created SVP role, leading the Brand Marketing and Audience Insight team. She takes up the position on 7th June. More
In the US, AI-based qualitative research provider Emozo Labs has partnered with data collection firm Global Survey to use artificial intelligence to better understand customers' conscious and unconscious responses. More
Melissa Baker has joined Ipsos as CEO for Public Affairs, Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA, based in Nairobi More
Global group GfK has unveiled a new version of its gfknewron solution which gives clients instant access to the company's independent, predictive analytics for tech consumer goods across 27 countries. New features include AI-driven rolling, short-term forecasts; and price optimization tools. More
Brand researcher and consultancy Hall & Partners has launched A(i)LIVE, which incorporates behavioural and survey data from Dynata and technology from consumer intelligence tool Powr of You in what it calls 'the world's first 'living' market segmentation tool'. More
Recently merged Confirmit and FocusVision have appointed Christopher Nagy and Giles Whiting to their leadership team as Global President / CFO and COO, respectively. More
San Francisco-based iMAD Research has appointed former Greenfield, Toluna and SSI exec Andy Pfau as President. More
In Sydney, Kantar Public has today announced the appointment of Kirsty Macmillan to head up its Australian business. More
Ipsos MORI has launched what it says is the UK's 'largest and highest quality' online random probability panel, with more than 15,000 participants. The mix of online and off-line respondents promises 'total understanding of the UK public for businesses and organisations'. More
Trade association IAB Australia is to conduct an independent review into requirements for a digital audience measurement currency, to form the basis for a tender for online measurement services, published in May. More
Following the first anniversary of the death of Taylor Nelson co-founder Tony Cowling, a not-for-profit foundation has been set up in his name, to help students develop innovations in market research that can be applied internationally for public benefit. More
In Germany, Smart News Fachverlag (SNFV), the publisher of market research portal marktforschung.de, and industry trade fair organiser succeet have partnered to create what they describe as a 'new powerhouse' for the insights industry. More
Insight consultancy Firefish Group has restructured its quantitative consultancy The Numbers Lab (TNL) with the promotion of two senior staff and the appointment of three new members of the team. More
In New York, consumer insights provider Feedback Loop has raised $14m in an add-on Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate product development and drive adoption of its platform. More
In the US, behavioral research specialist EyeSee has appointed long-time PRS exec Heather Graham as Business Development Director. More
UK firm Central Fieldwork has launched a quantitative field division, led by former Watermelon Director Natalie Price. More
The Insight Climate Collective (ICC), a group calling on the industry to come together and play its part in tackling the environmental crisis, has appointed a Steering Committee to help put its strategy into action. More
Wearable insights tech firm Shimmer Research has partnered with mobile MR specialist IVP Research Labs and data collection firm Schlesinger Group, to launch an at-home biometric neuromarketing research service. More
Nielsen has moved Sandra Sims-Williams to the role of Chief Diversity Officer, taking over from CEO David Kenny, who has held both roles since February 2019. More
Full-service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Jemma Toynebee-Smith as Client Consultant in its UK team, based in London. More
Trade association ESOMAR has named ScaleHouse Consulting founder Kristin Luck as President of its Council, replacing Joaquim Bretcha of Netquest who has completed his two-year term. MindSpark founder Nikki Lavoie is the new Vice President, and five of the remaining eight members are also women. More
In New York, B2B research company NewtonX has launched Knowledge Graph, which promises to help companies find and engage with 'hard-to-find, high-quality, high-caliber professionals'. More
In Australia, research consultancy DBM has appointed Kerry Sproston as Executive Director, responsible for developing its offer in the government and social research sector. The firm has also promoted Angela Baker to Executive Director of its client-facing and Advanced Analytics teams. More
Online MR and technology company Further has appointed Gemma Stephenson as Operations Director. More
US-based Escalent, formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace, has promoted five of its team to the rank of Vice President, while hiring former Toluna exec Rick Naff as Vice President, Technology and Consumer & Retail. More
UK-based pharma researcher Purdie Pascoe has expanded its team with the appointment of Montreal, Canada-based Marianne Fillion as Vice President - North America. More
In the UK, long-time industry executive Neil Callaghan has re-joined tech-enabled MR and customer insights firm Maru Group in the role of Business Development Director. More
In the US, language services agency SyncScript has launched a suite of customized services 'streamlined' to meet an array of market research transcription and pricing requirements. They include a 'no-frills' approach called SyncStandard. More
London-based and family-focused insight and creative marketing agency Kids Industries (KI) has partnered with similar agencies in France, Germany and Spain to create a European industry network called The League. More
US-based TactileAI, a B2B consumer data analytics platform for the beauty care industry, has raised $1m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to hire software engineers and data scientists to build out its enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution. More
In London, speech analysis tech firm Phebi has launched an Emotional Resonance Score (ERS), tracking emotional responses to a set of items or concepts, automatically comparing positive and negative responses and presenting the results in rank order. More
In the UK, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has appointed Tina Haux as Director and Gayle Munro as Deputy Director of its Centre for Children and Families. More
US-based geospatial data provider SafeGraph has raised $45m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to offer new ways for customers to buy data, and to roll out its model in the UK in April. More
In Australia, outdoor advertising and media company oOh!media has launched an online data resource called the Audience Intelligence Hub, to provide clients with insights for engaging Out of Home (OoH) audiences. More
Canadian data collection firm Delvinia has updated its AI-enabled virtual moderator CRIS, which now 'knows' when to follow up a response, based on its completeness compared to responses from preceding interviews. More
Former Kantar TNS East Africa CEO Aggrey Maposa died last Tuesday, after battling a long-term illness. More
UK agency STRAT7 Bonamy Finch has appointed former Britvic and GSK researcher John McBride as Director Insights & Impact. The firm also recently added Femi Akinlabi and Ben Frost to its Advanced Analytics team. More
Newly merged research tech businesses Confirmit and FocusVision have appointed three female staff to the leadership team: Qual Business MD Zhana Baleva, Chief People Officer Sara Cohen and Chief Legal Officer Rebecca Wright. More
Oxfordshire, UK-based brand, NPD, category and shopper consultancy Touchstone Shoppercentric has appointed Savanta veteran Ian Hext as Research Director. More
In the US, software developer Plannuh has launched an index allowing marketers to analyse, score and benchmark the operational marketing performance of their department. More
WPP has reported a 9.3% fall in revenue to £12bn in 2020 from £13.2bn the previous year, while turning a 2019 profit of £1.3bn into a 2020 loss of £2.3bn. Despite this, the group says it has cut debt to its lowest level in sixteen years. More
In the UK, MR services provider Protel Fieldwork has added WATI (web-assisted telephone interviewing) to its portfolio. More
Pharmaceutical company GSK has become the Market Research Society's (MRS) first International Affiliate - a designation developed as a 'mark of research excellence and best practice'. More
Global consulting group Accenture has acquired German consulting firm fable+, which specializes in analytics-driven company transformation. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-headquartered kids, parents and family panels firm The Insights People is expanding to Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea, surveying around 410 kids and around 205 parents of children in each country. More
New York-based consumer insights platform Suzy has launched an audience-powered research solution called Suzy Solutions, through which large enterprises and brands can customize their market research and gather rapid consumer insights. More
In Melbourne, Kantar has promoted Jon Foged to the newly created role of Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Insights arm - he was previously CEO of the division in Australia. Jason Shoebridge, CEO of Kantar New Zealand, will leave the business in April. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) is to award 25 honorary fellowships during the calendar year, to mark its 75th anniversary. Nine names have been revealed, including British statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter and scientist Dr Camilla Pang. More
In New York, data and insights firm Netscribes has launched a solution called 'On-Demand Research', to help clients meet unplanned insight demands at speed. More
Singapore and Malaysia-based B2B survey marketplace InsightzClub has added a proprietary data discovery tool which brings real-time automation to its dashboard. More
GfK has announced the launch of Brand Architect, a new framework which it says bridges the gap between consumer attitudes and actual behavior, to measure the strength of brands. More
StreamPulse, the in-home division of Texas-based neuromarketing researcher MediaScience has teamed up with neurometric equipment manufacturer Shimmer to develop StreamPulse Neuro, a system for measuring consumers' emotional response in a natural viewing environment. More
In New York, civic engagement tech provider Zencity has acquired analytics and community polling company Elucd, which helps clients understand resident needs and trends in sentiment around public policies and initiatives, in real time. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Panel provider Intra Research has announced the launch of panels in Germany, Poland and India, with expansion to the Nordic countries coming 'in the near future'. More
In the US, full-service MR agency The Dieringer Research Group has made three senior promotions: Shelley Ahrens to Chief Customer Officer, Ron Rawski to Chief Information Officer, and Nikki Riggleman to VP of Business Development. More
Canada-based online sample and research technology specialist WiseWorks has hired former Echo MR exec JR Venza as AVP - Client Development in the US, while in India former Nielsen exec Prerna Jha joins as Research Manager. The firm has also promoted several members of its team. More
Nielsen has completed the previously announced sale of its consumer intelligence business NielsenIQ (formerly Nielsen Global Connect) for $2.7bn to affiliates of Advent Interrnational, in partnership with former TransUnion CEO James 'Jim' Peck. More
YouGov has acquired Toronto, Canada-based sports research firm Charlton Insights, for an undisclosed sum. More
Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of India's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), has been granted bail, following his arrest on charges of 'manipulating' the country's ratings data. More
US-based emerging markets business and point-of-interest data provider dataPlor has extended its Latin American dataset, which will now include millions of new verified data records across Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Peru, in addition to its existing coverage of Mexico. More
In London, Kantar has hired former Neustar exec Ted Prince for a newly created role, Chief Product Officer, responsible for defining and delivering new offerings and real-time platforms. More
Online survey software provider QuestionPro has hired employee understanding specialist Sanja Licina as President of its Workforce Experience division, with overall responsibility for driving growth, product development and client satisfaction. More
Consumer insights platform DISQO and research tech provider Research Results have announced a managed services partnership, giving the latter's clients access to DISQO's consumer panel, while Research Results will support project design, coding and data processing. More
Hamburg, Germany-based market research platform Appinio has hired former YouGov exec Jens Brümmer-Jerkovic for the newly created role of Head of Account Management for the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). More
In Los Angeles, entertainment insights business MarketCast has appointed Regina Johnson as its first Chief Human Resources Officer. More
Charles Foster, CEO of Kantar's Insights division in the Middle East and Africa region, is retiring in April after 35 years in the research industry. He is succeeded by Adeola Tejumola, who has most recently been responsible for Kantar Insights units in West, East and Central Africa. More
Data from Kantar's Great Britain TGI consumer survey will now be updated and released on a monthly basis, in response to what the firm says are evolving demands for consumer insight. More
Ipsos has hired former New York Times insights exec Dan Wong-Chi-Man for a newly created role, Head of Global Marketing and Business Development. He will be based in London. More
Data collection and research services company Schlesinger Group has launched a qual technology solution called 'Moderate Anywhere', allowing researchers who are unable to travel to conduct in-facility research from anywhere they have a computer, webcam and the Internet. More
Paris-based MR data and tech firm Bilendi has announced the acquisition of HumanizeeSAS, the company that owns the Discussnow platform. More
UK-based kids, parents & family panels firm The Insights People has added eight new team members since the start of the year, taking its headcount to 54, with a further 16 hires planned. The firm says that so far in 2021 it has added one new client every week. More
In Denmark, human behavior analyst iMotions has launched a data collection module using a browser interface and a participant's own webcam to collect data from facial expression analysis and eye tracking, for integration with self-reported surveys. More
Emotion analytics specialist Realeyes has received a US patent for the core technology of its flagship PreView product, described as a 'computer-implemented system and method for determining attentiveness of users'. More
Australian researcher Lewers has appointed Katie Altmann and Lisa Tropeano, and promoted company veteran Phil Guarisco to Partner. The firm says on the back of 'another year of strong growth' it will continued to both promote from within and hire new talent in 2021. More
UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) is launching its annual fundraising auction on the International Day of Happiness on 20th March. This year's event will be known as the 'Donate a Smile' auction. More
Global PR and marketing company Cision has agreed to acquire Brighton, UK-based social media listening and content marketing analytics firm Brandwatch, for $450 million. More
Debbie Clifford, Chief Financial Officer of SurveyMonkey, is leaving to become CFO of her previous employer Autodesk. SurveyMonkey has already initiated a search to find her replacement, with CEO Zander Lurie taking over the role until one is named. More
The UK Statistics Authority has set up a Centre for Applied Data Ethics, to provide practical guidance and support for researchers and statisticians; and to keep them abreast of new methods, technologies and data sources. More
In the UK, Blue Yonder Research has launched an R&D insight and product testing facility called Sense:Lab. More
US-based sample solutions provider InnovateMR has appointed former Dynata execs Divesh Mahajan as Account Director, APAC and Kanishka Baisoya as Associate Director, Global Bidding. Both are based in India. More
Ipsos has reported Covid-hit full-year revenue of EUR 1.8bn, down 6.5% on a like-for-like basis, but managed organic growth of 1.4% in Q4 (vs Q4 2019). Negative currency effects dented reported figures for both periods. More
Nielsen has reported fourth quarter 2020 net income of $35m, compared to a loss of $109m in the prior year period. Revenue for the period fell just 1.1% to $1.67bn, while adjusted EBITDA was $560m, up 13.8%. For the full year, the company almost broke even, on revenues down 3.2%. More
YouGov has hired Hideyuki (Andy) Hata for a newly created role, Senior Strategic Advisor, YouGov Sport, tasked with establishing the business's commercial operations in Tokyo. More
In the US, MR data quality and anti-fraud solutions specialist Imperium has launched an automated tool called QualityScore, designed to improve data quality while reducing reliance on manual checks. More
Communities specialist InSites Consulting has expanded its Asian footprint with the acquisition of Taipei, Taiwan-based Answer. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Digital MR products and solutions company Borderless Access has launched its proprietary MR panel community in two new Latin American and two European markets: Ecuador, Peru, France and Italy. More
Behavioural research specialist EyeSee has opened a new sales office in Singapore and an operations office in Mexico City, following a year of record growth in 2020. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insights business Vypr has appointed Cint exec Richard Thornton to its board, following a £2.5m investment last month by YFM Equity Partners. More
In India, Comscore has added 'state clusters' to its measurement suite, allowing users to segment digital audiences based on their location in sixteen states across India. The firm says this allows media buyers and sellers to understand multi-platform audiences beyond country level. More
Caroline Connolly has joined Kantar Public, the insights group's public policy evidence and advisory division, to take up the role of CEO, Development Practice, based in the Washington D.C. office. More
The European Commission has published its draft UK 'adequacy decisions', which if adopted will allow for the continued free flow of personal data from the EU into the UK. More
Oslo-headquartered data collection specialist Norstat has promoted Chief Operating Officer Erling Eriksen to CEO, replacing Knut Aasrud, who has decided to retire. More
In the US, Ipsos has appointed Christie Kawada as Head of Media Development and Audience Measurement. She takes over from Manny Flores, who moves to the position of Executive Vice President in the Client Organization. More
Insights automation platform quantilope has appointed former Kantar Chief Client Officer Hugues Dumouza as Head of US Research Consulting, based in New York. More
Shares in insight exchange and sample management platform Cint rose 30% to SEK 92.5 (EUR 9.2) per share from the original offer price of SEK 72 (EUR 7.2), after the firm placed its initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq Stockholm this morning. The listing values Cint at more than EUR 1bn. More
Kantar is to begin offering media monitoring services in Sri Lanka, following an agreement to acquire Nielsen's local media monitoring business in the country. The service will complement Kantar's existing TV audience measurement services. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has promoted four and hired three new employees as part of its expansion in the US. The promotees include thinqonline co-founder Mark Martins, who is now Americas EVP as well as Asia Pacific General Manager. More
Behavioural insights platform Veylinx, headquartered in Amsterdam, has raised $2m in a pre-Series A round of funding. The money will be used to expand its teams across Europe and the US, accelerate product development, and launch a new platform. More
In the US, automated customer feedback tool Opiniion has raised $3m in a financing round, for use in scaling up. The business covers multiple sectors but has a strong focus on real estate. More
Following its management buyout last month, French research and consulting firm BVA Group says it will reposition itself as an 'experience champion', and will take a more international and more 'participative' approach. More
In the US Kevin Kruper and Rocky Prozeller, former directors of British-based MR firm Incite, have launched a boutique insights consultancy called Old Salt. More
Automotive industry research giant J.D. Power has launched a solution providing daily metrics on auto insurance customer shopping activity, by brand. More
London-based survey platform Phebi has partnered with voice-enabled data capture specialist Analytical Factory, which will provide it with support services across the UK and other parts of Europe. Analytical Factory will also develop new apps based on Phebi's technology. More
The U.S. Census Bureau announced on Friday that it will delay the release of population data by up to six months, with a new deadline of September 30th. The data is used for 'redistricting' - redrawing states' legislative boundaries, and Covid is blamed for the postponement. More
Video feedback platform Discuss.io has promoted co-founder Jim Longo to the role of Chief Strategy Officer, while Jeremy Radcliffe has been named Vice President - Global Head of Sales. More
Behavioral research firm InsightsNow has added six new staff to its US team, Michael Dimanshtein, Tanner Hill, Kenny McMahon, Merva Morina, Renee Novak and Art Siegert; and promoted Kayte Hamilton to a new role supporting its recently launched Innovation Center. More
SurveyMonkey has reported a 20% increase in total revenue to $101.0m for the fourth quarter, ended December 31st 2020. Full-year 2020 revenue was up 22% year-on-year to $375.6m. More
James David 'Dave' Power III, the founder and retired Chairman of automotive industry research specialist J.D. Power, died on January 23rd after a long-term illness. He was 89. More
The second of our new video podcasts is with Eugene Murphy of indeemo and includes discussion of mobile ethnography, the future of shopping, the impact of the pandemic on research methods and budgets, and the potential for qualitative in the post-Covid world. More
In the UK, customer feedback software company Customer Thermometer has been acquired by e-mail signature software and solutions provider Exclaimer Group. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has set up an Enterprise Team to help large organisations drive global business impact through insights. The new team is led by Babita Earle, with the title of EVP of Global Enterprise Customers and Partnerships. More
Opinium CEO James Endersby has launched 'Significant Insights' - a global content platform for the MR industry aimed at both helping younger researchers develop their careers and encouraging those who may not have previously considered a career in market research. More
US-based custom market research firm AMC Global has appointed long time GfK exec Christien Little as Vice President of Insights & Strategy. More
Specialist design research agency The Big Picture has launched a quant methodology called DesignCounts, to help validate and optimise new pack designs. More
In the US, Paradigm Sample has appointed former SurveyMonkey exec Adam Jolley as EVP and General Manager for the Americas, and a member of the firm's Executive Leadership team. More
In London, language and behavioural science agency Schwa has launched an online process called The Tone Test, to help measure a company's 'tone of voice'. More
Mobile MR specialist IVP Research Labs has partnered with wearable insights tech firm Shimmer Research to launch a new biometrics solution, NeuroLynQ, using GSR and ECG readings to measure participant engagement and attention levels during in-person research. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has brought in six new graduates in its Sydney office and one in Auckland. They are joined by Caelan Bistram who started as an intern last year. More
Programmatic sampling and research tech company Lucid has appointed Deborah Elam as its newest board member, with a remit to help the company prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion; and expand its impact on the New Orleans community. More
In the US, Jill Rogers has returned to full-service agency M/A/R/C Research as SVP Account Management, in its Animal Health & Agriculture division. More
Customer experience (CX) and DIY survey firm Alchemer, formerly known as SurveyGizmo, has appointed former SAP exec Mary Beth Addison as SVP of Sales. More
Glasgow, Scotland-based pharma sector data tech company Talking Medicines has launched an AI -driven service called PatientMetRx, providing drug companies with a way to measure patients' experiences of taking medicines. More
Online sampling and MR tool provider SoapBoxSample has launched a cannabis-focused research panel called The Green Time, comprising both cannabis consumers and industry professionals. More
London-based strategy and insights consultancy Rainmakers CSI has appointed Lucinda Davies, George Randell and Sotiria Kalpachtsi as Consultants. More
Today we kick off our video podcast series with a closer look at how luxury markets are faring in time of Covid, and the challenges of researching this sector. MrWeb's Nick Thomas talks to Lars Long, Chief Executive of Altiant. More
Healthcare data collection specialist SurveyHealthcareGlobus (SHG) has appointed former M3 and Medefield executive Dan Lockwood as EVP of its European division, based in London. More
From this week, Daily Research News will feature video interviews of around 20-25 minutes with leading figures in the insights and analytics world, giving you more depth on some of the stories in the news, and talking about themselves, their companies and their views. More
London-based health sector consultancy Branding Science has expanded to Berlin, Germany, where it has hired Anne-Sophie Lenoir to lead the new office. More
North of England-based full service agency DJS Research has appointed eight new members of staff, including Cara Rodwell as Field & Data Services Director. Of the new hires, six will work remotely, giving the company a 'presence' in Glasgow, Birmingham, Kent, the Cotswolds and Devon. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (previously known as PRS IN VIVO USA) has named Sam Albert as its first Chief Digital Officer. More
European customer service specialist Dive has acquired Norwegian mystery shopping and customer satisfaction agency Ukjent Kunde. Terms were not disclosed. More
Online audience measurement body UKOM (UK Online Measurement) and Ipsos have announced the official launch of Ipsos iris, the new UK industry standard for online audience measurement. More
UK-based community panels specialist Verve has announced a 23% increase in revenues for the year ending 31st December 2020, to £8.1m. It has also hired Lucy Wetherhill, Claire Andrzejewski, Parker Mincey and six other new faces, and made eleven promotions. More
GfK has been commissioned by Asian media group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) to develop a new measure of the state's local media consumption, combining survey data with digitally collected data in a single-source approach. More
Research and data firm Savanta has promoted Caroline Hawkings as UK Managing Director, and Barbara Gurhan to CFO, while CTO Bart Read also joins the Board. More
In the US, survey research and predictive analytics specialist The Decision Co. has acquired a controlling interest in market research platform response:AI. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In Belgium, interim MR sector recruitment agency Insights Wizards has hired long-time insights exec Dirk Van Kemseke as its first Managing Director. More
DIY survey software platform SurveyMonkey has appointed Antoine Andrews with the title of Chief Diversity & Social Impact Officer (CDIO). He is based in the San Francisco Bay area. More
Online qual research specialist Aha! has promoted Paula Kramer to the role of Vice President of Project Management and Sach Joshi to Senior Project Manager, while Lexi Lear and Adam Phillips join as Project Managers. More
Canadian data collection firm Delvinia has promoted Raj Manocha to the role of Chief Executive of its Methodify platform, which it has redesigned as an 'operating system for market research'. More
Dynata has expanded its loyalty panel in Asia Pacific, through partnerships with global hospitality group Accor, and Big Loyalty, a subsidiary of Air Asia. Further expansion is planned in the coming months in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. More
Kantar has hired former Mindshare exec Paul Sturgeon for a newly created role, leading its Brand and Marketing ROI offer in the UK. More
New Jersey-based MR and applied consumer neuroscience company HCD Research has launched a service called 'Implicit On-Demand', allowing clients to rapidly design, integrate and report studies of the consumer subconscious. More
In San Mateo, DIY research survey platform SurveyMonkey has appointed former Kantar exec Dana Herstein and former Dynata exec Helen D'Abreo to lead cross-disciplinary market research sales teams. More
Ipsos has acquired a majority stake in Czech Republic-based company MGE Data, which specialises in Out-of-Home (OOH) measurement, with capabilities in consulting, data analytics, application development and technical solutions. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Australia-based digital research platform Pureprofile has announced a record 26% increase in revenue for the quarter ending 31st December 2020. The total of $8.2m was driven by strong performance in all business units, and was 'well ahead of expectations', according to the firm. More
In the UK, Gail Balfour, co-founder of consumer research and brand consulting business Tangible Branding, has launched a new company called Research Human, promising to understand the consumer by 'connecting with the human'. More
CX and insights firm Alida has launched a video survey tool, a new financial services (FS) industry product, and twelve other new features to its CXM & Insights Platform. More
In the UK, marketing and customer analytics consultancy STRAT7 has appointed former Kantar exec Giles Darby as Group Commercial Director; Richard Morland as Group Marketing Director; and Oliver Gwynne as Content & Digital Marketing Manager. More
Comscore has announced the launch of Movies Everywhere, which promises daily reporting of box office movie performance across all platforms. More
Kantar has today announced it is investing to double the size of its 'Public Voice' panel, launched just under a year ago. The move will create 'the largest random sample panel in the UK', according to the firm. More
US-based research agency Gongos has promoted David Robbins to Vice President, Client Consulting, while appointing Lisa Brink as Senior Director, Client Consulting. More
New US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order preventing the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from Census Bureau data. More
Online community specialist C Space has promoted Jessica DeVlieger to the role of Global Chief Executive, replacing Charles Trevail, who will continue to lead parent company Omnicom's Interbrand Group around the world. DeVlieger is based in Boston. More
In New York, Omnicom Public Relations Group (OPRG) has launched a patent-pending comms analytics platform called omniearnedID, to understand the impact of earned media on brand sales. More
In the US, consumer insights platform Digsite has launched a quantitative solution called Pulse, for fast turnaround, early-stage concept, ad and product testing. More
In Los Angeles, entertainment insights business MarketCast has hired long-time Kelton Global exec Martin Eichholz for a newly created role, Corporate SVP and General Manager of its Technology and Games division. More
UK market research budgets fell in the fourth quarter of 2020, with 34% of firms reporting a decrease and only 11.4% a rise - according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. More
Shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO USA has been renamed Behaviorally, following its sale to new majority shareholder Alcentra. More
The management team of French research and consulting firm BVA Group and its main shareholder Naxicap (together known as XPage) have been given the green light to acquire the company, which went into receivership last summer. The group's US arm has been acquired by British asset management firm Alcentra. More
In the UK, behavioural science specialist Chris Harvey has launched a new company called Activate Research, promising to help research agencies and end clients better understand, predict and change behaviour. More
In London, former Sky exec Phil Halliwell has joined full-service insight consultancy Relish as Insight Director. More
In the US, Directions Research has launched a suite of technology-driven omnibus survey solutions called Xcelerant, which it says will enable teams to get answers to their questions from real people worldwide, with results available in as little as 24 hours. More
London-based Opinium has hired former Hall & Partners exec Tom McEnery as Research Director, and made six further appointments. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of Croatian firm Fistnet d.o.o., developer of the Dotmetrics digital audience measurement platform. More
In the US, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham has announced his retirement, effective with the Presidential transition this Wednesday; and has thanked Bureau staff for their 'extraordinary accomplishments, especially those related to the successful 2020 Census'. More
UK-based insights firm Walnut Unlimited has extended its range of pack testing options with the launch of Agile PACKMASTER, promising help to 'those looking for quick results on a tighter budget'. More
In the US, market intelligence platform Premise Data has raised $85m in a Series E round of funding, which it will use to expand its platform capabilities and global network. More
Automated ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has hired Alison Scott as Senior Director, Customer Transformation, and Mary Lou Barney as Vice President, Strategic Accounts. The firm has also promoted Patricia Montesdeoca, Michelle Wu and Zontziry Johnson. More
Video feedback platform Discuss.io has launched Respondent Management, a DIY hub feature allowing users to track respondents through the process of recruiting, screening, scheduling, incentivizing and interviewing. More
Paris, France-based MR firm OpinionWay has appointed long-time Kantar exec Maurice Benguigui as Deputy Director FMCG, in its Consumer Marketing Department. The firm has also made a number of other senior appointments and promotions. More
Netherlands-based full-service agency DVJ Insights has promoted Jori van de Spijker to the role of Managing Consultant Netherlands, while Judith Lieftink has joined the firm as Research Director. More
In Australia, the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has commissioned Ipsos to update its audience measurement system MOVE, to deliver a national model that covers all formats and environments, including Digital Out of Home (DOOH) signs. More
DIY research software firm SurveyMonkey has integrated with workflow management specialist ServiceNow, to allow enterprises to collect and react to feedback from issues such as employee onboarding, IT service requests, and online customer service. More
Digital data tracking specialist Luth Research has launched a member-owned consumer panel called SavvyShares, which offers panelists shares in the company in return for their data, and pays dividends to member shareholders annually, based on SavvyShares' profitability. More
Online community provider InSites Consulting has appointed former Nielsen / Synovate exec Eddie Au as Executive Director in its Hong Kong office. More
Online community provider InSites Consulting has partnered with Latin American-based qual and quant insights and consulting agency Provokers, expanding its offer in the region. More
Ipsos has appointed Vicky Abad as Country Manager for the Philippines, replacing Marie Lee, who retired in December 2020 having led the business there for the past eight years. More
UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) has issued a statement reminding those suffering from financial difficulties or other personal problems as a result of the pandemic and the new lockdown, that it is able to provide support. More
Data quality and anti-fraud software platform SampleChain has hired long-time industry exec Matt Gershner for a new role, Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer. He is based in New York. More
UK-based firm The Insights People has rolled out its Parents Insights service across thirteen countries, surveying 130,000 parents of children between the age of one and sixteen. Also new is a trend prediction service called 'Parents Insights Future Forecast'. More
UK-based insight industry language specialist Empower Translate has hired Eleanor Timson for the newly created role of Commercial Director. More
US-based behavioral research firm InsightsNow has opened an Innovation Center, through which users can access the latest insights regarding changing consumer behavior and methods for tracking it. More
Research software firms Confirmit and FocusVision have announced plans to merge. The deal is dependent on receipt of regulatory approvals and expected to complete in the second quarter. Terms have not been disclosed. More
In the UK, sandwich shop franchise Pret A Manger has hired Dan Burdett as Chief Customer & Growth Officer, responsible for setting the group's global direction across food innovation, coffee and packaging, brand and insight, sustainability, technical, quality and commercial growth. More
In the US, Polly MacIsaac has returned to online community specialist C Space as Chief Operating Officer, allowing Phil Burgess to relinquish his operations responsibilities and focus on his role as Chief People Officer. More
UK-based full service agency Boxclever has announced three new appointments: Victoria Williams as Associate Director, Bethan Blakely as Analytics Director and Kate Skivinton as Research Director. More
Consumer insight consultancy BVA BDRC has promoted Paul Russell to Managing Director of its Perspective Research Services subsidiary, along with a dozen other promotions in the group's research, marketing and design functions. More
Financial data technology company SRAX has appointed angel investor and cryptocurrency analyst Lou Kerner as CEO of its BIGtoken subsidiary - a consumer-managed data marketplace. More
Basis Research, headquartered in London and with three offices in the US, has launched a social research practice, geared to helping clients shape public policy, communications and services. Former Kantar execs Darren Bhattachary and Dan Clay join to head up the new unit. More
London-based, employee owned insight and strategy consultancy BritainThinks has promoted Julia Ridpath to Research Director, Richenda Devereux to Director of Operations, and Helen Mason-Belshaw to Director of Finance; along with nine other promotions to Research Lead and SRE roles. More
Global healthcare specialist Research Partnership has appointed former Ipsos and IQVIA team leader Hannah Osborn as a MedTech Director in its London office, charged with expanding the business in the EU and APAC. More
Mumbai Police have arrested Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of India's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), along with fourteen others, on charges of 'manipulating' the country's ratings data. More
A management team at full service division Kynetec b2 has bought the company from its parent, Kynetec Group, establishing it as an independent firm and changing its name to b2sense. More
UK-based research firm Field Scope International (FSI) has opened an office in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, serving increased demand for research in Sub-Saharan Africa. More
Chief Operating Officer Carla Lindemann has retired from Virgina Beach, US-based full service firm Issues & Answers after 32 years. The firm has also promoted Mohit Gour to EVP. More
US market research trade body The Insights Association has announced a new certification for insight professionals, revising and expanding the previous PRC designation More
DRNO is taking a break now until 4th January. It's been a strange old 12 months, but we're looking forward greatly to 2021. We wish those of you doing it a fantastic Christmas, and everyone a great New Year. More
In the US, qual and quant provider Ironwood Insights Group (IIG) has promoted Ryan Luciani to VP of Account Management, Katie Hill to Director of Account Management, Richard McCaffery to VP of Operations, and Sara Reed to Director of Operations. More
US-based behavioral specialist Sentient Decision Science has been awarded a patent for its 'Sentient Prime' emotion measurement technology. More
The Stagwell Group, owner of the Harris and Harris Poll brands, has reached an agreement with marcoms group MDC Partners, to combine their companies and create a business they say aims for more than $3bn in revenue by 2025. More
Consumer insights platform DISQO has expanded its Marketing team with the addition of former Kantar exec Anne Hunter as VP of Product Marketing; David Grabert as VP of Brand & Communications; and Karin Odell as Head of Demand Generation. More
Canadian customer experience management (CEM) and insights platform Alida (formerly Vision Critical) has hired Scott Barkley as SVP Product Management; Paul Hagen as Principal Director, CXM; and Manuel Zahariev as Vice President of Engineering (AI & Analytics). More
Online survey software provider QuestionPro has acquired Enprecis Group, which designs, develops and distributes enterprise-class daily tracking and CEM software for the automotive sector. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Australian Radio Network (ARN) has launched a neuroscience-based media research initiative, aiming to deliver a better understanding of consumer behaviour and provide new insights about audio. More
Communities specialists Verve and Potentiate have merged in the UK, as part of a global strategic partnership between the two firms. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Research software firm Confirmit, which merged with reporting software provider Dapresy earlier this year, has paid an undisclosed sum for the latter's licensed regional distributor Dapresy Asia. More
In the UK, software development company The Green Room has launched a digital market research company called The Green Room - Insights, focused on helping pharmaceutical companies conduct research with their stakeholders. More
Atlanta-based call tracking and marketing platform CallRail has received an additional $56m in funds from two of its existing investors. More
CXM and insights platform Alida has upgraded its flagship Sparq digital insights platform with twenty new or enhanced features, based on feedback from its own clients. More
Kids, tweens and teens market intelligence specialist The Insights People has appointed four new team members and moved to a new 2,000 square foot office on Manchester's Portland Street. More
In the US, programmatic sample platform Lucid has promoted Stephanie Comardelle to the new role of Chief of Staff, tasked with helping develop corporate strategy, improve processes, and facilitate greater effectiveness across the organization. She will also lead the office of the CEO. More
Two Cello Health-owned sister agencies, B2B specialist Breaking Blue Research and consumer specialist 2CV Research, are to merge under the latter's brand name. More
In the US, continuous product research platform UserLeap has raised $16m in a Series A round of funding, for use in scaling the business. More
In London, mobile-based customer insights platform Streetbees has added $6.7m to its $40m Series B round of funding, which it says will provide its founders, early employees and angel investors with liquid assets. More
In Canada, full-service agency Research Strategy Group has appointed long-time Kantar exec Paul Pacheco as Executive Vice President, working in its Quant team. More
In New York, Cassandra, the young consumer trendsetting insights specialist within ENGINE Group, has appointed former NBCUniversal exec Chanon Cook to lead the development of Gen Z and Millennial research and insights, strategy, and client relationships. More
Automotive consumer research specialist Louisa Link has joined GfK's AutoMobility team as West Coast Account Manager, servicing the firm's ongoing client relationships in the region, and identifying new and lapsed buyers. More
In the US, consumer insight and product testing company Curion has acquired Georgia-based quant and qual focus room facility PVR Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
London-based qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has been named 2020 Agency of the Year in this year's MRS Awards ceremony, conducted online last night. More
In the UK, customer insights and communities platform developer STRAT7 ResearchBods has appointed Karen Lewis as Customer Success Lead, while Gordon Sherratt joins as Head of IT. Paul Wilson, Kelsey Cathchpole and Caitlin Fletcher also join the team. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has extended its ACT Instant advertising pre-test tool worldwide, and across multiple ad formats including TV and banner ads. More
US-based youth and family researcher Smarty Pants has hired Molly Jackson for a newly created position, 'Insights Mastermind' and Senior Director, based in the Baltimore, MD area. More
Online communities specialist InSites Consulting has brought its seven offices in Asia under its own name, retiring that of ABN Impact, which it acquired a year ago. More
Marketing analytics company DataTile has hired former Ipsos MediaCT Asia Pacific exec Steve Garton and former Telmar Communications MD Alex Maddox, as Senior Partners. More
UK-based Walnut Unlimited has appointed former Kantar Head of Shopper Ivan Browne to lead its own, newly enhanced shopper research offer. More
CX and voice-of-the-customer software firm Alchemer has announced a partnership with UK-based Voxpopme, allowing the former's clients to capture customer-recorded video feedback. More
US-based insights and strategy consultancy Protobrand has appointed long-time Kadence International exec Owen Jenkins as Vice President of Client Services, and former Nielsen and Ipsos exec Chris Parker as Manager of Client Services. More
Michael Halberstam, Chairman of data collection group ISA, is to leave at the end of the year after nearly 40 years with the business. He told DRNO that he will be looking for a new 'MR/insights adventure' in the very near future. More
Former Nielsen Chief Executive Mitch Barns has joined the Board of automated ad and innovation testing platform Zappi. More
In the US, DIY research software firm SurveyMonkey has hired former Neustar and IBM exec Ken Ewell for the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer, charged with leading and expanding the firm's customer success, professional services and support teams. More
In London, Dennis Publishing has promoted Seema Hope to serve as its first Global Customer Insight Director. More
In London, British charity executive and former social worker Sir Stuart Etherington has been appointed Chair of Trustees for not-for-profit organisation NatCen Social Research. He will take up the role next February when Sir Robert Burgess retires at the end of his term in the post. More
US trade body the Insight Association (IA) has formed the IDEA Council, to provide measurement, education and standards to address what it calls the lack of representation in the insights profession and the populations it researches. More
Potomac, Maryland-based consumer sample provider Full Circle Research has appointed former OpinionRoute and Research Now exec Rebecca Fuener as Regional Sales Director, responsible for expanding and developing the company's Midwest client base. More
UK-based Walnut Unlimited has expanded its shopper research toolkit, adding behavioural science, neuroscience and advanced analytics. More
In the UK, translation and research service provider Mission Translate has added former Brainjuicer COO Alex Batchelor and former Market Research Society (MRS) Chairman Danny Russell as Board members, to advise on and assist with its global expansion. More
Ipsos has made its InnoTest idea and concept testing solution available on the Ipsos.Digital DIY platform in seven countries - Brazil and the US plus Europe's 'big 5' - with eight more due to follow shortly. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has acquired SmartPoint Research, a Toronto-based firm specializing in the consumer and healthcare sectors. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Luxury markets specialist Altiant has launched the 'Millionaire Media Consumption Subscription', which analyses the habits of a thousand individuals with investible assets of at least $US 1 million, spread over four markets. More
Recently launched copywriting analysis tool Copytesting has changed its name to Wynter, effective immediately. The firm says it is evolving, and has 'enhanced its focus on helping B2B enterprises gather and use data for product messaging'. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has launched a suite of tools called 'Savanta Essentials', promising a low-cost, fast turnaround approach to help businesses research key issues and engage with consumers. More
Online survey software firm Intellisurvey has hired four new members of staff, including former Dynata exec William Singleton as Director of Client Engagement, based in London. More
In London, retail scenario testing firm Virtual Store Trials (VST) has appointed long-time industry execs Helen Davis and Charlotte Kiddle as Account Directors, to lead partnerships with FMCG retailers and CPG brands. The company is also planning to open a US office next year. More
In the UK, the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) has launched its first 'Christmas Cracker' fundraising event, to raise money to help research industry execs and their families who have fallen on hard times. More
Swedish brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has reported its 'strongest operating profit ever', SEK 5.9m for the third quarter of calendar 2021, compared with a loss of SEK -13.9m a year earlier, on the back of reductions in personnel costs and other expenses. More
In Sydney, Australia, 'Human Experience' agency Potentiate has hired Daniel Alexander-Head as Director of Innovation. More
UK-based marketing and customer analytics consultancy STRAT7 has acquired cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA for an undisclosed sum. More
British insight professionals Dr Nick Baker, Jem Fawcus, Denise Hicks, Louise McLaren & Russ Wilson have launched the Insight Climate Collective, a group calling on the industry to come together and play its part in tackling the environmental crisis and promoting sustainability. More
In New Zealand, global out-of-home media company JCDecaux has agreed to sell half its Calibre audience measurement solution to ANZ-based rival oOh!media. The firms say the move will 'cement Calibre's position as the industry-wide [OOH] audience measurement solution'. More
San Francisco, CA-based data visualization solutions firm Observable has formally launched with $10.5m in Series A funding. More
New Jersey-based MR and applied consumer neuroscience company HCD Research has launched a division focused on health and wellness research relating to the cannabis market. More
Nielsen is launching its own ID resolution system, which it says will support cross-media measurement in a cookieless world. More
UK-based brand communications and experience research agency The Nursery has become employee-owned, with rights transferred to a trust set up for the benefit of all staff. More
YouGov has acquired Turkish online-focused MR firm Wizsight for an undisclosed sum. The company will be renamed YouGov Turkey. More
Customer experience management (CXM) and insights platform Alida - previously known as Vision Critical - has announced a partnership with video insights provider Voxpopme. More
Measure Protocol, a blockchain marketplace for person-based data, has launched a tool called Retro, which uses proprietary methodology to gather consumer data which the firm says has previously been almost impossible to access. More
In the UK, food and drink sector research and support organisation Campden BRI has announced that current COO Pete Headridge will become Chief Executive on 1st January 2021, following the retirement of Chris Huscroft. More
Attention measurement company TVision has launched a solution called Advanced Audience Projections (AAP), which allows clients to combine its person-level panel data with their own census data, to connect ad exposure on a TV to a specific person in a household. More
Enterprise data exchange Harbr has raised $38.5m in Series A funding, and will use the money to scale up its team and accelerate onboarding of new customers. The firm doubled headcount in 2020 and says it plans to triple in 2021. More
Mobile app A/B testing service Taplytics has received an undisclosed amount of growth capital financing from CIBC Innovation Banking, for use in fuelling customer acquisition and growth plans across North America and Europe. More
Stockholm-based research data storage and collaboration system Stravito has launched a 'smart' information discovery feature, predicting what information individual users will be interested in. More
In New York, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has announced plans to acquire non-profit member organization the Marketing Science Institute (MSI). According to ARF, the deal will help it to continue expanding its member base, bringing in B2B and DTC (direct to consumer) marketers. More
In the UK, customer insights and communities platform developer STRAT7 ResearchBods has opened a Customer Success division, which will focus on delivering 'first-class' client experience and providing resources and support throughout the customer journey. More
In London, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has promoted Sarah Beams for the newly created role of UK Managing Director, overseeing the delivery of the firm's UK strategy. More
In San Francisco, customer relationship management (CRM) specialist Insightly has added a number of features to its Insightly Marketing platform, including tools for list segmentation, A/B and multivariate testing, and marketing analytics. More
In the Netherlands, consumer neuroscience company Alpha.One has hired former Facebook/Nielsen exec Ingrid Nieuwenhuis as Head of Science, responsible for its product roadmap. More
Australian research association AMSRO has published the final report of its inquiry into opinion polls during the 2019 Federal Election, finding evidence of a 'polling failure' rather than simply a 'polling miss'. More
Nielsen is adding measurement of 55 million addressable devices, including smart TV and set-top box return-path data, to its National TV currency ratings. More
Toronto, Canada-based customer experience management (CXM) and insights platform Alida (previously known as Vision Critical) has hired enterprise tech industry exec David O'Malley for the newly created role of Chief Revenue Officer. More
UK-based video intelligence platform Big Sofa Technologies has secured an undisclosed 'seven-figure' amount of funding, which it will use to drive the continued development of its platform and to make hires in the UK and US. More
Consumer intelligence platform Toluna has appointed former Nielsen MD Bruce Haymes as Non-Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors. More
Panel provider Intra Research has appointed Marina Moshenska as its new CEO, with incumbent Kaspar Jänes moving to the Chairman's role. More
UK-based Walnut Unlimited have launched adMIRE, a new comms, media and ad testing approach using a single bespoke online survey and combining facial coding, implicit reaction time testing and explicit measurement. More
The state of California has passed Proposition 24, a law expanding and reinforcing its CCPA privacy act - leading to calls from the country's advertising industry for legislation at the federal level. More
DIY survey pioneer SurveyMonkey has reported third quarter financial results for the period ended September 30th, with total revenue up 20% to $95.4m. More
UK-based branding and innovation agency Brand Potential has partnered with structural and sustainable design consultancy Touch to launch HALO, a joint venture focused on insight and innovation and promising to help clients with sustainable pack and product innovation. More
Austin, Texas-based online survey and research services firm QuestionPro has announced new features and tools including Zoom-integrated focus groups; data mining and collaboration features; and a churn analysis tool on its CX platform. More
From the Data Visualization special issue published last week: Ipsos.Digital CEO Andrei Postoaca talks about the challenges involved in developing a DIY research platform for one of the world's biggest and best known insight groups. More
Innovation insights firm Clarivate has partnered with Brazilian healthcare data company Techtrials Pesquisa e Tecnologia Ltda (Techtrials), to give clients 'comprehensive real-world data' (RWD) on c.80% of the Brazilian population. More
Sample marketplace Lucid has partnered with digital identity resolution specialist Tapad to give users access to its Tapad Graph privacy-safe global cross-device solution. More
Glasgow, Scotland-based 'social intelligence' provider Talking Medicines has secured £1.1m in funding, to support the launch and roll-out of a new AI data platform which it says will 'translate what patients are saying into actionable pharma grade intelligence'. More
Former employees of GroupM and Comscore, Michael Bologna and Joanna Drews, have launched HyphaMetrics, which will use a proprietary panel of 5,000 homes to track viewing across devices. More
Digital MR products and solutions company Borderless Access has launched a sub-brand, BA Health, combining a range of technology and analytics-driven research capabilities for clients in healthcare, life-sciences and diagnostics, with a team strengthened by 24 recent appointments. More
Nielsen has found a buyer for its Global Connect business, in the shape of affiliates of private equity investor Advent and with a price tag of $2.7bn. More
Nielsen has announced revenues of $1,563m for the third quarter of 2020, down 3.3% year-on-year on a reported basis, and 3.0% at constant currency. Adjusted EBITDA was $501m, equivalent to a 6.1% rise at constant currency. More
Former Unilever and Kraft marketer Roger Jackson has launched SenseCheck, an online platform allowing b2b small businesses to give and receive anonymised, honest feedback about each other's marketing plans and campaigns. More
'Human Experience' agency Potentiate has brought in Voxpopme APAC leader Jem Wallis in the role of 'Head of Agile Qual'. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 is launching a creative evaluation framework, Ad Optimi5er, after a year of internal development in partnership with key clients. More
Consumer intelligence platform Toluna has secured a 'significant' round of financing, which it will use to fund planned global growth initiatives. More
Former ESOMAR President Dan Foreman has made an undisclosed amount of investment in retail tech provider Virtual Store Trials (VST), which offers AI solutions for shelf and pack testing, macro-space optimization, planogram visualization, and automated planogram builds. More
Our Data Visualization special issue is published today. Here, in his Introduction, Ipsos co-founder & CEO Didier Truchot talks about clients' need for clarity, AI's potential to change our industry, and why insight professionals should be confident about the future. More
In London, mobile-based customer insights firm Streetbees has raised $40m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to accelerate development of its platform, and increase headcount from 100 to 230 during the next twelve months. More
In New York, consumer insights platform Suzy has launched a qualitative research platform called 'Suzy Live' for video-based consumer interviews. More
In the US, trade body the Insights Association (IA) is urging the Department of Labor (DOL) to clarify in regulation that individuals receiving incentives for participating in marketing research studies are independent contractors, and not employees. More
MR data quality and anti-fraud solutions specialist Imperium has upgraded its validation tool RelevantID, to help MR and panel organizations combat the rise of synthetic identity fraud, which it says is becoming increasingly difficult to spot using conventional methods. More
Clear Channel Airports (CCA), the Americas-based airports business of advertising group Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings is rolling out a new audience impressions methodology, pioneered by independent OOH ad currency organisation Geopath. More
Leading firms in Australia have announced the launch of the Australian Polling Council (APC), a body to advance and promote the quality and understanding of public opinion polling in Australia. More
Martina Vojtkova has been promoted to Director of the Policy Research Centre at the UK's National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), replacing Nancy Kelley who left earlier this year to become CEO at Stonewall. More
In Los Angeles, full service MR firm Alter Agents has appointed five new members of staff, including Lauren DeWitt Thompson as Research Director; Ryan Palmer, Adrienne Scotti and Roxanne Benoun as Research Managers, and Taryn Akiyoshi as a Senior Research Analyst. More
Ipsos has posted revenue of EUR 468.6m in the third quarter of 2020, down 6.2% on a reported basis but just 3.3% on a like-for-like, constant currency basis despite the impact of the pandemic. The group says this reflects 'a renewed stability since June', with recovery month by month. More
Australian employee research firm Blue Provident is merging with its UK partner Feedback Works, and will take the British company's name. More
US and Canada-based recruitment specialist Rare Patient Voice (RPV) has partnered with voice response technology provider inVibe Labs, to launch a platform accessing the opinions of patients and caregivers. More
UK market research budgets experienced another 'marked decline' in the third quarter - the second sharpest since data collection for this category started in the final quarter of 2012 - according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. More
Medallia's Senior Director of Product Management Vache Moroyan and his team are tasked with building dashboards that are a pleasure for research professionals to work with. Continuing our focus on Data Visualization - interview by Nick Thomas on September 22nd. More
US firm Escalent has appointed TrueSample co-founder Dyna Boen as Managing Director of the Consumer, Tech and Telecom divisions. She takes over the role from Paul Hartley, who has moved into the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Sales. More
Following the merger of anti-fraud and brand safety organizations the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) and the Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards (JICWEBS), industry-owned media auditor ABC is to manage the UK's Viewability and AV (Audio Visual) Standards. More
Communities and research tech firm Further has appointed former Kantar Consulting Head of Global Qual Research Operations Sarah Taylor as an advisor. In addition, Claire Marshall joins as Finance Director, Clare Warren as Marketing Director, and Maria Colarusso as Client Support Executive. More
UK-based insight industry language specialist Empower Translate has appointed Dan Peachey, long-time leader at translation firm Intonation, as Managing Director. More
In London, Kantar has appointed long-time Procter & Gamble exec Alexis Nasard as Chief Executive Officer, effective 30th December. He replaces Eric Salama, who left the business in February. More
In the UK, Omnicom Health subsidiary Adelphi Research has promoted Elizabeth Kehler to the role of Managing Director. She replaces Rachel Medcalf who has left after twenty years with the company. More
In the UK, full-service agency Research Strategy Group has appointed Michael Dorr as Senior Vice President, heading its London office. More
Customer insights platform UserTesting has announced the acquisition of the technology assets of usabiliTEST, a provider of information architecture testing solutions; alongside product innovations promising to speed up clients' 'discovery of the moments that matter'. More
In Los Angeles, insights design and strategy agency Hypothesis has appointed former Millward Brown North America CEO Mary Ann Packo as a Senior Partner, leading client growth, research innovation and talent acquisition. More
Mobile survey software and analysis solutions provider Dooblo has received an undisclosed amount of funding from private equity firm Anacapa Partners, with participation from Trail Mark Partners. More
Simon Redlich, Chief Executive of UK media ad currency body and auditor ABC, has been appointed as as the new global President of the International Federation of Audit Bureaux of Certification (IFABC). More
US-based Paradigm Sample has acquired assets from Canadian online panel and survey programming company Tellwut, for an undisclosed sum. More
Continuing the Data Visualization theme Joe Parker, Brand Director of London-based Motif puts an insight professional's spin on one of the longest-running debates in design. More
Manchester, UK-based market intelligence provider Kids Insights has expanded to Russia and China. More
Research software firm SurveyMonkey has extended its integration with Zoom, to improve virtual employee feedback experiences. The firm has also officially launched its GetFeedback customer experience (CX) solution. More
Continuing our focus on Data Visualization, the LivingLens co-founder talks in-depth with MrWeb's Nick Thomas about family influences; starting, financing, building and selling the business; the huge potential for video and the importance of good data viz. Video version also available. More
Heinrich Fischer, one of the founders of recently closed MR trade show Research & Results, has announced the launch of his new event 'succeet21', which will take place next April. More
ANZ out-of-Home (OOH) advertising firm Val Morgan Outdoor (VMO) has launched an audience measurement platform called 'DART R&F', which uses facial analytics, third-party consumer data and machine learning to determine hourly audience at a screen level. More
The British Polling Council (BPC) has launched a guide to help journalists interpret and write up the findings of opinion polls. More
In the US, online publication the Investor's Business Daily and polling partner TIPP have launched the daily Presidential Tracking Poll, based on a survey of 800 to 1,000 individuals who are likely to vote, conducted over the prior five days. More
In the US, research and data services company ENGINE Insights has promoted three members of staff: Matthew Conrad to SVP Client Solutions; Dave Stewart to SVP and a leader in the Financial Services and Healthcare practices; and David Feick, already leader of the Technology team, also to SVP. More
UK-based customer feedback specialist Platform One has combined its insight community and experience management tools into a single application called 'Vision', to help clients identify and recruit community members based on experience touchpoints. More
UK creative agency Smyle has launched a new measurement practice, offering a solution called Return on Emotion using facial recognition, pulse rate sensors and neurotechnology to track feelings like joy, excitement, nervousness and boredom among attendees of both physical and virtual events. More
Continuing our focus on Data Visualization, Debbie Senior, Toluna's VP Product Automation, looks at the 'need for speed', and other factors driving changes in the way we process, share and display data. More
In London, insights and planning agency kubi kalloo has appointed Oscar Runeland as Director of Brand, leading its consultancy offer. More
Kicking off a week and a half of articles from our forthcoming Data Visualization special issue, Ipsos.Digital CEO Andrei Postoaca backs AI to unlock its full potential behind the scenes within ten years, allowing business needs to return to centre stage. More
In Canada, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has appointed Kasia Galka as Senior Vice President of Maru Operations Group. More
In Australia, Derham Insights Research has launched a solution called the Five Key Customer Insights Monitor, providing a 'quick, targeted, and cost-effective measure' of customers' attitudes and intentions towards a client's business overall, or to individual brands. More
In the US, not-for-profit body the Radio Research Consortium (RRC), which provides audience estimate data to non-commercial radio stations, has renewed a multi-year agreement with Nielsen, licensing its syndicated products to hundreds of subscribers. More
Ipsos has partnered with artificial intelligence specialist Peltarion to launch a tool called Question Library and help researchers build 'better' questionnaires. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has hired former Kantar ADs Sharon Blair and Roger Kong as new members of its Melbourne team. More
B2B survey marketplace InsightzClub has expanded to Bangladesh, through a partnership with local data and artificial intelligence company ADA. More
Australian media company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has launched two digital audio attribution products - SCA Footsteps, which attributes footfall to digital audio campaigns; and SCA Soundcheck, which provides campaign and brand effectiveness studies for digital audio. More
US-based Service Management Group (SMG) has partnered with video insight platform Voxpopme, to offer a combination of video feedback and experience management data. More
In the US, software engineers Mitchell Catoen and David Ferris have launched a product called Phonic, allowing respondents to answer survey questions with their voice instead of their keyboard. More
Germany-based user, brand and shopper research specialist Eye Square has launched the Amazon Ad Testing Platform, which allows advertisers to evaluate the design, content and placement of ads on the online retail giant, in their natural environment. More
In London, online qual research platform VisionsLive has appointed long-time Askia exec Nick Southwood as Senior Business Development Manager. More
Last year, research revenue for the Top 50 US-based market research and data analytics companies rose 4.8% to $14.8bn - comprising an almost equal split of domestic (50.2%) and international (49.8%) business - according to the latest annual Top 50 Report. More
Kantar has reversed the decision to close its Philippines Media Division, made just a month ago. Its key client, TV and new media network ABS-CBN, had been set to close down but has now signed a new TAM contract with the agency. More
US and Canada-based patient-focused recruitment specialist Rare Patient Voice (RPV) is expanding to Europe through a partnership with research software firm Q One Tech. More
New York-based 'agile' research platform Alpha has changed its name to Feedback Loop, effective immediately. More
In Australia, cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has appointed former Vice Media APAC Head of Insight Stephanie Winkler, as a Director. More
In the US, media and advertising-focused management consultancy ID Comms has acquired audit specialist PJL Media. Terms are not being released, but as part of the deal PJL Media founder PJ Leary becomes a minority shareholder in ID Comms, and joins its Board. More
In the US, data collection partner Veridata Insights has appointed former Critical Mix execs Danny Agapito as Chief Technology Officer, and Andrew Burkey as Senior Director of Operations. More
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched a public consultation on draft Statutory Guidance outlining how it will regulate and enforce data protection legislation in the UK. The consultation will remain open until 5pm on Thursday 12th November. More
In the UK, full-service agency Vision One has promoted Kendra Furey and Alex Brown to Client Success Manager, while Raluca Bobutanu joins as a Research Executive supporting the firm's qual and international research operations. More
Forrester has introduced a 'touchless', antimicrobial version of its FeedbackNow real-time customer experience data collection solution, which it says will ensure the safety of customers and employees. More
In Australia, full-service market and social agency Taverner Research has acquired Wollongong-based economic, community and industry specialist IRIS Research. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Nielsen has launched a Canadian consumer intelligence tool called Homescan Trip Projection, which reduces panel bias by combining geographic and demographic representation with shopper trip behaviour. More
Yorkshire, UK-based behavioural research and user experience consultancy SimpleUsability has been acquired by communications agency CDS for an undisclosed sum. More
UK firm Populus has brought together its own team and that of its businesses BrandCap and Decidedly, to create a brand consultancy called Yonder. More
London-based qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has appointed four new members of staff, including former Decidedly exec Drew Still as Associate Director. More
Northumberland-based insights firm DRG has confirmed the appointment of Paul Wealleans as Managing Director of its online research supplier Panelbase. More
In the US, online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has acquired market research services firm Inteligx, adding support and full service solutions to its offering. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Nielsen has announced that the headquarters for its Global Consumer Business will be in Chicago, from January 1st, 2021. More
In Stockholm, insight exchange and sample management platform Cint has appointed Joakim Andersson as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Lottie Saks, who left the company in May to join commercial vehicle business Haldex. More
Kantar is to launch its BrandZ index in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, ranking the top 30 most valuable brands across the two countries combined in terms of dollar value. More
Kantar is planning to cut around ten percent of its US staff due to the impact of the pandemic, according to online reports. More
Television measurement, attribution and analytics company 605 has signed an agreement with retail giant Walmart, to provide ad impact and audience analysis via its PLATF0RM solution. More
Market research and healthcare translation specialist GlobaLexicon has reported strong growth in the first half of the year, with revenue up 30% and 21 new hires. More
DIY research pioneer SurveyMonkey has teamed up with dashboard software giant Tableau and digital media company Axios to launch a hub for data relating to the forthcoming US Presidential election. More
European data collection company Norstat has hired Evelin Pae as MD for its Estonia business, replacing Kaspar Küünarpuu who has left the company. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has hired Jason Allsopp as Vice President of its Vancouver office, responsible for developing client accounts across British Columbia and expanding the firm's west coast presence. More
Customer insights firm Vision Critical has changed its name to Alida, and aims to disrupt the global customer experience (CX) industry, taking on the likes of Qualtrics and Medallia. More
UK television audience measurement body BARB has issued a refreshed invitation to tender, covering five research contracts, as it looks to keep pace with changes in television viewing including the ongoing development of SVOD services and the roll-out of 5G mobile networks. More
Fast-growing communities specialist InSites Consulting is to roll out its 'Culture + Trends' solution worldwide. More
Toluna has appointed former Lightspeed and YouGov exec Sej Patel as Head of Business for Australia and New Zealand. More
Stockholm-based affluent fieldwork specialist Altiant has launched LuxPoll, a new 'agile' product allowing researchers to collect one hundred validated interviews among affluent people in ten or more markets and receive actionable results back in 'days, not weeks'. More
In the UK, the MRS (Market Research Society) has launched a new designation, 'International Affiliate', intended as a sign of research excellence and standards observance for research businesses and client side research teams operating outside the UK. More
YouGov has created two new senior roles - Global Sector Heads for Travel & Tourism, and Leisure & Entertainment - and has a new South African affiliate, MR agency KLA. More
Continuing our focus on Data Visualization this month and next, here are six key considerations for creating clear and engaging visuals, from the team at E-Tabs. More
UK professional body the MRS has noted a slight positive shift in the expectations of companies in the post-Covid world; and has downgraded its earlier call on the government to 'save the sector' to a more modest appeal for investment in infrastructure and innovation. More
London-based data company TeakOrigin has partnered with mobile intelligence platform Streetbees to launch a study to understand the link between nutritional value and consumption of fresh produce. More
In the US, verbatim analysis specialist Ascribe has launched a suite of solutions called AI Classification Service, to categorize verbatim comments and provide a report within 24 hours, regardless of survey length or respondent count. More
US-based consumer insights firm Touchstone Research has launched a watermarking solution called Secure Content Testing (SCT), to protect client content used in marketing research and consumer insights studies. More
First-party data and insights platform Dynata has acquired UK-based digital ethnography solution CrowdLab, which captures in-the-moment consumer opinions, attitudes and trends. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
UK-based full-service agency Market Measures has launched a Customer Experience (CX) practice called Market Measures 360CX, to be headed by CX specialist Tobin Sparrow. More
London-based think-tank The Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) has launched a panel, aiming to uncover insights into Jewish life in the UK. According to JPR, the panel will be the first of its kind at this scale in the world. More
US online survey software provider QuestionPro has set up a reseller and distributor program, to make it easier for partners to integrate the firm's solutions directly into their own. More
The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has unveiled a framework for cross-media measurement, alongside a proposed technical approach meeting the principles outlined in it. More
From an interview with Paul Twite, Toluna's MD EMEA and LatAm, looking at the company's recent big announcements - rebranding and the launch of Toluna Start. For the podcast, and a fuller write-up including more personal reflections and detail, see the forthcoming Data Viz supplement. More
YouGov has expanded in the Asia Pacific region through a partnership with Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-based behavioural science specialist Decision Lab. More
UK-headquartered full service insight consultancy Basis Research has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Nicole Citron as a Partner in the firm's specialized health division. She is based in the firm's New York office. More
US-based strategy and custom research firm Magid has hired Tiffany Vasilchik as Senior Vice President of Growth Strategy in its Consumer & Commercial Brands practice. She will be based in New York City. More
Workplace feedback platform ViewsHub has launched a real-time, rolling performance survey that allows users to rate each of the candidates running for President and Vice President in November's US election. More
Survey tech and data collection business Global Survey is transferring its headquarters to the US, with new offices in Orlando, Florida; and has appointed Maria Figueras as Senior Director for Client Development. More
Data collection software developer Nebu has launched a '360-degree' application called Nebu Panel Manager, covering all aspects of panel operations - including multiple recruitment channels, member management functionalities, flexible sampling, and a rewards platform. More
In the US, research and analytics company GutCheck has launched an exploratory product called Audience Illuminator, to help understand target audiences and develop personas. More
UK-based agency Walnut Unlimited has launched 'TrueLiking', a product testing approach incorporating emotional responses to stimulus through a combination of neuroscientific implicit testing and standard product and sensory testing techniques. More
Australian television audience measurement body OzTAM has added connected TV (CTV) co-viewing data to its Video Player Measurement (VPM) report. More
In the US, data collection provider Schlesinger Clinical Research has appointed Erica Figueroa as SVP Client Solutions. More
Consumer intelligence platform Toluna has launched an end-to-end solution called 'Toluna Start', which will now form the core of its business. Users can access the firm's panel of more than 30 million members, uncover and share real-time insights to help fully understand the consumer journey. More
Technology-enabled market research and customer insights group Maru has launched a platform called Instant Qualitative Environment, bringing together a combination of digital qual methodologies, moderation skills, and AI-powered analysis tools in one platform. More
In the UK, full-service insight and strategy firm Davies Hickman Partners is relocating to larger offices in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, and aims to offer clients a wider range of thought leadership, new proposition development, and marketing communication research services. More
International data collection and research services provider Schlesinger Group has re-branded all its European businesses, to bring them in line with the group name. More
Data collection specialist Norstat has appointed Romain Barbet as Managing Director in its Paris office. He will replace Norstat France co-founder Marc-Antoine Jacoud, who is staying with the firm for the next couple of months to assist with the handover. More
In the UK, full service agency Vision One Research has relocated its northern office to Mann Island, which overlooks the Albert Dock, situated on Liverpool's historic waterfront. More
In the UK, medical fieldwork business Medicys has launched a division called MediLAB, which will provide linguistics and analysis services for both the company's fieldwork and non-fieldwork-based clients, across all sectors and countries. More
In Melbourne, Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed long-time Colmar Brunton exec Jenny Witham as a Director, while Michelle Newton joins as Marketing Director. More
French audience measurement agency Médiamétrie has acquired the daily SVoD barometer, previously operated by NPA Conseil in partnership with Harris Interactive. More
In Flemington, New Jersey, consumer sciences specialist HCD Research has released a DIY online research platform called 'Emcode Implicit', promising 'low cost and high throughput' design and launch of implicit and marketing research studies. More
In the UK, specialist MR recruiters Sarah Penny and Inger Christensen have launched 'Daughters of Sailors' a new firm offering insight agencies flexible in-house freelance support with their recruitment. More
In the US, custom research firm AMC Global has added six new staff: Caitlin Connor as Associate Project Director, Robin Franke as Research Director; and Doug Galante, Reene Kalola, Mariah Kern and Nichole Smith. More
Middle East agency 4SiGHT has appointed former Ipsos UAE Chief Client Officer Arup Bose as Partner - Insights & Strategy, starting last week. More
Hall & Partners has teamed up with first-party data and insights platform Dynata, whose connected data capabilities and technology will power the ad and brand research specialist's data visualization and storytelling platform, The Hub. More
Toronto, Canada-based customer insights solution provider Vision Critical has appointed Steven Medeiros as General Manager, Asia Pacific and Japan, based in Hong Kong. More
Kantar is shutting down its Philippines TV ratings service at the end of the year, following the closure of its biggest client, commercial television and new media network ABS-CBN. The move will result in Kantar having to lay off around 50 employees. More
Brighton, UK-based social media analyst Brandwatch has added a feature called Social Panels to its consumer research platform, to enable researchers to build panels and focus groups from authors on the most frequently used social media platforms. More
Digital marcoms group Next15 has acquired Silicon Valley-based growth incubator Mach49, which it will use as the cornerstone of its previously announced plans to create a $100m innovation business, working alongside its data, tech and brand marketing firms. Terms were not disclosed. More
Great visuals and wide-ranging automation are a powerful combination for market researchers looking to justify budgets in the Covid era, says Confirmit Chief Product Officer Torbjörn (Tobi) Andersson. This is the first article from our forthcoming MrWeb 21 Years 'Data Visualization' special issue. More
Australian data intelligence company Potentiate and New Zealand-based longitudinal relationship analytics specialist MirrorWave have partnered, to provide a service which 'follows' customers, employees and partners over time. More
Sample, survey and quantitative research specialist Market Cube has joined the FocusVision Sample Marketplace, which gives researchers access to sample providers directly from the FocusVision Decipher survey platform. More
Data acquisition and distribution software company Narrative has raised $8.5m in Series A funding, to support the launch of 'a new category: Data Streaming', replacing the data broker industry model. As part of this the firm has launched a Data Streams Marketplace. More
Canada-based communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a consumer panel called the Technology Advisory Council, developed to help clients understand how 'tech-savvy' consumers feel, behave and think towards new trends, concepts and innovation. More
Research and analytics company MESH Experience has partnered with insights software and services agency Cambrian Analytics to build an interactive dashboard providing insights on brand performance. More
Marcoms giant WPP has reported a first half loss before tax of £2.58bn, compared to a profit of £409m a year earlier; and reported revenue down 12.3% to £5.58bn, from £6.37bn. Like-for-like (LFL) revenue declined 11.5%. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has launched a customer experience consulting service called Leger MetriCX, supporting organizations that want to become more customer centric. More
An overwhelming majority of UK market researchers (96%) say they want to work from home to some extent in the future following the Covid-19 crisis, according to findings from the 2020 Mental Wellbeing in Research Survey. More
In the US, full service marketing research and insight training agency Burke has appointed former Kantar exec James Sorensen as Senior Vice President in Client Services, with a specialization in retail and shopper insights. More
Eye tracking hardware and software firm Tobii AB has announced results for the second quarter of 2020, with revenue down to SEK 332 million (US $37.75m) - an organic decline of 6%. More
North American rewards-based online community Tellwut is launching a DIY research platform, Tellwut Insights, which will use a proprietary survey and panel member management application alongside this community for crowdsourcing and online MR. More
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is re-opening its 'regulatory sandbox' service, this time with a focus on supporting organisations using children's personal data to develop products and services. More
In the US, field management firm FUEL has appointed Gretchen Gudites as Global Field Director, tasked with maintaining and expanding the firm's position in global qual study management, while finding new ways to expand its quant offerings. More
Swedish eye tracking hardware and software developer Tobii AB has appointed Magdalena Rodell Andersson as Chief Financial Officer. She starts in January and replaces Johan Wilsby, who announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down. More
Customer experience management (CEM) specialist Medallia has opened a Data Centre in Singapore, adding to its existing hubs in Santa Clara, Seattle, Denver, Toronto, Montreal, Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Sydney. More
President Trump's administration has added a third executive to the US Census Bureau. Benjamin Overholt previously served as a Lead Statistician in the Office of Enterprise Data and Analytics at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). More
Location data ad tech firm Blis has launched an interactive tracker called the Consumer Confidence Pulse, to capture a 'quick snapshot' of consumer sentiment. More
In the US, data quality and anti-fraud software platform SampleChain has raised $1.5m in a new round of funding, which it will use to drive company growth, increase capacity and add additional technologies to its product suite. More
Research software and solutions company Confirmit has appointed Giles Whiting as its new COO and Rebecca Wright as Head of Legal. More
MR platform Attest has announced four senior appointments in its London headquarters - Andrew Wray, Patrick Hussain, Nia Barnabie and Andy Davis - following 'recent revenue growth of more than 160%'. The firm is also recruiting a number of staff for its New York office. More
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has announced that the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved the final regulations for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), designed to enhance the privacy rights of the state's residents. More
In New York, consumer insights platform Suzy has hired five new team members, including former Cint / Toluna exec Katie Gross as Chief Customer Officer, responsible for overseeing all customer relationships and spearheading the firm's customer advocacy program. More
In Sydney, Australia, customer experience management specialist Medallia has appointed Heather Paterson as ANZ Country Manager, to lead the existing Australia team and the launch of operations in New Zealand. More
In the US, neurotechnology specialist Arctop has launched an on-demand web platform called Neuos Eureka, which uses brain decoding technology to provide professionals in the entertainment and media sectors with insights about their audiences. More
Online advertising trade association IAB Australia has launched the 'MeasureUp' Awards, which aim to showcase Australia's media research sector. More
In South Africa, communities specialist InSites Consulting has promoted Heather Tluczek to Managing Director. She replaces Henk Pretorius, who moves up to Head of Consumer Connections, a global role leading consumer network strategy for the group. More
In the US, market research and analytics company GutCheck has named former long-time Nielsen exec Rob Wengel as its new Chief Exec, replacing co-founder Matt Warta who has left the business. More
Rob Stevens, co-founder of user experience and behavioural research consultancy Bunnyfoot, and later Ipsos MORI's Group Head of UX, died suddenly on 25th July 2020 as a result of coronary heart disease. He was 49 years old. More
Australian insights specialist Faster Horses Consulting has hired Mark Hutchinson to set up an office in Melbourne, and Chris Pyria to establish a presence in Brisbane. Paul Croci also joins the firm in Perth and Ann-Louise Brockelsby in Sydney. More
London-based human insight consultancy One Minute To Midnight is opening an Americas office in New York City, to better serve its growing US client base. More
Panels and first-party data firm Dynata has acquired Salt Lake City and Chicago-based searchable insights platform Sharpr, for an undisclosed sum. More
In London, former Ipsos MORI, Universal Music and BBC exec Hanna Chalmers has launched a research and strategy collective called culturestudio. More
Data and insight industry association ESOMAR has launched the Insights Festival 2020, taking place online from 14th to 17th September. The event replaces the previously planned ESOMAR Congress 2020, due to take place in Toronto in October, and now postponed to 2021 because of the pandemic. More
Professional bodies for the US, UK and Australia - the Insights Association, MRS and The Research Society - have agreed to collaborate more closely in a number of areas. More
Research software firm Confirmit has appointed former Dapresy CEO Tobi Andersson as Chief Product Officer, leading its product strategy and vision. More
UK-based kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has raised £500k in investment funding, which it will use for international expansion, and to create eight new jobs at its Manchester headquarters. The firm has also appointed Stefan Lampinen as Chairman. More
Potomac, Maryland-based consumer sample provider Full Circle Research has appointed long-time industry exec Suzie Sligh as Regional Sales Director, to lead its expansion into the Southeast region. More
Cincinnati, OH-based full service firm MarketVision Research has promoted Kyra Hayes and Mallory Homan to the position of Research Associate, while Stefanie Loyda and Emily Taylor become Research Directors, and Brittany Smith Senior Research Associate. More
SurveyMonkey has reported a 21% increase in second quarter revenue to $90.9m; alongside a net loss of $22.9m, compared with a loss of $18.5m in Q2 2019. More
Mobile app testing company HeadSpin is to return up to $95m in funding to investors after an internal review of irregularities forced it to restate its financials. In addition, the company has replaced CEO and co-founder Manish Lachwani with a new Chief Executive, Rajeev Butani. More
Global research technology and data collection company Delvinia has appointed Bethany Moffett as Executive Director, responsible for building out the US client development team for the firm's automated research platform Methodify. Delvinia has also appointed a further eight new employees. More
Manchester, UK-based creative collective Inc & Co has acquired Bath-based sports performance analysis and data management (PADM) firm Insight Analysis for an undisclosed sum. More
Australian media group Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has brought together its Research & Insights and Strategy & Insights divisions to form a media research and insights unit called SCA iQ. More
Five UK-based research tech firms and associations have launched a non-profit initiative called TSAPI, inviting the market research sector to come together to create an industry API (advanced programming interface) standard for transferring survey data, and then share it globally. More
Kantar has launched a survey solution called Accelerated Answers, which promises to deliver 'real insights from real consumers' in as little as six hours. More
In London, mobile-based customer insights platform Streetbees has hired former Foursquare MD Omid Ashtari as Chief Operating Officer, as the company plans an expansion and recruitment drive following 110% growth in the first six months of 2020. More
The US Census Bureau has announced it is to end its data collection for the 2020 Census a month early on September 30th, prompting a warning from four former bureau directors that this could mean hard-to-count communities being missed, and less accurate data being produced. More
Century City, California-based TV, film and video research firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) has appointed Steve Ridge as Executive Vice President of its recently formed Television News Group. More
Online MR and technology company Further has launched two tools on its Together platform, one for analysing unstructured data and the other for concept testing. More
Kantar Health has expanded its National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), a self-reported patient database covering some 200 medical conditions, to South Korea and Taiwan. More
Heinrich Fischer, one of the founders of recently closed MR trade show Research & Results, has announced that he is setting up a new event which will take place next April in Munich. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has divided its executive team into two: the Futures team, which will set the company direction, and manage its vision and values; and the Leadership team, which will focus on day-to-day operations covering revenue, resourcing and efficiency. More
Behavioural research agency Watch Me Think has launched a qual-based evaluation approach for new consumer products, called the Post Launch Consumer Review (PLCR). More
The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) has set up a relief fund, which it says has already helped 3,600 freelance interviewers faced with economic hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. More
In the UK, not-for-profit body NatCen (the National Centre for Social Research) has announced that Professor Sir Robert Burgess will step down next year as Chair of its Board of Trustees, after fulfilling the full nine-year tenure recommended for charities. More
Research and analytics group YouGov has signalled its intent to increase market share in the media sector by bringing in US and European 'heavy-hitters' Tamara Alesi and Julian Newby. More
The UK division of Future Thinking has taken its new parent Savanta's name, following its acquisition earlier this year. More
Start-up Advertima, which uses AI to customize in-store experiences, has closed a EUR 15m ($17.3m) funding round, earmarked for further development of its tracking platform. More
London-based healthcare communications and consulting agency imc group has acquired medical communications and insights research agency Porterhouse Medical Group. Terms of the deal, backed by Waterland Private Equity, have not been disclosed. More
Oxford, UK-based consumer research agency MMR has launched a new approach called 'sensory charged video', which uses the firm's expertise to deconstruct how a category and its products play out on a sensory level, then finds the language to communicate this in a motivating way. More
Insight-led healthcare branding and communications consultancy THE PLANNING SHOP has appointed Rebecca Rehder as Global President, to lead the organization across the UK and US. She takes up the position next Monday, and will be based in New York. More
US-based SDM Northcoast, which conducts qual and quant research for the dental industry, has launched a 'Data Analytics Service', analyzing growth trends and market share for every region, state, sales territory and zip code in the country. More
Anti-fraud and brand safety organizations the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) and the Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards (JICWEBS) are to merge under the TAG brand name. More
In the US, Omnicom Health subsidiary Adelphi Research has promoted Ratna Wynn to the position of EVP, Head of Research, Operations and Innovation, with responsibility for all research functions and operations. More
Research participant recruiter Liveminds has hired former Nielsen exec Kate Domingo to head its APAC regional office in Manila, in the Philippines; where it has also appointed Tristan Chong and John Paul Ocat as Behavioral Recruitment Executives. More
In the US, media company NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises has promoted Mónica Gil to the position of EVP, Chief Administrative and Marketing Officer, overseeing operations, growth marketing, and strategy and insights. More
Research & Results, the organiser of the annual Munich, Germany-based trade show for market research, data and insights professionals, has decided to close its whole business because of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. More
UK-based kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has expanded to Canada and Australia, to meet international demand for its market intelligence solutions. More
In the US, brand and marketing insights company Shapiro+Raj has appointed Cindy Tran as company President. The position has been vacant for the past two years, since the departure of Margaret Mueller, who now serves as CEO of the Executives' Club of Chicago. More
US-based strategy and custom research company Magid has appointed Rob Hernandez as Senior Vice President of Qualitative Research, Consumer & Commercial Brands. More
Global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has hired long-time Ipsos exec Karen Gombault for a newly created role, EU Managing Director, based in its Paris office. More
UK-based consumer research agency MMR and Paris, France-based research and marketing intelligence institute Repères have signed a partnership agreement, giving each access to a combined methodological toolkit and increased geographical footprint. More
Comscore has received a US patent for: 'Protecting User Privacy During Collection of Demographics Census Data'. More
The Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) has appointed Gary Bennewies, President and CEO of Ipsos Canada, as its new Chair. Additionally Nik Nanos, founder of Nanos Research, has been named Vice Chair, and Canadian Viewpoint VP Jason Zweig is the new Treasurer. More
Naomi Gooblar, the founder of London-based qual and quant fieldwork services firm Field Sauce, has set up a dedicated team called Field Sauce Kidz, working with young people aged from 0 to 20, as well as their parents and educators. More
UK pollster and MR company Survation has launched a new brand track product combining brand research with advanced analytics - including Multilevel Regression and Post-Stratification analytics (MRP), a technique it has used extensively to assess consumer behaviour, attitudes and voting intention. More
The UK government is to upgrade its 'Research Marketplace', a 'Dynamic Purchasing System' for public sector buyers to find and commission research agencies. The new c.£300m contract will start in February 2022 and run for four years. More
In Australia, Nielsen has been hit by a suspected ransomware attack on its servers, resulting in delays to its release of daily television ratings. More
MR agency quantilope has raised $28m in a Series B found of funding, which it will use to further expand its offering in Europe, and particularly in the US. More
A new study conducted by industry trade association ESOMAR has highlighted that 7 in 10 people are concerned about sharing their personal data with businesses, while two thirds say they don't like the current privacy practices employed by data collectors. More
In the US, marketing and consumer research firm HCD Research has partnered with artificial intelligence and sensory research agency Aigora, to launch a tool designed to help clients understand the relationship between consumers and brands. More
Ipsos has posted revenue of EUR 786m for the first half of the year, down 13% from last year's EUR 903.4m. The firm says that after a close to flat performance in the first quarter, the second was heavily affected by the 'havoc' wreaked by Covid-19. More
UK TV audience measurement body BARB has announced a year-long extension of the tender process for two of its main research contracts, as a result of the pandemic. The organisation has also begun investigating remote data collection alternatives. More
In the UK, the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is leading an initiative to establish industry-wide professional standards for data science. The move aims to give the public confidence in how their data is being used ethically, stored safely and analysed robustly. More
In the US, investment firm Saroras Private Capital has launched a new company called Apollo Intelligence Corporation, focused on tech-driven data and insights solutions for the life sciences and healthcare sectors; and has acquired data collection company SHG as part of it. More
Kantar has announced the launch of 'Project Moonshot', described as 'a major milestone' on the road to an advanced independent platform for measuring ad effectiveness. The initiative includes deals with Google, Pandora, in-game ad platform Anzu, Dish, Pinterest, Roku, Snap, Spotify and Twitter. More
Consumer insight platform aytm (Ask Your Target Market) has appointed Sarah Snudden as VP, Digital Transformation and Dale Gilliam as Director of Product Strategy, both new roles. More
In the US, MarketVision Research has announced three promotions and one new hire. Nicole Haffey joins as a Research Assistant on the Qual team, while Shannon Murphy steps up to Research Director, and Megan Schohl and Lauren Yates to Research Manager. More
Staff survey and people analytics platform Perceptyx has announced the acquisition of Kantar's Employee Insights business. Terms were not disclosed. More
The holding company of Toluna, Harris Interactive Europe and KuRunData is adopting the Toluna name as its principal brand, replacing ITWP which will be phased out. Toluna is celebrating this change and its twenty years in business with a new corporate identity. More
Audience research body MRUC India has reportedly paused production and publication of its IRS 2020 readership survey, and has told subscribers it will refund their payments, due in large part to the economic impact of Covid-19. More
Nielsen says it is making 'sweeping changes' to its digital measurement methodology, focused on future-proof, privacy-centric, comparable, cross-platform measurement. Separately, US ad body the 4A's has criticised the firm's plans to combine in-home and OOH TV ratings. More
Innovation insights firm Clarivate Analytics has announced the launch of a Global Business Center in Penang, Malaysia, to be led by VP Shankar Nagalingam. Two more such centres are planned, for London and Chandler, Arizona. More
London-based voice technology firm Phebi has released three data visualization tools helping researchers understand respondent emotions in Insight and Detect products. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based Stravito, a cloud-based storage and sharing system for market research data, has launched a new project management feature called Agency Lobby. More
US-based customer engagement software firm Astute has announced the acquisition of Canadian Voice of Customer (VoC) analyst iperceptions. More
Scotland's next census is to be moved to March 2022 due to the impact of Covid-19; and for the first time will mainly be completed online. More
Cincinnati-based Directions Research has announced a number of senior promotions, including Jason Ebbing to COO, Carley Metsker and Beth Finn to SVP roles. Cindy Tullis and Tim Laake also now have expanded roles. More
US-based insight-led marketing services firm LRW Group has been renamed 'Material', bringing its ten companies into one unified offering. More
UK-based kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has hired seven new members of staff, increasing the team to 31. The company is now looking for a new 3,000 sq ft Manchester city centre office to accommodate this expansion. More
In Canada, research tech business Rival Technologies and sister company Reach3 Insights have launched a mobile message-based platform, through which brands can access 'focus groups on demand' at scale. More
SaaS-based customer intelligence platform (CIP) Zeotap has raised $42m in a Series C round of funding, which it will use to continue invest in its platform, and in its recently launched universal marketing identity solution, ID+. More
UK market research budgets appear to have fallen sharply during the second quarter of the year, with a net balance of -42.2% of marketing execs recording a drop in spending, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. More
In the US, health and sustainability specialist Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has been merged into marketing and public opinion research group Research America Inc. (RAI). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Online communities specialist InSites Consulting has transferred Daniel Teixeira to Singapore, where he has taken up the role of Managing Director of its Asia brand, ABN Impact | InSites Consulting. More
In the UK, television marketing body Thinkbox has announced that its founding CEO and current non-executive Chair Tess Alps has decided to retire at the end of the year. More
Digital research agency MetrixLab has opened an office in Zug, Switzerland, and appointed former Nielsen exec Hassan Mouheb to lead it as Managing Director. More
In the UK, former journalist Mimi Turner has joined political party the Liberal Democrats as Director of Strategy, Messaging and Research. More
San Francisco-based employee engagement insight specialist Lattice has raised $45m in a Series D round of funding, for use in expanding its offerings to better serve global clients, and scaling its engineering and product teams. More
London-based crowdsourcing, idea management and 'open innovation' platform Wazoku has raised £1.25m in a new funding round. The company has also acquired US-based innovation firm InnoCentive. More
In New York, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has launched a collaborative research initiative designed to establish methods for applying randomized control testing (RCT) to cross-platform ad impact analysis. More
US-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has launched Canadian Insights, a platform providing on-demand access to a view of the country's consumers based on an analysis of 30,000 panelists. More
Former Lightspeed GMI and Research Now exec Martin Filz has been appointed CEO at Australia-based digital research platform Pureprofile Ltd, effective 3rd August; while John Griffin is promoted to Chief Technology Officer. More
In the US, market research and analytics company GutCheck has appointed two Executive Vice Presidents: Jessica Gaedeke for Sales and Brian Harmon for Client Service and Delivery. More
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) have opened a joint investigation into Clearview AI, whose surveillance activities have been described as a 'threat to privacy, safety, and security'. More
Former Central Fieldwork exec Theo Francis has launched a new business, GuineaPig Fieldwork, based in London. More
Canada-based online sample and research technology specialist WiseWorks has launched a private equity vehicle called Hygiia Ventures, which will invest in artificial intelligence, big data, analytics and machine learning firms. Separately, Ryan Kagan has joined WiseWorks as CFO. More
LA-based 'Neuroscience as a Service' (NaaS) platform Kernel has raised $35m in a Series C round of funding, which it will use to develop new technology for recording brain activity, and for 'customer success' initiatives. More
New Delhi, India-based quant online research and respondent engagement specialist Internet Research Bureau (IRB) has appointed David Winter as a Director, to head up UK sales from the London office. More
Panel provider Borderless Access has appointed long-time Dynata exec Kasia Churchill as Director, Sales - UK, based in London. More
Middle East-based full service agency 4SiGHT Research & Analytics has hired long-time Kantar exec Sukhdev Singh to launch its 4SiGHT Consulting practice in Dubai. Former Kantar researcher Siva Sankar has also joined the new division. More
International data collection and research services business the Schlesinger Group has brought together a number of existing units to form a dedicated Schlesinger Clinical Research division. More
Former Dapresy director Rahul Jerome has launched a private membership community called The Insight Network, exclusively for practitioners and professionals in the research and insights sector. More
Nielsen is carrying out an 'optimization plan' to drive permanent cost savings and 'operational efficiencies', which will result in the loss of around 3,500 of its c.46,000 employees. The firm also plans to exit several smaller, underperforming markets and non-core businesses in H2 2020. More
According to media reports, Census Bureau officials are concerned that the White House has added two 'political operatives' to the US Census team. More
Experience management (XM) company Qualtrics and consulting firm Korn Ferry have ramped up their partnership, to meet the 'evolving employee listening needs' of their clients. More
London firm Measure Protocol, a person-based data marketplace using blockchain technology, has hired long-time industry exec John McLaren for a newly created role, Vice President of Sales. More
In the UK, the government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has launched an Instagram-based tool running opinion polls, through which 13-25 year olds can share their views on issues relating to policy-making. More
Central and Northern European customer service feedback specialist Dive has acquired Danish mystery shopping firm Servicemind. More
UK-based Ipsos-MORI announced on Friday it was restarting large-scale face-to-face fieldwork, after a successful trial of a Covid-19 safe approach. More
The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) has launched a Professional Standards Committee (PSC), which will investigate queries, issues and complaints of reported violations of MRSI or ICC/ESOMAR codes. More
In the UK, marcoms group Unlimited has opened a 'Human Understanding Lab', with a focus on the use of behaviour-led science in driving client performance. The lab supports Unlimited's four divisions: Marketing, Communications, Insight & Analytics and Digital. More
Experience management company Qualtrics has expanded its partnership with video analytics firm Voxpopme, to help clients access quant and qual feedback side-by-side on one system and obtain a 'more complete' view of their customers. More
Middle East-based full service agency 4SiGHT Research & Analytics has appointed former Kantar exec Farooq Malik as Senior Director Client Servicing and Business Development. More
In the UK Bob Qureshi, co-founder of i-view, has set up a Viewing Facilities Action Group, offering support and guidance to facility owners who have been forced to pay local authority rent and business rates during the Covid-19 crisis. More
In the US, behavioral and cognitive analytics technology company OSG has launched an employee engagement survey app called PxidaTX, to help HR professionals better understand what matters most to their employees and how their organization is performing across those areas. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has launched new guidance for face-to-face data collection, in advance of halls, viewing facilities and venues reopening in England on Saturday 4th July. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have adopted separate measures. More
Qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has promoted one-time interns Raphael Malek and Lucy Morrell to the role of Research Director; while Teresa Kuhn and Phoebe Ward - who joined the company as interns last year - have been promoted to SRE. More
Healthcare specialist Research Partnership has published two new patient syndicated reports: Living With Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Living With Crohn's Disease (CD). More
UK-based advisory group Cello Health has agreed to the terms of a takeover by Arsenal Capital Partners, a private equity firm which invests in healthcare and speciality industrials companies. The deal values the group at £178.8m. More
UK survey software firm Merlinco has appointed long-time SwissPeaks exec Simon Stephen as Managing Director, replacing John Tebboth who has held the role for the past twelve years, and who remains as a Board Director. More
In the US, purchase intent insight provider V12 has launched a cookieless solution that captures the online browsing and behavior data of in-market automotive shoppers, in real time. More
In the US, programmatic sample platform Lucid has appointed Pauline Wen as General Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary; leading the firm's legal efforts, including privacy and cybersecurity, transactions, compliance and risk management processes. More
In the US, long-time Lieberman Research Worldwide (LRW) execs Susie Ribnik and Linda Hobson have launched a new data collection agency called Ribnik Research, to meet the needs of small to mid-sized companies. Their new firm is based in Burbank, CA. More
Kantar has added the newly created role of Deputy Chief Executive to the role of Chief Financial Officer Ian Griffiths. More
Ipsos MORI is launching a study to investigate and benchmark the level of diversity among senior executives working for the UK's largest employers. More
DefinedCrowd, which provides data to support the development of artificial intelligence (AI) products, has raised $50.5m in a Series B round of funding. As a result the firm aims to expand its existing solutions, launch new offerings, double its headcount, and open more R&D offices around the world. More
Canada-based communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a Choice-based Ideation solution, rooted in behavioral science and designed to optimize brand research and development (R&D) cycles. More
Nine researchers with 'various ethnic backgrounds and industry experience' have joined forces to launch Colour of Research (CORe), a non-profit organisation that will champion ethnic diversity in the MR and insights industry. More
Reach3 Insights has appointed Bala Rajan as SVP based in Sydney, Australia, with a remit to help develop new hybrid quant and qual methodologies focused on its core 'conversational research' technologies and techniques. More
On-demand insights firm UserTesting has appointed Nextdoor's Chief Product Officer Tatyana Mamut to its Board of Directors. More
Kantar has rolled out a suite of innovation and product development solutions on its Marketplace automated research platform. More
Respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has hired former Ipsos Reid pollster John Wright to lead its newly launched Public Opinion Research division. More
In the US, consumer data management tech company SRAX has raised $13m in debt funding, which it will use to finance the expansion of its investor intelligence and data analytics platform Sequire, and its consumer data platform BIGtoken. More
Kantar has launched Link AI, a fully-automated, artificial intelligence-powered tool to measure and predict the impact of creative. More
Former Circle Research exec Chris Wells has launched a B2B market research consultancy called Adience, based in New York City. More
In the US, programmatic sample platform Lucid has launched a real time advertising insights and analytics product called the Impact Measurement Dashboard, whose self-service features can be used to measure brand lift and optimize media performance for digital campaigns. More
Nielsen has been granted Media Rating Council (MRC) re-accreditation for its Local People Meter (LPM) service and Set Meter measurement services in 19 of 31 mid-size US TV markets; as well as for its National People Meter (NPM) service. More
Insight marketplace and MR tech provider Cint has expanded its APAC presence with the opening of an office in Singapore. More
Nashville, TN-based digital qual expert 20|20 Research has promoted Julia Eisenberg to Senior Vice President, leading a team of strategic insights consultants and analysts. More
In New York, skin care and makeup products manufacturer The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has moved billionaire heiress Jane Lauder into the new role of EVP, Enterprise Marketing and Chief Data Officer. She will take up the position on July 1st. More
In New Zealand, full-service agency Glasshouse Consulting has hired Christine O'Sullivan as General Manager of its specialist product development and sensory evaluation business Futurescape Global, acquired 18 months ago. More
Online MR and technology company Further has launched three free-to-use qualitative research templates for projects relating to brand insight; communications testing; and insight and exploration for innovation/new product development. More
The contracting authority representing the main Danish TV broadcasters has given Nielsen a five-year contract to provide 'cross-media video measurement' data in the country from 1st January 2022. More
Scott Ernst, Global CEO of online specialist Macromill, is to step down after the group's annual shareholders meeting in September. Toru Sasaki, Representative Executive Officer for the group's Japan Operation, will take over the role. More
Toronto-based not-for-profit consumer and audience insights company Vividata has extended its partnership with Ipsos, to roll out the latter's iris online audience measurement solution in Canada. More
Gordon Brown, the co-founder of Millward Brown, died peacefully at his home in the UK on Saturday 6th June, after a short battle with dementia. He was 76 years old. More
UK television audience measurement body BARB has launched the beta version of a BVOD planner (broadcast video-on-demand), to help agencies and advertisers plan campaigns across BARB-reported commercial broadcasters' linear channels and VOD platforms. More
Helsinki and New York-based behavioral and market research platform Verto Analytics has promoted Pat Brennan to CEO, replacing founder Hannu Verkasalo who moves to focus on strategic partners, customers, vendors, marketing and public image. More
In New York, the ARF (Advertising Research Foundation) has set up a charitable program called 'ARF WIDE: Workforce Initiative for Diversity and Excellence', aiming to improve the diversity of the workforce across the research/analytics, media and advertising industries. More
In the US, consumer insights platform Digsite has appointed Tom Hauge as Business Development Director, while Amy Elkes joins as Director of Research and Consulting Services, Andrea Johnston as Marketing Research Community Specialist, and Lauren Dorothy as Product Analyst. More
Nicole Pike, former MD of Nielsen's video gaming analysis business Esports, has joined YouGov in the newly created role of Global Sector Head of Esports & Gaming. More
Paris-based OpinionWay Group has announced the opening of a new strategic regional hub in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to be led by Florence de Bigault, who joins the Group as MD of Sub-Saharan Africa. More
Ipsos Interactive Services' (IIS) has extended its MENA online panel with a launch in Iraq. The new panel boasts 8,000 members and is fully operational in all the state's major cities, in both Arabic and Kurdish languages. More
In the US, project management, survey fieldwork and tech provider Research for Good (RFG) has launched a suite of data acquisition and research tools called DataForce. More
Broadcaster Channel 4 has appointed Khalid Hayat in the newly created role of Director of Strategy and Consumer Insight. More
In the US, custom research specialist StandPoint has launched Chooseology, an alternative to traditional concept test products and purchase intent surveys which will help model the familiar online shopping experience and measure respondent behavior. More
Melbourne, Australia-based Telmy has expanded to New Zealand, where it has launched its tech-based platform for qual and UX respondent recruitment. Long-time industry exec Winifred Henderson joins in New Zealand as Managing Director. More
In Australia, magazine publisher Bauer Media has partnered with MR agency The Lab to launch a study called OFFSCRIPT, to understand the thoughts, feelings and social media behaviour of Gen Z, as well as how advertisers can target this generation. More
Hamburg, Germany-based Splendid Research is expanding its panel offering with the launch of an online access panel in Serbia. More
Retail and consumer goods image recognition and analytics firm Trax has partnered with in-store data and shopper insights platform Snooper, to provide brands in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) with a new store auditing solution which combines image recognition and crowdsourcing. More
In the US, mobile research specialist MFour has appointed former Corelogic exec Aaron Wepler as Chief Technology Officer. He replaces Wendell Hicken, who left in October to take up the post of CTO at MR business Sense360. More
The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) has appointed long-time industry exec Mitali Chowhan as Deputy Director General in its Secretariat team. More
London-based insights agency Opinium has promoted Alexa Nightingale to its management board after eight years at the company. More
In the US, smart TV viewing data provider Inscape has partnered with consultancy Dativa to launch a panel providing representative TV viewing data for all US households, demographics and geographies, built on Inscape's base of 15 million ACR-enabled Smart TVs. More
Nielsen Global Connect has launched a suite of shopper research solutions which use 'extreme' reality and gaming technology for virtual retail shelf and planogram testing, and to uncover in-store shopping behavior. More
UK-based data, insights and analytics consultancy STRAT7 has brought together its three agencies - ResearchBods, Bonamy Finch and LiFE - whose names will now all be prefixed with the STRAT7 brand. More
French audience measurement agency Médiamétrie has promoted Julien Rosanvallon to the position of Executive Vice President - Audience Measurements, replacing Benoît Cassaigne, who is retiring but will continue as an advisor. More
Eye tracking solutions provider Tobii has released a new wearable device, Tobii Pro Glasses 3, which it says will provide unbiased insights into human behaviour for both commercial and scientific use despite being 'exactly like putting on and wearing a standard pair of eyeglasses'. More
Global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has appointed former Kantar and TNS exec Inna Merenkova to head up UK operations as Managing Director, while Scott Brill has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer, based in the US. More
Indian data collection and MR services firm Aeon Market Research has appointed Ankur Sinha as VP Online Panels, as it expands into online research. He joins after almost seven years at analytics and research company Absolutdata. More
Montreal, Canada-based research software firm Voxco has launched a 'no charge' web site satisfaction survey tool, allowing businesses of all sizes to measure customer experience online. The tool is available in English, with more languages to follow shortly. More
Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint and online survey platform Survey2Connect (S2C) have partnered to launch a new solution called Survey2Connect Audience. Cint has also been selected to automate GfK's sampling operations. More
DIY survey software company SurveyMonkey is combining its customer experience (CX) solutions from two recent acquisitions into one umbrella brand, known as the GetFeedback Suite. More
In the UK, former Specsavers customer insights leader Eddie O'Brien has left to set up a support network called Destination 5.0> which will provide interim insight solutions to clients. More
In Australia, full-service public sector consultancy ORIMA Research has launched a specialist Disability Services Research division (DSR), led by former National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) exec Tamara Reinisch. More
Ipsos has named Maria Perez as Head of its self-service research platform Ipsos.Digital in North America. More
Ipsos has launched an online solution called CreativeSpark, through which clients can evaluate video creative in the US and UK, in as little as 24 hours. The tool will be rolled out in sixteen additional markets throughout the year. More
In the US, data quality monitoring solution provider Toro Data Labs has raised $4m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to accelerate product development and bring the product to a larger audience. More
DIY research software company SurveyMonkey has launched a post-pandemic offer for enterprise customers, to help them gain an understanding of the health and well-being of staff and convert feedback into an action plan for employees' safe return to work. More
Stockholm-based brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has announced net sales up 3.8% (constant currency) in the first quarter to MSEK 69.4m ($US 7.4m), with EBIT loss slashed from MSEK -3.3m to just -0.3m. The company has also moved quickly to off-set possible damage from the pandemic. More
Brookfield, WI-based full service provider the Dieringer Research Group, Inc. (The DRG) has formalized its partnership with Illinois healthcare sector research and brand consulting firm Klein & Partners. A DRG client for 15 years, Klein is now an affiliate. More
Boston, MA behavioral science-based market research consultancy Protobrand has appointed Veylinx co-founder Rainier van Rietschoten as VP, Client Services, starting today. More
US-based company Gongos has appointed former Engine SVP Analytics & Data Science Paula Sprowl as Senior Director, Research, overseeing its primary market research group. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has expanded the role of its London Managing Director Matilda Andersson to include management of the business in Amsterdam. More
In the US, the Insights Association (IA) has called for Congress to approve temporary and targeted liability limitations for insights businesses, in order to protect them from 'unwarranted' Covid-19-related lawsuits. More
The UK's MRS, the Insights Association in the US and The Research Society in Australia have teamed up to launch a global mental wellbeing study, which they say will assess the impact of the pandemic and inform support for the research sector. More
Kantar and Comscore have announced the renewal of their partnership with Italian TV audience measurement body Auditel. The contract, ongoing since August 2017, will now run until December 31st 2023. More
London-based community panel specialist Verve has introduced a 'fast-build' community panel service called Verve-Lite, giving access to an always-on group of customers and launched in as little as three days. More
In the US, community intelligence specialist Fuel Cycle has launched a platform called Ignition, which it says speeds up the gathering of customer and employee insights, simplifying and automating the research process. More
US-based recruitment marketing services company HireClix has launched a 'Human Experience Lab' (HX Lab), which uses neuroscience techniques to help potential employers understand how candidates engage with their brand during the recruitment cycle. More
Concluding our DRNO coverage of the Mobile Insights special edition, an interview with the inspirational founder and CEO of app-based feedback business Streetbees. The second half of this, along with lots more mobile-focused content, can be found in the supplement itself. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has appointed former Cint Germany MD Norman Behrend in a newly created role, Managing Director Central Europe. More
Netherlands-based data collection firm GDCC has consolidated its US-based call centers into an entirely work-from-home enterprise, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The firm has also promoted Lisa Mancini to the role of Vice President of Operations, North America. More
Southeast Asia-based qual and quant marketing intelligence company Divergent Insights has launched a cloud-based, fully automated survey management tool called OSM. More
Former QuenchTec CEO and Syno UK MD Allan Shaw has joined market research software development company Q One Tech as a Consultant, working with the team on business development, product expansion and strategy. More
New York-based qualitative research platform Sympler is expanding to Australia, where it has hired Karen Dwyer as a Partner. More
Milan, Italy-based crowd testing platform AppQuality has raised EUR 3.5m in a new round of funding, some of which will be used for expansion into new European markets. More
London-based data visualisation specialist Brytlyt has raised $4m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to build its sales operation, enter new markets, and grow its engineering team. More
In the US, brand and marketing insights company Shapiro+Raj has promoted Senior Director Lisa La Brooy to the role of Vice President, in charge of its New York Office. More
In the US, Paradigm Sample has promoted Steve Danziger to the role of Vice President of its Innovation Labs, while Kathleen Egge moves into the position of Vice President of Strategic Accounts. More
In the US, healthcare specialist Olson Research has appointed Michelle Soto as Senior Vice President, Research Solutions. More
Britain's Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has agreed that publishers will no longer have to make their circulation figures public. In addition, ABC will no longer publish its public monthly report, though the figures will still be available to advertisers. More
Continuing our excerpts from the recently published 'Mobile Age' special issue, Reach3 Insights CEO & founder Matt Kleinschmit looks at the rise of the mobile messaging-based Survey - with case studies from work for Jagermeister, Hyundai and Kimberly-Clark. More
Hamburg, Germany-based Splendid Research has launched new online access panels in Japan and Israel. More
London-based research platform Attest has raised $15m from an unnamed investor. This new round of funding will be used to further expand in the US, where it has hired Marc Schraer and Tamer Abouleinein. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) and Next15's data and insights group Savanta have officially launched a framework to guide businesses in building competitive advantage through market and social research. More
Paul Russell has re-joined data collection and research agency Perspective as Operations Director and a member of the Board. More
Jamin Brazil and Christy Luquire have joined the Board of Directors of data quality and anti-fraud software platform SampleChain. More
India and Australia-based online panel and technology provider Orchidea Research has hired Patrick Callaghan as Director, Business Development for the North America region. More
In Australia, trade body AMSRO has released an interim discussion paper relating to its inquiry into the performance of last year's pre-federal election opinion polls. The association says the inquiry has found disclosure standards relating to the polls to be 'inadequate'. More
Australian research and marcoms group Enero - which owns MR agencies The Leading Edge (TLE) and The Digital Edge - has appointed former Nike exec Brent Scrimshaw as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Matthew Melhuish who left the company in March. More
In the UK, out-of-home (OOH) audience research body Route has appointed Robert Ray as Chief Executive Officer, replacing James Whitmore who has led the organisation since 2005. More
Global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has expanded its LAB suite of qualitative services (Leverage Authentic Behavior) with the addition of two new modules - LivingLAB and ListenLAB. More
Ken Østreng, CEO of research software firm Confirmit, has left the company following its sale to Nordic private equity fund Verdane. Tech sector exec Kyle Ferguson has now taken over his role. More
In the US, a group of senators has written to Senate leadership asking for additional funding for the Census Bureau, which they say is needed to address the operational changes resulting from the current public health crisis. More
In Vietnam, Kantar has transferred David Anjoubault from Worldpanel to take up the role of CEO of its Insights division. He replaces Nitin Nishandar, who has been named Chairman of the Insights division in Vietnam and Chief Client Officer. More
Mansour Fahimi Ph.D., formerly Chief Statistician at Ipsos, has rejoined US-based sampling and tech solutions provider Marketing Systems Group [MSG] as EVP and Chief Data Scientist of its Advanced Analytics and Methods department. More
The insights sector is in line for an $18.7 billion loss in value due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report released by industry body ESOMAR and based on a survey of 2,889 professionals from 127 countries. More
DIY survey software provider SurveyMonkey has enhanced its app integration with the Microsoft Teams communication platform, to make it easier for team leaders and employees to generate surveys and collect feedback from one another in the 'new era' of home working. More
Edinburgh agency 56 Degree Insight has launched the Scottish Tourism Index survey, to monitor the views of Scots during the Covid-19 pandemic about future holidays and leisure. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has published a set of guidelines for returning to work after the Covid-19 lockdown, including face-to-face activity - but is also calling for 'much greater clarity' from the government. More
Online opinion and behavioral data specialist Netquest has added new online panels in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland and Switzerland. More
In India, full-service agency Karvy Insights has partnered with online survey platform Survey2Connect (S2C), to create a range of UI/UX (user interface/user experience) and ad testing solutions for clients worldwide. More
Experience management company Qualtrics has added new capabilities to its CoreXM enterprise insight solution, to help businesses gather feedback through advanced listening channels. More
Measure Protocol, a blockchain-based marketplace for person-based data, has launched a rapid insights tool, 'Measure QuickAnswers'. The solution taps the company's community of Gen Z and Millennial mobile-only app users based in the US, Canada and the UK. More
Nielsen Media has rolled out its VisualDNA tool for the Hong Kong market, promising help to companies, brands and marketers in understanding the 'human personality'. More
In the US, cable channel Newsmax TV has hired former Fox News research chief Jason Villar as Vice President of Research and Analysis. More
Research software company SurveyMonkey has reported a 29% increase in first quarter revenue to $88.3m, driven primarily by enterprise sales which increased 128% during the period. More
Ipsos has partnered with mobile research tech firm RealityMine to create a cross-device panel measuring digital behaviour on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. The panel will form part of Ipsos' contract to supply the UK's online audience measurement standard. More
Julian Green, former MD of Kantar's B2B practice, is launching a B2B insight and opinion leader communities firm called Nostradamus Consulting. The company has brought in two former oil and gas industry execs to advise on the development of its first initiative, an energy-focused community. More
US trade body the Insight Association (IA) has issued guidelines to help companies throughout the insights and data analytics space 'prepare for business in a post-COVID world' despite a confusing picture where some states are extending lockdowns and others lifting them. More
Peep Laja, co-founder of data-driven marketing training firm the CXL Institute, has rolled out an audience research tool for web site copy, called Copytesting. More
In Barcelona, Spain, online opinion and behavioral data specialist Netquest has launched an Online Focus Group solution. More
US-based MR data and tech firm Numerator has launched an omnichannel consumer insights panel for Canada, focusing on consumer shopping and brand behaviour across fifteen retail channels - including online - for individual panelists. More
In the UK, customer data and intelligence provider ResearchBods has launched a pop-up community platform called 'ex-plor lite', providing the same features as its 'ex-plor' platform, but specifically designed as a short-term, self-serve solution that can be launched in just 24 hours. More
UK-based digital marcoms group Next Fifteen Communicationshas named Penny Ladkin-Brand as Chair of the Board, effective 1st February 2021. She will replace Richard Eyre, who remains in the post until the end of the current financial year. More
Brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has partnered with mobile research tech firm RealityMine, to provide behavioural data technology for the former's Omnichannel Path to Purchase and Digital Pulse solutions. More
Measure Protocol, a blockchain-based marketplace for person-based data, has launched a solution to help data buyers and market researchers gain a more 'holistic view' of their consumer audiences through passive mobile device data collection. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) and Australia's newly rebranded Research Society have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) through which the two organisations can share expertise, resources and development costs. More
In the US, online qual research platform Aha! has launched QuickSprint Studies, which helps researchers accelerate their innovation initiatives and concept testing; and provides 'mini-digital ethnographies' for brand strategy as well as 'pulse checks' for cultural events. More
In Australia, branding consultancy Principals has appointed Mary Winter as Insights Director, working on client projects across the firm's three offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland. More
Research and insight training company the Research Academy has brought forward the start date for its MRS Advanced Certificate online course, allowing workers on the UK government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to use the time to gain a professional qualification. More
In the UK, Bristol-based insight industry language specialist EMPOWER has hired Russell Carleton for the newly created role of IT Manager. More
US-based online survey software provider QuestionPro has launched a trivia, quiz and polling platform called LivePolls, to both 'engage and excite' audiences and help understand their preferences. One aim is to allow firms to check in with currently home working employees on a regular basis. More
Canada-based online sample and research technology specialist WiseWorks has appointed former Dynata ops exec Todd Baughman as Director, Integration and Insights, based in the US; while former Kantar exec Peter Gaal joins in Germany as Director of Sales. More
Australia's professional insights association the AMSRS has rebranded as 'The Research Society', aiming to reflect its evolution into 'a more contemporary community association... providing benefits and services to research professionals throughout their career'. More
Cincinnati, Ohio-based firm EMI Research Solutions has launched a new DIY sample platform called CONNECTOR, promising online sample from a large network of providers sourced via a single, simple dashboard. More
In Munich, Germany, recently renamed customer experience and research company ISC-CX has launched a system called Covid-19 Feedback, allowing retail customers to give real-time feedback to management after purchase, pick-up or curbside delivery. More
Saul Ben-Zeev, co-founder of full-service agency C+R Research and of Fieldwork, Inc., and a pioneer of the focus group, died on Tuesday at the age of 93. More
In South Africa, non-profit industry body the Marketing Research Foundation (MRF) has appointed Johann Koster as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Greg Garden, who held the role for nearly three years. More
Nielsen has reported a 0.3% drop in first quarter revenues to $1.56 billion, equivalent to a 1.5% rise on a constant currency basis. It also turned a net profit of $43m in Q1 2019 into a net loss of $18m a year later, although adjusted EBITDA remained positive. More
Ipsos MORI is to support the UK government's new home testing programme for coronavirus, which aims to track levels of infection in the community. More
UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) is offering 'Special Skills Lockdown Bursaries' to candidates who might struggle with the costs of taking the online MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research. More
Marcoms giant WPP has reported a 4.9% fall in first quarter revenue, reflecting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and has introduced further cost-saving measures. The group has also applied for a £600m government-backed loan. More
Nordic MR specialist Userneeds has partnered with mobile research tech firm RealityMine, aiming to provide a more holistic view of the digital behaviour of Nordic consumers. More
British-based tech-led insight agency FlexMR has updated its InsightHub online platform, adding video focus group features which sit alongside text chat functionality. More
BBC Global News, a member of the broadcaster's commercial group of companies, has partnered with communities specialist Maru/Matchbox to uncover implicit, emotional reactions to its news coverage relating to the Covid-19 virus. More
Al (Albert) Angrisani, turnaround specialist and former President and CEO of Harris Interactive, died as a result of complications from COVID-19 at the Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro on Thursday, April 23rd, at the age of 70. More
British-based full service insight consultancy Basis Research has opened an office in Chicago, where it has appointed brand insights and strategy specialist Katie Buckley as Managing Partner. More
Toronto, Canada-based customer insight solution provider Vision Critical has launched a cloud-based app called Touchpoint, to help brands create faster interactions with a wider customer base. More
Shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has launched a solution called PackFlash eCommerce, for use in testing product images presented in online shopping platforms. More
Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint has completed its platform integration with P2Sample, which it acquired last year. The combination enables Cint to offer access to more than 100 million respondents. More
Market research socialising and networking group the Research Club will be hosting its first online event, the Lockdown Party, next Monday 4th May from 6pm GMT until late. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge to participate. More
California-based customer experience management specialist Medallia has agreed to acquire real-time speech-to-text platform Voci Technologies for around $59m in cash. More
The Board of Northumberland-based insights firm DRG has invited Paul Wealleans, Client Services Director at Panelbase, to take on the leadership of its online research supplier following the sudden death of its founder Angus Webb. More
Margaret Imai-Compton, distinguished Fellow of Canada's MRIA, qual research trainer and consultant, has died after a seven-year battle with ovarian cancer, during which she continued to pursue her passion for mountain climbing and her research career. More
Continuing our focus on 'Insights in the Mobile Age' Mario Paic, Global Head of Data Science, looks at the rise of the smartphone and discusses its central role today at Ipsos Audience Measurement. More
Canada-based communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a concept test solution called Concept Connections, which combines System 1 and 2 measurements to help businesses understand the differences between what consumers say and what they actually do. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has appointed two new client leaders: former Nielsen exec Elena Protopapas as Standard Account Manager in London, and former Ipsos exec Marek Slodyczka as Vice President, Global Accounts in New York. More
Paul Williams, former M3 Global Research MD, has re-joined London-based market research and healthcare translation specialist GlobaLexicon as Director, Commercial. In addition, James Heneghan has been promoted to the role of Director, Client Services. More
In London, voice technology firm Phebi has launched an SaaS product called Phebi Detect, which the firm claims makes it easier to process audio files collected during online or phone studies. More
Ipsos has posted first quarter revenue of EUR 428.7m, up 1.6% from the same period last year; but says its order book in the three weeks from March 30th has seen a significant fall. More
Online community specialist CMNTY has added a real-time video chat functionality called Focus to its platform, to help researchers host video sessions as part of in-depth interviews, virtual focus groups and live brainstorming exercises. More
Swedish eye tracking developer Tobii AB has announced that Chief Financial Officer Johan Wilsby has decided to leave his position to move to a new company. Wilsby has a six-month notice period and will leave Tobii in the autumn. More
YouGov has reported a 16% increase in revenue to £76.9m in its half-year (HY) results for the six months to 31st January, compared with HY 2019, when revenue increased 18% to £66.5m. The firm also says it has not yet seen any 'material impact' to the business from the Covid-19 pandemic. More
Market research has been listed as the worst-performing category in the latest IPA Bellwether Report, as UK marketing budgets decline at the fastest rate since the global financial crisis of 2009. More
In the US, international data collection business Schlesinger Group has acquired qualitative technology-led research services provider 20|20 Research for an undisclosed sum. Jim Bryson, founder and former Chair at 20|20, is retiring from the business. More
'You've Missed the Boat - but they're Every 30 Minutes'. The concluding part of RealityMine CEO Chris Havemann's upbeat look at the impact of mobile tech on market research. Today: Why MR firms are 'fundamentally well-positioned', and where the immediate opportunities lie. More
US agency Horowitz Research has launched a consultancy called Green Horizons, dedicated to delivering consumer insights for the cannabis and 'holistic health' industries. More
... but they're Every 30 Minutes. Kicking off a week of coverage from our 'Insight in the Mobile Age' supplement, RealityMine CEO Chris Havemann looks at the continuing opportunity for market researchers in a world of consumers and media changed almost out of recognition by the mobile revolution. Part 1 of 2. More
Canada-based communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a branded tool called 'Pop-up Communities', which it says can be deployed in just fourteen days. More
In the US, online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has introduced a feature called Quota Based Pricing (QBP), through which clients can price each quota within a project uniquely and capture harder to reach audiences faster with a customized incentive. More
In an update to members regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, MRS Chief Executive Jane Frost has said she is 'disappointed' that the UK government has not yet found a way round the issue of remunerating directors of limited companies who take all their income from dividends. More
US-based non-profit education body Market Research Institute International (MRII) has introduced a scholarship program in honor of its former Executive Director Reg Baker, covering enrolment costs for the Principles Express family of courses. More
UK-based kids, parents and family market intelligence provider The Insights People has promoted two of its team, including Richard Craig who moves into the newly created position of Chief Data & Information Officer. The firm has also appointed seven new members of staff. More
London-based qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has appointed former NatCen exec Carol McNaughton Nicolls as Associate Partner. More
Angus Webb, the founder and Managing Director of online research supplier Panelbase, died last Wednesday evening from the COVID-19 virus, at a hospital in Spain. He was 45 years old. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has launched an online data collection solution in China, to analyze cross-device consumer behavioral data in real time. More
Industry body ESOMAR has appointed Leger CEO Jean-Marc Léger and Maru/Blue MD Rob Berger as its new Canadian representatives. More
Pat Heakin, founder of qual and quant data collection agency Heakin Research, died on March 29th at the age of 98. More
A number of the team behind Australia's Lewers Research have launched a voice and chat bot agency called 'Research by Bot', promising clients ready-to-launch or custom qualitative research at scale. More
Location data providers Factual and Foursquare are merging, to create what the former's founder and CEO Gil Elbaz says is the number one independent leader in location-based technology and data. Terms have not been disclosed. More
Marketing and MR Agency System 1 has announced that its Chief Financial Officer James Geddes is stepping down on April 20th, after seventeen years with the firm. He will be succeeded by former British Airways exec Chris Willford. More
Kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has launched a service called SnapSurvey, allowing brands to get answers about the kids and parents' demographic within 72 hours. The launch spans five continents. More
UK-based pharma researcher Purdie Pascoe has appointed former Kantar Health UK Managing Director Stephen Potts as its sixth Director. More
MRS Chief Executive Jane Frost has again written to UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak, urging 'one simple step to save one of the UK's world leading sectors'. More
Silicon Valley customer experience management specialist Medallia has launched a suite of tools using video communication and crowdsourcing to speed up the innovation process. More
UK-based medical device MR consultancy Creative Medical Research (CMR) has hired Matt Higgs for a newly created role, Head of Insights, working across both qual and quant methods. The firm has also promoted Lucy Little to Qualitative Research Director. More
Industry association ESOMAR has called on national government and business leaders who commission research to regard data as an 'essential source' in understanding citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic; and has launched two related data-sharing initiatives. More
In London, live video streaming technology specialist HighTech Development has partnered with online video meeting software developer Whereby, to develop a suite of new products. The first of these tools is a platform for market research focus groups called HT FACE. More
In the US, consumer data management tech company SRAX has launched a solution called BIGtoken Lightning Insights, which claims to return 'robust audience insights in just hours'. More
Britain's official statistics service, the ONS, is introducing new surveys and data sources reflecting 'widespread disruption to the UK and constraints on its operations'. More
DIY research software firm SurveyMonkey has launched a suite of tools called Expert Solutions, through which customers can test product and marketing concepts with a global audience. More
DIY online research software company SurveyMonkey has appointed Amit Sethi as Vice President of Data, Karen Budell as VP of Brand Marketing and Gary Fuges as VP of Investor Relations. More
London-based pollster Survation has hired Carl Shoben as Director of Strategic Communications and Madhur Mehra as Director of Research. More
US-based healthcare polling company and online physician community Sermo has invited all doctors globally to participate in a Covid-19 Real Time Barometer study, providing a weekly perspective of physicians' insights and perspectives on the crisis. More
In the US, Arianne Larimer has returned to online sample marketplace PureSpectrum as VP Client Development, in charge of the East Sales team, after a stint at video analytics firm Voxpopme. More
UK-based kids, tweens and teens specialist Kids Insights has launched in Mexico, where it will survey a total of 21,000 children each year. More
Kantar has launched a study to understand the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on citizens across the G7 nations. More
In the UK, consumer and sensory researcher MMR Group has acquired insights-driven creative agency Together, which specialises in branding, digital marketing, social media, communications and packaging design. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined Senator Amy Klobuchar to introduce legislation that would ensure Americans are able to vote by mail this year, amid disruptions caused by Covid-19. More
Global association ESOMAR is teaming up with MrWeb and its existing partner Women In Research to give data and insights professionals access to the world's largest specialist index of job opportunities, with new packages and offers also launched. More
Jane Frost, Chief Executive of Britain's MRS, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak warning of the 'immediate and potentially catastrophic impact' of the Covid-19 crisis on the industry, and asking for further help in protecting it. More
Resuming our series looking in depth at mobile data and insights, QuenchTec Survey Designer Dennis Sewberath highlights seven ways to turn a survey into a 'beautiful conversation', for the sake of better feedback and higher completion rates. More
US-based association the ARF (Advertising Research Foundation) is to support the U.S. Census Bureau in building awareness of the 2020 Census, and encouraging participation. More
Customer insights platform UserTesting has raised $100m in new funding, which it will use to increase market share and accelerate investment. The firm has also acquired Norway-based multilingual experience testing specialist Teston, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, a judge has ruled that M/A/R/C Research did not breach the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) when it distributed a survey by fax. More
In Canada, online customer community solution provider Vanilla Forums has secured an undisclosed amount of investment, which it will use to expand into new markets. More
The US Census Bureau has announced the suspension of field operations for two weeks until April 1st, to protect the health and safety of the American public, its own employees and temporary census takers during the Covid-19 pandemic. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and its non-profit research, development and standard-setting consortium the IAB Tech Lab have hired Angelina Eng for the newly created role of Vice President of Measurement and Attribution. More
Tech-based market research company AudienceProject has replaced Comscore as the official measurement partner for Media Metrics Finland, the measurement body for the country's web sites and apps. More
Gale Metzger (pictured), co-founder of Statistical Research, Inc. (SRI), died on March 16, 2020 in New Jersey at the age of 83. More
Consumer intelligence platform Toluna has appointed Ron Ruffinott as a Senior Research Solutions Consultant based in the company's US headquarters in Connecticut; while Dixit Chanana joins as Country Director in India, based in the Gurgaon office. More
In New York, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has hired Brad Berens for a newly created role, Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President, in charge of its research team and thought leadership activities. More
Industry body MRUC (Media Research Users Council) has changed its name to MRUC India, a move intended to 'capture its national stature'. More
In the US, product intelligence specialist Amplitude has acquired predictive analytics firm ClearBrain, for an undisclosed sum. More
Daniel Wirth has been appointed as CEO of Kynetec and the Kleffmann Group, following the recent announcement that the two agricultural and animal health research specialists are merging. More
With the Covid-19 pandemic now sweeping the world, research charity the MRBA has issued a statement reminding UK employers that it is here to help, including in cases where the industry's casual workers get into severe financial hardship due to the impact of the virus. More
Silicon Valley-based computer vision and AI-powered video analytics company Deep North has closed a $25.7m Series A funding round, which it says will be used in 'digitizing the next generation of brick-and-mortar retail and shopping centers on a global level'. More
UK-based emotion analytics specialist Realeyes has appointed Kyoko Tanaka to lead its Tokyo office. More
Retail and consumer goods analytics firm Trax has acquired on-demand retail services platform Survey.com, which provides full-service research solutions, survey programming, data management and analysis, and reporting services. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
MR software firm Remesh has raised $25m in a Series A2 round of funding, which will be used to drive expansion of the company and its platform. More
US research and training company Burke, Inc. has promoted Jamie Baker-Prewitt for a newly created role, Chief Research Officer. More
London-based healthcare fieldwork agency Just Worldwide has appointed Sarah Bennett as Field Manager, based in the UK; while Yuichi Ohta joins in Japan in the newly created position of Research Manager. More
UK television audience measurement body BARB has combined its daily audience data with the IPA's TouchPoints survey, to help media owners, clients and agencies understand more about viewers through a wider range of behavioural definitions. More
In the US, healthcare market research firm InCrowd has appointed former Kantar exec Joseph Baldini as Chief Technology Officer, leading its engineering function. More
In Vancouver, Canada, Reid Campbell Group, the parent company of Reach3 Insights and Rival Technologies has appointed Ivan Chan as Chief Financial Officer. More
In Australia, marcoms and media buying group WPP AUNZ has launched a new product development business called 'big', promising to create new categories, new markets and new revenue for clients. More
UK agency group Unlimited has appointed Lee Gibbons as Managing Director of its sports offering, responsible for driving growth across sports and entertainment using existing agency capabilities and through a partnership with US-based sports sponsorship and entertainment agency Integrity 9. More
In the US, qual and quant provider Ironwood Insights Group (IIG) has appointed long-time industry exec Brendan Sammon as Vice President of Client Relationships. More
Cint has added Helene Stafferöd Westerlund as Chief Technology Officer, heading up its global technology objectives as part of its executive team. More
Online community specialist CMNTY corporation has announced a partnership with first-party data and insights platform Dynata, promising to help brands improve audience engagement via a more complete picture of customers. More
In Canada, research software firm Voxco has made two senior appointments: Jonathan Levitt as CMO and Abhey Rana as VP Growth Marketing. More
Resuming our series of articles on Insights in the Mobile Age, Ross McLean, Vice President, Mobile Qualitative at 20|20 Research details his four crucial tips for great mobile qual. More
In the US, Kantar has launched a service called 'Entertainment On Demand', to help the music industry and investors understand the consumer journey for digital video and music subscription services. The service will be rolled out in the UK, Germany, Australia and Japan in H2 2020. More
UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) is asking for donations for its annual auction, which provides funds to research industry execs and their families who have fallen on hard times. More
Paris, France-based MR firm OpinionWay has expanded to Poland, opening offices in Krakow and Warsaw. More
In the UK James Whitmore, the MD of out-of-home (OOH) audience research body Route, is to step down for health reasons. Company Chair Katherine Almond is leading the search for a replacement. More
In the US, focus group facilities and recruiting services company L&E Research has expanded with the acquisition of the midtown Manhattan office of Consumer Center. More
In the US, conjoint analysis and MaxDiff tools provider Sawtooth Software has partnered with digital rewards platform Rybbon, aiming to increase response rates by offering automated rewards. More
Research and advisory company Oxford Business Group (OBG) has launched its first Global Survey of CEOs. More
International data collection group Schlesinger Associates has acquired tech-led sample, survey and quantitative research specialist Market Cube, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, automated ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has launched a solution called Early Concept, designed to rapidly determine the 'opportunity profile' of different concepts - breakthrough, refresh or emergent for future development. More
Tech-enabled researcher Maru Group has updated its Implicit Association Testing (IAT) tool, with the addition of a drag and drop interface which it claims eliminates bias and improves the quality of data. More
Respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has launched a panel management tool called Forums, through which clients can manage and execute community research themselves or access support from the firm's Insight and Community Management team. More
Tech-led market research agency FlexMR has released a new version of its SurveyMR tool, adding flowcharts and workflow functionality to make it easier for users to 'understand, program and take part in surveys'. More
In Cincinnati, online sample provider EMI Research Solutions has brought in former Abt Associates and Kantar executive Beth Teehan as its new Chief Operating Officer. She reports to CEO Michael Holmes. More
Ipsos has reported a 14.5% increase in full-year revenue to slightly more than EUR 2 billion; with organic, constant currency growth of 3.8%, the firm's best annual performance since 2011. More
Nielsen Holdings has announced 2019 revenues of $6.498bn, equivalent to a 1.7% rise at constant currency, although a fall of 0.3% as reported. Q4 revenues were $1.69bn, up 2.0% on a reported basis and 2.7% in constant currency terms. More
ENGINE Insights, the research and analytics division of full-service media and marketing services group ENGINE, has launched a Small Business Omnibus Survey under the CARAVAN brand. More
In Rotterdam, Netherlands, global consumer agency InSites Consulting has appointed former Haystack Consulting exec Kjell Massen as Business Director; and moved Margot Schuil to the role of Global Client Partner. Niels Schillewaert takes over Schuil's former role as country MD. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science specialist Nepa has promoted Ann-Christine Fick to the position of Chief Financial Officer, while Michael Wallin joins in the newly created role of Head of Investor Relations. More
London-based 'customer understanding' platform Chattermill has raised £6.2m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to expand its offices in London and Berlin. New hires will include engineers, data scientists, enterprise sales and marketing experts. More
Wipro Digital, the digital unit of business process services company Wipro, has acquired full service digital customer experience company Rational Interaction. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Oslo, Norway-based data collection specialist Norstat has appointed Mats Beck as Head of its newly established Strategy and M&A unit. More
The New York-based Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has released a glossary of commonly used creative testing terms, aiming to 'bridge the gap' between creatives and researchers. More
In Chicago, marketing and business communications specialist RRD has launched a solution called In-Store Insights, which combines the firm's expertise in shopper experience research, data science and analytics, in-store strategy, and retail activations. More
In the UK, the Centre for Homelessness Impact and the Office for National Statistics have jointly developed a tool to provide insight into the conditions required to tackle homelessness. More
Adam Crozier, former CEO of broadcaster ITV, the Football Association and Royal Mail, has been named Non-Executive Chairman of Kantar. More
In the UK, three former employees of 2CV Research - Adam Short, Ollie Willis and Alex Nketiah - have launched a global full-service insight agency called The Point, promising clients in the tech, entertainment and sport sectors 'better understanding'. More
US online survey software provider QuestionPro has opened an office in London, with plans to grow it to fifteen people across sales, marketing and customer success during the year. More
In the US, consumer understanding specialist Curion has appointed former Leo Burnett Global CFO Greg Silich as Chief Operating Officer. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in survey technology provider Askia, and says it will tap the firm's expertise and technology to develop the 'survey platform of the future'. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has announced the acquisition of the UK business of Future Thinking, which has 61 staff in offices in Oxford and London. Future Thinking France and the Gemseek division, which employ most of the Group's c.350 staff, are not part of the deal. More
On-demand insights firm UserTesting has appointed Matt Zelen as Chief Customer Officer, and Jamie Anderson as Chief Growth Advisor. More
Silicon Valley customer experience management specialist Medallia has agreed to pay around $26m in cash to acquire video feedback platform LivingLens, which it says will help it 'bring the voice of the customer and employee to life'. More
UK-based agency Trinity McQueen has announced the acquisition of Blinc Partnership, which specialises in research for content and creative development. More
Research, media and events provider Informa Tech is bringing together its analysis and research units into a single entity. Ovum, Heavy Reading, Tractica and most of what was previously IHS Markit's TMT research business will be unified under the new brand, Omdia. More
Verne Churchill, formerly CEO and President of Market Facts, died peacefully last Thursday, January 30th, at the age of 87. More
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Directions Research has appointed Jason Ebbing as SVP, Executional Excellence. More
Technology-driven cultural insights agency ThinkNow has relaunched its ConneKt proprietary audience planning and segmentation tool, promising 'multicultural research and technology on-demand' for marketers. More
Following its acquisition of WPP AUNZ's Data Investment Management (DIM) division, Kantar has announced a number of steps which it says will help drive growth for its clients in Australia, including the retirement of the Colmar Brunton brand in the country. More
In the US, MR data quality and anti-fraud solutions specialist Imperium has released a tool called 'Fraudience', which taps into billions of digital patterns created by fraudsters and uses machine learning, NLP and neural networks to combat threats to data quality. More
French healthcare sector fieldwork agency QualWorld has expanded its presence to twelve countries including Sweden, Poland and India. More
London-based YouthSight has extended its 150,000-strong direct access community of 16 to 30-year olds to include the 13 to 15-year old demographic. The agency claims this makes it the only panel supplier in the UK to provide the MR industry with direct access to younger teens. More
Ipsos has acquired Maritz group's Mystery Shopping business in North America, for an undisclosed sum. More
British broadcaster ITV has appointed rival Channel 4's Head of Data Science Sanjeevan Bala as Group Chief Data & AI Officer. He will take up his new position in May. More
In Australia, financial services insights and consulting firm DBM has appointed former National Australia Bank exec Kipling Zubevich as its new CEO. Co-founder Dhruba Gupta will continue to focus on business development and promoting the firm's DBM Atlas survey. More
Colorado-based Egg Strategy is moving its corporate headquarters within the state, from Boulder to Denver - where more than 40 percent of its nearly 70 employees live. More
Research-on-research body the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has announced it is working on a TV Attribution study, aiming to define best practices for better representation of television in attribution models. More
Lab-based research specialist MediaScience, which uses traditional, biometric and neuroscience tools to study conscious and emotional reactions to media and ads, has opened a tech-focused qual division, HARK Connect. Former Ipsos exec Elissa Moses will lead the new team as Managing Partner. More
Market intelligence and content services specialist Netscribes has expanded its network of offices in India, and grown its workforce to more than 1,000 worldwide. More
UK-based research group Walnut Unlimited has appointed former Flamingo Managing Partner Anniki Sommerville as an Associate Director, adding to its qualitative offer and with a particular focus on family and child insights. More
US-based sample solutions provider InnovateMR has appointed former Greenfield Online SVP John Tan as Chief Operations Officer; Aakash Bhasin as Managing Director of India; and Joe DiGregorio as Global Director of Programming. More
P-O Westerlund has been named CEO of Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa AB, replacing Fredrik Östgren who leaves the company with immediate effect. More
One-year-old immersive research firm Further&Further has added a fourth office in Chicago, to existing locations in Montreal, New York and London. Eve Ejsmont and Brian Flannery join the new office as Directors while Matthew Pemberton joins the Montreal office as a Film Director. More
Century City, CA-based TV, film and video research firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) has announced a strategic partnership with insight community company My-Take, to offer clients recruitment of fans and customers into private advisory or VIP consumer panels of 1,000 to 100,000 members. More
Online sampling and customizable research tool provider SoapBoxSample has launched Customer Boardroom (CBR), which it says offers 'an alternative to traditional online bulletin boards, digital ethnographies, in-depth interviews and customer advisory boards'. More
In the US, media and entertainment conglomerate WarnerMedia has appointed former Nielsen exec Cheryl Idell as Executive Vice President, Chief Research Officer of its Entertainment & Direct-to-Consumer divisions. More
In London, voice technology firm Phebi has introduced a new product, which it claims makes it easy to 'voice-enable' any survey. More
US-based customer experience platform AskNicely has opened its first European office in Amsterdam, where the firm's expansion will be led by Kyle Bolster, Vice President and General Manager for Europe. More
Continuing our special features on Insight in the Mobile Age Abraham Muller, CTO at Brandwatch Qriously, looks at how mobile methods can make election polling easier to implement and more accurate. More
London-based full-service agency Opinium is to open an office in Brussels, under the leadership of Director Emily Dickinson. More
Memories are short (well ours are anyway) and when we started our summary of 'the MR world in 2002' we expected to find an industry deeply affected by the global downturn of that year. Only when we got reading did we remember that of course, until 2009, research used to be recession-proof! More
Innovation insights and data firm Clarivate Analytics is to acquire healthcare-focused research and data provider Decision Resources Group (DRG) from its present owner, Piramal. The $950m price tag comprises $900m in cash and approximately $50m in Clarivate shares. More
In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, full-service agency Explain Market Research has undergone a management buyout, with founder David Shiel selling his controlling 75% stake. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the UK, television audience measurement body BARB has begun reporting of unduplicated programme reach and time spent viewing figures across multiple screens. More
Nielsen has launched what it claims is the world's first passive in-car measurement system, using a combination of proprietary algorithms and the 'accelerometer' built into its Portable People Meter, which can identify and report when a panellist is inside a vehicle. More
Dutch full service agency DVJ Insights has opened an office in Hamburg, and appointed GfK veterans Erk Maassen and Stephan Knäble as Managing Partners, to lead and develop it. More
Qual research, innovation and strategy agency The Sound has appointed Elizabeth Lockwood, a former Head of Europe for Ipsos Strategy3, to lead its UK office. She is tasked with expanding the firm's offer into new markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More
Matt Michaud has rejoined global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO as Senior Vice President, Head of Behavioral Qualitative, based in London as part of the Innovation Team. More
Tech and consumer specialist Breaking Blue Research is formally joining sister agency Cello Health Insight, in a move which the firms say will add specialist expertise to strengthen the overall business insights and analytics offer. More
Digital advertising industry body IAB UK has hired Elizabeth Lane for the newly created role of Head of Research and Measurement; Dominic Tillson as Head of Industry Relationships and Initiatives; and Antonio Forte as Industry Initiatives Executive. More
Researchers at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications are collaborating with Comscore, to identify the causes of advertising avoidance and audience drop-off during commercial airings. More
The US division of research automation platform Methodify has appointed former Cint execs Kwami Lewis, as Managing Director, and Brett Cohen as Director of Sales. More
Healthcare market research programming and fieldwork consulting company Owl Solutions has appointed long-time Dynata exec Sara Wesolowski as Director of Programming. More
Full-service pharma market research and consultancy firm ThinkGen has hired former GfK Healthcare COO Bart Weiner as President, joining two ex-colleagues and replacing founder Noah Pines who moves to the role of Chief Executive. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has launched PureScore, an advanced machine learning-driven respondent scoring system designed to block 'low-quality' respondents from taking surveys. More
In the US, insights process management firm OpinionRoute has partnered with device identification and fraud detection/prevention specialist DeviceForensIQ to launch an online solution called CleanID, which aims to combat survey respondent fraud and duplication. More
Nielsen has appointed David Rawlinson as Chief Executive Officer of its Global Connect business, while Linda Zukauckas will take up the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Global Media business. Both will join on February 3rd. More
Recently formed, UK-based 'data-driven strategy group' STRAT7 has launched a data collection and analytics service called Citizen, offering research agencies targeted access to 110 million consumers in 85 countries. More
London firm Measure Protocol, a blockchain-based marketplace for person-based data, has hired ZappiStore's former Head of Operations Guy Wates for a newly created position, Director of Operations and Programmatic. More
Escalent, formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace, has appointed Nancy Arter as SVP in its Technology & Telecommunications divisions, while Keir Lococo joins as a Vice President in the Health division. More
Youth media network and marketing services company Fullscreen has launched a study called 'The Next Gen Family', focused on the 'Parennial' demographic, comprising 36 million Americans between the ages of 25 and 37 with at least one child at home. More
'Accuracy and Authenticity - How Smartphones Revolutionised Research', by Verve's Richard Preedy. This is the first article in a series over the next 6 weeks focusing on mobile apps and surveys, mobile usage tracking and more. More
Comscore has expanded its box office measurement service to cover all theatrical film releases across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), following the latter's recent opening of commercial cinemas after a 35-year 'pause'. More
Snacks company pladis has brought in former PepsiCo Asia Pacific Insights & Analytics Lead Geoff Painter as Chief Insights Officer, starting today. More
Panel firm Bilendi has announced four senior hires for its UK sales team: Ian Roberts joins as Sales Director, Sarah Hillis as Senior Sales Manager, Daniel Paraschiv as Senior Business Development Manager and Charlene Adamah as Senior Key Accounts Manager. More
In London, research and strategy consultancy Redblue has appointed former Clear Strategy and Kantar Consulting exec Allison James as a Director. More
Qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has promoted eight members of its London-based team. In addition, two individuals have moved into permanent positons after completing the firm's internship programme. More
The Stagwell Group, owner of the Harris and Harris Poll brands, has created a central marketing team with several new hires and promotions, including the appointment of former Kantar exec Anas Ghazi as Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer. More
In Germany, three former employees of survey software developer Netigate have set up an experience management (XM) company called digitell.me, based in Cologne. More
A new firm called Oasis Intelligence has been launched in Los Angeles, offering access to consumer insights at scale, for marketers in the cannabis and hemp industry, as well as related sectors. More
Spain's BDI Research, a fieldwork agency owned by Schlesinger Associates, has acquired specialist healthcare qualitative research consultancy ThinkPhar. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kantar has appointed long-time Nielsen exec Chris Morley as Managing Director, UK, Ireland and USA for its Worldpanel division; while former Publicis behavioural economist and CX practitioner Dom Boyd joins as Managing Director, Offer for the UK Insights division. More
UKOM, the body which defines and governs Britain's online audience measurement standard, has appointed Ipsos as its new supplier from January 2021. It replaces Comscore, which has held the contract since 2012. More
UK-based Measure Protocol, a blockchain marketplace for person-level data, has raised £2m in a funding round led by digital data collection specialist Dynata and venture firm Blockchain Valley Ventures. Medical fieldwork business Medicys also took part. More
In the UK, Cambridge Market Research (CMR) has hired former Future Thinking UK MD Adele Gritten as its first Chief Executive Officer. More
London-based qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks is handing the majority ownership of its business to an employee trust, set up on behalf of its team. More
Food and drink sector research and support organisation Campden BRI has appointed Peter Headridge as COO, and Barbara Lunnon as Associate Director, Consulting (Science). More
This is 2019's last edition of Daily Research News. We wish a very Merry Christmas to all those celebrating it, and a Happy New Year and a great holiday to all readers, clients, contributors, partners and friends around the world. DRNO resumes in the first week of 2020. More
In the US, insight exchange and sample management platform Cint has appointed P2Sample exec Garrett Gil de Rubio as Senior Vice President, Client Development. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has brought in long-time GfK exec Michèle van Waterschoot to support the integration of its International Consulting teams, which operate in the Netherlands and the UK. More
In the US, Congress has finally delivered full funding to the Census Bureau for the Fiscal Year 2020, according to the Insights Association, just in time for the decennial headcount to start. More
In Longmont, Colorado, researcher Chris Hauck has announced the launch of a new consultancy, HauckEye, focusing on the observation of subjects in real life situations. More
Canada-based online qual technology and service provider itracks has received $1.1m in growth financing, from Western Economic Diversification's Business Scale-up and Productivity program (BSP). More
Boston-based Invoke Solutions has upgraded its flagship qual / quant technology with features including a real-time translation facility, Invoke Translations. More
Comscore has expanded its partnership with London-based movie theatre market analyst Gower Street Analytics (GSA), to include film comparisons in its own Box Office Essentials solutions. More
In India, Kantar has launched a study called #PlanetY, with the aim of providing an understanding of the attitudes, values and behaviour of the country's youth. More
Automotive industry research specialist J.D. Power is to merge with sister company Autodata Solutions, a provider of data and software solutions for the sector. More
Britain's pollsters did well in the General Election campaign, with some individual companies and the overall average predicting actual vote share very accurately. All underestimated the scale of the Conservative majority - seats still being harder to call than votes - but the science behind both is developing. More
Manhattan-based qual facility The Focus Room has opened a center in Westminster, California - a few minutes from Huntington Beach, the border of Los Angeles County. More
Venture capital backed sports marketing firm Bruin Sports Capital has agreed to acquire the majority of consumer data analytics, sports marketing and technology practice Two Circles from WPP. Terms were not disclosed. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has appointed Darren Person as Global Chief Information Officer, and Robert Taylor as SVP, Enterprise Systems. More
Kantar has hired Pete Rumpel as Chief Executive Officer of its Media Division in North America. He succeeds Manish Bhatia, who has moved into the position of Chief Product Officer for the division. More
In New York, targeting platform WeAre8 has launched a media metric called 'Cost per Relationship', reflecting the price a brand has to pay to gain an opt-in relationship with a target consumer. More
2001, like 1984, was a year for which fiction had given us very specific expectations, and while disappointingly little coasted through the heavens to the strains of the 'Blue Danube', some MR industry giants certainly soared. Here's our review of the year on DRNO. More
Kantar Chief Executive Eric Salama has decided to step down from his role at some point in 2020, after which he will serve as a non-executive Director and Consultant at the company. Kantar has already begun the process of recruiting a successor. More
Global consumer agency InSites Consulting has acquired Asia-based insight community specialist ABN Impact for an undisclosed sum. More
US market research directory publisher and blogger GreenBook has taken on production of the former Honomichl / AMA Gold Top 50 Report. The 2019 edition, just published, reveals a good year for the industry with the 269 companies covered growing revenue by 3.7% in real terms to $29.43bn. More
Australia-based start-up Qualie has rolled out its video-driven survey platform in the UK market, through a partnership with consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide. More
Harriet Kozak, President of the Philadelphia office of healthcare specialist Research Partnership, is to retire at the end of the year. She is replaced from January 2nd 2020 by Sabera Hyderally, who currently serves as Director of MedTech, North America. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has opened an office in Delhi, India, from where it will serve existing global clients, and support new clients across the region. More
In the US, qual MR and technology specialist 20|20 Research is to acquire Chicago-based mobile qual provider Over the Shoulder, for an undisclosed sum. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in UK-based automated reporting specialist Data Liberation, which will now form an integrated part of the newly launched Ipsos.Digital platform. More
WPP says it has completed the sale of 60% of Kantar to Bain Capital Private Equity, 'with respect to approximately 90% of the Kantar business', with the proceeds received; and says it will complete the remainder in the first half of 2020. More
US professional body The Insights Association has named former Dynata EVP Melanie Courtright as its Chief Executive Officer, beginning January 1st and succeeding David Almy. More
WPP has announced that Michelle Harrison will move from CEO to non-executive Chair of its Government Practice - which she has led since its inception in 2012 - so as to focus on her role as Global CEO of Kantar's Public division. Global MD Sean Howard steps up to the vacant CEO role. More
Toluna has been awarded a U.S. patent for a new routing algorithm allowing dynamic profiling. The system pre-qualifies respondents on demographics such as country, age, income and education, and cross-references them with other data to establish qualification for a survey. More
Cincinnati, OH-based MarketVision Research has announced five appointments: Brennan Held and Morgan Murray join as Research Associates, and Andrew Tamplin as an RM in Field Services; while Anthony Campagna and Karen Shull are promoted. More
In the UK, kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has added five to its research and technical teams: Sarah Riding as Trend & Research Director; Hannah Carley as RM; Bethany Bleathman as an RE; Anne Kelly as Account Director; and Mark Armstrong as Principal Developer. More
Ipsos has rolled out its behavioral science-based Duel screening solution in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, through its Ipsos.Digital self-service research platform. More
In Canberra, Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has hired long-time Colmar Brunton exec Corey Fisher as Director, Social & Community. More
Canadian data collection firm Delvinia has agreed to acquire interview automation specialist CRIS (Conversational Research Insight System) for an undisclosed sum; and has become a key investor in PersonaPanels. More
In the first of 21 articles to celebrate our anniversary, we look at the events of a year in the life of the MR industry, as seen through articles in Daily Research News. Quanties among you will work out that the last article will involve a bit of speculation, but we start with a look way back, at the Millennium year. More
Ipsos,60318, Population Services International and Matchboxology won the inaugural Liz Nelson Award for Social Impact, at last night's annual MRS Awards ceremony in London; while Kantar Profiles Division won the overall Grand Prix Award for Greatest Impact. More
Kantar has expanded the portfolio of quick turnaround research available through its Marketplace, with the roll-out of a service called Express Surveys, initially in the US. More
Canadian consumer and audience insights company Vividata has announced a partnership with consumer segmentation specialist Manifold Data Mining, applying the latter's Polaris Intelligence platform to the former's large-scale, established research studies. More
UK-based insight industry language specialist RP Translate has been re-named EMPOWER Translate (Global). More
In London, survey software firm Merlinco has appointed long-time industry exec Simon Stephen as 'Data Management Expert'. More
Today it's exactly 21 years since MrWeb was officially launched - a traditional coming-of-age here in the UK. In Internet terms, 21 is ancient really, and we'll do a bit of looking backward over the next few weeks, but we also have major plans for the coming year. Details here - and your feedback wanted! More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec and agricultural MR specialist the Kleffmann Group have completed a transaction to merge. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
A global 'hub' called OKRE has been launched, to support collaboration between the research sector and entertainment industries and help audiences better engage with the ideas that shape society. More
In Australia, the Association of Market and Social Research Organisations (AMSRO) has elected Enhance Research CEO George Zdanowicz as its new President, succeeding Engine MD Craig Young. More
Facebook has launched a market research app called Viewpoints, paying users to take part in surveys. The company says it won't sell or share the resulting data with third parties. More
Hamburg, Germany-based market research platform Appinion has re-launched its consumer panel app, and is preparing to roll it out globally. More
US industry body the Insights Association (IA) has applauded temporary legislation which contains increased funding for the 2020 Census, and says it will improve the odds of preparations for the census being completed. More
Data collection company Norstat has a new owner, investment firm Triton having completed its acquisition today from former owners Foinco and Verdane. More
Research agency Roy Morgan has taken the unusual step of calling out a newspaper, The Australian, for its 'fake news' reporting of its own circulation figures. More
Consumer engagement and insights platform Glow has announced the appointment of Daniel Calo as Head of Partnerships, based in Melbourne, Australia. More
Canada's CRTC has given the country's telecoms firms three weeks to implement technology reducing the number of nuisance calls to consumers. Recently launched MR association CRIC says the move should help, not hinder researchers. More
In the US, ad industry bodies have urged Congress to pass a national privacy law overriding state laws such as California's recent Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The group complain that the nation's policy in the area 'is being shaped by Europe and a single state'. More
In France, audience research leader Médiamétrie has launched measures for catch-up radio (content listened to after the broadcast) and native podcasts (those with original audio content). More
Digital data collection agency Research on Mobile has moved its headquarters from Beirut to Paris, and says that after a successful first year Europe is emerging as its biggest market, overtaking MENA. More
South African cross-platform audience measure the Establishment Survey will produce its final data next month, after a review by operator Kantar TNS and industry bodies the PRC and BRC. More
In New York, Nielsen Global Connect has hired IBM exec Jacqueline Woods as Chief Marketing Officer, starting on December 1st. More
Consumer intelligence platform Toluna has added advanced scripting capabilities to its flagship QuickSurveys on-demand plaform, helping users to create and launch complex studies. More
Cincinnati, OH-based verbatim analysis software company Ascribe has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany, where it has appointed former ASKi‐Data exec Gustav Jaeckel as European Director of Services. More
Kantar has partnered with media consumption measurement specialist VTION, to roll out what the companies are calling 'India's first continuous OTT audience measurement solution'. More
India's MRUC (Media Research Users Council) has invited agency partners to pitch for the contract to conduct its Indian Readership Survey (IRS), as the council's three-year contract with Nielsen comes to an end. More
In the UK, former GfK NOP MD and current MRS Chair Phyllis Macfarlane has joined social research organisation NatCen as a Trustee on its Board. Pensions consultant Mark Duke also joins, and a third new Trustee is expected to be announced over the coming weeks. More
In London, specialist MR staffing consultancy Hannelius Recruitment has appointed Ryan Reast to work on operations, sales and full service research exec roles. More
Canada-based researcher Hotspex has appointed Joe Amati as Senior Vice President of Research. He joins after eight years on the client side at Kellogg's Canada and apparel brand Canada Goose. More
Research tech provider Interactive Video Productions has rebranded as IVP Research Labs, reflecting its broader range of services including neuroscience and biometric offerings. More
In the UK, online research supplier Panelbase has hired research veteran Johnny Caldwell in the newly created role of Innovation Consultant. He is based in London More
In Belgium, former Haystack execs Wim Hamaekers and Jasper Scheir have launched an insights consultancy called One Inch Whale, which promises to help people and brands to be 'relevant and sustainable'. More
In the UK, full-service agency BMG Research has appointed former Kantar exec Simon Wood to lead its London office. More
US TV, film and video research firm Screen Engine/ASI has appointed long-time NRG exec Jason Bubenicek as SVP Data Intelligence, working with the Marketing Science team to develop a data warehouse that will be used to identify new product opportunities. More
Expanding Australian television audience measurement body OzTAM has hired Alan Heng as its first Technical Services Manager; while Mitchell Woods joins in the newly created position of Product Manager. In addition, two members of the team have been promoted. More
The Indian MR industry is getting its 'first ever' awards for excellence, the MRSI Golden Key Awards, courtesy of trade association The Market Research Society of India. More
Tech-enabled research firm Maru Group has launched a direct access end-to-end insights platform, Maru/HUB, allowing users to create, view and analyze research projects 'on demand'. More
UK-based research group Walnut Unlimited has appointed Michal Matukin as Head of Neuroscience Research, underlining its commitment to a growing part of its business. More
Fast-growing UK-based MR and consumer insights platform Attest has brought in Freddie Beesley, formerly Head of Product at DIY research firm Typeform, as Product Director. More
LA-based research agency LRW Group has acquired digital marketing and innovation agency T3, based in Austin, TX and with more than 200 employees. More
DIY research firm SurveyMonkey has reported results for the quarter ended September 30th, with revenue up 22% to $79.3m. Net loss was $16.3m, slashed from $102.4m a year earlier with operating costs falling sharply, although adjusted EBITDA fell from $17.0m to $11.5m. More
Emotion measurement specialist Canvs AI has unveiled what it describes as 'The MR industry's first AI-powered platform for automatic coding of open-ended survey responses'. More
Leuven, Belgium-based multisensory researcher Haystack International is changing its name to Haystack Consulting, stressing its focus on evidence-based consulting, as opposed to 'pure data delivery'. The move follows 'a thorough reflection and transformation process' over the past few months. More
Nielsen has completed its strategic review, and announced plans to spin off its Global Connect business (similar, but not identical to the former 'Buy' segment), creating two independent publicly traded companies. The company also posted a respectable 2.4% constant currency revenue rise for Q3. More
Ipsos has launched a self-service research platform called Ipsos.Digital, offering clients simplified access to global research capabilities and insights. More
With the UK general election just five weeks away, independent press regulator IMPRESS has teamed up with the Market Research Society (MRS) to launch a consultation on guidance for journalists reporting on opinion polls. More
US-based data collection and custom survey solutions provider SurveyHealthcare has changed its name to SurveyHealthcareGlobus (SHG), following an acquisition and underlining its continuing global reach. More
In the US, qual and quant provider Ironwood Insights Group has acquired data collection company Discovery Research Group (DRG) from Morgan Investors, which is also the holding group for 3Q Global and Quick Test/Heakin. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, Sony Pictures has promoted Chris Liberge and Kate Donnelly, both taking the title of Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing and Research. The pair will co-run Sony's new group of film-specific 'strategy pods'. More
Vivintel, the custom research arm of not-for-profit consumer and audience insights provider Vividata, has launched a study called 'Insights into the Chinese Consumer', tracking how Chinese people in Canada shop, think, consume media, travel and plan their finances. More
Leeds and London-based agency Trinity McQueen has acquired product testing and healthcare specialist Allto Market Research (previously known as McCallum Layton). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Digital research agency MetrixLab has launched a tool called 'ACT Instant', which uses machine and deep learning elements of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict advertising performance, without the need for surveys or respondents. More
In California, former JWT Intelligence director Lucie Greene has launched a futures, research and brand strategy consultancy called Light Years. More
In London, qual-quant research and strategy consultancy Redblue has appointed Tom Scrimgour in the new role of Managing Director. More
US-based online MR community specialist KL Communications has opened a new division called KL Co-LABoration, which will focus on customer co-creation using the company's proprietary CrowdWeaving methodology. More
Los Angeles-based consumer insights and analytics business MarketCast Group has hired former Nielsen exec Graham McKenna as Chief Marketing Officer, leading its brand, product marketing and communications efforts. More
Singapore-based market research and data platform Milieu Insight has raised $2.4m in a pre-A round of funding, which it will use for product development and to expand to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. More
Research software firm Confirmit has appointed Howard Lax as Principal Director, CX Consulting, supporting clients in their efforts to design, develop and implement customer experience strategies. More
US-based MR operations specialist Research Results has promoted Stephen Oldfied to the newly created role of Chief Operations Officer. More
In New York, ad tech and fraud prevention platform Kubient has acquired supply-side platform Fidelity Media for an undisclosed sum. More
Data collection and research services company Schlesinger Group has acquired qual data collection provider Focus Pointe Global (FPG), which has seventeen focus group facilities located throughout the US. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
US-based research agency Gongos has opened a Strategy & Implementation practice, to help BtoC and BtoB organizations develop and embed customer-centric strategies into their organizations. The new division will be led by Amy Perifanos in the role of Vice President, Strategy & Implementation. More
In New York, data-driven PR agency MWWPR has partnered with American University's School of Communication to launch a research program called 'Z-Suite', aimed at uncovering insights into the mind of the GenZ consumer. More
US-based sample solutions provider InnovateMR has opened a new headquarters in Calabasas, California - adding to existing locations in Connecticut, London, Ahmedabad and New Delhi. The firm says its headcount has doubled during 2019. More
London-based boutique insights agency 2CV has promoted Sabine Cronick - previously Head of Quant - to Managing Director, UK; and Jennifer Axen, previously Head of Qual, to MD North America. More
US-based MR operations specialist Research Results, Inc.has appointed Ellen Pieper as Chief Client Officer, responsible for the leadership, vision and financial performance of the team of subject matter experts and offerings. More
Market research technology and survey programming company Jibunu has released a video response capture tool, allowing researchers to collect 'user-generated qual feedback at quant scale'. More
Ipsos has reported organic growth of 3% in the third quarter of the year. Reported revenue rose fully 16.7% to EUR 499.4m, driven by the acquisition of units of GfK since last year, and to a lesser extent by that of Synthesio and by currency effects. More
In a trading update for the third quarter, WPP has reported its first like-for-like (LFL) revenue increase of the year - with insight division Kantar sharing in the improvement. Group reported revenue rose 1.9% LFL to £3.29bn. More
New York-based cinema advertising specialist Screenvision Media has launched the Smart Network, which uses proprietary 'Movie Pixel' content recognition technology to aggregate audience information and link it to purchasing behaviour. More
London-based strategic insights consultancy Firefish has appointed long-time WPP exec Natalie Pilch as Chief Operating Officer. More
UK-based specialist insight translation agency RP Translate has closed a £150,000 ($195,000) round of funding, earmarked for the creation of bespoke translation technology for global market research projects. More
In the UK, person-based, blockchain-powered data marketplace Measure Protocol has added community functionality into its MSR App, initially in partnership with global consumer insights agency Interpret, which will use it for a new video gaming community. More
TV audience measurement body BARC India has announced that founding CEO Partho Dasgupta is leaving the position, and will be replaced by Sunil Lulla. More
Nielsen has added syndicated measurement of Amazon Prime Video to its Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) Content Ratings solution. More
Harris Interactive has launch two new products, hi brands Express and ad post-test Express, which it says deliver 'faster, more cost-effective brand and communications insights' for FMCG, financial services, technology, media and entertainment sectors. More
Tokyo-based panels and technology company dataSpring has been acquired by marketing research and consulting services business Intage Holdings. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the UK, former Cambridge MR Managing Director Mark Bagnall has set up his own agency ESP Live, which will focus on two areas of consumer research - development of products and techniques to re-shape the way research is conducted, and measurement of experiential marketing campaigns. More
Toronto, Canada-based online sample and market research technology specialist WiseWorks has opened an office in Munich, Germany, where it has appointed former Dynata exec Pratik Sharma as Chief Operating Officer. More
For the first time in seven years, more UK marketers told the IPA's Bellwether survey their budgets decreased than increased during the third quarter of 2019 - although the change from the previous quarter was small. Figures for MR were the worst of any sub-sector and the worst in seven years. More
Online communities specialist InSites Consulting has renamed its Australian company Direction First in line with the group branding. Founder Erica Van Lieven remains at the helm of what is now InSites Consulting Australia, with the title of MD. More
Kadence International has announced that Greg Clayton, Global Head of Insight and MD of the UK office, is leaving the business to 'pursue new challenges'. The London office will then be led by Darren Lewis, in the role of UK Country Manager. More
MR software provider FocusVision has enhanced its Decipher survey platform with the addition of several new capabilities, including the ability to upload a Microsoft Word questionnaire straight into Decipher without changing the file format or adding any syntax. More
Continuing a month of articles from our 21st birthday celebration feature looking at Online Communities, Julia Eisenberg and Isaac Rogers of US firm 20|20 Research look at the rise of the ' smaller, more tactical insights community', and the need to get that 'pit lane' running smoothly. More
Turkish radio industry body RIAK has commissioned Kantar to deliver the Turkish radio audience ratings service for the next five years. More
London-based strategic insights firm Firefish has promoted Daniel Rose to the position of Managing Director of its qualitative, cultural insight and human strategy business, Firefish UK. He replaces Lisa Hill. More
In the UK, full service research and strategy consultancy Populus has hired long-time YouGov exec Bernadeta Wilk for a newly created position, Chief Data Officer. More
In the UK, full service research and strategy consultancy Populus has acquired insight-led innovation agency Decidedly (previously known as FreshMinds), for an undisclosed sum. At the same time, Decidedly's CEO Catherine Crump is stepping down and Tom Wormald will become its MD. More
Business research provider B2B International has opened an office in Boston, Massachusetts. More
In London, full-service agency IFF Research has appointed Katy Wilburn as Head of Housing. In addition, Kelsey Beninger joins as Associate Director and Sarah Coburn has been promoted to the same role, while Hannah Dunn joins as People Manager. More
Digital research company MetrixLab has opened an office in Sydney, Australia, where it has promoted Vincent Blaney for the newly created role of Managing Director. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has recruited RDSi director David Power to manage its quant and analytics offer, which is being rebranded as 'Crowd Numbers'. Power will join the firm in November. More
In the UK, full-service agency BMG Research has appointed former Ipsos and Maritz executive Roger Sant as Chief Research Officer. More
In Dublin, reward and loyalty specialist WIN | WIN has sold its Opinions Market Research full service agency to business advisory firm Bayes & Becker, which is owned by former OI Research MD David Cullen. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
US researcher David Butler has launched a consultancy called Birch Healthcare Insights, to help payers, providers and practices understand what is important to patients and consumers. More
In the US, consumer attention analyst Metric Centric has launched a product to help federal agencies manage customer experience and improve service delivery. More
The Australian government has announced that some market and social researchers now have access to the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND), a centralised source containing records of all Australian telephone numbers and their corresponding name and address information. More
In the UK, international healthcare specialist Adept Field Solutions has launched a new agency called Language Pharmacy, specialising in healthcare market research translations, transcriptions and interpreting. More
Retail personalization specialist Kibo is to acquire software provider Monetate for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, video ad effectiveness measurement specialist Ace Metrix has launched a 'Cultural Perception' scoring system, allowing clients to quantify both the positive and negative impact their advertising has on culture. More
San Francisco-based employee engagement insight specialist Lattice has raised $25m in a Series C round of funding, which it will invest in product development. More
In the US, online community and survey tech provider Toluna has launched a specialized practice focused on the needs of the Media & Entertainment industry, led by long-time company exec Patricia Chapin-Bayley. More
Kantar has been awarded the contract to deliver national radio ratings currency in Sweden for the four years commencing on 1st August 2020. More
Full service agency Opinium Research has rolled out the results of the second '100 Most Connected UK Brands' survey, whilst launching the service in the US. More
In the US, cannabis industry big data firm New Frontier Data has agreed to acquire discovery and profiling platform Zefyr, in a cash and stock transaction totalling more than $10m. More
In India, Kantar and artificial intelligence platform Frrole have partnered to launch a service called 'TGI Social+', which combines consumer profiles from Kantar's consumer survey TGI with social media analytics to provide a 'holistic' understanding of online consumers. More
Continuing our month-long in-depth look at online communities, Nick Thomas talks to InSites Consulting co-founder and CEO Kristof De Wulf about buying UK online research pioneer Join the Dots, its fourth acquisition in 18 months; and about plans for the future. More
British retailer M&S has hired former GroupM exec Mehdi Hosseini for a newly created role, Head of Data Science, including responsibility for recruiting for up to twenty new roles in the near future. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has announced that Kristy Richards and Matt Pearce will lead its Melbourne business. More
YouGov has reported a 17% increase in revenue to £136.5m for the full year ended 31st July. The UK led the way with revenue growing by 31%, while the US also fared well with a 17% rise. More
Research software firm CMNTY has launched a new version of its community software platform, to help brand and insights professionals wanting to build short or long term online customer communities with 'minimal effort and maximum effects'. More
Comcast Spotlight, the advertising sales division of TV and telecoms firm Comcast Cable, has promoted Andrea Zapata to Vice President of Data Innovation and Insights, overseeing a newly formed Data Innovation and Insights team. More
In London, community panel specialist Verve has completed its fourth graduate intake, bringing the total number of graduate recruits to twelve. The firm recently appointed long-time MR recruitment specialist Sarah Penny as Talent Manager. More
Reputation analysis specialist Echo Research, the company behind the 'Britain's Most Admired Companies' (BMAC) study, is partnering with Coventry University to extend the research into new areas challenging today's corporate leaders. More
ESOMAR held its annual Congress in Edinburgh last month. Here its Director General Finn Raben chooses his top 3 (or 4) presentations. More
In London, former Save the Children insight leads Tom Skilbeck and Matt Williams have launched a consultancy called Chemistry Insight, dedicated exclusively to charities, movements and brands that 'seek to do good'. More
Canada-based communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a semiotics tool called Brand Emotion, which analyzes large numbers of images and promises to help clients understand what emotions their brand evokes for consumers. More
Cincinnati, Ohio-based full service MR firm MarketVision Research has announced one new hire and six promotions. Zach Meyer joins as a Research Associate on the Online Communities team, and the promotions include Jean Nickels to VP of Qual and Janice Gennaria to Research Manager. More
Next15 group's global intelligence business Savanta has appointed former Ipsos exec Marni Hirschorn to its Americas team as VP of Account Management. The firm has also recently hired Gregory Spears, in NYC; and Amit Sahni, Mohamed Hasoun and Ankur Jain in Toronto. More
UK-based Brandwatch has transformed its leadership team with the addition of Guy Berruyer as Chairman of its Board, Fergus Gloster as an NED, Eva Klein as Chief Customer Officer, Dan Freund as Chief Sales Officer, and Ian Collins as CFO. More
A group of advertisers including EA, Mastercard, P&G and Unilever has launched a global initiative called the Cross Media Working Group, designed to ensure the advertiser's voice is heard in decisions on cross-media measurement. More
In Washington DC, former NBC colleagues Allan Horlick and Bob Okun have launched an online survey tool called TalkBackTime, which delivers qualitative feedback through user-recorded video clips. More
In the UK, full service agency Relish has appointed Neil Stevenson as Research Director in its Qualitative team, with a focus on building the company's Technology, Media and Gaming sectors. More
In Edinburgh, UK, qualitative text analysis software firm Quirkos has launched a new cloud service helping universities and large organisations to embrace the SaaS model, and market research organisations to move to flexible working. More
Healthcare data collection and custom survey solutions provider SurveyHealthcare (SHC) has acquired OMR Globus, a full-service, pharma/healthcare data collection agency and sample provider. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, out of home (OOH) audience measurement body Geopath has announced that its 'Insights' platform has been approved and launched as the industry currency for OOH measurement. More
Panel provider Borderless Access has appointed former Dynata exec Max Czycholl as Vice President - Europe. He is based in Hamburg, Germany. More
Continuing our month-long focus on online communities Stephen Cribbett, CEO and founder of Further looks at projects where communities excel, offering huge benefits over other formats - with case studies of work for Bupa, VouchForMe, Condé Nast and Keyhouse software. More
Market insight consultancy Skopos has made a 'sizeable' investment in UK tech firm HearMe Scientific (HMSL), with the two firms forming a joint venture to focus on the development of apps and platforms for digital engagement and analytics. More
London-based research technology firm Liveminds has officially expanded to the US with the opening of an office in Chicago. More
London-based market research and healthcare translation specialist GlobaLexicon has doubled its European Operations Centre capacity in Seville, Spain. More
Full-service agency Sapio Research is moving offices in the City of London, to make space for two new members of staff: Office Manager Sheila Duke and neuropsychologist Sinead McIntyre. More
European digital MR services firm Bilendi Group has updated its 'Bilendi Sample Management' platform, with the integration of new functionalities using artificial intelligence. More
In Canada, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has appointed Sudhanshu Gaur as Vice President, Analytics, based in its Toronto office. More
Sweden-based holding company Modern Times Group MTG AB (MTG) has announced a partnership with Nielsen, providing sponsorship valuation and media measurement for its esports portfolio companies ESL Gaming GmbH and DreamHack. More
Netherlands-based HR data firm AnalitiQs has announced the acquisition of opinion and market researcher No Ties, an existing partner company which will continue to operate under its own name. Terms were not disclosed. More
There are lots of options for those wishing to join this successful sector (see job listings in the publication) but how do you find the treasure and minimise the risk? Nick Thomas taps the experience of four of the sector's recruitment specialists to help you pick all the right cards and avoid the blues. More
Ipsos has launched a new syndicated Medical Aesthetics Monitor, beginning in South Korea and with plans to expand to Europe and North America. More
Kantar has appointed Dolly DeNyse and Amy Fenton to its North American leadership team as Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Client Officer respectively. More
Our month-long focus on online communities continues with another podcast. Samsung's Director of European Countries CMI on work-life and other kinds of balance; the extremes of 'agile'; working on communities with Verve; backing up insights; and why brands should 'get out more'. More
UK-based insights agency Kokoro (formerly ABA Research) has appointed former Virgin Media exec Martha Knight as Director of Digital Activation, leading its Digital Customer Experience programmes and UX research. More
Richard Millington of FeverBee lives and breathes online communities and has helped build them for everyone from Apple to Lego to the UN, but he's not first and foremost an insights professional. Communities have many other uses - so where do we sit in the bigger picture? More
Insights partnership RealityCheck Consulting has launched HXi, a new service for CX and decision journey mapping More
In Bonn, Germany, The infas Institute for Applied Social Science has appointed digital mobility research specialist Marc Schelewsky, strengthening its mobility and transport offering. More
Off-line media measurement firm Freckle has announced its integration with newly established Out of Home ad buying and planning specialist Quan Media Group, promising brands detailed advertising attribution for outdoor campaigns. More
Our month-long focus on online communities goes client-side today. Hannah Downs, Head of Insight at UK agency ResearchBods, explains how the firm uses a community to help British broadcasting group ITV get closer to viewers. More
Washington, DC-based research and consulting firm Luntz Global Partners has rebranded as Storyline Strategies, as it repositions itself with a wider offer and a focus on innovative methods. More
... Not Just Talking About It. In the next in our month-long series focused on communities, Verve Executive Director Paul Lawson casts an expert eye over the many great uses of a community panel. More
Shopper and product experience specialist PRS IN VIVO has expanded its global Luxury Practice, and added the concept of 'Happiness Science' to its behavioral science offering. More
New York-based Grail Insights has announced the acquisition of Oakland, CA business tech researcher ConStat. More
UK-based 'human understanding agency' Walnut Unlimited has appointed Becky Miles as a Research Director in its retail team. More
Continuing our month-long focus on Online Communities, Andy Buckley, Head of Client Solutions at Join the Dots / InSites Consulting argues that communities need to 'step up their game' by giving clients access to a much wider range of methodologies and tools. Includes 3 case study summaries. More
New Jersey-based MR and applied consumer neuroscience company HCD Research has been awarded a patent for a new approach to mapping mood, product marketability and promotion, through physiological measures. More
With elections pending in Canada, professional industry body CRIC has issued standards, specific to the country, for the conduct and release of public opinion research. More
The first of a dozen articles from our 21st birthday celebration feature looking at Online Communities. The inspirational Isaac Rogers, CEO of 20|20 Research talks about blockchain patents; running a cattle ranch; heroes, villains... and mom. Read excerpts here and click through for the full Happy MR podcast. More
Manchester-based kids, tweens and teens specialist Kids Insights has launched its first Asia Pacific business, Kids Insights India. More
US-based consumer psychology expert Strategic Vision is opening its first office in India, located in Hyderabad and led by Ravindra 'Ravi' Kondagunta, in partnership with his company Traction Labs. More
Consumer data giant IRI and location intelligence firm PlaceIQ have further extended their partnership, integrating the latter anonymous foot traffic data in the former's Liquid Data loyalty card and point-of-sale analysis platform. More
In the US, trade association the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) has announced that it will lead a drive to move local broadcast measurement from a ratings-based to an impressions-based system. More
Recently-formed Texas-based data collection firm Veridata Insights has launched an automated project platform covering the research process from sampling through to dashboards and analytics. More
US-based Leaf Traders is launching what it calls the first self-service survey marketplace for qualitative research into cannabis and hemp markets. More
Consumer insights platform DISQO has appointed former MarketShare and Neustar executive Jean-Philippe Durrios as CFO and COO, based in its Los Angeles headquarters and charged with leading its plans for rapid growth. More
Schmiedl Marktforschung, the German subsidiary of data collection and research services provider Schlesinger Group, has opened a fully furnished research home in Berlin called 'The Apartment', allowing respondents to test and interact with brands and products in a relaxed, comfortable, home-like environment. More
Boston, MA-based text analysis firm Luminoso has launched Daylight Express, an application offering rapid analysis of unstructured text in surveys, product reviews, call center transcripts and other sources. More
Programmatic sample firm Lucid has appointed Allen Lovett to lead its North America sales team. More
Brighton, UK-based digital consumer intelligence company Brandwatch has unveiled new flagship product, Consumer Research, representing a '$50m investment' and integrating technology from social media analyst Crimson Hexagon, which it acquired last autumn. More
London-based research and analytics company YouGov has added a new partner in Japan, long-established agency Nippon Research Centre (NRC). The move extends its new affiliate Global Partnerships Programme across APAC. More
Paris-based qual and UX specialist MindSpark Research International is moving offices to make space for new two members of staff, design anthropologists Alicia Dornadic and Elvin Tuygan. More
New professional association the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) has launched the Research Verification Service, to help potential respondents check the legitimacy of research projects they are invited to participate in. More
On 29th November 1998 MrWeb - publisher of DRNO - officially launched with the appearance of its first job ad. To celebrate our twenty-first birthday we're publishing special supplements on five major growth areas in the sector, beginning this month with online communities. More
The UK's MRS (Market Research Society) is updating its Code of Conduct to reflect evolving ethical best practice, technological development and recent significant changes in the data protection framework. The new Code applies from 1st January 2020. More
Nielsen has announced it will begin including out-of-home (OOH) audience in its national TV ratings, beginning next September. More
UK-based brand research agency The Nursery has merged with recently acquired Arkenford, and moved to refurbished offices in Rathbone Place, London W1. More
US-based qual insights and technology firm 20|20 Research has won a patent for methods using virtual environments in behavioral research, including the ability to instantly manipulate the environment based on a user's vision patterns and demographics. More
Respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has appointed Diane Gawlik as Director of Strategy and Development, Enterprise Sales; and Arun Venkataraman and Magdalena Morello as Research Directors. More
London-based Opinium has hired Adrian McCallum, previously a Senior Director at Kantar Millward Brown, in the role of Research Director. More
Toronto, Canada-based online sample and market research technology specialist WiseWorks has opened a new office in Ahmedabad, India, which will be led by Nimai Sharma. More
In Washington D.C., former Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) EVP Jason Boxt has launched a consultancy called 3W Insights, helping clients with their branding, messaging and communications strategy. More
Cello Health-owned audience intelligence specialist Pulsar has enhanced its TRAC social media listening tool with data drawn from 5.5 million medical conversations taking place on online physician community SERMO. More
Escalent (formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace) has announced that Chief Information Officer Sharna Morelli has decided to retire, while John Sivak has been promoted to Senior Vice President, leading the firm's IT division from its Livonia, MI headquarters. More
Maru/Blue has announced a dozen appointments, including the promotion of Tara Caughlin to Senior Director of Operations in New York; and in Canada Angela Tang to Senior Director on the Sample and Feasibilty team and Lauren McHoul to Sampling and Feasibility Manager. More
Survey software firm Confirmit has appointed customer experience practitioner Andrew Farries as Director of CX Consulting, based in it Sydney, Australia office. More
Mobile engagement platform Gimbal has launched a location and foot traffic analytics platform called 'Trends', to provide a view of consumers' physical-world behavior over time. More
In the US, the non-profit Association of National Advertisers (ANA) has launched a division called 'Measurement for Marketers' (MFM), with the aim of ensuring uniformity across the industry's measurement systems. More
Birmingham, UK-based video feedback, insights and analytics company Voxpopme has closed a £7.5m ($9m) Series A1 round of equity financing, which it will use to fund further investment in its platform and add to its global team. More
Recently formed group STRAT7 has launched a specialist business strategy offering called STRAT7+, based in Stockholm. Martin Hörnqvist, former CEO of toymaker BRIO, joins to lead it. More
In New York, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has appointed former System1 Research exec Brent Snider as Chief Revenue Officer. More
The insight sector around the world including traditional and new areas turned over around $80bn in 2018, according to ESOMAR's annual Global MR report - up from $76bn in 2017. New areas such as data analytics accounted for most but not all of the growth, rising around 10% year-on-year. More
FSU and middle east panel operator Intra Research has brought in two former MDs of Norstat, based in its core territory of the Baltic states. Tiina Tammeveski was Norstat's MD for Estonia from 2013-17, and Marina Moshenska in Latvia from 2012-14. More
In the US, Kantar has partnered with voice app testing platform Pulse Labs, to understand the motivation behind consumers' usage of voice assistant technology. More
Sample provider P2Sample has partnered with not-for-profit organization Women in Research (WIRe), to launch a study which evaluates the percentage of women in MR executive roles. Across 133 firms analysed, only a third (36%) of exec roles were occupied by women. More
Seoul, South Korea-based video research and targeting company methinks has hired Aaron Burcell as Chief Executive Officer. More
Long-time Kantar exec Graham Page has joined US emotion measurement specialist Affectiva as Global MD of Media Analytics, leading a unit focused on the application of emotion analytics to content, media testing and the customer experience. More
In New York, SIS International Research has launched a blockchain consulting division, offering strategy consulting and market research for clients working with the technology. More
Melbourne, Australia-based mobile researcher MDI has expanded its footprint to London, with the appointment of former GfK NOP leader Arno Hummerston as Director - Europe. More
Research software firm Confirmit has added a number of new features to its flagship Horizons platform, including 'Fieldwork Reporting' which promises researchers instant access to key information on the progress of their survey projects. More
In the US, employee engagement, retention and performance specialist Culture Amp has raised $82m in a Series E round of funding, which it will use for global expansion. More
In Canada, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has appointed former Kantar TNS exec Mona Makhijani as Senior Vice President, Client Activation, based in its Vancouver office. More
US-based Further&Further, which combines qual research methods with immersive documentary film-making, has opened a European office, based in London. Former CrowdDNA director Kelvin Amos joins the office as European Managing Director. More
Dan Hess, former Comscore Chief Product Officer, has joined retail data specialist The NPD Group to lead its global product development and management. More
US industry body the Insights Association (IA) has begun a formal search for its next Chief Executive Officer, to replace David Almy who will retire at the end of the year. More
In the US, sensory and consumer product research specialist Curion says it has appointed thirty-five new employees this year, supporting rapid growth and the launch of three new services. More
Former Flamingo and TNS exec Lyn McGregor has been appointed as Head of Qualitative Research at Walnut Unlimited. More
John Tabone, who has served as Interim Chief Administrative Officer for new Canadian MR body CRIC since April 2019, has been appointed to the role on a permanent basis, with immediate effect. More
Marcoms giant WPP is to open a new campus in San Francisco, in the heart of the US tech industry, where it will house more than 1,000 people from its companies around the city. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has expanded its teams in Sydney and Melbourne over the past six months, with the appointment of fourteen new members of staff. More
In London, online community specialist C Space has launched a suite of solutions called 'Customer as a Service' (CaaS), which combines multiple sources of data, technology and commercial consultancy to understand the customer and place them at the heart of the organisation. More
Consumer and audience insights company Vividata has partnered with mobile research technology firm RealityMine, digital data collection specialist Delvinia, and Ipsos, to launch what it calls the first passive panel of its kind in Canada. More
In London, Neil Frackiewicz has been promoted to Head of Retail UK, effective from 1st September. He takes over from Michael McLaughlin, who moves up to Head of Retail Europe. More
US-based pharma and Healthcare research and data firm SHC has added two new apps - PM Assist and Email Relay - to its offer, and bundled them with existing services in a new suite called HealthTech AMP. More
Independent fieldwork agency Nordic Viewpoint has opened a new viewing facility in Stockholm, Sweden, adding to its existing base in Gothenburg. More
In the UK, the management team of specialist medical device MR consultancy Creative Medical Research (CMR), led by CEO George Ashford, has completed a 'multi-million pound' buyout of the company. More
Marcoms network WPP is to launch two co-location campuses in India, with more than 3,800 people due to move into a new Mumbai Campus later this month, and the establishment of a Gurugram Campus next year. More
Online qual research specialist Aha! has integrated Zoom video conference call technology into its MR solution, enabling users to conduct live webcam conversations with consumers and gain insight into the behavior that drives buying decisions and product usage. More
In the US, software platform SurveySparrow has partnered with online gifting platform Rybbon in a deal which allows users to create mobile-first surveys and automate the process of respondent incentive delivery. More
Comscore has partnered with location intelligence provider PlaceIQ to launch a suite of solutions called Movie Lift, designed to help media buyers and sellers better understand the impact of TV, desktop and mobile marketing campaigns on driving consumers to the movies. More
Directions Research and its qualitative insights and innovation consultancy SEEK have launched a qual-quant approach called IdeaSprint, which they claim generates hundreds of ideas and validates them with real-time consumer and peer feedback in just one day. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has appointed former MetrixLab exec Nicholas Langeveld as Managing Director for North America. More
Hamburg, Germany-based MR agency quantilope has launched a fully-automated TURF model, helping clients to maximise the consumer reach of new products and marketing campaigns by identifying the best combination of attributes. More
Eye tracking hardware and software pioneer Tobii AB must fully divest recently acquired Smartbox Assistive Technology Ltd, after a ruling by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). More
Kantar is launching the 'Great British Podcast Tracker', billed as the country's 'first longitudinal service' measuring consumer behaviour and attitudes to podcasts and providing a continuous, representative, single source of insight, from September. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has appointed four Regional Managing Directors: Angela Morgans for Europe, Rebeca Dreicon for LATAM, Rob Valsler for AMEA, and Kevin Moran for North America. Meanwhile two new teams will focus on innovation in the company's product portfolio. More
In the US, data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has opened its newest testing center, in Staten Island, New York. More
Marcoms group WPP AUNZ has agreed to sell its entire stake in insight and analytics arm Kantar in Australia and New Zealand, as part of the global sale of Kantar shares to Bain Capital. The deal values the ANZ business at $AUD 168m. More
In the US, TV, film and video research firm ScreenEngine/ASI has hired Tony Calfo as Senior Vice President of its TV News Group, which provides both national and local TV news divisions with insights to help them reach and retain viewers. More
In New York, survey and customer insights software provider FocusVision has updated its Decipher survey platform with the addition of an automated sample solution called Sample Marketplace. More
Nielsen is to provide what it calls the industry's first holistic view of the US pet retail market. More
In London, media researcher RSMB has appointed Chris Mundy as Chief Executive, following Steve Wilcox's decision to step aside from a full-time role at the company. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has hired five new US employees while announcing a move to a larger office in New York City. More
Cincinnati, OH-based full service firm MarketVision Research has launched a proprietary survey solution to meet the needs of the blind and visually impaired. More
Jacob Lagerstedt has returned to data collection company Norstat as Managing Director of its specialist International division, which is responsible for clients and business development in overseas markets. He is based in the firm's Stockholm office. More
Newcastle and London-based research consultancy Differentology has appointed Melissa Gonsalves and Matt Picton as Directors, leading its Strategic Insight team. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy provider Leger has named Steve Perrone, co-founder of its Leger Metrics division, as its Chief Technology Officer. He will now oversee tech development for the group's three digital divisions: Leger Opinion, Leger Metrics and Leger Community. More
Automotive industry research specialist J.D. Power is to be acquired by private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Research software company SurveyMonkey has reported a 20% increase in second quarter revenue to $75.1m, driven by a 12% rise in the number of paying users and higher average revenue per user. Net loss was up almost 50% to $18.48m, although adjusted EBITDA was positive at $10.3m. More
'Core experience' analysis specialist Qualtrics has added new capabilities to its purchase decision analysis solution Conjoint XM. More
In the UK, research consultancy ComRes has been acquired by Savanta, the insights and intelligence division of Next Fifteen Communications. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In Africa, marketing services network WPP ScanGroup is to meet an obligation to sell two of its subsidiaries, following parent company WPP's decision to sell 60% of Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital. More
Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint has acquired US-based P2Sample. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, DIY research software company SurveyMonkey has appointed Eric Johnson as Chief Information Officer, overseeing its IT vision and roadmap. More
DIY research software company SurveyMonkey has expanded its executive team with the appointment of Lara Sasken Lindenbaum as Vice President of Communications; DuVal Hicks as Vice President of Sales Operations; and Dennis Scott as Vice President of Growth Marketing. More
Leeds, UK-based full service agency Gusto Research has appointed Martin Reed as Research Director, and promoted Heather Thorpe to Associate Director. More
Ipsos has launched an 'Innovation Testing' service, founded on behavioural science and promising to help users 'successfully compete in today's omnichannel world'. More
Consumer insights firm PRS IN VIVO has launched the BEQual Toolkit, which applies behavioral science to projective qualitative research techniques using tablets and real-time feedback. More
UK qualitative association the AQR has a new Chair, Razor Research co-founder Chloë Fowler, replacing Lyn McGregor. The organisation celebrates its 40th anniversary next year. More
Los Angeles-based consumer insights business MarketCast Group has appointed long-time media and entertainment exec John Batter as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Henry Shapiro who has moved into the position of Chairman. More
London-based qual-led insight and strategy specialist BritainThinks has promoted both Cordelia Hay and Anastasia Knox to the newly created position of Associate Partner. Also promoted are Holly Wicks, Michael Allard, Hettie Hill and Katharine Allen. More
In New York, advertising software company Top Inc. has launched a direct-to-consumer voting app called Topvote, through which clients can collect user-generated content and consumer feedback. More
Ipsos has generated revenue of EUR 903.4m in the first half of 2019, up 14.9% compared with the first six months of 2018. Organic growth for the half year was 3.0%. More
Ipsos has acquired a 10% stake in Oslo, Norway-based employee and customer experience management company Questback. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
US-based customer insights platform UserTesting has opened its first international office, in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it has appointed Bruce Hunter as European Regional Vice President. More
London-based MR staffing specialist Hannelius Recruitment has appointed Bonnie McAlpine as a Director and Jennifer Elliott as Talent Manager, both focused on full service MR roles. More
Microsoft has tapped its experience of helping business to test the impact of IT changes, to develop a campaign testing service called Experiments, to be offered shortly to users of its ad platform. More
In the US, research and strategy consultancy LRWGreenberg has announced the formation of LRWGreenberg Gaming, a team led by Vice President Collin Leirvik and focused on what the firm says is 'now the dominant force in global entertainment'. More
Kantar has completed the integration of societal impact consultancy InterMedia into its Public division, thus expanding its Washington D.C. office and strengthening the division's growing Development Practice. More
In Nashville, TN, qual insights and technology business 20|20 Research has launched QualLink 4.0, a proprietary API technology which integrates quant surveys and other online data resources programmatically with its QualBoard 4.0 solution. More
Silicon Valley customer experience feedback specialist Medallia has made a successful debut on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $326m from its IPO and then opening $34 a share, a 62% premium for investors. More
Cincinnati, OH-based full service firm MarketVision Research has announced three promotions including Abby Miller to Research Director; and four new hires at Research Assistant level. More
M&A activity in the marketing sector in the first half of 2019 was largely driven by private equity (PE) investment, with most of the major marcoms networks absent from the list of the most active buyers, according to a report. More
Analyst firm HFS Research, which serves clients in technology and business operations, has acquired digital marketing agency Quigley Media, whose founder Tom Quigley become HFS' Chief Marketing Officer. More
ITWP, the parent company of Toluna, Harris Interactive Europe and KuRunData, has hired Michele Morelli as SVP of Global Marketing Strategy; promoted Tsahi Ben-Yosef to SVP of Product Innovation; and promoted Mathilde Lelievre to EVP of Global Operations. More
Professional certification body CAIP Canada has begun registration of designated members of the former Canadian marketing research association. The body is recognised by the country's new research association CRIC, which has also announced a number of new initiatives this week. More
Digital transformation and eCommerce services firm transcosmos inc. has partnered with Tokyo-based software provider SOOTH Inc. to launch a video ad analysis and optimisation product, 'GAZE HACK', based on eyetracking. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Education Foundation (MREF) has hired Andra Davidson as Executive Director, effective immediately. More
Buyout firms Court Square Capital Management LP and HGGC LLC are said to be working with investment bank Evercore Inc. to explore the sale of digital data collection specialist Dynata, with reports suggesting the price tag could exceed $3bn, including debt. More
In Sydney, Nielsen has announced a number of enhancements to its Homescan consumer panel, which measures purchases across the various channels making up Australia's grocery sector. More
Data collection and research services provider Schlesinger Group has partnered with private equity firm Gauge Capital to help fund acquisitions to grow its geographical scope and service capabilities. More
In the US, consumer intelligence firm has announced a new release of its CoreText Analytics software, adding sentiment analysis. More
Escalent, formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace, has promoted Mark Carpenter from Research Director to Joint MD of its European office based in Surrey, UK. More
London-based agency The Big Picture (TBP) has appointed longtime Basis Research Director Laura Pereira as Head of Quant, with a focus on innovative techniques in design research. More
Following Friday's announcement that WPP is to sell 60% of Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital, more details are emerging of the firm's plans, including possible eCommerce acquisitions and expansion of services like Kantar Marketplace. More
Indonesia-based research and neuroscience start-up Neurosensum has followed up a recent $1.8m funding win with the launch of a new research tool, SurveySensum, and says it aims to double its size to around 90 employees by the end of the year. More
Rival Technologies, the insight tech business headed up by Vision Critical founder Andrew Reid, has raised more than $CAD 8.5m from Canadian investors, for use in continued platform development and to expand sister company Reach3 Insights. More
In the US, Jeffrey Henning's Researchscape International has launched ResearchStory, a new AI-powered tool to help MR execs generate quick, accurate and detailed reports based on their findings. More
Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired a majority stake in India-based data and analytics company Ugam, which will be added to its performance marketing division Merkle. More
Automated MR platform Zappi and insight marketplace and MR tech provider Cint have announced a partnership to provide 'an integrated technology solution' giving Zappi customers results 'even faster than before, within hours', at much-reduced cost and with 'total control of their data'. More
WPP has agreed to sell 60% of its data, research, consulting and analytics business Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital, in a deal which values the whole of Kantar at around £3.2bn ($4.0bn). More
US research and MR training company Burke Inc. has promoted Tara Marotti to the role of Chief Client Officer (CCO), succeeding Diane Surette, Burke's President and CEO-designee. More
In London, boutique insights agency 2CV has appointed former Crowd DNA exec Antonia Cheese as Global Business Development Director. More
President Donald Trump has abandoned attempts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census, and instead issued an executive order demanding federal agencies hand over records on the number of citizens, non-citizens and undocumented immigrants living in the US. More
London-based market research and healthcare translation specialist GlobaLexicon has hired fifteen new team members in the first half of the year, and announced 20% growth in revenue. More
In Canada, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has appointed customer insights strategist Jonathan Stinnett as President, Consumer Technology, Media & Entertainment. More
US-based philanthropic online MR panel firm Op4G (Opinions 4 Good) has appointed long-time industry exec Rafael 'Raf' Gonzalez as Senior Director of Client Development, based at its office in Fairfield, Connecticut. More
MarketCast Group subsidiary Insight Strategy Group (ISG) has appointed long-time Ipsos exec Kim Lewis as SVP of Research and Strategy, leading the firm's Technology industry practice while working with the leadership team to drive growth on the US West Coast. More
In the US, Emeryville, California-based research consultancy Greenberg Strategy has been acquired by the Lieberman Research Worldwide Group (LRW). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Nielsen and retail and consumer goods image recognition and analytics firm Trax have launched three new offerings, designed to provide US brands with access to both episodic and continuous views of shelf conditions. More
Digital research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has promoted Thijs Elias to the role of Chief Executive Officer, replacing co-founder Jan Willem Gerritsen, who left the company in January. The position has since been held on an interim basis by Scott Ernst, Global CEO of parent company Macromill. More
UK-based advisory group Cello Health has opened an office in Berlin, where it has appointed Heike Tombrink as Regional Director, Head of Cello Health Insight Germany; and Matthias Heurich as Regional Director, supporting Digital Innovation. More
In Canada, respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has hired Cornelia Haack as Senior Vice President, Panels and Communities. More
Insight exchange and tech platform Cint has announced a strategic partnership with data platform company Syno International, adding to the former's presence in APAC and EMEA, and to the survey audience available for clients of both firms. More
In the US, Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS), which provides election services to member-based organizations, has announced three new hires as part of a long-term succession plan. Dave J., John P. and Peter J. are sons of current co-owners Jon G. and Peter M. Westerhaus. More
German-based panel solutions and passive metering provider respondi has moved its London office to larger premises in the city. In addition, it has appointed Olga Yakovleva as Account Executive and Amar Sudra as Project Manager. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has launched a tool called Optimize Reach, which uses TURF analysis to understand the combined reach of text-based stimuli, eliminating the need to manually re-run possible scenarios. More
President Trump has said he plans to push ahead with adding a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census, contradicting previous statements from his administration that the plan had been shelved. More
Ad and brand researcher Hall & Partners has partnered with analytics, insights and AI specialist Course5 Intelligence, using the latter's AI-driven Optimizer Suite to reduce turnaround time and operational costs, while building efficiencies over time through the suite's self-learning algorithms. More
Consumer insight platform OnePulse has launched a new subscription model through which clients can send unlimited three-question consumer research micro-surveys for a flat monthly fee. More
Amsterdam-headquartered consumer insights solutions provider Veylinx has opened its first US office in Brooklyn, New York, where it has appointed former Pollfish exec Nihad Zahri as US Business Development Director. More
User experience insights and analysis platform Contentsquare has acquired Israel-based experience analytics company Clicktale, for an undisclosed sum. More
Global consumer agency InSites Consulting has acquired UK-based insight community specialist Join the Dots, for an undisclosed sum. More
WPP has confirmed this evening it is now in exclusive talks with private equity firm Bain Capital, over the sale of a majority stake in Kantar. More
WPP has sold its 25 percent stake in comms group Chime, the owner of insight firm Watermelon, to Chime's majority shareholder Providence Equity Partners, for £54.4m plus potential future payments. More
Data collection and research services provider Schlesinger Group has made three senior hires in the USA, supporting client needs and business growth: Chawntae Applegate as SVP, Client Solutions; and Alexis Mangan and Amanda Karp as Vice Presidents. More
The US Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's reasoning for adding a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census. The President, now seeking a delay, tweeted: 'Can anyone really believe that as a great country, we are not able to ask whether or not someone is a citizen[?] Only in America!' More
In the US, automated consumer insights platform Zappi has appointed Zontziry 'Z' Johnson as Vice President of Customer Transformation. More
In New York, language and tech solutions provider TransPerfect has acquired a minority stake in market research sector language specialist G3 Translate. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Experience management company Qualtrics has added API-driven survey programming capabilities to its Research Core insights platform, with the aim of helping users spend less time designing surveys and more time drawing and acting on insights from the data. More
Digital data collection specialist Dynata has launched a multi-supplier, automated research platform called Dynata Marketplace, through which researchers can combine the firm's first-party consumer data with that of multiple third-party providers. More
Outdoor ad company JCDecaux's Singapore subsidiary has launched a mobile intelligence-based metric called Streetside Audience Measurement (SAM), which the business claims delivers more accurate and recent data than existing out-of-home (OOH) measurement systems. More
Industry body the Broadcast Research Council (BRC) of South Africa has appointed Gary Whitaker as Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of Clare O'Neil at the end of last year. More
Raymond Cyr, the founder of research software firm Voxco, has sold the business to private investment firm Pivoton Capital for an undisclosed sum. Pivoton's Managing Partner Sumit Aneja becomes Chief Executive Officer and Cyr will remain as an advisor during the handover period. More
Comscore and consumer media research lab MediaScience have announced a partnership to examine how and why cross-platform advertising works, while providing measurement of audience size, behavior, engagement and effect. More
Atlanta, GA-based full service research firm CMI has promoted Will Leopold to the position of Head of Life Sciences and Director of Client Engagement. The firm has also appointed Melvin Drake as a Network Security Analyst. More
Social media monitoring firm Brandwatch claims to have launched a new category called 'Digital Consumer Intelligence', which combines social media, (other) digital, survey and first-party data and applies artificial intelligence and data science techniques to generate new customer insights. More
Silicon Valley customer experience feedback specialist Medallia has filed for an IPO, seeking flexibility, working capital and options for acquisitions and investments. More
British-based tech-led insight agency FlexMR has launched a line of 'Empowerment services' to help research teams embed and promote the role of insights across departments, through methods including the development of bespoke, branded research playbooks. More
Verbatim analysis software company Ascribe has teamed up with Hamburg, Germany-based market and social research firm ASKi-Data to launch a new text analytics tool, ASKi-Data CX Snapshot. More
In the US, user experience (UX) insights company UserZoom has acquired NYC-based user research technology company Validately. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In London, the management team at agribusiness pricing, media, data and intelligence company AgriBriefing has bought the company for an undisclosed sum. More
Brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has named Esha Nagar Managing Director of Sales for India, based in Mumbai and overseeing its research and client development efforts across a range of vertical industries. More
In the US, video ad effectiveness measurement specialist Ace Metrix has launched an approach which quantifies the level of 'cultural sensitivity' portrayed in advertising. More
US-based strategy and custom research company Magid has hired former GfK exec Tim Spenny as Senior Vice President, with a focus on emerging technology and research and consulting for innovation. More
Ipsos has promoted Joseph DeVeny to lead its US Innovation Practice, overseeing a team of nearly 100 across the region. More
WPP media agency network Mindshare has launched a 'NeuroLab' in its New York office, using EEG and Galvanic Skin Response technology to measure second-by-second, non-conscious neurological responses to brand stories and media. More
UK-based Insights People has created eight new jobs, after receiving backing from business support agency, GC Business Growth Hub. The company is also seeking to finalise another round of investment to further scale its US and European businesses, and to launch into Asia. More
In the US, long-time entertainment industry exec Bruce Friend has joined Century City, CA-based TV, film and video research firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) in the newly created role of Chief Product and Innovation Officer. More
In the UK, global insights provider Maru/Matchbox has appointed former GfK exec Peter Jenkins as Chief Client Officer, based in the Southampton office. More
BARB, the UK television audience measurement currency, has commissioned Kantar to install its 'Focal Meters' technology into the BARB panel of homes. More
Former Edelman CEO David Brain has co-founded a market research firm called Stickybeak in New Zealand, in partnership with pollster David Talbot, designer Kyle Hickey, and technology specialist Brody Nelson. More
In New York, programmatic ad tech provider Mobiquity Technologies has launched a measurement tool called AdTribute, to help marketers identify in-store, bricks-and-mortar footfall as a result of exposure to digital advertising. More
New Canadian MR association CRIC has issued advice to members regarding the country's 'Elections Modernization Act', some of whose provisions kick in on 30th June with implications for polls both partisan and non-partisan. More
London-based data sharing software firm Privitar has closed a $40m Series B funding round, for use in accelerating the development of its compliance and privacy-focused products, and scaling rapidly in response to global demand. More
Peter Mouncey, outgoing Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Market Research (IJMR) has been awarded the MRS Gold Medal, after fifteen years in the role. He is only the twelfth recipient of the medal since 1982. Dr Daniel Nunan becomes Editor in his place. More
Australian MR body AMSRO has published the draft terms of reference for its review of polling methods, following the surprise outcome of May's Federal Election; and has appointed an Advisory Board to undertake the review. More
Marketing and MR Agency System 1 has reported flat constant currency revenue of £26.90m for the twelve month period ended 31st March 2019, and says it continues to invest heavily in its new AdRatings product. More
UK-based emotion analytics specialist Realeyes has raised $12.4m in a new round of investment, which it will use to fund expansion to Japan. More
In the US, global strategy and consumer insights company db5 has announced the return of Chris Hubble as Chief Executive Officer, after a three year stint developing and managing DIY research platform PopResearch (Pop). More
Ipsos has promoted Jason McGrath to the role of Head of Corporate Reputation in the US, based in New York. More
In China, third party marketing data and tech provider Miaozhen Systems has acquired audio advertising measurement platform and audio recognition technology specialist RadioBuy, for an undisclosed sum. More
Kantar has set up an International Election Team, to provide forecasting, research and commentary for elections across the world. More
In Paris, MR firm OpinionWay has appointed long-time Kantar TNS exec Thierry Millon as Deputy Managing Director, in charge of its qualitative and co-creation activities. More
In the US, online sampling and digital data collection company Dynata has promoted Yaron Zimmerman to the role of General Manager, CATI Services. More
In the US, DIY research software company SurveyMonkey has hired former Autodesk exec Debbie Clifford as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Timothy Maly who resigned in February. More
Nielsen is extending its Digital Ad Ratings for YouTube's mobile app to 26 more countries, bringing the total to 34. More
In Australia, the Board of out-of-home measurement system MOVE is to invest $1.3m into a neuroscience study as part of the development of a new digital OOH measurement metric. More
In the US, life sciences specialist Beghou Consulting has opened a Marketing Research practice, and hired pharma researcher Esin Izat to lead it. More
In San Francisco, brand intelligence and ad measurement company Survata has hired former Boost Media CEO Tim Krozek for a newly created role, President of Ad Measurement. More
In Australia, Kantar has promoted Leigh Mander and Jacqui Brandt to MD roles, leading the Sydney and Melbourne offices respectively. Meanwhile James Brown moves into the newly created position of National Head of Shopper. More
Respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has expanded its Qualitative Community to the UK, where it will provide access to what it describes as 'articulate' respondents. More
Former SKIM exec Lester Sualog has been hired by System1 Research as Managing Director for the APAC region, based in Singapore. More
Research organization Reputation Institute has acquired Toronto-based media measurement and analysis specialist Cormex Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, J.D. Power has partnered with DIY survey software company SurveyMonkey to help businesses tap into those insights from automotive owners and potential buyers which can be missed through traditional survey channels. More
Co-founder Julian Hadfield has left UK- and Australia-based specialist MR recruiter Resources Group, and retired from recruitment after nearly thirty years. More
Retail data specialist The NPD Group has appointed Hal Danziger as Head of Next Gen Platforms, working on the design and development of a new data processing and delivery platform which will support new data sets and analytics. More
New York-based SIS Research has launched a platform called 'SIS Data Science', which will use techniques including advanced analytics and data visualization to run its worldwide panels 'more efficiently and accurately'. More
Vista Equity Partners, a firm co-founded by Robert F. Smith, the richest African-American in the United States, has joined the list of bidders competing to buy a majority stake in WPP's insight and analytics arm Kantar. More
News Corp Australia has announced that it will continue to support its partner Newspoll, while looking to 'fix' the polling system. This follows the newspaper group Nine's decision to end its contract with Ipsos over election predictions. More
In Australia, newspaper group Nine News has ended its contract with Ipsos after it failed - in common with all the other pollsters in the country - to predict the election victory of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. More
London-based behavioural insights consultancy Irrational Agency has announced that co-founder Elina Halonen is leaving the firm, to pursue independent work in the MR and consumer insights space alongside her academic research. Her co-founder Leigh Caldwell continues at the helm of Irrational. More
Nielsen's innovation division BASES has launched a new service called Retail Ready, to help packaged goods manufacturers of all sizes compete for shelf space for their new products. More
Research software company SurveyMonkey has launched a cloud-based European data centre for new enterprise customers, allowing it to host data for customers located or doing business in the region. More
Veriglif, a New York-based company which promises to 'unlock value for buyers, sellers & creators of personal data', is emerging from 'stealth' mode and beginning a rapid push towards full commercialization. More
Australia's Association of Market and Social Research Organisations (AMSRO) is conducting a review of political polling methods, probing why all polls incorrectly called the outcome of Saturday's Federal election. More
Neuromarketing and analytics company Neuro-Insight has promoted Shazia Ginai to the role of UK Chief Executive Officer, replacing Heather Andrew who will continue to serve on the Group Board as a Non-Executive Director. Ginai takes up her new position on 1st June. More
MR Software firm has made four new hires at its New York headquarters, and promoted Meghan Moore to the position of Vice President of Customer Experience, also based there. More
In the US, consumer intelligence company Quester has launched a service using Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa to conduct one-on-one interviews with consumers in households with smart speakers. More
US-based Qualtrics has launched an on-demand learning platform called Experience Basecamp, to help organizations develop experience management (XM) skills. More
New York-based neuroanalytics specialist SPARK Neuro is opening an office in Washington, DC next month, and is also planning an opening in Europe. More
Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint has hired long-time GMO Research exec Nicholas Antram as Senior Vice President for the Asia region, based in the firm's Tokyo office. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has launched an automated test for measuring the strength of a visual design or logo, within its Easy2survey platform. More
Reports from several sources suggest that WPP has shortlisted private equity investors Bain Capital, Apollo, Platinum and a fourth undisclosed company to submit bids to buy a majority stake in its insight and analytics arm Kantar. More
In London, respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has hired long-time industry exec Nathan Pereira as Business Development Director on its Agency and Enterprise team, tasked with helping grow the company's presence in the UK. More
US-based panel and digital MR specialist eCGlobal Research Solutions has partnered with audience research systems developer Immetrica to launch a solution called 'Alldience', measuring consumption of multiplatform media content. More
US-based strategy and custom research company Magid has appointed Brian Katz as Senior Vice President, Product and Data Strategy, in New York; while qualitative researcher Jason Rice has joined its Gaming and Esports practice in Salt Lake City, Utah. More
US firm TABS Analytics has acquired virtual shopper marketing research and analytics business Decision Insight. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
WPP's data, insights and consulting company Kantar has launched the 'Profiles Network', offering permission-based, GDPR compliant access to around 88 million people in 70 countries. The launch combines panel information from Kantar Profiles Division (formerly known as Lightspeed) with that from 28 additional organizations. More
In the US, Market Strategies International-Morpace has rebranded as 'Escalent'. The new name comes from the word 'escalate', which the firm says reflects its mission to help organizations accelerate, develop and grow. More
In the UK, five independent consultants have come together to launch a new research group called Insight Leaders. More
Nielsen is rolling out its Local Nielsen Media Impact (Local NMI) solution to nineteen additional markets. More
Organisations from India, Japan, France and Canada have teamed up to launch GAMMA, the Global Alliance for the Measurement of Media Audiences. The new body, headed by Global MD Brad Bedford, aims to align operational processes and technical standards in the sector. More
San Francisco has become the first US city to ban the use of facial recognition by local agencies, including the city's transport authority and law enforcement officers. More
Santa Monica, California-based analytics firm Measured has launched out of stealth mode, after two years of development and testing of its platform, which helps clients optimise their marketing mix using always-on A/B experimentation. More
California-based consultancy Greenberg Strategy has launched Greenberg Inside, a solution to help organizations assess and improve their workplace culture, with two main areas of focus - Employee Strategy and Leadership Strategy. More
Hendon, North London-based full service agency PurpleMR has taken a majority stake in data collection provider Prevision Research; and has brought in Bob Qureshi, Co-owner and Managing Partner of facilities group i-View as a Director and shareholder for Prevision. More
Sample management platform Cint has opened a second German office, in Munich, and hired former Dynata exec Oliver Tjarks to lead it as SVP Sales, Cint Deutschland GmbH. Senior Sales Director Patrycja Reinhart and Sales Director Marc Sörgel also join the office. More
Business intelligence, research and events group Informa plc has formally launched a new division, Informa Tech, bringing together research, media, training and events brands from across the group to serve the global Technology community. Gary Nugent serves as the new unit's CEO. More
Research technology firm Cobalt Sky has appointed survey ops and technology expert Phil Bird as Senior Consultant, focused on providing technology services to key accounts within the business. More
Marcoms giant Havas Group has acquired India-based user experience (UX) consultancy Think Design. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In Canada, survey, marketing research and analytics firm Leger has appointed Luc Brousseau as Vice President of Leger Digital, which oversees divisions for Metrics and Communities. More
Newcastle and London-based research consultancy Differentology has promoted Mark James to the position of Chief Executive Officer, while Lizzie Gilthorpe takes over his previous role as Managing Director. Head of Research James Dickie and Head of Insight Dan Brilot complete the senior team. More
The Board of Directors of industry body the Insights Association has approved an updated version of its Code of Standards and Ethics for Marketing Research and Data Analytics, to which all members must adhere. More
US-based SurveyMonkey has reported a 17% increase in first quarter revenue to $68.6m. In terms of profitability, GAAP net loss was ($17.8m) but adjusted EBITDA was $8.5m. More
Custom research and online data firm SurveyHealthcare (SHC) has appointed Lena Belz as Head of European Operations, based in its London head office. More
Full service agency Kynetec b2 has acquired Ronse, Belgium-based CATI call centre JTL. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Behavioural research specialist EyeSee has opened an office in London, to be run by former Nielsen exec Payal Patel who joins in the role of Director of Business Development. More
London-based digital consumer insight company GlobalWebIndex has appointed former Comscore exec Hugh McGoran as Senior Vice President of Revenue, North America, based in New York. More
US-based fieldwork firm ISA (Interviewing Services of America) has opened a 110-station call center in Las Vegas, Nevada, bringing its nationwide dialing capacity to 310. More
In New Zealand, Kantar has named Simon Munro Business Development Director, while Ian Wentworth moves to the post of Business Delivery Director and Stu Eagle is promoted to Technical Solutions Director. More
Melbourne, Australia-based tech-driven research agency Cubery has rolled out its platform in the US and UK. More
Comscore has expanded its box office measurement service to west and southern Africa, providing data for nine African countries including South Africa, and Nigeria where the film industry is known as 'Nollywood'. More
In the UK, full-service agency ABA Research has been renamed 'Kokoro', the Japanese word for heart. The firm has also hired former Chime CIE Board Director Caroline Bates as Insight Consultancy Director in its leadership team. More
In Edinburgh, newly formed agency 56 Degree Insight has partnered with Kantar's omnibus team, to provide the local knowledge needed to ensure Kantar's Scottish Opinion Survey can continue. The new firm will also support Kantar's OnlineBus Scotland omnibus. More
Australia-based insight and strategy consultancy The Leading Edge has closed its London office, citing 'Brexit uncertainty-related issues' which it says have made clients reluctant to commit to budgets. The firm will now run most client accounts from its Sydney headquarters. More
WPP's Kantar division has appointed Rajani Athreya as HR Director, Insights & Country HR Services Leader for South Asia. She is based in Mumbai. More
In the US, enterprise survey software company SurveyGizmo has partnered with digital incentives and rewards platform Rybbon to help users increase response rates to surveys. More
In the UK, marcoms group Unlimited has confirmed that CEO Michael Richards has left the business, just twelve months into the role. More
Nielsen has reported a 2.9% fall in first quarter revenue (+0.4% on constant currency terms), to $1.6bn, with net income down 40% to $43m from $72m a year ago, but adjusted EBITDA up slightly (+0.5%) at $415m. More
Leeds, UK-based full service agency Boxclever has opened an office in London; and has appointed former Relish exec Rebecca Huntley as Qualitative Director, based in Leeds. Also joining in Leeds, in the Quant team are Lauren Hall and Chrissie Tarbotton. More
The European Research Federation (EFAMRO) has appointed Bernd Wachter, CEO of German MR agency Psyma, as its new President. He takes over from Andrew Cannon, Executive Director of Global Research Business Network (GRBN), who has completed seven years in the EFAMRO role. More
UK-based fieldwork and data delivery firm Populus Data Solutions (PDS) has hired former Toluna exec Daniel Singham as Director of Business Development. More
Bain Capital and Apollo Global Management LLC are among those moving into the next stage of bidding for Kantar, according to sources, quoted on Bloomberg; while private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and Apax Partners have dropped out. More
Automated research platform operator Methodify has announced a partnership with survey bot CRIS (Conversational Research Insight System), and the appointments of digital tech expert Jonathan Hyde-Barnes and former Coca Cola Shopper Insights lead Melissa Hugh. More
Specialist business-to-business researcher B2B International is launching an office in Edinburgh, to be headed up by RM Imogen Williams, who moves from the firm's office in Manchester. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA is to open an office in Sydney in July 2019, to be headed up by Elyse Pigram, who moves from the firm's London headquarters. Meanwhile the London office has added former Flamingo execs Dunstan Kornicki and Yuka Uchijima. More
Eye-tracking hardware and software firm Tobii AB has reported results for the first quarter of 2019, with net sales up 20% in constant currency terms, to SEK 393m ($US 41.3m). With continuing high investment in R&D division Tobii Tech, operating loss was SEK -37m ($US 3.9m). More
Ipsos is extending its syndicated Severe Asthma Therapy Monitor to Japan, the first country covered in Asia; and says it will add China later this year. More
Ipsos has reported organic growth of 2.4% for the first quarter of 2019, which coupled with acquisitions including Synthesio and parts of GfK drove reported revenue up an impressive 15.0% to EUR 422.1m. More
First quarter revenue less pass-through costs in WPP's Kantar (DIM) division was flat (up 0.1% like-for-like), while the rest of the marcoms group saw declines. Kantar, whose sale process is said to be 'progressing well', saw particularly strong growth in Asia Pacific, LatAm and the Middle East. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany to support clients across Central Europe. More
Japan-based healthcare professional web portal M3 has acquired a majority stake in Neuroglia Health, which owns DailyRounds, a community-based platform for doctors and medical students in India. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
TV audience rating body BARC India has appointed Aaditya Pathak as EVP-Partnerships & Growth, while promoting Elbert D'silva to lead its Product Leadership & Excellence team. More
In India, former Kantar IMRB exec Praveen Nijhara has joined Hansa Research as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Ashok Das who will continue as a senior advisor for the group. More
In the US, College Pulse has raised $1.5m in a seed round of funding, as it launches a real-time analytics platform to track and predict the opinions, interests and buying behaviour of US college students. More
In Canada, insight tech business Rival Technologies is launching a mobile and messaging insights and engagement platform called Chat Lab. More
Nielsen CEO David Kenny has voiced his concerns about a plan designed by President Donald Trump's administration to add a citizenship question to the 2020 US Census, arguing that if the addition is approved by the Supreme Court, the census will yield 'flawed data'. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA is opening an office in Sydney, in July. The business will be led by Elyse Pigram, who is transferring back to her native Australia after more than a year in the firm's London office. More
In the US, focus group facilities and recruiting services company L&E Research is to open an office in Austin, Texas on May 6th. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has announced a new Americas team, covering the US and Canada. More
In the UK, qual and quant fieldwork services agency Ardent Fieldwork has expanded its senior team with the appointment of former Field Initiatives Directors Karen Beardon and Viki Hallahan. More
Ipsos India has announced that its CEO Amit Adarkar has taken on the additional role of Operations Director, for the Asia Pacific region. More
London-based YouGov has expanded its Global Partnerships Programme with the addition of new members in Russia, Poland, Pakistan and Egypt. Additional partners are in development across the EMEA and APAC regions. More
Ipsos India has extended the role of Sonul Verdia, Mystery Shopping Lead, to include the post of Business Development Head for Customer Experience in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Ananya Roy Mathur, Research Director, Innovation, takes on the post of Creative Excellence Lead for India. More
In the US, mobile research specialist MFour has launched a tool called ExperienceCheck, to help retail and restaurant brands understand what needs to be improved or optimized - from product placement to staff performance, store ambiance and checkout experience. More
Harris Interactive has expanded its New Product Development (NPD) Express suite of solutions with the addition of a tool called 'Price Express', through which companies can apply consumer insights to determine costing strategies for their products and services. More
Outdoor advertising company JCDecaux has introduced an international solution for the airport industry called AAM (Airport Audience Measurement). More
In the US, Ipsos has acquired GfK's probability-based online panel, for an undisclosed sum, and added it to the Ipsos Public Affairs division. More
US research and training company Burke, Inc. has announced that CEO Jeff Miller is to retire after 31 years with the firm. He will be replaced by Diane Surette, who will take up the position of President and Chief Executive on 1st October. More
In the UK, television audience measurement body BARB has issued an invitation to tender for two of its main research contracts: the first for its audience measurement panel and data publication, and the second for survey design and methodology. More
David Burrows, former Board Director at consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo, has set up his own consultancy, Zoetrope, offering cross-cultural human insight, to guide brand strategy, innovation and communications development. More
Kristin Luck, former President and CMO of US-based quant MR tech firm Decipher and founder of not-for-profit organization Women In Research (WIRe), has set up a management consultancy called ScaleHouse, to guide marketing and analytics firms through all stages of growth. More
UK-based video intelligence platform LivingLens has released a 'blurring' option, developed to overcome a number of privacy and permission issues, such as when an end brand can't be revealed during the fieldwork phase of a project. More
YouGov has announced an 18% rise in revenue to £66.5m for the half year period ending 31st January 2019, compared with £56.3m in the prior year period. The firm says US demand for data products and services has enabled it to withstand the political uncertainty hitting business in Europe. More
Digital marcoms group Next Fifteen Communications has reported net revenue of £224m for the year ended 31st January 2019, with organic growth of 6.4% on a constant currency basis, and pre-tax profit up 23% to £36m. Research division Savanta stood out with organic growth of 30.6%. More
London-based insights agency Network Research has changed its name to 'Motif', and launched a new 'Loyalty Landscape Framework', designed to understand what drives customer loyalty and how it impacts purchasing behaviour. More
Ipsos has launched Simstore, a suite of automated virtual shopper and packaging solutions to help clients understand how shoppers make decisions, improve navigation and optimize retail conditions and package designs. More
Panel provider Borderless Access has appointed Horia Hateg-Codrut as Client Servicing Manager for Germany/Eastern Europe, while Bev Tigar joins as Client Development Lead for South Africa. More
San Francisco-based consumer research and neuromarketing platform CoolTool has launched an app called UXReailty, to help clients create their own 'universe' of insights while users interact with mobile sites and apps. More
Nielsen has launched a Behavioral Sciences Institute, with the aim of educating leaders across industries on 'the power of conscious and nonconscious decision making'. The Institute will sit within, and tap the data library of the company's Consumer Neuroscience division. More
machineVantage, the company launched in 2016 by NeuroFocus founder A.K. Pradeep to develop AI and machine learning-based solutions across business operations, has announced ten new products focused on innovation in marketing and new product development. More
Japan-based research and marketing group INTAGE has merged its healthcare MR provider ANTERIO Inc. with customer relations specialist ASKLEP, under the new name of INTAGE Healthcare Inc. The new company is led by former ANTERIO CEO Yoshiya Nishi. More
UK-based firm The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has appointed Sonia Misak as President of its New York office. More
Canadian MR body the MRIA is to reopen in April, just eight months after declaring bankruptcy. New MR industry association CRIC warns that the relaunch will result in confusion - both in the marketplace and with regulators. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec has acquired Neil Clark & Associates, an Australian provider of agribusiness data and business intelligence. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Tokyo-based online specialist Macromill has acquired an additional 41% stake in Southeast Asian marketing research firm W&S Holdings, which from July will be known as Macromill South East Asia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, youth and family research specialist Smarty Pants has hired former Forrester Research exec Blake Morin as 'Insights Guru', responsible for all stages of custom quant and qual research for key media, food and beverage, and toy and game clients. More
Social media intelligence firm Brandwatch has acquired London and New York-based Qriously, which offers a location-based public opinion survey app. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Dynata has released the first edition of a Global Trends Report, which benchmarks the environmental, societal and psychological attitudes that impact people's participation in research. More
The UK's cross-industry measurement standards body JICWEBS has appointed former IAB CEO Guy Phillipson as its new Chairman. He replaces Richard Foan who set up the organisation in 1999 with trade bodies ISBA, the IPA, the IAB and the AOP. More
London-based full service insights consultancy Basis has appointed Georgie Cooper as a Partner, leading its European Health practice. More
Harris Interactive has partnered with corporate, HR and B2B comms agency Epoka to measure voting intentions ahead of the European elections taking place in France on 26th May. More
Ipsos has announced the Asia Pacific launch of its Creative|Labs, which use early communication research to encourage and guide 'bold and effective' creativity in advertising. More
Australian insights consultancy Faster Horses has opened an office in Canberra, adding to existing locations in Perth and Sydney; and has appointed James Wunsch to lead it as Director of Social & Government research. More
In Mumbai, audience measurement and analytics body BARC India has announced it will integrate an expanded Out of Home (OOH) TV viewing measurement service with in-home TV viewing data on its Media Workstation (BMW) software. More
Decision-making behaviour specialist SKIM has launched Price Explorer, to help clients make 'quick and confident' decisions on pricing new products. More
In Canada, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a solution called Creative Insights, combining measurement of implicit and explicit advertising response with benchmarks, for a complete picture of ad impact. More
Customer experience research specialist UserTesting has launched a new application called ProductInsight, which promises to help bring rapid customer feedback into every phase of the new product development process. More
GfK has appointed long-time Procter & Gamble insights exec Richard Boyko as Country Lead for Consumer Insights and Marketing Effectiveness in Belgium. More
In London, research software firm Digital Taxonomy has secured what it describes as a 'substantial' round of investment funding, which it will use for further business growth. To support this, the firm has hired recent graduate George Hamza and relocated to offices in the heart of Bloomsbury. More
In the US, online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has promoted David Butler to the role of Chief Client Officer. More
UK-based brand research agency The Nursery has launched a new division called The Nursery Health, building on its experience working across the Rx, OTC and wellness sectors. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has partnered with Kantar to launch a report which explains how 'Intelligence Capital' can drive business growth. More
Paris-based research and consultancy company BVA Group has rolled out its 'Nudge Unit' in the UK, led by Scott Young, who also serves as an SVP of the parent company. More
In Stockholm, Sweden, panel exchange and management firm Cint has appointed Lottie Saks as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Dag Magni who has moved into the position of Senior Advisor for the firm. More
Respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has promoted Katie Gawlik, Waleed Nesyif, Mellissa Hill and Amanda Naismith; the first three from Director to VP of Strategy & Development, and Naismith to VP of Profiling and Analytics. More
In Cheshire, UK, insight and comms agency Tribe Communications has merged with media analysis specialist Crescendo. The merged agency will be known as Tribe and will launch a new specialist PR and marketing measurement unit called Qualimetrics. More
In London, research agency Kadence International has hired former Decidedly exec Emma Muckersie in the new role of Head of Global Marketing, and Kim Adjei as an Insight Manager. More
Stockholm-based affluent fieldwork specialist Altiant has launched, GLAM - the Global Luxury and Asset Management monitor, as well as an open interactive platform hosting ranges of data points from its in-house HNW panel LuxuryOpinions. More
Tech-enabled MR company Maru Group is renaming its Latin American business, previously Maru/Moto, to Maru/Matchbox, in line with its North American companies. More
Kantar is dispensing with brands including TNS, Millward Brown, Lightspeed, Worldpanel and IMRB, and from 2nd April will deliver 'all services and offerings under the Kantar brand name'. More
In London, former Flamingo director Hadley Coull has launched an insight and strategy 'collective' called Headz, consisting of a network of independent researchers, strategists and consultants who will work with clients across the tech, media, and gaming sectors. More
In the US, consumer specialist MSW Research has launched a fully-automated DIY platform called Insight Rabbit, through which users can program surveys in minutes and get results delivered in 24 hours or less. The new platform is led by former Discuss.io exec RJ Scott. More
Digital research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has promoted Pieter van der Gouwe to the role of Managing Director of its Netherlands operation, while Pim van Leeuwen moves up to Director of Client Strategy and Growth. The pair will jointly lead the Dutch office. More
In the UK, automotive and transport customer insight specialist APD Global Research has promoted Kathryn Courtenay-Evans to the position of UK Managing Director, as Rob Whalley steps down as CEO. Additionally, Karl Fisher moves up to the role of Client Services Director. More
YouGov media planning and audience segmentation tool Profiles has been combined with the IPA's TouchPoints survey, which provides an annual view of where, when and in what mood people consume media in Britain. More
In New York, data-driven marketing solutions group Engine has hired Bloomberg Media exec Keith Grossman as its first Chief Operating Officer. He will join the company on April 15. More
In London, PR group Newgate Communications has set up a Market and Social Research practice, led by Kantar's former Head of Qual, Dan Clay. More
UK-based behavioural economics specialist The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has expanded its team with six new hires, including Eleanor Heather as Associate Director, and Louise Littleton and Laura Woodward as Senior Strategic Consultants. More
UK-based agency The Insights People has expanded its services to Europe following a raft of client wins, and has appointed three new members of staff to support this growth. More
UK-based marketing services firm The Unlimited Group has acquired advanced analytics company Model Citizens, and rebranded it as Realise Unlimited. The Group has also announced a major contract for Ford in the UK. More
The Communications Committee of the UK's House of Lords has called for the establishment of a new regulatory framework for services in the digital world, and set out ten guiding principles it thinks should form its basis. More
London-based agency Basis has appointed former Hall & Partners Health CEO Soumya Roy as Chief Executive of its rapidly-growing New York office. More
Consumer intelligence company Maru/Matchbox has launched a solution called Implicit Association Test (IAT), which captures consumers' immediate, gut instinct or subconscious responses to brands, campaigns and concepts. More
San Francisco-based tech-driven researcher Insights Curry has launched a cloud-based, one stop solution for efficient 'maxdiff' research, which incorporates machine learning. More
Confirmit may be headed for new ownership, following a court ruling that shares in the research software firm can be forcibly sold. The ruling is an attempt to recover $320m which the company's Norwegian billionaire owner Alexander Vik owes to Deutsche Bank. More
The Stagwell Group, owner of the Harris and Harris Poll brands, is in talks to buy a $100m minority stake in marcoms group MDC Partners, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). More
Another partnership for Qualtrics: today the experience management solutions firm has announced it is teaming up with executive search and management consulting firm Korn Ferry, to build a global service for companies seeking to improve employee experiences. More
Dimitrios Casdas, former General Manager of Australian panel provider Quality Online Research (QOR), has avoided a prison sentence after being found guilty of embezzling more than $AUD 300,000 from his previous employer. More
In London, full-service agency Critical Research has hired former RED exec Sam Day as Director, Face-to-Face. More
Full-service business-to-business MR company B2B International has hired Silvia Leiva for a newly created role, APAC Regional Insights and Business Growth Director, based in Singapore. More
Kantar is preparing to close its TNS office in Edinburgh by the end of the month, as part of its review of 'strategic priorities'; but two of its former directors, Jim Eccleston and Duncan Stewart, have announced they will launch their own agency, 56 Degree Insight. More
In the US, Nielsen has partnered with Headset, a data and analytics service provider for the legal cannabis industry, to deliver insights on this market for CPG manufacturers. The firm has also revealed that it acquired Cannabiz Consumer Group last year. More
In London, insight and innovation consultancy Decidedly (formerly known as FreshMinds) has appointed Adrian Wong as Director of Innovation. More
Kantar has officially launched its 'Marketplace' on-demand research store, which combines a sample reaching 80 million consumers worldwide with the ability to deliver quick turnaround self-serve custom surveys, insight solutions and expert consulting. Will Galgey will lead it as CEO. More
Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint has created a global enterprise solutions team, focusing on clients with 'advanced, high value and technology-led requirements'. Greg Dunbar will lead it, as EVP of Enterprise, joined by Mike Misel as SVP of Enterprise for the Americas. More
Ad and brand research firm Hall & Partners has promoted Joanna Fanuele to Managing Partner in its New York office, leading its consumer division. More
In the US, fieldwork and research services business Schlesinger Group, has acquired data collection firm Baltimore Research. More
DIY research software company SurveyMonkey is to acquire Voice of the Customer (VoC) tech provider Usabilla, aiming to expand its own enterprise suite of customer feedback solutions. The mixed cash and stock deal is valued at approximately $80m. More
In the US, Boston-based market research and strategy firm Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) has relocated its headquarters to the financial district, with larger offices providing space for future growth. More
GfK has introduced a mobile app called 'GfK Performance Pulse', which combines POS data with its experience of working with manufacturers, to help sales teams optimise ROI during launches and promotions. More
Consumer insight firm Join the Dots has hired former System 1 exec Maria Spinelli as Head of Asia, based in Singapore and replacing Karen Schofield who is to leaving at the end of the month to 'pursue other interests'. More
UK-based behavioural economics specialist The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has appointed long-time Hall & Partners exec Di Adams as Head of its Health and Personal Care practice. More
WPP expects to announce a deal selling a majority stake in Kantar to an investor by the middle of the year, according to Chief Executive Mark Read. More
Sydney agency Taverner Research has acquired government, academic and financial sector specialist Jetty Research. More
In Australia, financial data specialist DBM Consultants has partnered with ad currency initiative emma (Enhanced Media Metrics Australia) to create a product combining the financial attitudes, intentions and actual behaviours of consumers with demography, lifestyle and media consumption data. More
The Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) has begun its annual online auction. Bid for a legendary Tariq Mirza curry dinner for six, or a £200 voucher for Michelin star restaurant Core; or just get your colleagues to try DRNO this month and we'll donate. More
In the US, customer insights platform UserTesting has launched 'Live Conversation Mobile', a feature allowing users to interview customers on their mobile devices. More
In the US, consumer understanding specialist Curion has hired Kevin Coleman to head up its recently launched sensory and product insights platform eFive. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has accredited Moat Analytics - now part of the Oracle Data Cloud - for detection and exclusion of sophisticated invalid traffic (SIVT) in mobile apps, including bot ad fraud. More
WPP has reported a 4.5% decline (1.8% in constant currency terms) in revenue for its Kantar data investment management (DIM) division, for the year 2018. Reported revenue was down from £2.7bn in 2017 to £2.56bn in 2018. More
In Tokyo, online research firm Rakuten Insight Global has appointed Takahiro 'Tack' Yamaya as company President, replacing Hidefumi Watanabe who is being promoted to a broader director role within the Rakuten Group. More
Nielsen has reported a 0.9% decrease in full year 2018 revenue to $6.5bn. The company will now restructure into two new segments, Nielsen Global Media and Nielsen Global Connect, and CEO David Kenny says its 2019 focus is to transform into a 'product-driven technology organization'. More
Ipsos has reported organic growth of just 0.7% for 2018, with currency fluctuations reducing reported revenue to EUR 1.7bn, 1.7% down on the previous year. Q4 revenue was up 4.5% to EUR 535.6m, as the firm consolidates recent acquisitions. More
In the UK, Healthcare Research Worldwide (HRW) has announced that Global MD Caroline Jameson has decided to step down from her role after nearly eighteen years with the company. On 1st April, Jameson will hand over to Christine Dalzell, HRW's current EVP, US Research. More
Dynata - until recently known as Research Now SSI - has received a US patent for its automated graphing system, which will improve both the accuracy of profiling data and the quality of the respondent experience. More
In the US, programmatic sample platform Lucid has promoted former COO Andy Ellis to the newly created role of Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Director, North America. He has been replaced by Rick Rodgers, while Nicole Patel and Ben Hogg have also been promoted to the exec team. More
Shopper behaviour specialist Kantar Worldpanel has partnered with research-based marketing consultancy Kantar MRB, to enhance the household panel running in Bangladesh since 2012. More
In the United States, TV, film and video research firm Screen Engine/ASI has acquired media research consultancy The Diffusion Group (TDG). More
Global MR association ESOMAR has announced a strategic partnership with the newly formed Canadian Research and Insights Council (CRIC), which will adopt a localised version of the ICC/ESOMAR Code of Conduct, and take a seat on its Professional Standards Committee. More
Global ad and brand researcher Phoenix Marketing International has opened new offices in Florida and New York. The company is growing its team following the recent acquisition of Nielsen's Brand Effect solution in early 2018. More
Digital research agency MetrixLab has continued a recent spate of launches with the announcement of Campaign Monitor, a 'fast, focused and detailed' multi-media campaign effectiveness solution analyzing the impact of individual campaign channels. More
Kantar has named former InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) exec Kelley Baron as President of its North American qualitative practice. More
Tech-enabled MR company Maru Group has promoted Julie Paul to Group Chief of Operations. She was previously COO for its Maru/Blue respondent access division More
Nielsen has joined the NPD Group in a new alliance which aims to 'reimagine the future of omnishopper measurement'. The partners are building a 'large-scale, comprehensive' consumer panel bringing together Nielsen's CPG measurement and NPD's general merchandise data. More
California-based Echo MR has recruited five new team members to help its expansion in the US and abroad: Karen Manne as Strategist and Quantitative Lead, plus Marylin Knapp, Kelly Barnard, Sierra Bretz and Kelsey Thompson. More
Nielsen has acquired addressable TV technology provider Sorenson Media for $11.25m, as part of its Advanced Video Advertising launch. The latter focuses on developing addressable ads initially for Internet-connected smart TVs. More
Former Kelton Global exec Amy Snow is launching a full-service research and strategy agency called Periscope, based in Los Angeles, California. More
In the US, full-service consumer understanding specialist Curion has launched eFive, a sensory and product insights platform for emerging brands, with testing facilities in Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and New York City. More
Nielsen has rolled out its Smartstore virtual reality (VR) tool in Hong Kong, to help retailers measure and optimise concepts based on how target shoppers react, in any store format. More
Ian Pierpoint, founder of youth research specialist The Sound, has launched a new agency called Further&Further, which combines qual research methodologies with immersive documentary film-making. More
Hugh Davis and Keith Price, the founders of consumer insights and marketing services umbrella group Reimagine Holdings, are to assume executive leadership positions at Dynata, following its acquisition of their firm. More
Data company Syno International has opened an office in London, and appointed Allan Shaw as UK Managing Director. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) is launching a network called #MRSpride, bringing together LGBTQ+ researchers across the sector. More
Mobile research specialist MFour has launched a service called DisplayCheck, to locate consumers who are in-store while a campaign is in flight and obtain their feedback on whether displays, signage and endcaps are being seen and driving product awareness, perception and purchases. More
In North America, consumer intelligence firm Maru/Matchbox has launched a quarterly study measuring cannabis consumption patterns, changing cannabis perceptions and attitudes, brand awareness, consideration and satisfaction, and a variety of other topics impacting the industry. More
In the US, two of the co-founders of full-service shopper behavior specialist Alter Agents have left the company for their 'next big ventures', leaving Rebecca Brooks with sole ownership of the business. Terms of any deal have not been disclosed. More
WPP's specialist growth consultancy Kantar Consulting has opened a Retail, Sales & Shopper practice in Singapore, and has hired three new members for the team. More
In London, automated online MR platform Fastuna has hired corporate researcher Maria Soroka as Managing Director for Europe. More
Management consultancy Accenture and R&D firm Qualcomm Technologies have built a solution that embeds eye-tracking technology into a mobile virtual reality headset to help gather consumer data. More
DIY survey specialist SurveyMonkey has partnered with Microsoft, to help users integrate and visualize business survey feedback and uncover insights, within the tools they are already using. More
Canadian pollster Angus Reid has launched a new opinion and market research agency called Angus Reid Global, led by his former colleague Ed Morawski, who has been appointed President and COO. More
SurveyMonkey's parent company SVMK has reported a 19% increase in fourth quarter and full-year revenue to $68m and $254m respectively. Meanwhile CFO Tim Maly plans to retire, to pursue his passion for 'climbing, skiing and adventure in the mountains'. More
In the US, Insights Association subsidiary CIRQ (the Certification Institute for Research Quality) has updated and streamlined its ISO Standard - ISO 20252:2019 market, opinion and social research, including insights and data analytics. This replaces three older standards, ISO 20252, 26362 and 19731. More
In the UK, retail information provider The NPD Group has launched a service called Nationality Tracker, providing insight into the duty free shopping behaviour of travellers and how they evolve over time. More
France-based BVA Group, the parent of BDRC and PRS IN VIVO, has acquired Italian market research and opinion poll specialist Doxa from Alchimia Holdings. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, consumer insights specialists GfK MRI and Simmons Research have formed a joint venture called MRI-Simmons, jointly owned by respective parent companies GfK and SymphonyAI Group, with GfK as the majority partner. More
Digital MR services firm Bilendi Group has signed an agreement to acquire Italy's online panel provider Via! for an undisclosed sum. Former Research Now-SSI Italy CEO Patrizia Elli joins Via! to accelerate development of the Italian market. More
In the US, online sampling specialist SoapBoxSample has hired five individuals from outside the MR sector, to strengthen its focus on specific verticals, while promoting two members of its team. The firm has also launched a bi-monthly survey of cannabis users called CANNApinion Poll. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has launched a DIY eCommerce insights platform called Storefront. More
Respondent access provider Maru/Blue has launched a Hispanic Omnibus, suitable for fast turnaround studies testing an idea, message or concept. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has hired Gina Pingitore as Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation. More
Savanta, the new group formed just last week from four separate research brands within the MIG Global data and insights group of Next Fifteen Communications PLC, has announced an acquisition: the Custom Research division of London's Wealth-X. More
In London, MR software industry veteran Tariq Mirza and Kinesis Survey Technologies co-founder Juha Vehnia have opened SampleNinja, a new company promising robust and scalable panel management software solutions, enhanced by AI. More
A bill that could have prohibited the payment of incentives for doctors participating in market research studies sponsored by pharmaceutical companies has been defeated in Philadelphia's City Council, after inputs from the Insights Association and locally-based business leaders. More
In the UK, the ICO and the government's Insolvency Service have handed out a six-year ban to Aaron Frederick Stalberg, the director of market research and polling company The Lead Experts Ltd, after the firm made thousands of unregulated marketing calls. More
US-based sampling firm InnovateMR has promoted Amanda Keller-Grill to VP of Product Strategy and Jake Leal to Director of Platform Solutions, and has launched new features for its Pegasus self-serve platform. More
The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has launched a specialist unit to provide insight on the economic effects of globalisation and multinational enterprises. More
Kantar company Lightspeed has promoted Jackie Blackler and Simon Buckley to serve as Co-Managing Directors, leading the firm's EMEA business from its offices in London. More
New York-based online sampling and research services firm OvationMR has appointed Andrew Ribner as its first Chief Research Officer. More
Los Angeles-based custom market research firm Brakethrough Research has acquired eye tracking specialist firm Eye Faster. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In London, Strive Insight has added four new members to its team: Sofia Savage as Associate Director, Alice Cappelli and Benjamin Darnell as Research Managers, and Kulay Labitigan as Narrative Designer. More
Respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has launched an 'Ailments Community', composed of pre-screened members across the US, Canada and the UK who suffer from a variety of medical complaints. More
In the US, healthcare MR firm inVibe Labs has hired former Cello Health Insight exec Kathryn Ticknor for the new created role of Head of Research. In addition, Mariana Posada joins as Research Manager, and Zach Rigotti as Software Engineer - both new positions. More
In the US, online qual research platform Aha! has added an ad/concept testing feature called TruRotation to its online qual platform. More
Independently-owned Sydney-based research and brand strategy consultancy Pollinate has expanded to Melbourne, where it has appointed former GfK, Nielsen Online and LRW exec Allan Dib as Managing Director. More
In New York, former ORC International Americas CEO Tom Markert has joined DIY consumer insights platform Perksy as Chief Operating Officer. More
Respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has launched an omnibus service giving clients a 'truly representative' sample of UK citizens. More
Digital ad industry body IAB Australia has appointed former News Corp exec Natalie Stanbury as Research Director to work on a new initiative called the Future of Measurement, which aims to provide a full review of audience measurement across media and platforms. More
In the US, mobile research specialist MFour has appointed three new members of staff, including former MarketCast Online Fieldwork Director Yvette Gonzalez as Director of Fulfillment. More
In the US, global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has launched an 'in-context' service, to improve clients' understanding of real shopper behavior, and influence consumer choices to impact business results. More
US-based P2Sample has launched a fully-automated DIY solution to enable users to manage their own panels, sample suppliers and fieldwork. More
Next15's MIG Global data and insights group has combined its research agencies Morar HPI, VIGA, Charterhouse and Circle into one new brand, Savanta. More
Healthcare research specialist P\S\L Group has transferred Carolyn Chamberlain to the role of Managing Director of its healthcare tracking and testing business, Instar Europe. More
In the US, custom research and online data firm SurveyHealthcare (SHC) has appointed Mili Bhatia as Senior Vice President, Project Services, while Linda Nguyen joins as Vice President, Client Relationships. More
UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) is calling for donations for its annual online charity auction, which aims to raise funds for MR industry workers who have fallen on hard times. This year, the auction runs from 1st to 18th March. More
DIY research software firm SurveyMonkey has launched new features to offer respondents a more engaging survey experience, including the addition of branding elements such as new layouts and colors. More
The NPD Group is to work with the U.S. Census Bureau to improve the way retailer data is fed into the Bureau's monthly programs. More
In the US, sampling firm InnovateMR has expanded its sales and client service teams with five appointments: Joe Regan, Marie O'Malley, Alyssa Witwer, Josh Mankiewicz and Will Luckey. More
Signoi, a platform which decodes unstructured data to derive both its implicit and explicit meaning, has launched new metrics called 'Universal Energies', which the firm claims can be used to understand the drivers of human happiness. More
US-based employee feedback company Culture Amp has acquired Palo Alto-based Zugata, which uses data to understand employees and then help them reach their potential. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Consumer data giant IRI has partnered with MFour Mobile Research to launch a new tool called IRI OnSights, which uses MFour's first-party GPS location data to analyse visits to US bars and restaurants by hundreds of thousands of panellists. More
In Brussels, WPP's government and public sector advisory business Kantar Public has appointed long-time Ecorys leader Roelof-Jan Molemaker as Chief Executive Officer Benelux. He will take up his role in March 2019. More
In Australia, marcoms group WPP AUNZ has merged its research consultancies AMR and Colmar Brunton. The AMR brand name will go and the newly combined entity will be known as Colmar Brunton. More
In Canada, insight tech business Rival Technologies has hired three former Vision Critical execs: Michael Janczak and Dan Fergusson as Vice Presidents of Sales and Business Development, and Kelvin Claveria as Marketing Programs Manager. More
London-based full-service agency Opinium is opening an office in Manhattan later this year, to support its US client base. More
In the US, research software and advanced analysis provider Corus has added new features to its insights marketplace, allowing users to hire analyst support for their custom market research needs, and to buy and sell reports. More
Audience measurement agency Médiamétrie has launched a study called 'Global Audio', looking at the development and consumption of audio services in France. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has signed an agreement with the SportsOneSource Group (SOS) to acquire assets from the latter's SSI Data POS Sports and Outdoor tracking business. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Erik du Plessis, former Chairman of Millward Brown South Africa and a pioneer in the field of neuroscience in advertising, died on Monday night after a long battle with cancer. He was 69 years old. More
London-based data collection, analysis and advisory services specialist Kudos Research is expanding into mainland Europe with the opening of a new office in Berlin. This new operation will be led by Divisional Director Volker Balk. More
In the UK, digital marcoms group Next15 has announced plans to bring all its data businesses under one brand - MIG data and insights - so as to offer customers 'a more tightly integrated set of services in Europe and the US'. More
TV audience rating body BARC India has elected Zee Entertainment's MD & CEO Punit Goenka as its new Chairman. He takes over from Nakul Chopra who has completed his one year tenure with the organisation. More
UK company The Student Room has acquired market research firm Vincent Consulting, for an undisclosed sum, and will use it as the base for a new research division, TSR Insight. More
Data collection firm Schlesinger Group has partnered with video analytics specialist Voxpopme for a new service, Schlesinger OnDemand Plus, offering fast access to video data, fast human transcription, video analytics and management, and secure storage of analyzed data for easy future access. More
MR and consulting firm Research America has opened a testing facility in Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Florida, to be led by Maddie Sutphin. More
Trade body the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA) has promoted Jill Spencer, Associate Director of UK customer experience specialist ReactCX, to Global Chair. She replaces Rich Bradley, President and CEO of CX Orlando. More
In the US, customer insights platform UserTesting has acquired market research and user experience (UX) test panel provider UserMuse. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Dynata - which until last week was known as Research Now SSI - has hired former Zappistore exec Tiama Hanson-Drury as Executive Vice President, Product Development; and announced five further changes to the company's executive leadership. More
In Dublin, Ireland, DIY survey software firm SurveyMonkey has hired former Facebook / Google exec Joe Cummiskey as Senior Director of Enterprise Sales in EMEA. More
WPP's Kantar is launching an on-demand research and insights store called Kantar Marketplace, providing access to the company's portfolio of quick turnaround solutions. More
In the UK, travel retail research and analysis firm Counter Intelligence Retail (CiR) is to be re-named NPD Travel Retail, two years after its acquisition by retail information provider The NPD Group. More
Intra Research, which operates panels in the former Soviet Union and the middle east, has appointed Kaspar Jänes as Chief Executive Officer. More
In New York, the Media Rating Council (MRC) Board of Directors has voted for continued accreditation of consumer and media research specialist MRI's national syndicated measurement service. More
Dynata - which until last week was known as Research Now SSI - has acquired consumer insights and marketing services umbrella Reimagine Holdings Group. More
Shopper behaviour specialist Kantar Worldpanel has expanded its laptop and tablet consumer panel, to measure purchase and usage trends in the UK. More
Consumer insight firm Join the Dots has launched an applied consumer trends model called UP Trends, designed to help clients with their mid-term planning cycles. It is currently aimed at UK brands, but the firm is planning to roll it out in other markets. More
In Washington DC, customer experience and contact center consulting firm Tayor Reach Group has hired former White House Presidential executive fellow Rosetta Lue to lead its Public Sector practice. More
Raleigh, NC-based focus group facilities and recruiting services company L&E Research has acquired discussion venues from Q & A Research Inc., in Kansas City, Missouri and Walnut Creek (East Bay), California. More
Online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has launched Immerse, a 'mass qual' tool to help clients engage consumers in the early stages of the creative development process. More
Washington, DC-based online survey software firm SoGoSurvey has released a new version of its SaaS platform, including improved security and tracking of CSAT and NPS metrics. More
Kantar CEO Eric Salama is said to be recovering well in hospital, his injuries 'neither life-changing nor life-threatening', after being stabbed 'near the heart' with an 'enormous knife' by a man attempting to steal his car in Kew, London on Sunday. More
US-based qual services and technology firm 20|20 Research had upgraded its flagship QualBoard solution with enhanced capabilities in areas including group discussions and long-term communities. More
TV audience rating body BARC India has elected AAAI President Nakul Chopra as its third Chairman. More
US-based insight automation specialist Heap has launched what it describes as the first platform to automate all phases of the customer insights process. More
Sample tech and research solutions agency WiseWorks has promoted Scott Jones to the role of EVP, Head of Sales, while hiring J.T. Kirby and Nimai Sharma as Senior Sales Directors. More
Research Now and SSI have completed their merger, with the joint business now known as 'Research Now SSI' and led by former Research Now CEO Gary Laben. More
Pollsters predicted the correct outcome of every major national election held in 2017, according to research conducted by Kantar. More
In London, custom research consultancy Beehive Research has appointed MR industry veteran Neil Callaghan as its first Business Development Director. More
Kantar has appointed Katie McClintock as Chief Executive Officer of its Insights division in Singapore - comprising Kantar TNS and Kantar Millward Brown. She will take up the position in January, replacing Nichola Rastrick who is leaving the business. More
In London, Niraj Patel has re-joined healthcare research specialist P\S\L Group as Managing Director of its online physician fieldwork services arm Medefield. More
In the US, Harris Insights & Analytics has hired Erica Parker to lead its Harris On Demand omnibus business; Kenesha Brown as Vice President of Sample Acquisition; and Merrill Raman as Chief Information Officer. More
The state of your brain can be used to predict your future decisions before you even see the options, according to a theory developed by three leading UK academics. More
Los Angeles-based MR and community intelligence platform FUEL CYCLE has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Mary Lou Barney, Sean Bradley, Matt Worden and Travis Crosby. More
UK research industry veteran Jonathan Sheldrake is joining US data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions LTD as Sales Director, EMEA. More
In New York, MarketCast subsidiary Insight Strategy Group (ISG) has hired Ruth Ingram as SVP Research and Strategy, while Michelle O'Neill joins as Vice President, Client Services. More
YouGov has given Ben Glanville the task of replicating the growth of its UK Data Services offering - including its omnibus - across a number of key markets, including Germany, France and the Nordics. More
Retail data pioneer the NPD Group has appointed former GfK exec Stanley Kee as MD of its APAC business, effective January 2nd 2018, based in Singapore and leading teams in China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec has appointed Stéphanie Richez as Senior Research Director, based in France. More
In the UK, former ORC International exec Sam Dawson has launched a business called The Engaged Culture Company, which will focus on building employee engagement strategies, helping clients source engagement survey platforms, and measuring 'what matters' through pulse surveys. More
The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) has appointed Sharon Friedlander as Vice President of Insights in its New York office. She will take up her new role next month, replacing Annette Malave who is leaving after twelve years to pursue other interests. More
The UK's top 100 individual market research agencies reported 'strong but slowing' growth of 2.8% in 2016, according to the latest League Tables from the MRS (Market Research Society). More
Online qual software and services provider Dub has launched a mobile research app called Tandem, to help capture respondents' in-moment thoughts and feelings. More
Tesco-owned customer data business dunnhumby has launched an online documentary series focusing on innovation in North America's food retail industry, with the first episode airing today. More
London-based Human, which develops technology to interpret subconscious emotional traits and predict human behaviour, has launched software which it claims can read consumers' subliminal facial expressions and reactions to products and campaigns in real-time. More
YouGov has announced the acquisition of Sydney-based MR firm and opinion pollster Galaxy Research Pty Ltd, which will be combined with YouGov's existing Australian business under the leadership of Galaxy founder and MD David Briggs. More
Following rapid expansion of its total reader base, the New York Times is to add three senior positions, including a Newsroom Audience Director, to 'ensure its audience is at the core of its work'. More
Publisher News Corp Australia has withdrawn its newspapers from the audit of the country's AMAA and will instead advise advertisers to use EMMA, which is based on readership numbers rather than circulation. More
In Los Angeles, research and analytics firm LRW has appointed Joseph (Jp) Prindle as CTO, to help drive its innovation strategy. More
Nielsen has launched a video performance evaluation solution, which uses both active and passive techniques to understand IP-based video content delivery. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has released new standards for digital cross-media audience-based measurement, built on its prior work on viewable impression measurement and invalid traffic filtration requirements. More
US-based Hispanic media firm Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has promoted Liz Sanderson to the role of Senior Vice President, Strategy & Insights, leading the team in a newly formed Research, Insights & Analytics division. More
Automated MR company ZappiStore has expanded to Latin America with the appointment of former GfK exec Gabriel Velez, who will lead its operations across the region. More
US-based online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has appointed former TrueSample CEO Mark Menig as Chief Operating Officer. More
UK-based online research specialist FlexMR has opened an office in South Carolina, where it has appointed industry exec Lindsay Smith in the role of Client Development, US. More
In the UK, tech market research company DigitalMR has added a feature called 'Intercept Surveys' to its existing listening247 and communities247 products, promising real-time feedback from site visitors, and improved completion rates. More
Nielsen Sports has acquired sports broadcast measurement business Repucom Africa for an undisclosed sum. More
Research Now has announced a partnership with Asian MR and data business Rakuten AIP. The firms will get access to each other's panel data, and work together to develop digital research products and services. More
In London, last night's Market Research Society (MRS) awards ceremony saw The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) take home both the coveted 'Grand Prix for Greatest Impact' and the 'Innovation in Research Methods' prizes. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR has expanded its suite of 'Express' research tools with the addition of 'Accelerator', designed to fast track the early stages of pack and product development. More
ESOMAR has taken the relatively rare step of warning its members about the activities of a company, following multiple complaints about the late payment practices of Mumbai-based FieldGlobal Market Research Pvt Ltd. More
Marshalled by the Insights Association, twenty-one US business associations have written to Congress urging accommodation of the Secretary of Commerce's request for an additional $187m to support the 2020 Census. More
Digital research agency MetrixLab has appointed Nick Langeveld as President of its US business, a new position based in its office in Norwalk CT. More
Sweden-based research firm Nepa has announced third quarter growth in net sales of 18.8%, to SEK 45.6m (USD 5.41m). Major investment continues to hit EBIT, which dropped to SEK -8.6m. More
Seattle-based online qual firm Discuss.io has appointed long-time Ipsos exec Frank Jellinek as Growth Director for the UK and Europe. More
In the US, healthcare data provider MedData Group has launched a self-service cloud-based platform called AccessHCP, providing access to data on more than two million US healthcare professionals. More
US company Branded Research has changed the name of its proprietary panel management platform from MintVine to Branded Surveys, while rolling out a number of improvements for panelists. More
In the UK, marcoms network the Unlimited Group has combined four of its existing insight businesses to form Walnut Unlimited, which it describes as a 'human understanding' agency. More
In London, consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo has made three senior hires: Lucas Galan as Head of Digital Forensics, Hazel Wilkinson as Head of Client Services, and Morten Jensen as Innovation Strategist in the Future Trends and Innovation team. More
All Global co-founder Eva Laparra has joined healthcare research specialist P\S\L Group, as Group President of its online physician fieldwork services arm Medefield. More
Ipsos Healthcare has launched a syndicated study called the Severe Asthma Therapy Monitor, in the US, with other markets to follow. More
UK survey software firm Merlinco has promoted Mark Syrett to Associate Director, while DP specialist Reeta Ramdoss joins the company from Bryter Research. More
London-based online community specialist Verve has launched a multi-country 'pop-up communities' approach for qual studies. Local language moderation combined with captioned video allows head office staff to 'hear and feel the customer emotion' firsthand, while understanding it in English. More
Paul Harris, long-time Chief Statistician at NOP, died on Monday 19th November after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 81 years old. More
Spanish language broadcast network NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and tech and communities business Maru/Matchbox have hooked up to launch what the firms describe as the largest insight community of its kind. More
UK-based mobile survey solutions provider OnePoint Global has promoted Mark Procter, Head of Global Operations, to its Senior Management Team. The firm has also hired Collette Taylor and Sian Bentley-Magee as Marketing Managers of its SME and Enterprise markets. More
Today we are launching a survey of the UK market research industry, in partnership with B2B specialist Circle Research. If you're a UK insights or analytics professional, we want your input! More
NY-based healthcare research specialist KJT Group has appointed former JD Power director Rick Johnson as Vice President, Consulting Services. More
UK-based video insight specialist Voxpopme has received a seven-figure Series A round of investment from Mercia Fund Managers, for use in global expansion. More
TNS veteran Praveen Sharma has joined research consultancy Greenberg Strategy as Senior Director, Marketing Science & Analytics. More
Pakistan's recently established Broadcasters and Advertisers Council (BAC) has extended its official TV ratings deal with Medialogic until at least December 2021. Working with Kantar Media, the firm will expand its panel to cover urban and semi-urban Pakistan with 1,800 households in more than 40 cities. More
US research body the Insights Association, responding to a petition from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), has urged the FCC to legalise all non-telemarketing calls to a cell phone using an autodialer, where an existing business relationship exists or where calls are free to the recipient. More
Sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix has appointed Margit Kittridge in the new role of VP, Digital Products, tasked with leading product development and go-to-market strategy. More
KPMG Australia has launched a new Advisory team for Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), within its Customer, Brand & Marketing Advisory business - and appointed Carmen Bekker as a Partner, heading it up. More
UK-based capture and analytics provider LivingLens has added industry names Leonard Murphy and Gregg Archibald to its advisory board. More
UK-based online qual software and services provider Dub has added a Diary feature to its IdeaStream platform, allowing users to build an activity in the same way they would a survey, but with answers to the same questions submitted on different days. More
European online specialist InSites Consulting has acquired Sydney, Australia-based Direction First, adding to its existing facilities in Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, the US and Germany. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has launched an urban research and innovation program, which aims to advance city life in China through a range of academic and entrepreneurial activities. More
Amsterdam-based software company Upinion has added a feature to its platform, allowing market research through Facebook Messenger's chat facility. More
Dun & Bradstreet's former UK CEO Christian Erlandson is joining GfK as Chief Customer Officer next Monday. He will take over responsibility for sales and business activities across all regions from CEO Peter Feld. More
UK business Barnett Waddingham - which provides actuarial, administration and consultancy services - has appointed former John Lewis Partnership HR insights leader Peter Meyler as Head of it new Workplace Consultancy team. More
Quality Online Research (QOR) has acquired the right to transfer the 100,000 respondents of Australia Post's 'Australian Lifestyle Survey' (ALS) to its own panel, before the ALS closes on 1st December. More
French media research agency Médiamétrie is to launch a service to measure and understand the impact TV programmes are having on social media activity across the country. More
In New York, marcoms giant Havas US has partnered with former Flamingo/Omnicom Managing Partner Sam Hornsby to launch a brand insight and culture consultancy called TRIPTK. More
In the UK, MR technology company QuenchTec has promoted Simon Vaarning to Chief Technology Officer, replacing Bjørn Grønli who is taking on the newly created role of Head of Solutions. More
In the US, WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has promoted Shaun Hawley to the role of SVP Global Supply, leading strategy for the firm's double opt-in panels and member services, while retaining her current healthcare role. More
Scientific and medical communications network Porterhouse Medical Group has launched a research division, Porterhouse Insights. Fabrice Allum, previously of Double Helix Discovery and McCann Health, joins to lead it as Managing Director. More
UK-based behavioural economics specialist The Behavioural Architects has announced 'four new significant hires' and says it has 'big plans for further expansion in 2018'. More
Leeds, UK-based agency ResearchBods has announced ten recent hires, including half a dozen additions to its in-house development and operations team as it looks to meet increased demand for its insight and behavioural tracking tools. More
In India, full-service agency Majestic Research Services and Solutions (MRSS) has reported a net profit of Rs 4.51 crore ($US 693k) for the half year ended September 30th 2017, up from 1.69 crore ($US 260k) a year earlier. Results exclude acquisition effects, and revenue also rose sharply. More
Former GfK, Nielsen Online and LRW exec Allan Dib has joined public relations agency PPR as its first Director of Planning and Insights. More
New Zealand-based MR software provider Infotools has launched a cloud-based platform called Harmoni, which uses machine learning and automation to streamline and improve researchers' analysis of data. More
London-based nuaxia, which offers market research, marketing services, recruitment and information services to the healthcare sector, has expanded to the US, where it has appointed former Medefield exec Brendan Egan as President, North America. More
In the US, motion-based analytics specialist Velocity has partnered with programmatic platform provider Beeswax, to help advertisers gauge receptivity to an ad based on how an actual person physically holds and moves their mobile device. More
In the US, Hispanic media giant Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has promoted Roberto Ruiz to the role of Executive Vice President, leading its newly-formed Research Insights & Analytics group from its offices in New York. More
US-based mobile-first research tech company MFour has hired former Instantly director Carl Nielson as Senior Solutions Executive. In addition, Ayelet Germanski joins as Senior Project Manager, and Nicole Phan as User Experience Designer. More
Boston-based retail intelligence specialist Survey.com has opened a new office in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it plans to hire 25 full-time employees in the next six months. More
In the US, ad industry strategists Megan Kent and Betsy Liegey have set up a brand and customer experience design consultancy called THE GO LAB, with an offer including consumer research, VOC data analysis, competitive audits and UX journey mapping. More
US-based marketing tech firm Motista, which helps businesses activate 'emotional connections' to predict consumer behaviour, has appointed Michael Mathias as company President. More
US-based online survey specialist SoGoSurvey has launched a customer experience version of its software, to help businesses measure and explore the relationships between customer satisfaction, customer effort, and customer loyalty. More
New York-based VICE Media is rolling out its 'VICE Voices' youth insights platform and portal in the UK, to capture the opinions of UK millennials and understand what drives their attitudes and behaviour. More
Manchester, UK-based agency Join the Dots has launched a photo augmentation tool called 'Caption', which uses a selfie and comment format similar to that used by image messaging app Snapchat. More
US-based survey sample firm ProdegeMR has added mobile phone verification to its global proprietary online panels. More
Harris Interactive has launched a product called PackTest Express, the latest tool in its digital new product development research suite. More
US-based MR and community intelligence platform provider FUEL CYCLE has launched a research sampling capability called Panels, giving clients access to a wider target audience to verify or augment insights derived from their own communities and customer base. More
In the UK, former BrainJuicer and System1 Group COO Alex Batchelor has joined behavioural research agency Watch Me Think as Non-Executive Chair. More
UK-based research software firm Askia has appointed former FocusVision EMEA MD Richard Collins as its first Chief Customer Officer, managing and developing the company's international client base, and taking overall responsibility for the UK office. More
Prague-based response:now, which provides AI-powered market research, has launched in the USA and appointed Dr. Frederick Barber as Managing Director of North America. More
Experience management solutions firm Qualtrics has appointed David Faugno as its new CFO, based at the company's Provo, UT headquarters. More
US-based 20|20 Research has announced an upgrade to the QualBoard digital data collection platform, one of its flagship solutions. More
Ipsos Healthcare has announced the Australian launch of its syndicated Lab Mapping Study, already available in the US and the five biggest European markets. The study delivers a comprehensive picture of the laboratories involved in cancer biomarker testing. More
Shropshire, UK-based virtual reality (VR) company Igloo Vision has opened operations in both the New York and Los Angeles areas, where it will offer access to its '360 degree projection dome' environments. More
Toluna has announced its intention to define and lead a new business concept and market category, 'Insights on Demand', and says it is collaborating with industry thought leaders and creating educational resources to advance its vision. More
Sweden's audience measurement body MMS has extended its digital ad ratings, produced by GfK, to a 'Total Video' service designed to measure the ROI of cross-platform video ads. This includes linear TV, smart TV, PC, smartphone and tablet devices. More
Former Simmons Research CEO Pat Pellegrini has joined not-for-profit multi-media and consumer behaviour specialist Vividata as President and Chief Executive. He will join in early December, working closely with the existing team and outgoing President and CEO, Sara Hill. More
Joe Lewis, Head of Insight at the UK's Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB), is leaving at the end of the year to set up his own audience measurement business, Measured Media Consulting (MMC). More
Borderless Access, known as a specialist in emerging markets, has introduced proprietary panels in three distinctly developed economies - Germany, the UK and the US - as well as Egypt. More
SKO, the industry body responsible for the reporting and monitoring of viewing behaviour in the Netherlands, has renewed GfK's television audience measurement (TAM) contract until 31st December 2018. More
User experience (UX) design and research consultancy UEGroup has launched a cloud-based UX research and analytics platform called youXtools, using AI and machine learning to automate the customer feedback cycle, from collection to action. More
YouGov Group Chief Strategy Officer Alex McIntosh has been promoted to the role of Chief Financial Officer, replacing Alan Newman who is leaving the company at the end of the year. Both McIntosh and COO Sundip Chahal will be given seats on the Board. More
US healthcare researcher RG+A has appointed Ellen Gordon as Senior Vice President, Head of Research. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has appointed former Joint UK MD Adele Gritten as (sole) UK Managing Director, following the recent departure of Claudia Strauss. The firm has also restructured and split its client teams. More
DIY research company SurveyMonkey has partnered with insights exchange operator Cint, to provide its users with access to the latter firm's 40 million respondents in 100 countries. More
In the US, data collection firm Focus Pointe Global (FPG) has acquired California-based agency Trotta Associates for an undisclosed sum. More
US-based industry body the Insights Association and not-for-profit organization Women In Research (WIRe) have partnered to extend their discounts, benefits and resources to members of both groups. More
In the US, life science industry research and advisory firm BioInformatics has hired three key members of staff at its Arlington, VA office: Jessica McLaughlin, Vincent Slay and Elizabeth Hood. More
Edinburgh-based agricultural intelligence firm Agbioinvestor has partnered with agricultural and animal health MR firm Kynetec to develop and market a new market strategy software platform, sigma Select. More
Australia-based media measurement firm Isentia is to cut thirty jobs in the country, moving its news monitoring services to Asia. More
London-based Engage Research has hired Tracey White as its new Head of Qualitative. More
Schlesinger Associates affiliate The Insight Lab has opened a new research facility in Downtown St. Louis, MO, USA, boasting 'two uber-contemporary and unique suites for researchers'. More
MARU Group's tech and communities business Maru/Matchbox has appointed three industry veterans for its Qualitative Center of Excellence. More
In New York, iHeartMedia has appointed former Yahoo! insights leader Michele Madansky as EVP of Insights, Research and Data Analytics. More
Ipsos grew its Q3 revenue to EUR 434.0m, equivalent to organic growth of 4.9% and representing 'solid recovery'. Due to currency effects - a fall in the value of the US dollar and pound sterling against the euro - the reported figure was up only 0.5%. More
In New York, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has released the final version of its Mobile In-App Measurement and Mobile Web Measurement Guidelines. A draft version of the Digital Video Ad equivalent has also been released for comment. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has enhanced its DIY Samplify platform with the addition of a survey authoring tool, designed for individuals with no special research expertise. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has appointed former Nielsen exec Andrew Feigenson as Chief Executive Officer, replacing President and Chief Research Officer Pat Pellegrini, who will be leaving the company. More
Community and survey tech provider Toluna has launched a DIY tool called PowerPack, to help marketers understand the overall strengths and weaknesses of their package concepts - at a speed the firm claims is 'ten times faster' than traditional methods. More
In the US, digital research data firm Research Now has partnered with US Hispanic membership platform SABEResPODER (SEP), to launch a platform giving researchers access to more than 750,000 Hispanic consumers across 50 US markets. More
Online panel and behavioral data specialist Netquest has promoted long-time company exec Enric Cid to the role of Managing Director, North America, leading its expansion into the US. More
In New York, Kantar TNS has hired former Nielsen exec Rob Wengel to lead its Client Development team and Innovation practice in North America. More
In the US, insights and marketing services holding company Reimagine has given former Millward Brown CEO Eileen Campbell a seat on its Advisory Board. More
WPP's Data Investment Management (DIM) arm has seen third quarter like-for-like revenue fall 2.9%. CEO Sir Martin Sorrell admitted to investors that it had been a 'tough quarter' as the group predicts a 'broadly flat' 2017. More
US industry bodies the Insights Association and AAPOR have filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), seeking to clarify the legal differentiation between the intent to market and sell to individuals and the dissimilar intent to understand market needs. More
In the UK, specialist MR agency YouthSight has partnered with video data mining and analysis specialist LivingLens, to capture and analyse video from projects such as its OpinionPanel Community youth research panel. More
Canada's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) is to conduct an independent Inquiry into 'underperforming and conflicting' election polling during recent municipal elections in Calgary. More
B2B research specialist Circle Research has hired Amanda Boote for the newly created role of Engagement Director, including responsibility for driving global growth and client relationships. More
With Halloween on the way, ad targeting company Turn will be looking nervously over its shoulder again after judges overturned an earlier decision regarding 'zombie cookies', and allowed a class action to proceed. The dispute looked to have been settled in January. More
London-based agency Network Research has appointed Chris Hall as its new Commercial Director. Starting next Monday, he takes overall responsibility for sales and marketing, and for the custom research team. More
In New Zealand, sister agencies Colmar Brunton and Kantar TNS have moved into newly built premises on Sale Street in the Auckland central business district (CBD). The agencies will remain separate, but will come together to collaborate when required. More
comScore co-founder and CEO Gian Fulgoni is to retire at the end of January, shortly after his 70th birthday. Following this will resume his previous Chairman Emeritus role, and provide the firm with advisory services for a further twelve months. More
Online competitive intelligence provider Hitwise has partnered with Kantar Media to enable marketers to combine data on their audiences' opinions and attitudes with their search and web site visiting behaviour. More
US-based MR industry management consultancy Cambiar has appointed David Rosenblatt as Head of its Research and Business Operations practice. More
In the US, enterprise-grade customer insights platform UserTesting has launched a self-service solution called My Recruit, to enable firms to run studies on web or mobile sites with their own customers, partners, employees, or a niche demographic. More
Insights exchange operator Cint has partnered with Latin American online panel and digital MR specialist eCGlobal Research Solutions, to expand its presence in the market. More
San Diego, California-based online panel and technology firm Branded Research has appointed long-time Nebu exec Ian Roberts as Head of Sales, EMEA, based in the UK. More
In the US, technology-driven sample provider P2Sample has hired former Ipsos and NPD Group exec JD Deitch as Chief Revenue Officer. More
US-based MR and community intelligence platform provider FUEL CYCLE has teamed up with UK-based video insight specialist Voxpopme to launch a video capture and analysis capability. The partners say this reduces the amount of time required to analyze videos from days to minutes. More
Online survey analytics and reporting software specialist MarketSight has appointed Andrew Lazar as Software Development Manager, Nick Kwan as Customer Success Specialist, and Mike Lanza as Inside Sales Representative. More
MARU Group's tech and communities business Maru/Matchbox has launched a multi-market community-based intelligence platform called 'Global Connect'. More
Netherlands-based online research and marketing analytics specialist MetrixLab has appointed former Nielsen exec Brady Ni as Managing Director for Greater China, replacing Edwin Song. More
Chime Insight & Engagement Group (CIE Group) has appointed Andy Firman as Research Director in its London-based agency Opinion Leader; while Andres Mendes joins the group's digital specialist Watermelon as a Consultant in Sydney. More
Research and advisory services provider MARU Group has promoted Demitry Estrin to the role of Chief Operating Officer of its tech and communities business Maru/Matchbox. More
UK-based video data mining specialist LivingLens has promoted Matt Marontate to the role of Vice President of Sales in Toronto, while Laura Hayner has joined as Customer Success Manager, supporting North American clients from the office in New York. More
TV and movie streaming service Netflix has said Nielsen's new 'Subscription Video On Demand' (SVOD) content ratings' are 'not even close' to accurate, because they do not measure viewing on mobile devices. Nielsen says it is confident in the data it has. More
Kantar has been awarded the contract to provide television viewing ratings in Uzbekistan. More
Research software firm Confirmit has appointed Halvor Stokke as Chief Financial Officer, following former CFO Ken Østreng's promotion to President and CEO earlier this year. More
Customer feedback specialist Medallia has launched a solution to help companies get a 360-degree view of customers across digital touchpoints. More
US and Canadian professional bodies the Insights Association and MRIA have written an open letter to Apple, claiming that its new Safari browser poses 'a severe and almost insuperable problem for online marketing research and analytics'. More
Chadwick Martin Bailey has officially launched a solution called AffinID, allowing brands to assess and develop their 'customer image' - ie what kind of people consumers perceive to be the customers of that brand. More
Shopper insights firm Kantar Worldpanel has launched a household panel in the United Arab Emirates, driven by a mobile application. More
Tech veteran Andreas Sautter has joined MFour in the new position of Director of Client Services. More
Richard Korn has returned to Ipsos as MD of its Loyalty division in Sydney, after a four and a half year spell in Hong Kong. More
Sample marketplace firm Lucid has announced the launch of 'Reach', a machine learning solution providing users of its Fulcrum sample platform with instant feasibility and pricing on a planned study. More
Nielsen has launched a syndicated solution called 'Nielsen Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) Content Ratings', providing an independent measure for subscription-based streaming content. More
London-based IFF Research has hired former Ipsos MORI exec Claire Johnson, and Aoife Ni Luanaigh, formerly of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), as Directors in its Learning and Skills team. More
UK market research budgets appear to have fallen for the ninth successive quarter - but at a much slower rate than previously, according to the latest 2017 IPA Bellwether Report. Meanwhile marketing budgets have risen for a net 10% of companies. More
In the US, image performance software company Adhark has launched a platform called Ava (Analytical Visual Assessment), which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to understand the visual preferences of consumer audiences. More
Eye tracking solutions provider Tobii Pro and motion capture specialist Qualisys have integrated their technologies to provide combined analysis of eye and body movements. More
Edinburgh-based agrochemical and crop protection specialist Agbioinvestor has expanded its team with four appointments; and enhanced its range of services, launching detailed reports about the crop protection and seed industries. More
Philadelphia, PA-based product development and conjoint analysis specialist TRC Market Research has launched a concept evaluation tool called Idea Filter, to help researchers and marketers assess 'close-to-final' product ideas and concepts. More
Kantar IBOPE Media is to launch its measurement tool for time-shift viewing and video-on-demand (VOD) platforms in Argentina - a first for Latin America. More
Middle Eastern agency 4SiGHT has appointed former Evo Research and TNS researcher Prachi Dixit as Director, Consumer and Market Insights, Middle East and Africa. More
Chicago-based analytics firm Clarity Insights has promoted Neil Huse, currently Managing Partner overseeing the healthcare practice, to President. Tom Thimot will step down as CEO, but will continue to advise the Board. More
Omnicom has moved its online community specialist C Space into its Interbrand Group, and at the same time named C Space CEO Charles Trevail as the new Chief Exec of Interbrand. He succeeds Jez Frampton who is retiring at the end of the year. More
Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) has extended GfK's radio audience measurement contract by a further five years. The new deal includes investigation of a new multi-million-dollar Measurement Innovation Program (MIP), to explore the potential for a hybrid future for radio measurement. More
US firm Userlytics has launched a multilingual remote user testing service, allowing for native language online usability testing in 'any' country. More
Digital data solutions leaders Research Now and SSI have signed a merger agreement. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
UK-based full-service agency DJS Research has opened an office in Leeds, Yorkshire, where Simon Driver will lead the research division and Matthew Coulling will oversee operations. More
In the UK, full service agency Boxclever has appointed former Future Thinking MD, Strategy & Planning Dan Young as Quantitative Research Director. More
Perth, Australia and Bristol, UK-based Painted Dog Research has launched a Data Technology division, led by Director Matt Gibbs, who is based in the UK. Meanwhile former ThinkField exec Andrew Lim has recently joined the company's Data Tech team in Australia. More
In the US, consumer engagement specialist EdgiLife has launched a tool called Rapid Test and Learn, to help CPG brands engage with and understand the natural and organic category. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec has acquired Market Probe Agriculture & Animal Health and Market Probe Europe. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In London, cultural insights agency Crowd DNA has hired Sabrina Qureshi as Online Communities Director, while Sarah Griffiths joins as a Consultant. Over in New York, Isabelle Kåge joins as a Consultant, and Senior Consultant Tom Eccles has transferred from the London office. More
In the UK, Ipsos MORI has partnered with publisher Atlantic Books to produce a range of new titles, using the firm's insight on how people think, feel and behave to explore global beliefs and attitudes. More
In the UK, former Thinkbox media researcher David Brennan and former Carat Insight MD Sue Elms have set up a new consultancy called BE Insight, to help clients maximise the value of their existing and future intelligence resources. More
Insights exchange operator Cint has partnered with data commercialization platform Narrative I/O, to give clients access to 'self-declared' first-person data. More
Research software firm Q One Tech Partners has hooked up with New York-based MR software, services and solutions provider thinqonline to expand the market presence of its panel management platform. More
YouGov has released preliminary results for the year ended 31st July 2017, with revenue up 9% on a constant currency basis to £107.0m, and adjusted profit before tax up 24% to £16.4m. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots is to open an office in New York, led by Jeff Haselum who has been promoted to Head of US Research. More
Oslo-based data collection company Norstat has partnered with German agency dp2research to develop the Destination Satisfaction Index (DSI), which evaluates travel destinations on twenty factors to produce an overall attractiveness rating. More
YouGov CFO Alan Newman has informed the Board of his intention to retire by the end of the year. The recruitment process for his successor is underway. More
Toronto-based Data collection company Delvinia has hired former Verve and Research Now employee Suzanne Costa as Executive Director of its AskingCanadians business. More
UK based researcher One Minute to Midnight has promoted Charlie Richards to the board, and appointed Shelley Pestaina, Kerstin Bickelmann and George Maguire. More
Online video research firm Discuss.io has added Dawn Re and Beth Winter to its Business Development team and Ashley Wali to the Product team, all based in the US; meanwhile Senior Account Manager Zuzka Žilková relocates to the London office. More
UK-based online communities expert Verve has expanded its North American offer, with the appointments of Marlene Kohn as VP Business Development and Kristin Render as Senior Research Manager. Bogdan Bucur, Director of Operations in London, also joins the Verve Chicago team. More
UK-based agency System1 has upgraded its award-winning Predictive Markets idea testing technique. Next Generation Predictive Markets draws on learnings from over 40,000 tests and promises clients 'improved accuracy and greater speed at a lower cost'. More
Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has launched a new online access panel in Kuwait, its eighth in the MENA region. More
SurveyGizmo's enterprise-level self-serve research solutions can now be launched directly from FUEL CYCLE's mobile-first MR and community intelligence platform, following a partnership between the two firms. More
Corporate engagement solutions firm ITA Group has acquired Boston-based market research and strategy firm Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB), for an undisclosed sum. More
UK consultancy Simpson Carpenter is expanding its pharma and biotech operation with a new office in Manchester's MediaCity. Alex Martin and Shaan Bassi join the company and will be based in the new location. More
Insights and marketing services holding company Reimagine has appointed Dan Fitzgerald, previously Chief Client and Marketing Officer at Lightspeed, to its leadership team as Managing Partner. More
Research solutions and online data firm Survey Healthcare (SHC) has announced record growth in 2017 to date, including a near 50 percent increase its in production staff, now 35-strong. It has also rebranded, dropping the word 'Universal' from its corporate identity. More
Canadian-based sample tech and research solutions agency WiseSample has rebranded as WiseWorks, and launched a number of new products. More
In Australia, KPMG has appointed former Virgin Australia Chief Customer Officer Mark Hassell as a Partner, leading customer and brand transformation for its new Customer, Brand and Marketing advisory business. More
Recently formed research software firm QuenchTec has announced that Chief Executive Allan Shaw is stepping down from his position at the end of December, for health reasons; and that Mark Van Walwyk will replace him as CEO. In addition, Nick Southwood joins as Sales Director for the UK. More
Nielsen Sports has shuffled and strengthened its leadership team. Middle East leader Jon Long will move to London in January as MD, UK and Ireland, to be joined by Richard Brinkman, former Global head of KantarSport. Long replaces Jon Stainer who has moved to an expanded MD Americas role. More
In Stamford, CT, research veteran John Gilfeather is re-opening his own consultancy after six years, and will offer corporate reputation and brand measurement, B2B audiences, and public opinion, as well as training and mentoring. More
US-based consumer research tech firm GroupSolver has completed a $1 million financing round, which will be used to expand the company's platform and increase its sales and marketing capabilities. More
Animal health and agriculture insights firm Kynetec has appointed Nomman Ahmed as Senior Director of Insights & Consulting, based in Frankfurt, Germany. More
MR tech developer iModerate, a division of 20|20 Research, has enhanced its online chat solution by integrating the ability to collect video responses from participants. More
UK-based mobile survey solutions firm OnePoint Global has launched the latest version of its My Surveys app, promising 'a unique and highly branded experience' as well as the option to collect data whilst the participant is off-line. More
UK-based video insight specialist Voxpopme has launched an app-based qualitative solution called Moments, for use in diary studies. More
UK-based research provider B2B International has relocated its Asian headquarters in Beijing, to expand its in-house fieldwork capacity. More
San Francisco-based consumer research platform CoolTool has launched a product called 'Emotions in Browser', which measures respondents' emotions without the need for them to install an app, only requiring them to have a camera on their laptop or smartphone. More
US research and advisory firm Forrester has launched an app called Tap, allowing consumers to suggest how brands can improve their customer experience. More
US-based sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix has launched a service called CMIX, offering a collaborative method for creating insights for business decisions. More
In the US, respondent targeting and phone data collection solutions provider Survox has been acquired by enterprise software business Enghouse Systems. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Marcoms group Next15 has reported a 16% rise in half-year revenue to £93.5m (with organic growth accounting for 2%). The firm's data and insights division now accounts for 6% of group revenue, compared to less than 2% two years ago. More
The founders of four market research agencies in Europe and the US - Kerry Hecht Labsuirs, Naomi Gooblar, Martha Llobet and Nikki Lavoie - have formed a collaborative group called The Ignite Collective, offering a range of services to MR buyers. More
DRNO's Nick Thomas wraps up his review of the 70th Congress with a general verdict - and as you may have guessed after the first three reviews, it's a good one. Not by any means unqualified however - whisper it low, he'll even have a go at the clients. Part 4 of 4. More
Cint has relocated Deputy CEO Richard Thornton from San Francisco back to London, taking the new role of Chief Operating Officer; while Oscar Carlsson has been appointed Chief Innovation Officer, based in San Francisco. Greg Dunbar and James Rogers are also promoted to new EVP roles. More
Contrary to what you might have concluded from our last two reports, there was lots of talk in Amsterdam about both the great trends shaping market research, and the specifics of current projects and problems. Our correspondent Nick Thomas found some gems in the latter. Part 3 of 4. More
Ipsos Marketing has launched a screening approach called DUEL, which taps learnings from behavioral science and cognitive psychology to capture consumer reactions without the use of scaled responses. More
Ipsos has appointed Geeta Lobo as Executive Director and Head of Ipsos Bengaluru in India; while in the US, the firm's media and brand communication business Ipsos Connect has hired Michael Baer as SVP, Head of Audience Measurement Group (AMG). More
Montreal, Canada-based research software firm Voxco has hired Askia veteran John Rousay as a member of its global sales team, responsible for expanding the firm's presence in the UK market, while contributing to its growth in North America. More
UK-based behavioural science specialist System1 has launched a product called the Digital Content Tracker, to measure emotional response to a brand's online video content against that of its major competitors. More
In the UK, marcoms group Next15 Communications has acquired specialist financial MR consultancy Charterhouse Research, for an initial consideration of £2.75m. More
Nielsen has filed a lawsuit to prevent comScore from launching a new service called Extended TV. The service uses data from Nielsen's PPM technology, to which comScore and others gained access at the time of the Arbitron buy, but in a way Nielsen says is outside the scope of that agreement. More
MarketVision Research has appointed former Nielsen exec Laura Moussa in its Dubai office, as Director of its Qualitative Division, supporting growth in the region. More
New York-based SIS International Research has promoted Cédric Marin to Director of Operations in the EMEA region. He moves to London from NYC where he has worked for more than three years. More
Last year saw the MR industry experience its highest level of growth since 2010, according to the latest study by international association ESOMAR. More
Healthcare data collection firm M3 Global Research has acquired Gothenburg, Sweden-based healthcare specialist QQFS for an undisclosed sum. More
Still looking for that killer session or stand-out moment of inspiration, DRNO's roving / raving reporter Nick Thomas continues to avoid the methodological and technology-related papers at the 70th Congress in Amsterdam. Part 2 of 4. More
Agricultural market research firm Kleffman Group has restructured its market trend information and consulting unit amisAgriGlobe, creating two new teams: the Analytical team and the Team of Excellence (ToE). More
In the US, marijuana insight firm Cannabiz Consumer Group has added over-the-counter (OTC) medication data to its CannaUse study, to help clients understand the impact that legalization of cannabis is having on the sales of OTC products. More
Tokyo, Japan-based online specialist Macromill has acquired US-based research agency Acturus through its MetrixLab US subsidiary. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Hardened cynic Nick Thomas headed to Amsterdam for last week's ESOMAR Congress, in search of inspiration. The 70-year-old (that's the Congress, not Nick) seems in Ruud good health, as we say in Holland. Part 1 of 4. More
US-based J.D. Power is adding the Net Promoter Score (NPS) to its automotive and finance industry studies in Asia Pacific, for use in benchmarking clients' performance against competitors. More
UK-based pharmaceutical and consumer insight / marketing group Cello has reported a £2.1m fall in revenue to £78.7m for the six months to 30th June 2017. Like-for-like, constant currency gross profit increased 9.3% in the Health division but fell by 5.0% in Cello Signal. More
In the UK, recently launched digital product consultancy Pivot has merged with full-service digital user experience (UX) agency MadeByPi. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Washington, DC-based research and consulting company Heart+Mind Strategies has hired Mallory Hoffman and Chris Gallup as new members of its Brand, System + Journey team. More
Canada-based communities and research technology specialist Vision Critical has expanded its Sparq 3 customer intelligence platform, with the addition of new features such as artificial intelligence (AI) apps to optimize engagement and an enterprise-grade content sharing platform. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has appointed Arbitron veteran Brad Bedford as Vice President of Media Sales. More
In London, Kantar Public has appointed Grant Fitzner as UK Chief Executive Officer and Michael Davis as Global Chief Operating Officer. More
Consumer tracking company The NPD Group has announced the appointment of former GfK leader Gerhard Hausruckinger as Group President for Europe and APAC. More
In the UK, Kantar has launched Worldpanel Plus, promising its 'biggest sample yet' of smartphone users providing insight into their shopping motives and behaviour. More
Sweden's audience measurement body MMS has extended Nielsen's contract for TV and video viewing data by five years. More
Viga, the data collection agency within the Next15 group, has tripled its staff numbers in the last six months, to 35, and is opening a third US office, in Dallas, Texas. More
Retail mapping and shopper tracking technology firm Tegla Retail has launched a Tracker tool which uses augmented reality to map shoppers' behavior from store entry to checkout, in brick and mortar sites. More
US-based survey sample firm ProdegeMR has partnered with Lucid, whose Fulcrum distribution channel will aid its expansion in the European market. More
The Board of Governors of Indian audience measurement body MRUC has elected Ashish Bhasin as Chairman and Pratap Pawar as Vice Chairman More
Former MetrixLab and Harris exec Caroline Bastide has joined European consumer and luxury goods researcher Strategir as Digital & Services Director, with a remit to strengthen the firm's existing digital approaches and consolidate its offer in the services sector. More
Automated MR technology company ZappiStore has appointed former Millward Brown exec Jared Carr as its new VP of Strategic Client Transformation. More
Online survey pioneer Confirmit has announced a partnership with mobile messaging firm Infobip, offering enhanced international SMS capabilities and coverage to those engaged in research, customer experience and employee engagement programmes. More
Full-service agency RAIT, which is based in the Baltic Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, has acquired GfK's custom research operations in the region, excluding the GfK Retail and Technology arm. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. More
Los Angeles-based entertainment research firm Screen Engine/ASI (SE/ASI) has hired industry veteran Holly Leff-Pressman for its newly created role of Chief Revenue Officer. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has launched the Enhanced Media Measurement Study, which will provide marketers with insights into shifts in media consumption and consumer behavior across the US. More
In New York, Ipsos has announced that academic Jesse Itzkowitz is joining its Behavioral Science Center. More
In London, on-demand panel and sample company Innovate has appointed former dataSpring exec Rie Nagai as Managing Director, EMEA. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access has launched a sampling suite called HealthSight, providing access to more than 150,000 specialist physicians. More
US-based sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix has appointed former Lightspeed execs Matt Shepherd and Jon Williams as Sales Directors in its London office. More
UK-based video data mining and analysis specialist LivingLens has signed a two-year agreement to provide Cello Health Insights with video capture and analytics services. More
In Canada, communities and research technology specialist Vision Critical has acquired software company Pressly, which offers a platform for the curation and distribution of content. Details of the transaction have not been disclosed. More
Los Angeles-based tech-driven panel company Active Measure has hired former Lightspeed Research exec Bonnie Breslauer for the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer. More
Healthcare market research and consulting firm Research Partnership has rolled out its Living with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) study in the US. More
In the US, social media management and online community solutions provider Lithium Technologies has acquired Jive Software's external communities business, Jive-x, for an undisclosed sum. More
The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) has elected Jill Spencer, Director of UK-based customer experience research specialist ReactCX, as its President for the next two years. She replaces Yvonne Kinzel of German CEM firm Multi-Value. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has appointed Angie French as Chief Executive Officer, EMEA. She will join on 1st November, taking over from Caroline Frankum who was promoted to Global CEO in April. More
Research data solutions firm SSI has launched a self-service suite of tools, for use by experts and novices. The tools cover everything from sampling and survey building to reporting of results. More
Healthcare Research Worldwide (HRW) has added four new members of staff to its global management team. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has rolled out its LifePoints mobile engagement app in the UK and Australia. More
India-based digital research firm MRSS has appointed former GfK and Nielsen exec Swee Woon Tan as Managing Director, Asia Pacific for its recently acquisition Market Probe Asia Pacific in Singapore. He replaces Saji Kumar, who will guide the integration until the end of the year. More
UK online market research provider FlexMR has partnered with Madrid-based Idea Strategic Research Solutions, to support 'growing demand' from its Spanish clients. The firm has also hired two full-time Spanish speaking staff in the UK. More
GfK has appointed Cheong Tai to lead its Asia Pacific business, while promoting Margret Schuit to oversee activities in Southern Europe. They will both report to CEO Peter Feld. More
Emotion and language analytics specialist Canvs has added artificial intelligence (AI) features to its platform, to help clients understand how emotion affects behavior. More
In an interim report, Stockholm-based research firm Nepa has announced net sales up 9.4% in the second quarter to SEK 55.0m (US$6.91m) and up 16.7% in the first half of 2017 to SEK 106.1m (US$13.33m). Planned investment dragged on profitability as the company seeks rapid growth. More
AI-based SaaS consumer research company Wizer has raised $4m in Series A funding round, led by VC firm State of Mind Ventures and with participation from Nielsen's Innovate early stage investment arm. More
US public opinion specialist ALG Research has opened an office in Boston, MA - its sixth location - led by existing Partner Matt Hogan. More
GfK has announced a transformation and investment programme, aimed at sharpening its focus on customer needs, accelerating digitization and getting the company 'back on a sustainable growth path'. Plans include a 'one office per country' strategy. More
Former Jaguar Land Rover exec Ana Ramirez has joined insights consultancy Simpson Carpenter as International Head of Automotive Research, starting in early September. More
US research agency Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has appointed former MaritzCX exec Andrew Grant as President of its European Operations. More
Asia Pacific-based data intelligence and technology company Potentiate has expanded to the US through the acquisition of full-service marketing insights specialist NetReflector. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Research data solutions firm SSI has partnered with digital ad performance analyst the DMA Institute to launch 'Campaign Optimizer'; a tool which validates and measures ad viewability and connects with consumers about their ad recall following store visits or product purchases. More
In the US, full service marketing research and insight education agency Burke Inc. has promoted Diane Surette to the newly created position of Chief Client Officer (CCO). More
In London, online travel retailer lastminute.com group has launched a consumer insights tool, to enable brands to target customers with gamified surveys embedded in ads. More
Dentsu Aegis Network's full service digital marketing agency Isobar has launched what it says is the world's first emotional measurement and analytics platform, designed to measure the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) experiences. More
The UK government has set out its aims for data protection and international data flow after Brexit, in the last of its current round of positional papers. Britain will seek a close alignment with EU laws, including adherence to the GDPR from next May. More
COO Alessandra Cama is leaving GfK, resigning with immediate effect after around two years as a member of the company's Management Board. More
Kantar Media's purchase of Irish company Newsaccess has been cleared by the country's Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), following an extensive investigation and with Kantar required to make divestments and contract changes. More
Recently-formed research software firm QuenchTec says it has finished integrating the platforms of MARSC and MI-Pro, from whose merger it was born ten months ago; and launched Q_Suite, an end-to-end research platform. More
Chicago-based 3-D research specialist InContext Solutions has integrated its virtual reality (VR) headset into its flagship ShopperMX platform, allowing retailers and brands to view and collaborate on new retail concepts. More
Los Angeles-based MR and community intelligence platform FUEL CYCLE has added geolocation capabilities to its mobile app, enabling clients to conduct real-time location-based research. More
Ipsos Healthcare has extended its Global Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Therapy Monitor to Japan. More
WPP has slashed its full-year growth forecast for revenues and net sales to between zero and 1%, as clients cut their marketing budgets. For the second quarter, like-for-like revenue in the Data Investment Management (DIM) division fell 4.6% to £669m. More
UK-based market research and ad company System1 Group is expecting a decline in profit for the year ending 31st March 2018. Full year profit before tax is set to fall by between 10% and 15% from the £6.3m achieved last year. More
UK-based marcoms group Creston Ltd will now be known as 'The Unlimited Group' - following the theme of its earlier rebranding of operating companies using the 'Unlimited' suffix. More
In the US, Nielsen Sports' Global Co-MD Danny Townsend has left the firm to become CEO of Sydney Football Club. Glenn Lovett, who previously shared the title, has been promoted to sole Global Managing Director, leading all aspects of the global sports business. More
In South Africa, insights agency Columinate has launched a methodology which measures a research participant's nonconscious attitudes and behaviour towards concepts, brands, services and products. More
GfK has appointed Jutta Suchanek as Chief Human Resources Officer and Benjamin Jones as Chief Technology Officer. Both take on newly created roles, and will become members of the firm's Executive Leadership team. More
Kantar has announced that Richard Ingleton will take over the role of Chief Executive Officer of its Insights Division, from Travyn Rhall who will be leaving the business in November. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment about Rhall's next career move. More
Lightspeed has launched the 'Gravity Network', a partnership arrangement between selected data companies to provide 'a vastly larger pool than traditionally sourced Double Opt-In (DOI) research panels alone'. Partners in the network include Cint, Lucid, Tap Research, P2Sample and Dalia. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access has added Malaysia and Hong Kong to its list of proprietary panels. More
'Enterprise-grade' online survey platform SurveyGizmo has a new Canadian offering, making use of Amazon's new Montreal data center to ensure compliance with Canadian data and privacy laws. More
Nielsen has launched the 'Ratings Academy', an interactive online portal designed to improve public understanding of its audience measurement methods and the environment in which it operates. More
In the UK, long-time SPA Future Thinking Director Chris Bland is joining ICM Unlimited in the role of Research Director, focused on business development. More
US-based market research and management consulting firm Geo Strategy Partners has opened an office in Managua, Nicaragua, expanding its B2B / Industrial market research offer and growth strategy capabilities. More
Q Research Solutions (QRS) and Tragon Corporation have merged, to create what they describe as one of the largest sensory and consumer research suppliers in the US. The combined firms will initially trade as QRS-Tragon. Precise terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based mobile survey technology provider OnePoint Global has created a new interface for its platform, offering the ability to create and launch mobile research projects from any device, any time and anywhere. More
Ed Ross, the founder of survey software firm Quantime, died suddenly and unexpectedly in the early hours of Wednesday 9th August. He was 73 years old. More
In the UK, qual and quant agency Critical Research has acquired B2B research specialist Saville Rossiter-Base (SR-B) for an undisclosed sum. More
In Los Angeles, entertainment research firm MarketCast has acquired social media insights and analytics firm Fizziology, which also works with clients in the media and entertainment sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In New York, The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed Nielsen's former CRO Paul Donato as Chief Research Officer. He will take up the position on October 1st. More
UK-based healthcare fieldwork agency Just Worldwide has opened an office in Malaysia, where it has appointed KarHui Tan. The firm has also hired Carrie Skinner as Director of Global Fieldwork in its Newtown, Pennsylvania office. More
In the US, research technology and services group FocusVision has promoted Zlatko Vucetic to the role of President, replacing outgoing CEO Jamin Brazil. More
CEO Jamin Brazil and Chief Product Officer Jayme Plunkett, the co-founders of MR tech firm Decipher, have left research technology and services group FocusVision, according to industry sources. More
Loyalty and employee engagement specialist Maritz Motivation Solutions has launched the Engagement Potential Index (EPI), to enable executives and HR practitioners to measure their company's current culture and engagement potential against industry benchmarks. More
In Canada, MARU Group's tech and communities business Maru/Matchbox has promoted Derek Matisz to the role of Senior Vice President, Platform Operations. In addition, Leigh Frost, Chief Process Officer, has left the business. More
US organisation GreenBook has beta launched Savio, a platform inspired by the 'gig economy' and allowing users to buy in research expertise to use with online research tools or as a standalone service. Features include ratings and reviews, project management tools and payment processing. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has launched PopUP Communities, powered by Toluna technology and offering quick and cost-effective insights. More
US in-app survey technology specialist MFour Mobile Research has taken the entire seventh floor of its current Newport Beach Gateway office, increasing its floor space from 14,000 to 22,000 square feet. In addition, the firm will be opening its first satellite branch in Scottsdale, Arizona next month. More
In New York, GfK has appointed cross-platform media measurement specialist John Sollecito as EVP and Team Leader of Media & Entertainment. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has appointed marketing strategist Tracey Hunter as Senior Client Director, while Martin Bryant joins as Client Director. More
In London, digital research data firm Research Now has hired former McKinsey insights consultant Floriane Locatelli as Business Development Director for the EMEA region. More
Research software firm Confirmit has appointed Jason Mallia as Country Manager, overseeing operations in Australia and New Zealand. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has expanded its Healthcare sales team with the appointment of Nick Portaro, Michelle Haaf-Seifert and Erika Kopald. More
Cello-owned agency Breaking Blue has appointed Alex Belcher and Linda Hutcheson as Senior Research Consultants in its Glasgow office. More
Toluna has added to its real-time insights platform QuickSurveys with the launch of QuickCommunities, a DIY product for building, creating and recruiting target consumers into a custom community. More
Kantar Media is to integrate Facebook data into its Twitter TV Ratings tool, which will be renamed the Kantar Social TV Ratings tool. More
UK-based consultancy Simpson Carpenter has appointed former ComRes Head of Healthcare Rachel Skevington Britton as an Associate Director in its fast-growing pharmaceutical and biotech division. More
New US research trade body the Insights Association (IA) has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adapt its definition of a 'robocall' to avoid penalising legitimate users, and back up the changes with a requirement for call blockers to consult a 'white list'. More
In Sydney, Australia, Telstra's Muru-D incubator program has given its backing to start-ups including mystery shopping app Snooper and online ad campaign planning service Flobox. More
In the UK, consumer collaboration specialist C Space has hired former BBC exec Zoe Cotter-Morton for the newly created role of Human Resources Director, driving its 'people strategy' and supporting growth. More
In the US, health and wellness consumer insights agency SPINS has appointed Patrick Kelly as Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions, while AJ Rivera joins as Principal of Global Enterprise Sales. More
Nielsen has acquired Israel-based vBrand, which has developed a machine learning-enabled platform for real-time sports sponsorship measurement, planning and data analytics. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Australia, insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has launched a Social and Government offer, and appointed Mathew Densten as its Director. More
Surrey, UK-based agency Bonamy Finch has hired three new members of staff, including former PepsiCo exec Louise Hanlon, following a 31 percent increase in turnover for the financial year ending June 30th 2017. More
In the UK, business and consumer marketing data specialist DBS Data has launched a new service called Total Sampling, providing organisations running CATI projects with access to its data sources. More
In the UK, management consultancy PwC has acquired Leeds and London-based boutique agency Optimisa Research for an undisclosed sum. More
In London, brand performance measurement specialist Morar HPI has launched a creative services division called ARGO, offering evidence-based brand development work as well as stand-alone brand and creative services. More
UK-based mobile video MR specialist Voxpopme is integrating IBM Watson's machine learning and natural language processing capabilities into its platform, to provide brands with advanced analysis of customers' feelings. More
In Hong Kong, MR consultancy ABN Impact has appointed former YouGov co-CEO Patrick (Paddy) Corr as Executive Director for the Asia region. More
In New York, music industry execs Paul Conte and Camus Celli have set up a company called Truideation, offering campaign ideation and creation, and influence marketing, via a partnership with data science platform GRAPHIKA. More
US-based research body the Insights Association has formed an International Chapter, to provide member companies and individuals operating outside the country with enhanced service and support. This is the association's twelfth chapter, and its first outside the US. More
London-based insight agency Opinium Research has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Wez Eathorne as Research Director, to support its ongoing growth plans. More
After eleven years leading Angus Reid Strategies, Vision Critical, and Maru/Matchbox, Ed Morawski is stepping down as President and Chief Operating Officer. More
Netherlands-based customer insights agency SKIM has opened an office in Gothenburg, Sweden on the campus of Chalmers University of Technology. More
In London, healthcare sector MR and marketing services platform nuaxia has launched a Video Interviewing service, promising clients access both to its one million members, and any other individual in its profiled database of 5.5 million healthcare professionals. More
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Ipsos has reported what it has described as an 'uneventful' first-half year, with revenue of EUR 833.8m, almost unchanged from a year before, and organic growth of just 1 percent. More
The management of UK-based telecoms and IT sector market research agency Rhetorik have bought the firm in a deal supported by a team of UK and North American data tech-focused investors. Terms were not disclosed. More
US-based on-demand panel and sample company Innovate MR has opened an office in London, where it has appointed Brendan Russell to supervise its European sales strategy. More
Former respondi UK MD Christopher Morasch has joined German-based mobile survey specialist Dalia Research as Head of Sales. More
In the UK, pharma / healthcare field services provider Survey'Log has appointed former Azure Knowledge exec Illitch Real as Director of Research Services. More
The Stagwell Group has signed a 13-year lease for two floors in One World Trade Center, where it says it will bring together its portfolio of companies including Harris Insights & Analytics and former Nielsen company National Research Group. More
Former RED C Joint Managing Director David Cullen has left the Dublin-based firm after five years, to set up a strategic consulting firm for insight and analytics called Bayes & Becker. More
Cint has opened a sixth US office, in Chicago, and appointed former SSI exec Joseph Jordan who will work from it as SVP of Supply. More
Media and business intelligence firm Isentia has appointed Alex Yu as General Manager for Hong Kong, with the additional role of driving business development in the region. The company has also moved its Hong Kong operations to a larger office. More
In Chicago, online MR crowdfunding platform Collaborata has appointed former ORC MD Jeffrey Resnick and Quester President Tim Hoskins as Strategic Advisors to its Board of Directors. More
Mumbai-listed MRSS India has acquired 100 percent of Market Probe Asia Pacific Pte Ltd from its US parent Market Probe Inc., in an all-cash deal. More
In the UK, the House of Lords' recently formed Select Committee on Political Polling and Digital Media has announced a 'public call for evidence' on issues relating to the effects of political polling and digital media on politics. More
Joseph El Habre has been named Chief Executive of Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) & Operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. More
In Germany, crowd-sourced shopper insights provider POSpulse has raised EUR 3m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to roll out its products to additional international markets. More
UK-based video insight specialist Voxpopme has partnered with Kantar to provide the latter's clients with access to its video feedback tools. More
In the US, MFour Mobile Research has hired Mike Gaffney for the newly created position of Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing its Sales and Marketing teams. More
UK-based online communities specialist Verve has launched a dedicated Innovation practice, for businesses seeking customer feedback on product and service design. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has promoted Jennifer Carrea to the role of CEO Americas and Global Health, replacing David Shanker who is leaving to 'pursue new opportunities'. More
Market research language and translation specialist Globalexicon has announced its fourth consecutive year of more than 50% growth, after winning several North American and European-based MR, healthcare and consumer clients. More
Global MR groups The Research Club, Women In Research (WIRe) and MrWeb have teamed up to put the world's biggest listing of research job opportunities in front of a hugely expanded audience of potential candidates. The search is also in a new more mobile-friendly format. More
Healthcare and consumer marketing business Cello Group has acquired US-based biopharma analysis and insights business Advantage Healthcare. Cello will pay an initial $1.5m in cash and a deferred consideration of up to $3m, dependent on financial performance to June 2021. More
London-based full-service agency Acacia Avenue has launched its 'Namer' names test solution on ZappiStore's automated MR platform. More
In the UK, customer experience specialist Maru/edr has appointed Damian Miller and Ross Durston as Managing Directors for its Retail and Financial Services divisions, respectively. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has appointed Mohamed Muhsin as Head of Pharma UK, while Véronique Bonrepaux-Caux joins as Head of Healthcare France. More
DIY research giant SurveyMonkey has unveiled a rebrand and a major upgrade of its products, including a refreshed logo; a new platform, 'People Powered Data'; tools for customer experience data and employee surveys; an integrated version of its Audience product; and a 'Genius' survey design coach. More
Emerging markets data collection firm Borderless Access has launched proprietary panels in Kenya & Vietnam. More
MARU Group has promoted Maru/Matchbox executives Sarah Redford and Carlos Palacio to Group Chief People Officer and Group CIO, respectively, supporting its continued expansion across the UK and North America, and its recent acquisition of SynGro. More
Audience sampling firm Innovate has moved to a larger office in Gurgaon, India, following what it calls 'incredible revenue growth over the last 12 months', and says it will continue with 'aggressive hiring' throughout the rest of 2017. More
UK-based digital signage company Signagelive has partnered with computer vision specialist AdMobilize, to deliver real-time audience analytics and dynamic creative capabilities. More
Research community and survey technology specialist Vision Critical has appointed former IBM exec Marco Bussadori to lead its North American Sales and Customer Success teams. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has been granted a US patent for its 'Honesty Detector' online respondent validation product. More
In the UK, digital communications group Next15 has made its second purchase of the week - this time acquiring B2B MR consultancy Circle Research through its data and insights subsidiary, MIG Global Limited (MIG). The initial consideration is £5.21m. More
In the UK, MR and insight company d.fferento/ogy has promoted Mark James to the role of Managing Director, with responsibility for three divisional heads. Meanwhile former YouGov researcher Paul Marshall joins the firm as Insight Director. More
Senior GfK Leader Dr. Gerhard Hausruckinger has resigned from the company after seven years on the Management Board. Meanwhile Christoph D. Erbenich has been appointed as Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer. More
UK-based retail insights firm ABA Research has announced revenue growth of 14 percent, to £7.7m, in the year to March 2017. More
Consumer video analytics firm LivingLens has made two senior hires for its Sales & Marketing team. Sophie Goddard joins as Business Development Director and Kat Hounsell as Marketing Director. Both will be based in London. More
Atlanta, GA-based, behavioral insights and consultancy firm CMI has announced a third option within its behavioral economics-based solutions suite. Named yChoose, the tool helps identify what influences consumers in their decision-making, to help marketers out-perform the competition. More
Audience measurement body BARC India has appointed Nielsen India as its primary digital measurement partner, as it looks to build its 'EKAM' cross-channel measurement solution. More
In the Netherlands, the joint industry committee responsible for the national readership survey has hired GfK to integrate brand consumption data from newspapers and magazines with that from online published media. More
Toluna's healthcare division has partnered with healthcare-focused digital platform Treato, to gain access to the latter's users for survey research purposes. More
In the US, pricing intelligence specialist Market Track has acquired shopper purchase behavior and attitude data provider InfoScout, for an undisclosed amount of cash and stock. More
In the UK, field and viewing studio business Viewpoint has appointed former Ipsos MORI exec Fiona Nolan as Senior Manager in charge of its Social Research team. More
Apple has acquired German eye tracking company SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) for an undisclosed sum. More
Harris Interactive has enhanced its fast turnaround 'Harris 24' service, which surveys up to 5,000 consumers on a UK or international scale and delivers results within 24 hours. Users now get more questions, plus more powerful targeting and profiling. More
Sales and marketing outsourcing provider Advantage Smollan has acquired Netherlands and Belgium-based Hamilton Bright Group, a specialist in shopper purchasing behaviour and marketing. Terms were not disclosed. More
UK-based full-service consultancy DJS Research has reported an 11% increase in annual turnover to £4.7m for 2016/17, and says is aiming for £5.2m next year. More
Fitchburg, MA-based Research Results is to relocate across town from its existing office on Main Street, according to US press reports. The move will make room for a growing team, currently of 28 employees. More
British Airways has named Carolina Martinoli as its new Director of Brand and Customer Experience. She will take up the role in August. More
Surrey, UK-based Impact Research has been restructured, with Dawn Mulvey promoted to Head of Utilities, Stuart Grant heading Consumer, Monika Swift the New Generation unit and Jamie Margerison managing Healthcare, all now led by co-founder Michael Brainch as Managing Director. More
In the US, online qual firm Discuss.io has appointed RJ Scott as Senior Research Solutions Executive and Zuzana Žilková as Senior Account Manager. Both report to co-founder Jim Longo. More
UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has launched a dedicated qualitative research unit under the new brand name of Spirit. More
Georgia, US-based VR shopping specialist Advanced Simulations has partnered with research firm Azure Knowledge to launch two new virtual reality research products. More
Australian-owned data analysis and programmatic media company Pureprofile has partnered with Branded Research Inc., gaining access to and enhancing the latter's panel of 1.7 million consumer research profiles in the US, UK and Canada. More
Companies' intangible assets - including the value of their brands, reputation and employee skills - should be included on balance sheets in financial reporting, according to a growing lobby of experts from both multinationals and consultancies. More
Online panel provider Branded Research has launched a new direct payment feature for US panelists using the white label API of software firm Dwolla. Participants can now receive same day payments into their personal accounts for survey participation - a first according to the firm. More
Agile MR firm GutCheck has made three senior hires as it looks to grow the business. Keith Johnson joins as Chief Product Officer, Shawn Vaughn as EVP of Sales & Client Services and Josh Ashton as VP of People Operations. More
UK-based CIE Group (Chime Insight & Engagement) has announced eight new hires, following a string of major client wins in the first half of 2017. The new arrivals include Alexis Goodson,Jennifer Peat and Jacob Barker. More
Consumer panels firm Netquest has appointed Johnny Caldwell as MD of a new company, Netquest UK. More
Hall & Partners has launched a new specialist consultancy dedicated to brand invention, under its OpenMind brand. Jen Drexler joins as Managing Partner to lead the company, which promises 'a radical new collaborative approach focused on rapid innovation'. More
Data collection firm Field Scope International has opened a new office in Sofia, Bulgaria, expanding its presence in Central and Eastern Europe. More
UK-based Informa Group has appointed oncology specialist Richard S. Veal as Global Director of its Pharma Consulting division. More
In the UK, AQR board member and former Razor Research and TNS exec Lydia Fuller has formed a new full service qual and quant agency, Full Colour Research, based in Manchester. More
In the Republic of Ireland, PR industry body the PRII has asked competition regulators to intervene in Kantar Media's acquisition of family-owned Newsaccess, and compel the WPP firm to divest part of its Irish business. More
Toluna has enhanced its QuickSurveys suite, with users now able to select from more than 200 'hyper-targeted' demographic and profile audiences. More
Amsterdam-based software company Upinion has launched a new messaging app for use in market research, exploiting the rise of messaging tools like WhatsApp and consumers' familiarity and comfort with using them. More
Research associations ESOMAR, AGOF and EFAMRO have combined with three broadcasting and publishing associations to form a new Coalition for Audience Measurement, supporting the EU as it considers reform of it ePrivacy Directive. More
US-based data collection group Schlesinger Associates has acquired Spanish full-service fieldwork agency BDI Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK television broadcaster Channel 4 has appointed Ben Marsden as Head of Audience Research and Insight. He will take up the role in mid-July, replacing Leonie Hodge who is leaving to work as a consultant. More
In the US, MR tech developer iModerate has launched a fast turnaround research approach called (iM)mediate, which promises to deliver insights in as little as five days. More
In the US, WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has launched a mobile engagement app called LifePoints, to provide clients with 'in the moment' access to consumers. More
Italian confectioner Ferrero has opened its first Asian Innovation Centre in Singapore, where it will focus on consumer food science, biotechnology, health and nutrition, consumer insight and design. More
East Midlands, UK-based MR agency Habit5 has appointed Hannah Green as its first Head of Insight. More
Fieldwork company Made in Surveys has launched a UK service called 'Instant Insight', through which users can field a survey of four to nine questions administered to a nationally representative sample, and then receive a full report and the raw data within 48 hours. More
Swedish firm Tobii Pro has launched a tool which extends eye tracking research to non-game virtual environments. More
In the US, boutique firm Mindseye Research Group has appointed former Invoke Solutions exec Kathy Alexander as Vice President, focused on designing custom solutions to optimize brand development, marcoms, audience targeting, and new concept introduction. More
Croydon, South London-based healthcare MR and fieldwork firm FieldBox has opened a new viewing facility. More
In the US, product innovation specialist InsightsNow has hired Karen Lynch to lead expansion of its co-creation and co-design methods, which are designed to uncover sensorial triggers of behavior. More
In the UK, behavioural research agency Watch Me Think is opening its video search, edit and share platform to researchers for no cost. More
UK-based marcoms business Next15 is merging its two research brands, Morar Consulting and HPI. The new Morar HPI will employ around 60 people and will be headed up by Julian Dailly as Managing Director. More
London-based insight and strategy agency Flamingo has promoted MD Andy Davidson to become its first Chief Strategy Officer. More
AI-based MR software company Remesh has opened a new headquarters office in NYC; and hired Gabe McElwaine as Director of Sales for the eastern US and Canada. More
Brentwood, Tennessee-based marketing agency 5by5 has acquired MR company Sightline Research + Strategies, its long-time partner. More
comScore has expanded its MMX Multi-Platform measurement and upgraded its Mobile Metrix offer, in both Germany and China - the latter in partnership with Kantar JV CTR Market Research. More
Biopharmaceutical product strategy consultancy Prescient Healthcare Group has appointed Carolyn Dodd, Pip Keys and Jim Goldenberg to lead its Stakeholder Insights business. More
Mobile survey solutions provider OnePoint Global has made its survey app development code available to MR industry clients, allowing them to create, launch and manage their own products to app stores 'within days'. More
The US research industry maintained a strong annual growth rate in 2016, despite 'tepid' overall economic growth, according to this year's AMA Gold Top 50 Report. Total revenue generated for the 202 companies surveyed was $11.584bn, up 5.7%. More
US investment advisory company The Stagwell Group has acquired Nielsen's Mobile Insights Survey and Total Communications Survey, which will relaunch under the name HarrisX. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, insight and ad agency System 1 Group has announced that its Chief Operating Officer Alex Batchelor is leaving the business, as the role is being split into two, non-Board positions. More
On-demand panel and sample company Innovate has appointed former dataSpring exec Jeff Gerken as Assistant Vice President, responsible for sourcing new business opportunities and managing a range of existing client relationships. More
Professional services firm KPMG Australia has launched a specialist Customer, Brand & Marketing advisory business, which has already acquired Sydney-based market research firm Acuity Research and Insights. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In London, marcoms giant Dentsu Aegis Network has appointed Mark Keddie as its first Global Data Protection Officer, ahead of the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which governs the general use and privacy of EU citizens' data. More
Digital data solutions provider Research Now has hired Fergus Clarke as Regional Director of Southeast Asia, responsible for developing regional business, and leading markets across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Korea. More
In the UK, insight and innovation consultancy FreshMinds has appointed former ICM Unlimited exec Iain Carruthers as Client Services Director, with a seat on the Board and responsible for overseeing the delivery of work across the firm's client base. More
Toronto, Canada-based employee-owned research firm Hotspex has promoted Michael Dorr to the position of MD of its UK business, responsible for establishing an office and building the company's brand in the UK and Europe. He takes up the new role next month. More
Consumer insight consultancy BDRC has launched the 'Media Global Passenger Study' (Media GPS), which will use a sample of more than 16,000 international air passengers to understand media usage among nearly ten million weekly travellers. More
In the US, business news provider CNBC has partnered with DIY online research firm SurveyMonkey to launch a quarterly survey of small business owners, which measures confidence nationwide while uncovering trends among specific types of companies and key geographic regions. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has partnered with youth media and broadcast company VICE Media to launch a panel called VICE Voices, through which to capture the opinions of US millennials and understand what drives their attitudes and behavior. More
Cross-screen data management platform (DMP) Lotame has partnered with insights exchange operator Cint, to enable publishers and advertisers to create custom research panels. More
In the UK, video data mining and analysis specialist LivingLens has added two new video analytics modules to its platform: 'aggregate level multimedia analysis' and 'intelligent codeframe creation'. More
In the US, marketing technology company Gauge Insights has partnered with data collection firm Focus Pointe Global, to launch a mobile app through which brands can create customized MR campaigns, and get feedback from hundreds of targets within minutes. More
Another UK General Election has come and gone, with winners and losers amongst the survey firms as well as the politicians. Once again most people seem to be stunned by the result; while the adjustments made after the last election look like the key reason they didn't get this one broadly right. Who'd be a pollster? More
In the US, Warner Bros. Pictures has promoted JP Richards, adding the role of Chief Data Strategist to his existing title of Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing. More
In the US, social media management and online community solutions provider Lithium Technologies has agreed to be acquired by Vista Equity Partners for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, mobile-based consumer engagement and insights firm UBMobile has launched a 'Gesture-Based Surveys' platform (GBS), using mobile device actions such as dragging, swiping, tapping, and capturing images and videos. More
US location data provider Cuebiq has released what it says is the industry's first report analyzing footfall benchmarks, to help marketers gauge how their ad campaigns perform against industry averages for off-line activities such as in-store visits. More
In the US, online survey software provider QuestionPro has launched a new tool called Forms, which uses the firm's existing platform to create surveys that are completed through an interactive chatbot. More
In New York, former Ipsos Connect exec Lakshmi Madabhushi has re-joined the group in its Ipsos Marketing division, in the newly created role of Chief Innovation Officer. More
In the UK, cable and satellite TV news channel CNN's commercial operations division has set up an Audiences and Data unit, which will invest in artificial intelligence and data science to replace the firm's existing research function. The new initiative is led by data scientist Mark Sear. More
Seattle-based online qual firm Discuss.io has opened an office in London, where it has appointed former Kinesis Survey Technologies MD Tariq Mirza as Managing Director, Europe. More
In London, WPP digital data collection arm Lightspeed has promoted Leon De Koning to the newly created role of VP, Client Sales EMEA, overseeing strategic account planning and client services, and expanding the business development team. He will also oversee three new EMEA vertical divisions. More
Online insights exchange Cint has opened an office in Hong Kong, where it has appointed Ronald Leung as APAC Regional VP of Supply and Heather Hughes as APAC Regional VP of Partnerships and Alliances. The firm has also made hires in the US and UK. More
Former Conservative Party election advisor Michael Moszynski is claiming that YouGov's recent polls are 'irresponsible', following its forecast of a hung parliament in the UK's forthcoming general election. More
London and Leeds-based Trinity McQueen has announced year-on-year growth of around ten percent, with sales up to £4.92m in the 12 months ending September 2016. More
In the UK, data collection agency Populus Data Solutions has launched what it says is the research industry's first virtual reality online panel, PopulusLive VR. More
US consultancy Reputation Institute has appointed Rajendra Joshi as Chief Technology Officer, with a remit including the launch of 'the world's first Reputation as a Service knowledge platform'. The firm has also secured 'a significant investment' to fuel its growth. More
UK-based, full-service agency Mustard has launched a Smartphone app called Pickles, to provide instant consumer feedback for ad and campaign feedback, understanding consumer behaviour, product and creative testing, CX and brand research, and mystery shopping studies. More
Eye-tracking tech firm Tobii has acquired Sticky, which uses webcam-based eye tracking technology to measure ad effectiveness. The deal will be financed with an undisclosed amount of cash, with an option to provide part of the consideration in Tobii shares. More
US tennis superstar Serena Williams has joined the Board of DIY online research platform SurveyMonkey, as has Brad Smith, the CEO and Chairman of software company Intuit. More
In the UK, WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has appointed former Kantar exec Hannah Soar as Director, Business Transformation, responsible for developing, supporting and influencing strategic behavioural change management efforts. More
In the US, online qual firm Discuss.io has raised just over $5m in a Series A round of funding, led by Unilever Ventures and Pereg Ventures. The investment will be used to further develop the firm's platform and expand its engineering and sales teams. More
Latino youth audience platform mitú has partnered with Hispanic market specialist ThinkNow Research, to build a tool measuring how multicultural consumers self-identify with both their American and specific ethnic cultures. More
In the US, Kantar Health has partnered with tech giant Nokia to develop a longitudinal cohort study, to improve understanding of the impact of 'lifestyle therapy' on diabetes treatment and patient outcomes. More
South African researchers have received the go-ahead to replace The South African Audience Research Foundation (SAARF) with a new Marketing Research Foundation, tasked with delivering an audience currency to replace the country's discontinued AMPS measure. More
Former Maru/edr director Crispin Boon has joined Hampshire-based Marketing Sciences Unlimited as Research Director in its Packaging & Shopper business. More
Research and insights firm Shapiro+Raj has appointed Muhammad Asim as Managing Director of its Health and Wellness Practice (HWP), based in its Chicago HQ. More
In London, consumer specialist Razor Research has set up a kids-focused business unit called Razor Kids, and appointed Leslie Salem to lead it. The firm has also hired Kenny Fox as Associate Director. More
South African researchers aim to replace industry association SAARF with a new Marketing Research Foundation, which will deliver an audience currency to replace the country's discontinued AMPS (All Media and Products Survey) measure. More
Former shareholders of Rentrak could receive around $19m to settle claims relating to the effect on share price of comScore's accounting investigation last year. The proposed settlement is currently seeking preliminary approval from a judge in Oregon. More
Kantar's digital data collection arm Lightspeed is opening an office in Bangkok, Thailand, and has appointed Benchawan (Best) Phumphuengsri and Anis The as Client Development Managers in the region. More
Managed analytics firm Ugam has opened a new office in Chicago, which it says follows rapid growth and will allow it to better serve clients in the area. More
UK-based firm Sample Answers has announced that Managing Director Phil Bird will be leaving the business on 30th June 2017, eighteen months after joining. He moves to ITWP, the holding company of Toluna and Harris Interactive. More
Healthcare MR agency AplusA has added an office in Munich, Germany to existing locations in France, the UK and the US; and has brought in Director Alexander Edte to head it up. More
In the US, two former Apple engineers have launched a foot traffic counting and analytics firm called Dor, with $3.8m in seed funding. More
In New York, Ipsos Marketing has appointed Alison Chaltas, the co-founder of shopper marketing consultancy Interscope, as Global President, Path to Purchase. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has expanded its Retail Tracking Service to provide a view of the US team sports equipment market, covering basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer, hockey, racquet sports, golf and lacrosse. More
Kantar TNS has promoted James Brown to the role of Executive Director, responsible for leading the business in Melbourne, Australia. More
Data-driven business intelligence consultancy Future Thinking and its data science sister agency GemSeek have opened an office in Dubai. More
Sweden and North America-based data visualization specialist Dapresy has received an undisclosed amount of financial backing from Nordic private equity fund Verdane Capital IX. More
London-based insights and planning agency kubi kalloo has outgrown its former premises in Old Street and relocated to a larger space, a stone's throw away in Scrutton Street. More
Nielsen is planning to install nearly 15,000 television audience meters in approximately 7,000 homes across the 140 markets currently measured by Local TV paper diaries. More
In the US, Harris Insights & Analytics (formerly Harris Interactive) has appointed long-time WPP execs John Gerzema and Will Johnson as co-CEOs, while Jonathan Gardner joins as Chief Operating Officer. More
International communication consultancy Leidar has hired former Brunswick Research exec Phil Riggins to lead its Brand and Reputation practice, whose approach combines opinion research, digital analytics and campaign methodologies. More
International data collection group Schlesinger Associates has appointed former Delve CEO Tim Sauer as Senior Vice President, Client Solutions, with a specific focus on expanding its consumer product testing solutions. More
GfK has reported a 2.4% drop in first quarter group sales to EUR 352m, while the profit measure EBITDA fell 34.3% to EUR 29.4m. More
Less than two months after joining UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo, Desirée Lopez has been named Chief Executive Officer, replacing co-founder Kirsty Fuller who is leaving the business. Seven of the company's eight global offices are being closed by parent Omnicom. More
In Austria, marcoms giant Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired full-service media agency media.at, which provides consulting, research and data analysis relating to comms strategy, ad planning and buying, and ad verification. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Mumbai-based researcher MRSS India has reported a 146% increase in consolidated net profit to Rs46.3m ($720k) for the twelve months ended 31st March 2017. More
UK-based polling company Populus has appointed Ben Lloyd as Director of Corporate Reputation, leading the Reputation Research team. More
Former dunnhumby CEO Simon Hay has joined the Board of Stockholm-based brand tracking researcher Nepa. More
comScore has launched a syndicated service called OTT Intelligence, to measure US household viewing of over-the-top (OTT) content on television screens. More
US advertising and brand research specialist Ameritest has appointed former Ipsos exec Emily Higgins as Vice President, Client Services in its Chicago office. More
In the UK, recently formed software firm Digital Taxonomy has launched a machine learning tool called Codeit, designed to help researchers and analysts code answers to open-ended questions. More
Nashville, Tennessee-based MR technology and services firm 20|20 Research has launched a digital ethnography tool called Ethno360, promising researchers a full picture of consumers and their actions. More
In the US, digital market intelligence company SimilarWeb has appointed author and consumer insights specialist Dr Stephen Kraus as Chief of Insights. More
Data visualisation specialist Dapresy has hired former long-time E-Tabs exec Ken Brewster as a Director in its UK office. More
US healthcare market research firm InCrowd has appointed SaaS industry exec Rob Lubash as its first Chief Financial Officer. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has launched an automated research solution called SmartAR, promising completed surveys in a matter of days. More
Global agricultural market research firm Kleffman Group has hired Goran Jovcevski as Managing Director, Australia, located in its Melbourne head office. More
UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has been acquired by its senior management team from founders and previous majority shareholders Pete and Trish Comley. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Singapore-based private equity firm Tan Capital Partners has spent an undisclosed sum to acquire the mobile survey technology of Los Angeles-based Osurv. Tan will use the software for CX purposes within its chain of 800 Asian hotels. More
Newly merged US trade body the Insights Association has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to recognise and clarify the distinction between market research and advertising, in comments relating to a TCPA class action against member company M3 USA. More
Australia's embattled Audited Media Association has dropped quarterly publication of its circulation data for newspapers and weekly magazines, and will now report it six-monthly. More
Australian TV audience measurement body OzTAM has appointed Richard Herring as independent Chairman, replacing Michael Anderson who has served in the role since 2011 and has decided to focus on his new role as CEO of MediaWorks New Zealand. More
Leicester, UK-based MR and consultation agency Community Research has appointed Lucy Brady as Research Director. More
In the US, MR consulting and training provider CourtLynn Enterprises has launched a customer behavior insights division called Griffin Wilds. More
In London, survey platform Attest has hired former Vizeum exec Chrissy Totty as Insight Champion, with a remit to help clients understand consumer motivations and behaviour; and has appointed Mark Walker as Marketing Director. More
In the US, mobile-first research tech company MFour has appointed Rob Chrone as Chief Financial Officer - former CFO Shane Rothenberger moves to the position of Senior Vice President of Finance. More
Quadrangle Group's data collection arm RED has partnered with Research Now to launch a solution called STOREWORKS, which promises retailers 'quick, quality feedback' from different groups of consumers. More
Mobile survey technology provider OnePoint Global has launched In-App, a mobile survey solution which collects feedback from inside an existing customer app, regardless of whether consumers are online or off-line. More
In the UK Facts International, part of the Chime Insight & Engagement Group, has appointed Louise Brice and Linda Marsh as Client Service Directors. More
In India, Majestic Research Services and Solutions (MRSS) has appointed veteran researcher Indroneel Dutta as Vice President, Client Servicing, responsible for the company's FMCG vertical. More
Omnicom-owned brand and communications research consultancy Hall & Partners has promoted Soumya Roy to Chief Executive Officer of its New York operation. More
Media researcher Laurel Weir has been named Senior Vice President of Research for Viacom brands Paramount Network, TV Land and CMT. Her role includes overseeing consumer insights, trend forecasting and multiplatform measurement. More
Hispanic media giant Univision Communications Inc (UCI) has hired media research veteran Steve McGowan as Senior Vice President, Corporate Research, a role including strategic analysis and support for network management, programming and ad sales. More
Creston's Unlimited Group has combined its customer journey specialist EMO and customer relationship marketing agency The Real Adventure, to form a new Bristol-based business called Prophecy Unlimited. More
Ken and Trish Parker, the founders of qual specialist the Discovery Group, have retired after selling the business to four company directors. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Healthcare specialist Research Partnership has expanded its US capabilities, with the opening of new offices in San Francisco and New York. More
In the US, research-led sales and marketing services company Maritz has appointed Charlotte Blank as Chief Behavioral Officer (CBO), tasked with leading its thought leadership, research, and the application of behavioral science. More
M&C Saatchi's qual/quant research agency The Source has opened a first Australian office, in Melbourne, to be led by former London MD Matt Swinson. More
WPP's Warren, New Jersey-based healthcare data company Lightspeed Health has appointed Shaun Hawley as Director, Global Healthcare Panels. More
Ipsos has recorded first quarter revenue of EUR 390.1m, representing organic growth of 1%, and says sales activity indicates this will increase in subsequent quarters. The group plans to announce a new programme of transformation at its June 6th Investor Day. More
WPP has reported a flat quarter, with group like-for-like revenue up 0.2%. In the Data Investment Management division, Kantar, like-for-like revenue once again trailed the rest of the group, down 3.4%, despite strong growth in net sales in the UK, Latin America and Africa. More
Philadelphia-based branding agency Finch brands has launched a communities division, FinchSight Research Communities, to be led by Chief Innovation Officer Tom Finkle, former CEO of Passenger. More
US-based research firm Gongos, Inc. has partnered with customer experience (CX) tech specialist Customerville to create 'turnkey' CX solutions for major companies. More
Manchester, UK-based market research agency Mustard has added to its research and business development teams, with the return of David Hickson as Account Director, the appointments of ben Ashton and Laura James, and the promotions of Victoria Williams (nee Bennett) and Ryan Sherratt. More
Sweden-based eye-tracking technology firm Tobii AB has reported a slight real terms decline in revenue for the first quarter of 2017. More
San Diego, California-based data collection agency Branded Research has expanded into full service research with the opening of an insights department, led by former Nielsen exec Kristen Miles. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has upgraded its FV Decipher online survey and reporting solution to make it compatible with Confirmit XML for data transfers and imports. More
Nielsen has reported first quarter revenues of $1.5 billion, up 3.2% after excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations. The result was driven by a strong performance in the Watch media research division, while the Buy side saw a decline. More
UK-based video data mining specialist LivingLens has partnered with Qualtrics to make its video capture and analysis available on the latter's Experience Management Platform. More
US healthcare researcher InCrowd has hired Janet Bays and Kathy Relias as Vice Presidents of Business Development, while Katie Ka joins as Senior Director of Client Success. More
Ipsos Healthcare has extended its syndicated Psoriasis and IBD Therapy Monitors into China, where it will also re-launch its Lupus Therapy Monitor. More
WPP-owned online research company Lightspeed has added its QuestionArts suite of survey design tools to its healthcare product portfolio. More
Non-profit organization Women In Research (WIRe) has added four new members to its Advisory Board - MBC's Laura Chaibi, CitiGroup Insight chief Tony Michelini, Nike exec Vanessa Oshima and MESH Experience leader Fiona Blades. More
In the Philippines, Kantar Media has promoted Jay Bautista to the role of Managing Director, based in Manila. More
London-based behaviour, brand and communications research agency Monkey See has appointed former MarketCast and Ipsos MORI exec Steve Smith as Research Associate. More
Nielsen has begun working with Audiweb, the Italian Online Joint Industry Committee, on the terms of an agreement for further development of the country's audience measurement system. More
The Research Industry Council of Australia (RICA) is fighting the terms of a recent government decision to abolish a visa program for overseas workers, which it claims will have a detrimental impact on the country's market and social research industry. More
In the US, healthcare MR consultancy Adelphi Research Global has appointed Paul Teta as Chief Methodologist and Ted Noga as Director of Advanced Analytics. The firm has also hired three new project team members and promoted five existing employees. More
Following its recent acquisition of media and entertainment data provider Gracenote, Nielsen is formally adopting the latter's 'IDs' as the standard content identifier across all its audience measurement solutions. More
The management of mobile survey specialist Lumi Technologies have spun off its virtual AGM (annual general meeting) app into a separate business, with backing from Vespa Capital. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, mobile-first research tech company MFour has received $680k in tax credits from California's state government, contingent on the firm creating at least 77 full-time staff positions in the region over the next five years. More
In the US, sister agencies MarketSight and Critical Mix have partnered, to integrate the latter's CMIX collaborative survey programming tool into the former's data visualization and analytics platform. More
Netherlands-based customer feedback software developer Mopinion has launched a feature which captures and analyses visual online feedback, helping clients to improve overall web site usability and further optimise user experience. More
In the UK, Nielsen has launched an employee resource group (ERG) called MOSAIC (Multinational Organization Supporting an Inclusive Culture) at its office in Oxford, where the firm says its employees identify with 57 different nationalities. More
In the UK, former BT research head James 'JT' Turner and political and behavioural data scientist Zsolt Kiss have launched a research business called opinion.life, with ambitions to 'revolutionise' the science of polling. More
In the US, public sector-focused research provider Abt Associates has combined the capabilities of its Abt SRBI survey and research unit with its Client Technology Center, to create a new arm called the Data Science, Surveys and Enabling Technologies division. More
In the US, online community and survey tech provider Toluna has launched a service called RapidResultsRx, to help clients obtain 'quick-turn' insight from medical professionals. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has hired former WPP / Kantar exec George Pappachen for a newly created position, EVP Corporate Development & Strategy. More
UK market research budgets appear to have fallen for the seventh quarter in a row, according to the latest Bellwether Report by the IPA. However, respondents were very positive indeed about other marketing spend. More
GfK has launched a panel covering the US independent tire channel, capturing data representing more than 34,000 individual retail outlets nationwide. More
In New York, healthcare data collection firm SHC Universal has appointed former GLG exec Phil Sofia as company President. More
NY-based healthcare research specialist KJT Group has appointed former MarketVision exec Jennifer Hall as Vice President, Global Sampling and Field Operations. More
Omnicom is closing seven of the eight global offices of its consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo, citing 'underperformance' and its need to now focus on growth opportunities in London. More
US-based survey technology firm Qualtrics has raised $180m in a Series C round of funding, valuing the business at $2.5 billion. More
Ipsos has promoted Frank Forkin to the role of President of its RDA division, which provides motor industry quality tracking and customer satisfaction measurement. More
Recently launched online self-service MR platform Research Engine has added a tool called 'Emotion Video Test', which tracks basic emotions in those watching videos. More
UK-based video insight specialist Voxpopme has upgraded its visual storytelling tool Showreel Generator. Image slides and colour schemes can now be added, allowing clients to include their brand's look and feel in any output they produce. More
YouGov-owned sports and sponsorship specialist SMG Insight has promoted Lance Fraenkel to the role of Vice President, North America. More
US-based sampling automation provider Lucid has raised $60m in a minority investment round led by private equity firm North Bridge Growth Equity. The funds will be used for further product development and to expand the team. More
US healthcare marketing research firm RG+A has hired Joan Lorgus as Vice President for Client Development; Alex Graber as Senior Manager, Marketing Science; and Lindsay Hoover as a Research Analyst. The firm has also promoted three existing members of staff. More
In the US, television attention measurement company TVision Insights has hired Nielsen veteran Mark Green as Chief Strategy Officer. More
Lookout Online founder Bruce Ritch is joining panel, data management and ops firm Gazelle Global as Director of Insight Solutions. More
TV audience rating body BARC India is rolling out a suite of digital measurement products called EKAM (Sanskrit for 'one'), to provide the industry with a single platform for measurement across TV and digital. More
Nielsen has launched a National Out-of-Home Reporting Service, which will provide TV networks with program and commercial ratings for live and through live + 7 days of time-shifted viewing. ESPN has signed up as its first client. More
In the US, MFour Mobile Research has received $5m in funding, which it will use to expand its business, products and staff numbers. More
In the US, Kantar Public has appointed Susan Gigli as Global Director for International Development, based in its Washington DC office. She has also been appointed to the Kantar Public Global Board. More
Global media giant Viacom has promoted Colleen Fahey Rush to EVP, Insights & Audience Science, and Chief Research Officer of its Viacom Media Networks subsidiary, effective immediately. More
GfK has appointed three new members to its Supervisory Board: Thomas Ebeling, Johannes P. Huth and Philipp Freise, following its agreement with investment group KKR which is now its partner in running the global group. They replace Peter Goldschmidt, Aliza Knox and Bruno Piace. More
Leeds, UK-based agency ResearchBods has added ten new 'Bods' to its staff so far in 2017, growing all departments in response to new contract wins. It has also promoted Tabita Razalia to Head of Project Management. More
British polling firm ICM Unlimited is launching PECS, a new policy and campaign evaluation tool which it says combines orthodox opinion research techniques with an emotional component, to assess new policy ideas and campaign messages ahead of their public launches. More
In Australia, former Bain consultant Nik Samoylov and academic Prof. Ujwal Kayande have launched a technology company called Conjoint.ly, which automates conjoint analysis and discrete choice experiments to provide rapid concept testing, price optimisation and forecasting. More
London-based Attest, whose platform promises clients the ability to do a lot more market research, quicker, has secured a further $3.1m in funding. More
In the UK, full service insight and innovation consultancy FreshMinds has appointed four new members of staff at its London-based offices. It has also promoted Steven Martin, James Wallis and Sofia Savage to Senior Consultant. More
The four founders of Stockholm-based brand tracking researcher Nepa have sold 14.7% of the business to a range of Swedish institutional investors. More
In New York, the Institute for Sensory Research (ISR) has launched a service for consumer packaged goods companies called 'Flash Discrimination Testing'. More
In the UK, former GfK director Andy Stillwell has launched a specialist business-to-business market research agency called InsightB2B, which will integrate market data with analysis of buyer behaviour. More
Kathryn Gallant has been promoted to the role of Chief Executive of Cello Health Insight US, and Angie Wheeler to that of President USA. In addition Justine Trinidad, Ed Geiselhart and Kaity Arctander have joined the firm's client facing team. More
Research technology and panel exchange operator Cint has hired former Nasdaq director Johanna Isander for a newly created position, Chief Human Resources Officer, supporting its global growth and talent management initiatives. More
In the UK, iCube Marketing founders Chris Horne and Mike Heisig have launched an online self-service MR platform called researchengine.org, offering users access to 'ready to use' products which deliver insights at speed. More
Academic publisher SAGE has partnered with the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath to launch the Public Data Lab, which will facilitate research, engagement and public debate around the future of the data society. More
Vienna-based community platform Talk Online Panel has appointed former Lightspeed GMI and Cint exec Arjen van Duijvenbode as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Managing Partner Klaus Oberecker who remains active as a company owner. More
In the US, e-Rewards (now Research Now) co-founder Hal Brierley has joined the Board of mobile-based consumer engagement and insights specialist UBMobile. More
UK audience research body BARB has promoted Joe Lewis for the newly created position of Head of Insight, tasked with uncovering untapped material in its data and sharing it with the wider industry. More
Kantar TNS has launched a new concept test product called eValuateNow, on the ZappiStore research automation platform. More
In the UK, former FreshMinds Head of Digital Innovation Chris Leo has launched a digital product consultancy, Pivot. More
In Oxford, UK, sensory and consumer insight specialist MMR Research Worldwide has promoted Client Service Director Judith Henderson to the role of EMEA Managing Director. More
Philanthropic US-based online MR panel firm Op4G has appointed James Williams as Director of Client Development, based in its Fairfield, CT office. More
In an interim report, Sweden-based Voice of the Customer specialist Nepa AB has announced a 'fantastic year', including net sales growth of 25.3% in Q4. Full year 2016 net sales increased 19.4% SEK 184.4m ($US 20.6m). The firm has also recently acquired the outstanding 20% of shares in its sales subsidiary Nepa India. More
Digital MR services firm Bilendi Group has paid an undisclosed cash sum to acquire Leuven, Belgium-based panel specialist iVOX. More
Kantar Media and local audience data provider Eyeota have extended their TGI-based segmentation partnership to Germany and France. More
Online community pioneer Vision Critical has released Sparq Share, which gives users of its Sparq customer intelligence platform 'a private and secure workspace' for distributing customer insight to stakeholders and external partners. More
The Hong Kong TAM Founding Subscribers Committee (FSC) has awarded CSM Media Research the contract for the provision of TV ratings in Hong Kong, from January 2018 until 2023. The company is a joint venture between Kantar Media and CTR. More
Customer experience (CX) software and services provider MaritzCX has partnered with mobile survey technology provider OnePoint Global, to provide clients with a mobile CX survey solution. More
In the UK, former YouGov Head of Research Michael Wagstaff is joining full service agency Cambridge Market Research as Managing Director on 1st April. He will replace Paul Beresford, who becomes company Chairman. More
WPP-owned brand development and insight consultancy Added Value has appointed Gillian Reilly and Kim Braganza as Associate Directors in its Sydney, Australia team, following the expansion of its client roster. More
In Germany, social research group infas Holding AG has set up a full-service agency called infas quo, offering strategic management consulting based on market research. The business will be led by former GfK exec Karsten John, who is also a previous infas employee. More
In the US, digital data collection specialist Research Now has added four new members to its Advertising & Audience team, including former Twitter exec Heather O'Shea who joins as Vice President of Global Research. More
New York-based Geopath, which was formerly known as the Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement, has selected location data specialist Streetlytics to power its new OOH (out of home) measurement solution MORE, due for launch later this year. More
UK-based mobile video MR specialist Voxpopme has appointed industry veteran Jem Wallis as Regional Director of Asia Pacific, based in Sydney. More
London-based polling and research specialist ComRes has launched a new division, which will focus exclusively on supporting organisations following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. More
Transaction technology giant NCR has integrated its point-of-sale (POS) platform with the systems of cinema data specialist Showtime Analytics, promising cinema clients a better understanding of customer needs and experience. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has hired Jay Rampuria to lead global business development for both itself and parent company ITWP. More
In New York, retail data specialist Nielsen TDLinx has split its on-premise licensed dining data into five new sub-channels, to help clients understand the size of each segment and determine which are growing and/or shrinking. More
YouGov has reported a revenue rise of 24% to £51.4m for the six months to 31st January 2017 - equivalent to 8% on a constant currency basis. The rise was driven by 'strong growth' in the firm's subscription-based Data Products and Services business. More
Ipsos has promoted industry veteran Dean Luker to the role of Corporate Development Director, responsible for its acquisition programme in support of the company's overall strategy. He replaces Deputy CEO Carlos Harding, who passed away in December. More
Insight agency Firefish has reported a 15% increase in GBP group revenue, from £10.1m in 2016, to £11.7m last year. More
In the US, Bill Cash has returned to WPP-owned Lightspeed Health as Director of Business Development, after nearly two years as a Consultant at Medefield. More
Kantar Millward Brown has expanded its brand marketing analytics platform Ignite Network, to provide access to more than three million mobile panellists in the US. More
Ipsos has partnered with viewability measurement specialist Moat to launch a solution called Connect:Digital, which pre-tests digital ads via a combination of creative impact analysis and digital trading measures. More
Media intelligence and monitoring specialist iQ Media has launched a tool giving professional sports franchises and their sponsors real-time data about how their TV and sponsorship activities influence fan engagement, both in-stadium and out. More
UK-based pharmaceutical and consumer insight and marketing group Cello has reported a 5.4% rise in group revenue to £165.3m for the year ended 31st December 2016 (2015: £156.7m), driven by increases in both its Health and Signal divisions. More
Nielsen has launched an overnight quant innovation tool called Quick Screen, to enable FMCG manufacturers to quickly test new product ideas and measure their potential. More
UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo has hired former TNS BMRB Chief Exec Desirée Lopez for a newly created role, Head of Behavioural and Social Strategy, leading its behavioural science offer and its Social Purpose specialist unit. More
UK-based video analytics firm Big Sofa has expanded to the US with the official opening of an office in Philadelphia, PA. More
In Japan, online specialist Macromill has completed its listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). More
UK-based online community specialist LRWTonic has appointed five new members of staff at its offices in London. More
Canadian qual software provider itracks has upgraded its GO research platform with the addition of a video recorder interface and other new features. More
Oslo, Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has appointed former Survey Sampling director Rosie Ayoub as Managing Director in the UK. In addition, Remek Gabrys has joined the London office as Business Development Manager. More
In the US, research technology and panel exchange operator Cint has appointed former Yahoo! executive Michael Teng as Vice President of Partner Solutions in its Data & Technology business unit. More
The US' Association of National Advertisers (ANA) has called on seven digital giants to follow the example of Google and Facebook and replace their 'walled garden' approach to measurement with independent audits by the MRC. More
UK-based research industry software firms E-Tabs and Askia have announced a strategic partnership which will offer a revolutionary dashboard designer application for market research. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has appointed Jessica Herridge as Research Director within its Communicate team. More
In New York, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has published standards for assessing digital place-based audiences, providing both a framework for syndicated measurement methods and a benchmark for auditing them. More
UK-based full service agency MindMover has hired Alan Hargreaves to head its Operations team, and to roll out a new software programme which includes a self-serve platform. The firm has also appointed three further members of staff. More
In the US, entertainment research firm Screen Engine/AASI (SE/ASI) has hired Aaron Paquette as Senior Vice President of its TV Group. More
US media groups Fox Networks, Turner and Viacom have formed a consortium to develop a TV audience platform industry standard called OpenAP, for cross-publisher audience targeting and independent measurement. More
In New York, Kantar has appointed former Affectiva CEO Nick Langeveld as EVP, Strategic Alliances, responsible for identifying, structuring and managing partnerships across the US. More
US data collection firm Focus Pointe Global has launched the FPG Think Tank, which brings together members of its 1.5 million opt-in participant panel to share ideas and opinions for clients. More
In Australia, The Lab Insight & Strategy has opened an office in Brisbane, where it has appointed Amanda Windus as Strategy Planner. More
ORC International has appointed former Kantar Group exec Alena Rossini as Managing Director, Singapore. More
In Springtown, Texas, patient satisfaction study specialist SurveyVitals has acquired Novaetus, which administers 'Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems' (CAHPS) surveys. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based online community specialist Verve has relocated its Romanian office to larger premises, to accommodate its growing team. More
In the UK, video data mining and analysis specialist LivingLens has raised £1.3m in a round of funding which it will use to accelerate development of its enterprise video analytics tech platform, and to further expand its teams and open operations in the US. More
Kantar Millward Brown has appointed Pablo Gómez Martínez as Head of Media for Asia Pacific. He rejoins the firm to take up the Singapore-based role in May. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has promoted Caroline Frankum to Chief Executive Officer, replacing David Day who is leaving for a role in the UK Foreign Office. Nick Nyhan becomes Chairman. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has appointed Aviva Global Inclusion Director Jan Gooding as its new President. More
In London, healthcare data collection firm SHC Universal has promoted Niraj Patel to role of Managing Director Europe. More
Sir Martin Sorrell has cemented his place as comfortably the highest paid exec in the UK's FTSE 100 companies, securing just under £41.6m in this year's pay award under the now-expiring performance-related 'Leap' scheme. Then again, what's a pound worth nowadays? More
UK firm Streetbees, which uses mobile technology to gather rapid insights from a global community of contributors, has landed $5.1m in seed funding, which to develop its technology and double its headcount from a current total of 40, over the next year. More
GfK has appointed consumer goods industry exec Peter Feld as its new Chief Executive Officer. His predecessor Matthias Hartmann resigned last August due to 'differing views' on the long-term direction of the business between himself and majority shareholder GfK Verein. More
New York-based agency SIS International has opened an office in Tokyo, which will be led by Andrew Edsall, responsible for client servicing across the Asia Pacific region. More
In London, idea sharing platform Wazoku has received £2.3m in a new funding round, which it will use for corporate and team expansion, and further product development. More
US-based mobile research and retail data collection specialist Field Agent has expanded to the UK, where it has promoted Robin Shuker to the role of Managing Director. More
In the US, not-for-profit organization Women In Research (WIRe) has appointed former FocusVision exec Michelle Andre as its first Managing Director, responsible for organizational development and oversight, fundraising, marketing, and assisting with long-term planning. More
In the UK, brand building specialist Andrew Marsden has launched a brand activation agency called Pilgrim Marketing, offering clients business strategy and brand positioning services combined with creativity and access to in-house research. More
In Africa, mobile-first messaging platform mSurvey and comms company Safaricom have partnered to launch a solution called Consumer Wallet, which quantifies Kenyan consumers' off-line spending, habits and trends. More
Ipsos has officially launched its Public Affairs division in India, under the leadership of Parijat Chakraborty, who joined the group in January. More
In Wisconsin, US, full service agency The Dieringer Research Group (DRG) has acquired Milwaukee-based Probe Research Services from owners Eric Olsen and Liz Germanotta, as they prepare for retirement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
After ten years as an independent entity, BDRC South Africa has been renamed BDRC Africa and moved back into closer alignment with the group. More
In New York, The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed Scott McDonald as President and CEO, replacing Gayle Fuguitt who left last October. More
Cincinnati-based full service agency MarketVision Research has relocated its corporate headquarters to a larger office to support a growing workforce. More
Tech consulting group Gartner has agreed to acquire digital performance benchmarking firm L2, for an undisclosed sum. More
Manchester, UK-based Join the Dots has reported revenue growth of 26%, to £9.8m for 2016, matching its growth rate for each of the two previous years. More
Westport, CT-based company Critical Mix is launching panels across five major European markets, under the OneOpinion brand. More
Chartered Accountant and investor Sarah Butler has opened a viewing facility, The Buzz Rooms, in Greater Manchester, UK. The new set-up is housed in the headquarters of Infinity Asset Management, of which she is a co-founder and partner. More
Ewing, NJ-based custom research firm Zeldis Research Associates has made four promotions, including two new Executive Vice Presidents - former VPs Amy Rey and Kristina Witzling. Meanwhile Christine DiMeola becomes a VP and Monique Corchado is now Director, Finance & Administration. More
Marcoms giant WPP has reported like-for-like falls in revenue for its Data Investment Management (DIM) arm Kantar, of 1.6% in the fourth quarter and 0.9% for the full year. However like-for-like net sales, which WPP has long said are a better indicator, rose 1.5% and 0.9% respectively. More
Vancouver, Canada-based research community and survey technology specialist Vision Critical has sold a 'significant portion' of its shares to private equity firm W Capital Partners and existing shareholder Georgian Partners, for $76m. Reports say Angus Reid's share of the sale was $44m. More
Industry exec Padmanabhan Ramaswamy has set up a B2B marketplace called InsightzClub, to connect buyers and sellers of market research through programmatic technology. The initiative will launch in Malaysia and Singapore, with plans to roll out elsewhere at a later stage. More
WPP-owned digital data collection firm Lightspeed has partnered with emotion measurement specialist Affectiva, to analyse its panellists' reactions to ads via their facial expressions. More
In the US, specialist MR agency Reckner Healthcare has launched a fieldwork solution called QualEDGE, designed for qualitative market research with healthcare professionals. More
In New York, health marketing group Evoke has launched a multicultural insight agency called Fabric, which will help clients use insights to help create more 'culturally inspired' brands, and will be led by Managing Director Roger Salazar. More
Polish market research company IQS has acquired MRevolution, a specialist insight community provider. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna is planning to increase the size of its respondent community by 20 per cent during the second half of 2017, and has hired Kyle Kim-Hays as EVP for Global Digital Marketing, responsible for the push. More
UK firm OnePoint Global is making the source code for its mobile survey platform available on a Software as a Service (SaaS) basis, allowing clients to build their own survey solutions, integrate survey modules into their existing platforms, or take a 'white label' approach. More
MR software firm Remesh has partnered with online panel and digital MR solutions provider eCGlobal Solutions, to help Latin American clients engage in conversation with their audience at specific moments - such as 30 minutes after viewing a TV show. More
UK-based mobile video MR specialist Voxpopme has launched its on-demand video feedback app in Ireland. More
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has dismissed a suit brought in 2011 by Sun Media Corporation and ordered it to pay RM 600,000 ($US 135,000) in costs to Nielsen. More
Nielsen has announced it will use its Digital Ad Ratings (DAR) platform to measure the accuracy of cross-device graph providers, offering 'an independent third-party measure of their efficacy in verifying consumer identity'. More
Ipsos has reported 2016 revenue of EUR 1,782.7m, virtually the same as in 2015 but representing 3 percent organic growth - currency effects cancelled out the growth in the Euros figure. More
Realface, a start-up developing facial recognition technology, has become Apple's fourth buy in the country, for a price reported as 'a couple of million dollars'. More
Sampling firm Innovate has hired Josh Belknap as Senior Director of Customer Experience, and Hilary Belletti as Director of Sampling, and says it plans to make additional hires in the coming months. More
UK-based insight agency BrainJuicer aims to rebrand as System1 Research, forming System1 Group together with its recently-launched creative house, System1 Agency. More
Technology consulting firm Strategy Analytics has restructured its User Experience Innovation Practice (UXIP) with the launch of a new service under the aegis of promoted Director Chris Schreiner. More
Digital ad industry body IAB Australia is to launch three new councils this year, all of which focus on aspects of ad measurement. CEO Vijay Solanki says digital measurement and a 'trustworthy digital value chain' are among the organisation's key priorities for the year. More
US healthcare researcher InCrowd has launched a tool called MicroQual, which automates the process of coordinating and executing qualitative virtual research. More
Australian boutique MR and strategic planning consultancy Ruby Cha Cha has relocated from its central Sydney office to the city's affluent inner city suburb, Surry Hills. More
In the US, mobile-first research tech company MFour has appointed former YP CTO Darren Clark as Chief Operating Officer. More
Toronto-based data collection specialist Delvinia has opened a new office in Quebec, led by former TNS exec Daniel Brousseau. More
Online specialist YouGov has opened an office in Manchester, to support its customer base in the north of England and Scotland. More
Canadian firm Leger has appointed former Vision Critical and Nielsen exec Michelle Carter as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of its Toronto office. More
In the US, MR recruitment specialist Focus Forward has hired Andrew Postell for a newly created position, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. More
In London, WPP insight arm Kantar has appointed former SABMiller Global Insights Director Julie Kollman as Chief Research Officer. She takes up her new post on 27th February. More
Employee-owned marketing research firm Hotspex has appointed former Proctor & Gamble (P&G) veteran Dan Young as Chief Behavioral Scientist. More
Researchers at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) have been using brain scans to understand the elements in a TV advert that trigger viewers to find the product online. More
European sampling solutions provider Bilendi has appointed former Ipsos exec Daniel Cunill as UK Panels Director, leading the team and strengthening the UK and European offer. He will also lead development of the firm's mobile offering. More
Online community specialist Verve has announced fourteen promotions in its teams in London, UK and Iasi, Romania. They include the promotions of Eugen Tuchendria and Tom Brand to Associate Director. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has promoted five people in its qualitative team. Anna Appleford becomes a Senior Research Director and the division's second-in-command, and there are new roles also for Andrew Divers, Claire Haines-Gray, Simon Driver and Martin Nash. More
UK audience research body BARB has awarded its Dovetail Fusion cross-screen measurement contract to Kantar Media. The body began testing options from Kantar and Nielsen in late 2015. More
South African organisations including research body SAARF plan to introduce a new audience currency to replace the discontinued AMPS measure, and will consult with interested parties at a meeting in Johannesburg on 2nd March. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec has appointed Richard Jameson to its leadership team as Executive Director of Global Custom Research. More
Eye-tracking tech firm Tobii AB has reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2016, with SEK 1,053m ($119m) in annual sales, and increasing cash reserves for investment in VR and smartphones. More
Lightspeed's QuestionArts team has announced a range of product enhancements under the banner of Intelligent Components. More
Polish IT company Euvic has launched a testing service for digital business ideas, linked to an 'Agile Dev Factory' which will develop and deliver the idea if it gets the thumbs-up. More
In the US, qualitative researcher Frank Hines has launched a new company called RealLife Research, which will offer services built around video-centric mobile ethnography methods. More
GfK shareholders have accepted an offer from US-based private equity firm KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) for 18.54 percent of the business. The buy is part of an agreement with majority shareholder GfK Verein to support the group's long-term growth strategy. More
ESPN veteran Artie Bulgrin is retiring from his role as SVP Global Research and Analytics in May, after more than 21 years at the Disney-owned sports broadcaster. More
New York-based agency SIS International has relocated its London office from the Strand to Southwark, in order to expand its team and fieldwork capabilities. More
UK-based BrainJuicer says it will rebrand, unifying its MR business with its recently-launched ad agency and sharpening its focus on behavioural science. The new name, 'though it may not be hard to fathom, has not yet been officially revealed. More
Nielsen has reported 2 percent growth in fourth quarter revenues to $1,656m, similar to the growth figure for the whole of 2016. Q4 revenue in the Buy consumer purchase behaviour segment fell 1.3% to $868m, while Watch media research revenue rose 5.8% to $788m. More
Online community and 'agile research' specialist GutCheck has announced a new qual solution, Competitive Checkpoint, which it says allows clients to compare their product ideas with current competing brands instead of historical databases. More
Entertainment, media and tech specialist Interpret LLC has promoted Michael Cai to President, overseeing all company divisions; hired Grant Robb as SVP / GM of a newly created Brand Consulting Group; and appointed Diane LightWaight as VP of Sales / Client Service. More
Ipsos has made changes to its Asia Pacific operations, with the news that its business in China will operate as a separate region, led by Lifeng Liu as Chairman and Chief Executive. More
Brand strategy and insight agency BrainJuicer has reported a 24% rise in revenue to £31.24m for the twelve months of 2016, compared with £25.18m in 2015. The firm says this growth - equivalent to 15 percent on a constant currency basis, is 'testament to the strength of its System1 approach'. More
In the UK, WPP-owned Lightspeed Health has promoted Mary Andrews to the role of Senior Vice President, Global Operations. More
Nielsen has gained Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its inclusion of digital measurement in its TV ratings solution - known as Digital in TV Ratings. This is the first solution to receive MRC approval for TV audience measurement of programming viewed on desktop or mobile devices. More
Research software pioneer Confirmit has launched a tool promising to halve the time required to create engaging questionnaires. More
In Australia, insights consultancy fiftyfive5 has hired Todd Eldridge for the newly created position of Director of Advanced Analytics, while Tomo Murakami joins as Data Strategist. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has launched a focus group video system called FV360 Live, which uses 360 degree cameras to place observers in the middle of the conversation. More
Nielsen has launched a tool called the Benchmark Media Optimizer, helping brands to make data-driven media allocation decisions without the requirement for a custom marketing mix study. More
Brand strategy and insight agency BrainJuicer has promoted Alex Hunt to the role of President, Research Business, in charge of running its market research offering worldwide, and with a seat on the company's Board of Directors. More
comScore has announced that it is unable to meet the February 23rd deadline to file late financial reports and regain compliance with Nasdaq's listing requirements, and warns that this may result in its stock being delisted from the exchange. More
Former RDSi and Nunwood exec Hannah Downs has joined UK consultancy Brand Potential as Client Director, with a remit to build its newly launched Leeds team. Emily Taylor also joins the firm. More
US-based media, event and information company Winsight has received an undisclosed amount of equity and debt funding from investment firm Pamlico Capital, in partnership with the firm's existing management team. More
In New York, full service agency ORC International has hired former Nielsen marketer Ana Mackay-Sim as Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for overseeing brand and revenue-building marketing initiatives globally. More
MR presentation and reporting specialist Dapresy has promoted Fredrik Osterberg to the role of Managing Director, Europe, while appointing former Cambiar exec Beth Rounds as its Chief Marketing Officer. More
WPP digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has extended its AmplifyR Appends data service to the UK, France, Germany and The Netherlands. More
Healthcare and consumer marketing business Cello Group has acquired US-based biotech asset development strategy consultancy Defined Health. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, Toluna has hired Marco Pasqualina as VP of Sales, and Mark Daniel as VP of Digital Solutions. In addition, Stephen Walker and Filippo Sablchiero have relocated from the UK, to take up business development roles in the Australia/New Zealand market. More
Newly rebranded Lightspeed Health has appointed Matt Titus as Vice President, Business Development, Americas, while promoting Franco Esposito to the role of Head of Business Development, EMEA. More
Research software firm Confirmit has promoted CFO Ken Østreng to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. He replaces Henning Hansen who, in his own words, has resigned to focus on other priorities, spend more time with his family, and 'start a new chapter'. More
In the US, Nielsen has announced plans to expand its in-market consumer insights service Nielsen Scarborough, to local markets nationwide. More
Polling and research specialist ComRes has opened a practice dedicated to helping organisations evaluate and develop internal comms and employee engagement strategies. The firm will also launch a Faith Research Centre later in the year, to improve understanding of religion and belief. More
In the UK, insight firm MARU Group has acquired survey technology platform Usurv for an undisclosed sum. The latter will now be known as Maru/Usurv, and founders Martin Bysh and Guy Potter will continue to oversee its development. More
Chime Insight & Engagement Group has appointed nine new members of staff, including former Northstar Research exec Jack Miles as Insight Director, heading qual and quant projects across a range of sectors. More
London-based not-for-profit research organisation NatCen has appointed Roger Harding as Head of Public Attitudes. More
In a trading statement issued today, GfK said that both sales and adjusted income had fallen in 2016, in part as a result of negative currency effects. More
Ipsos has appointed Nielsen's former Buy strategy leader Amy Fenton as Chief Marketing Officer in North America, overseeing all marketing, strategy, and communications in the US and Canada. She succeeds Jim Meyer, who was the firm's first ever CMO. More
On-demand panel and sample company Innovate has updated its Supplier API Suite, to help market research agency clients gain access to hard-to-reach audiences and reduce the need to use multiple sampling vendors. More
Kuwait-based MR agency Global Markets has launched a business intelligence platform called Umbrella, though which users can access data about businesses across the middle east region. More
Nielsen has deferred the full launch of its cross-device audience measure, Total Content Ratings, which was previously scheduled for March 1st. A 'limited' release will now take place on that date, with no firm deadline set for the full roll-out. More
WPP's Warren, New Jersey-based healthcare data company Lightspeed All Global has been renamed Lightspeed Health. More
WPP-owned marcoms network Ogilvy is setting up a Center for Behavioral Science, aiming to establish a new system for defining how audiences think, feel and behave; and to help clients improve their marketing and communications. More
Berlin-based online and mobile game developer platform Simplaex has opened up direct access to more than 150 million players, to enable users to target individuals according to their specific gaming habits and profiles. More
Online survey analytics and reporting software specialist MarketSight has been acquired by Reimagine Holdings Group, which focuses on developing consumer insights and marketing services companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Digital media measurement firm Verto Analytics has launched a solution called SmartPoll, combining survey data with cross-device consumer behavioural data collected through passive metering, to compare opinions with actual behavior. More
US custom research provider Zogby Analytics has set up a division called the Small Communities Institute, to support towns and villages dealing with issues such as urban economic development planning and securing grants. More
In the US, real estate software and data analytics specialist RealPage has acquired apartment market data firm Axiometrics for an undisclosed sum. Axiometrics will join RealPage's MPF Research division. More
US-based Precision Opinion, which focuses on government and entertainment industry research, has expanded its Analytics and Consulting team with the appointment of Christopher Brogan as MD, and the promotion of Kevin Unter to Senior Director. More
The Stagwell Group, the investment advisory company formed by Penn Schoen Berland co-founder Mark Penn, has acquired certain custom research assets from Nielsen, including the Harris brand and Harris Poll. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Ipsos has appointed former TNS director Parijat Chakraborty as Head of its Public Affairs business in India. He will be based out of the Gurgaon office and will report to Amit Adarkar, CEO for India. More
nuaxia, the new venture from former Synovate UK CEO Peter Chopra, has officially rolled out of stealth with the launch of a short multimedia survey platform for healthcare professionals. More
Retail information firm The NPD Group has acquired the US portion of Nielsen's information services for the book industry, including US-based BookScan, Books & Consumers, PubEasy and PubNet; plus the three PubTrack services - Digital, Higher Education and Christian. More
UK consumer and MR consultancy Incite has relocated Principals Jenni Forbes and John Tearle from its London HQ to its office in San Francisco. The firm has also hired Caroline Aulis in its New York office, which will move to larger premises by the end of the first quarter. More
Media monitoring firm Market Track has acquired assets of Nielsen Canada's Ad Intelligence Service (AIS), allowing it 'to offer the most comprehensive view of the media landscape to Canadian clients', for purposes of ROI and campaign optimization. Terms were not disclosed. More
CEM specialist Clarabridge has launched a ready-to-use customer feedback solution specifically for the retail banking industry, reporting via customized dashboards. More
In Detroit, full service agency Market Strategies International (MSI) has promoted Paul Hartley to SVP, MD of the Technology and Telecommunications division, replacing Jean Malarkey who recently announced her retirement. Separately, Leigh Admirand has joined the team at SVP level. More
UK-based BrainJuicer has announced gross profits up 27% to £25.6m for the calendar year 2016 - equivalent to 15 percent at constant currencies. The rise was driven primarily by the continued 'strong progress' of its US business and an 'encouraging recovery' in Continental Europe. More
UK-based insights management specialist Platform One has launched a multimedia survey builder, which can be used by researchers and community managers with no survey scripting knowledge. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has partnered with mobile video MR specialist Voxpopme to launch a service called 'Video Answers', which captures and analyses open-ended video comment during the survey process. More
Online data collection agency AskingCanadians has partnered with student and youth network yconic, to give clients access to the latter's youth-focused consumer insights panel. More
Nashville, Tennessee-based MR technology and services firm 20|20 Research has appointed former iModerate exec Michael Steinberg to lead global sales. More
London-based opinion and behaviour research specialist BritainThinks has promoted Anastasia Knox, Cordelia Hay and Lucy Bush to Research Director roles, while Raphael Malek moves up to Associate Director. More
Former Lightspeed Research director Mike MacLeod has joined DIY online survey service AYTM as Director of Business Development, based in San Francisco. More
After more than 39 years at NOP and GfK, almost all of them spent running the Social Research department, Nick Moon has left the global group and will offer his services as a consultant, under the name of Moonlight Research. More
Global panel and survey software firm dataSpring has launched a new mobile survey app called PanelNow to its offering, giving access to mobile consumers in South Korea. More
Paragon Partnerships, a body set up by a group including major corporates, research firms and MR associations, has announced a joint initiative with worldwide research network GRBN, to help provide quality data and insights to governments and others who work towards the UN's 17 'Global Goals'. More
Mobile-first research tech company MFour has added Celeste Blanchard and Holly Wong to its Operations team. More
French fieldwork company Made in Surveys has opened new viewing facilities in Birmingham, UK, adding to its existing resources in the French cities of Paris, Lille and Lyon. More
Retail technology company Cloverleaf has launched a tool called shelfPoint, which tracks customers' emotional reactions to products while they shop, and enables brands and retailers to capture engagement and sentiment data at the moment of an in-store purchase decision. More
US cable TV and Internet service provider Comcast has expanded Ed Brassel's role to include leading business intelligence (BI) and analytics efforts at Comcast Cable, and delivering BI across NBCUniversal's TV, film and theme park properties. More
London-based Strive Insight has appointed former Incite Marketing Planning exec Lucy Paxman as Client Director, with a remit to help grow the Financial Services practice. She also adds experience in the lifestyle and luxury goods sectors. More
In the US, NBCUniversal's Alan Wurtzel is stepping down from his role as President of Research and Media Development, to become a senior advisor to the company. More
Sapio Research, the agency launched last September by Redshift Research founders Jane Hales and Guy Washer, has opened a physical office in the City of London, based in King William Street near Monument tube station. More
On-demand panel and sample company Innovate has partnered with a number of online B2B publishers and undergone a 'massive' off-line recruitment program, in order to expand its validated 'First Class Panel'. More
In the US, the Board of the Market Research Institute International (MRII) has elected Sports and Leisure Research Group founder and President Jon Last as its President for 2017. He succeeds Lisa Courtade, Executive Director, Global Customer and Brand Insights at Merck. More
In Canada, medical and consumer specialist CRC Research has acquired Toronto-based focus group facilities and qual recruitment services provider Research House, from marketing services and data firm Environics. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based mobile video MR specialist Voxpopme has partnered with US emotion measurement specialist Affectiva to enable clients to analyse facial expressions in new and existing video feedback. More
Shopper behavior specialist Kantar Worldpanel has extended its out-of-home food and drink purchase and consumption panels to France, Brazil, Mexico and Thailand. More
Research software company Confirmit has launched a mobile survey app called AskMe, to capture multimedia and text-based feedback, including where respondents are temporarily unable to get an Internet connection. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has promoted Jackie Anderson to the role of Chief Client Officer, while Lois Brennan and Grant Ligon join as Account Directors. More
Westminster, London-based agency ComRes has appointed former Fujitsu executive Simon Carter as CEO, and says it will announce the launch of two new business practices later this month, a Faith Research Consultancy and an Internal Communications Practice. More
The IAB's Tech Lab has announced that it has assumed governance of the Mobile Verification Open-Source Software Development Kit (SDK) initiative, previously managed by New York-based measurement firm Integral Ad Science. More
US market research associations CASRO and MRA have completed their merger, forming the Insights Association. More
Asset management firm The Carlyle Group has joined up with former leaders of Nielsen Catalina Solutions to buy consumer segmentation division Claritas from Nielsen, for an undisclosed sum. More
Founder Richard Sheldrake is leaving Perspective Research Services and its parent, BDRC Group, for 'personal lifestyle reasons'. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has changed its name to FUEL CYCLE, reflecting its desire 'to capture customer intelligence and infuse it throughout your organization'. More
Technology research and advisory company Gartner has agreed to acquire best practice and talent management insights firm CEB, in a cash and stock transaction valued at around $2.6bn. More
Japanese firm Video Research is partnering with Nielsen to measure digital video viewing and advertising reach, and analyse cross-media ad impact. More
Morgan Investors, the holding company for Quick Test/Heakin, Discovery Research Group and 3Q Global, has announced leadership changes affecting all three research firms. More
Oslo, Norway-based data collection and data services group Norstat has strengthened its recently launched Paris office with two appointment. Sorina Jian joins as Senior Business Development Manager and Sylvain Da Costa as Senior Project Manager. More
Californian retail marketing and b2b firm BDS Marketing has launched a new team and solution, BDS Research, whose offer will include analysis of sales impact and performance, visual merchandising and retail experience. More
Parent company Havas Advertising is to shutter California's Field Research, one of the USA's longest-established opinion pollsters. More
London fieldwork and data collection agency Populus Data Solutions has launched an advanced analytics service, pitched at agencies who don't have their own facilities in-house. More
UK agency McCallum Layton has changed its name to Allto Consulting, to reflect the expansion of its offer beyond research into the delivery of integrated solutions. More
French newspaper Le Parisien has announced it will no longer commission its own polls, in the run-up to the country's Presidential elections, but will rely on journalists' feedback from 'working on the ground', along with references to external surveys. More
GfK SE's Management Board and Supervisory Board have published a 'reasoned statement' setting out the facts behind their recommendation to accept the recent tender offer by KKR for a major shareholding in the global group. More
This is the last edition of Daily Research News for 2016. We wish all our readers, clients, contributors and friends around the world a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. More
Harris Poll creator Louis Harris died of heart problems on Saturday, at his home in Key West, Florida. He was 95 years old. More
The Media Rating Council (MRC) is withholding its accreditation of Nielsen's December 2016 Portable People Meter (PPM) audio measurement reports in 26 US markets, because of a meter connectivity issue. More
Former Synovate UK CEO Peter Chopra is opening a new business called nuaxia, offering market research, marketing services, recruitment, and information services to the healthcare sector. The firm has already closed a £1m seed round of funding. More
From the middle of next year, Nielsen will be increasing the sample size of its radio panel by 10 percent, in 48 Portable People Meter (PPM) markets across the US. More
Broadcaster Channel 4 has hired neuroscientist Greg Detre for a newly created position, Chief Data Scientist, with a remit to 'revolutionise' how the business uses behavioural data for both commercial and creative ends. More
Former comScore exec Manish Bhatia has joined Kantar Media as Chief Executive Officer of its North American business. More
In Australia, magazine publishers Bauer Media and NewsLifeMedia are withdrawing from the circulation audits provided by industry body AMAA, leaving only one major consumer magazine group subscribed. More
DIY survey firm SurveyMonkey is to downsize its Australian sales team, reports suggest, with six staff set to leave by March 2017. Meanwhile its base in Ottawa, Canada, is expected to adds dozens of new recruits during the year. More
US-based MR and consulting firm Decision Analyst has launched a new company called Symmetric, selling sample from its various consumer and b2b panels to both MR firms and end clients. More
Shareholders of UK-based marcoms group Creston have voted to accept the acquisition offer of fund manager DBAY Advisors. More
Turkish TV audience measurement organisation TIAK Aª has awarded incumbent Kantar Media the contract to deliver official TV trading currency until at least 2020, with the option to extend until 2022. More
In the UK, WPP agency MediaCom has acquired a majority stake in Manchester-based user experience studio Code Computer Love, which creates digital products, campaigns and capabilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
MR language and translation specialist GlobaLexicon has opened an office in Chicago, to extend coverage across all North American time zones and increase the capacity of its team following a number of client wins. More
ESOMAR and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have updated their code to clarify researchers' responsibilities when using new methods for collecting data - in light of current levels of consumer concern about privacy. More
WPP AUNZ has rolled out the group's integrated retail practice The Store to the Australia and New Zealand market, and named Rob Draper as its CEO. With existing offices in the UK and US, The Store brings together shopper marketing resources from WPP companies around the world. More
In London, radio advertising specialist Radio Response has appointed former MRIB Managing Director Jon Mais as Head of Strategy for Audience Measurement. More
US-based in-store data specialist Mobee has added a number of new features to its platform, which uses crowdsourcing to collect, organize and analyze consumer data at scale for retailer and brand clients. More
Carlos Harding, the Deputy CEO of Ipsos, died suddenly of a heart attack last Friday morning. He was 69 years old. More
The release of 2016 data from the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) has been postponed by six months, and is now promised for the third quarter of 2017. More
UK-based marcoms group Creston plc is among firms suing industry giant Omnicom for trademark infringement, following the latter's decision to launch a new agency called We Are Unlimited. More
UK-based convenience retail strategy firm Insight Research has announced a strategic alliance with US-based retail strategy and design consultant Joseph Bona, MD of MoseleyBona Retail. The two firms will share a new office in Mayfair, London. More
New Jersey-based HCD Research has set up an Applied Neuroscience Laboratory Services unit, to help companies develop and install their own in-house neuroscience testing capabilities. More
Swedish eye tracking technology firm Smart Eye has begun listing its shares on the Nasdaq First North stock exchange in Stockholm. More
US private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) is launching an offer for a substantial minority stake in GfK, and has entered an agreement with its majority shareholder GfK Verein to support the group's long-term growth strategy. More
Anders Bengtsson, the CEO of US-based boutique insights and strategy consultancy Protobrand, has acquired a majority stake in the company, after recently buying out co-founder Phil Granof's share. The firm has also secured new investors and strengthened its management team. More
In the UK, retail sector specialist ABA Research has appointed former Camelot Head of Insight Nick Bonney as Managing Director. He will take up the post next February, replacing founder Alison Bainbridge who will remain active in the business. More
The NPD Group has signed an agreement to buy British travel retail research and analysis firm Counter Intelligence Retail (CiR) for an undisclosed sum. Closing is anticipated in early January. More
Maryland and Connecticut-based online consumer sample provider Full Circle Research has partnered with marijuana MR and tracking firm Cannabiz Consumer Group (C2G), to launch an omnibus called CannaBus. More
Kantar TNS was one of the big winners at last night's MRS Awards, taking home the Grand Prix for Greatest Impact; the MRS/BIG Award for B2B Research, alongside digital data collection arm Lightspeed; and the awards for New Consumer Insights and Social Media Research (the latter with Unilever). More
Nashville, Tennessee-based research tech and services company 20|20 Research has promoted Sheena Bacon to the newly created role of Vice President of Operations in the firm's Technology division. More
US-based transaction data insights firm Commerce Signals has launched databridge, a platform linking owners of purchase data to potential buyers including advertisers, agencies and publishers. More
In Australia, digital out-of-home business Shopper Media Group has launched a new research data division making use of its network of 'Smartlite' digital panels installed in more than 150 shopping centres across the country. More
MRSS India has added a Social Research Practice, and appointed former IMRB International Director Dr.Srikant Patel to lead it. More
IT and business process consultancy Cognizant has agreed to acquire privately-held Dutch company Mirabeau BV, a digital marketing and customer experience agency which it will add to its Digital Business practice. Terms were not disclosed. More
Online community specialist Vision Critical has partnered with business intelligence and digital media provider RFi Group, to service the financial services sector in Australia and New Zealand. More
Sydney, Australia-based video survey and research platform Verbate has expanded to Europe with the opening of an office in London. More
Recently-formed London-based communications insight and strategy firm delineate has appointed Erica Buckley as Insight and Digital Director and Helen Bennie as a Senior Consultant. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has announced eight promotions in EMEA Operations, including Derek Gibson, who will become Director Operations, France and United Kingdom. More
London-based full service agency Relish Research has appointed former ICM Unlimited exec Joe Wheller as Head of Quantitative Research, while setting up an Analytics unit led by newly promoted Joe Catling. More
Tech startup SocialVend has launched a vending machine which provides consumers with physical rewards in exchange for answering questions or posting to Instagram with a brand's hashtag, using their mobile devices. More
Global management consultancy Accenture has acquired London-based data-driven communications agency Karmarama. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In London, full service researcher BDRC has appointed Andrew Lea as Experience Design Director, to launch and lead its new Digital User Experience (UX) and Usability division. More
Barbara Katz, President of US-based health and nutrition trends MR company HealthFocus International (HFI), is stepping down from the role at the end of the year, to be succeeded by General Manager Steve Walton. More
TV rating body BARC India has issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for firms able to provide TV viewing related consultancy services to its subscribers. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where it has appointed Lindsay Dominguez as Client Development Lead. More
In the UK, Voice of the Customer (VoC) specialist Nepa has promoted Lindsay Parry (nee Cowan) to the role of Managing Director. She replaces Johnny Caldwell, who left following Nepa AB's recent acquisition of the outstanding 9.9 percent of Nepa UK Ltd. More
US-based Survey Sampling International (SSI) has partnered with Azul Brazilian Airlines to launch a new rewards program called Pontos por Opiniões, which will extend its panel membership in Brazil. More
Qual consumer insights consulting firm RealityCheck has opened an office in Miami, from where it will support clients in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru. More
In the Netherlands, Blauw Research's new product development agency SPRINT has opened an office in the Groothandelsgebouw building, in the centre of Rotterdam. More
GfK has appointed Dale Drerup as Automotive lead, June McPherson as Consumer team lead for North America, and Tom Neri - currently head of its Financial Services team in North America - as Technology Industry leader. More
In the US, data collection specialist Focus Pointe Global (FPG) has hired industry veteran Pam Maltby as Chief Business Development Officer, focusing on client development, new areas of growth with an emphasis on expanded service offerings, and strategies built around emerging technologies. More
Former BBC Sport Digital Development Editor Chris Hurst is joining Nielsen Sports as Head of Digital for the UK. More
Online insights exchange provider Cint has appointed Kevin Gianatiempo to spearhead strategic partnerships in North America as part of its 'NextGen' strategy. He will be based in the recently launched San Francisco office. More
In Australia, digital screen ad network VMO has unveiled DART 2.0, described as the country's 'most intelligent out of home audience measurement system'. More
UK-based sister companies Green 4 Solutions and 4Sight Sport & Leisure are merging their offers, bringing together CRM and ticketing software with strategic insight services. More
In Australia, official TV measurement service OzTAM will add a new 'Total Grocery Shoppers' demographic to its TV ratings database next year, alongside the existing 'Main Grocery Buyer' option. More
London-based Strive Insight has appointed Alex Webb as Client Director, its seventh employee, and says it is on course to more than double revenue this year. More
In New York, a group of seventeen agencies have come together to launch a 'certified-diverse' collective called Titanium Worldwide, offering a range of media, marketing, analytics, market research, focus group and communications services. More
Andrew Reid, the founder of Canadian research tech firm Vision Critical, has launched a company called VC LABS, to develop software which will extend the value of insight communities. He will be leaving Vision Critical's exec team, but will remain as a shareholder with a seat on its Board. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna says it has increased access to hard-to-reach patients through a 'strategic partnership' with an unnamed source. More
In the US, speech and text analytics specialist Verint has acquired voice-of-customer (VoC) technology firm OpinionLab. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Quadrangle has undergone a restructure involving the promotion of Adrian Ward and Jenny Betteridge to Director roles, creating two client-facing teams, and re-defining the role of the partners with a focus on mentoring directors and supporting the teams. More
US firm HCD Research has formed a new market research practice dedicated to chain and fast food restaurants, employing a mix of traditional and applied neuroscience methods. More
UK-based marcoms group Creston plc is to be acquired by DBAY Advisors, a fund manager based in the Isle of Man, for 126.42 pence per share, in cash, valuing the group at around £75.8m. More
Cincinatti, Ohio-based Repass Research and Strategic Consulting has been acquired by marketing and public opinion research firm Research America Inc. Terms were not disclosed. More
London-based online communities specialist Verve has brought in two more senior hires at headquarters: former Quadrangle exec Nick Baker joins as MD Research & Consulting, while Emma Beech leaves Lightspeed GMI to become the firm's new VP Operations Europe. More
Chicago-based research portal KnowledgeHound has raised $2.7m in Series A funding, and says it will use the money to recruit for sales and technology roles. More
Sarah Longacre has rejoined data collection specialist Schlesinger Associates as Vice President, Client Development, based in San Francisco. More
Israel-based technology firm Wizer, which is backed by investment firm Nielsen Innovate, has unveiled a consumer research solution combining machine learning technology with supervision by research professionals and promising results delivered within 48 hours. More
Ipsos has announced changes in its ownership structure, designed to simplify it and ensure the company's independence over the long term - following the death in December 2014 of co-founder Jean-Marc Lech. More
In India, research veteran Sandeep Chibber has formed a new company, Decisive Research LLP, offering full service research in addition to online & off-line data collection, programming and translations, DP / analysis, dashboards and report writing. More
A sharp fall in income for GfK's Consumer Experiences segment (-7.4%) more than balanced growth in Consumer Choices (+5.4%) in the first nine months of 2016, giving GfK as a whole a 1.7% organic decline in sales. Third quarter sales fell to EUR 355.3m while EBITDA dropped by around a quarter to EUR 43.3m. More
German eye tracking technology provider SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has launched 'a whole new generation' of products, aimed at researchers with high quality data needs and based around the 'SMI iView 2K platform'. More
In Australia, former Mindshare Head of Research & Insights Liz Harley has joined Ipsos Connect, the global group's media and audience division, as Managing Director. The firm has also promoted Head of Business Development Brian Hogan to Executive Director of its emma unit, reporting to Harley. More
In the UK, full-service marcoms provider the hps group has acquired Covent Garden-based brand, communications and new product development research specialist MM-Eye, from its former owner MM-Eye International Ag in Germany. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
San Francisco-based retail intelligence specialist Quri has launched 'Performance Driven Merchandising', a platform providing CPG manufacturers and brands with store-level data, software and services to improve merchandising and drive sales. More
Maryland and Connecticut-based online consumer sample provider Full Circle Research has opened a new office in Houston, Texas, led by former Penn Schoen Berland director Todd Neff. More
In the UK, digital marcoms group Next Fifteen Communications has acquired an 85% stake in London-based brand and communication specialist HPI Research through its data and insights subsidiary Morar. The deal will be met with an initial consideration of just under £1.3m. More
UK-based online communities specialist Verve has appointed Marie Patenio as leader of its Chicago office, as Tim Martin returns to London from his secondment. The firm has also announced five further appointments in Chicago and Toronto. More
In London, independent agency Firefish has launched a specialist insight communications and activation agency called Insider, headed by John Sayers who previously led Firefilms, the firm's in-house insight film unit. More
Research software firm Confirmit has partnered with video-based insight specialist LivingLens, to offer video capture and analysis within its Horizons platform, for use in market research studies, voice of the customer (VoC) and voice of the employee (VoE) programmes. More
In the UK, publishing group Time Inc. has launched a youth audience panel called 'The Stream', comprising a pool of 18-34 year-olds including readers of NME, LOOK and Now magazines. More
US-based full service researcher Lieberman Inc. has acquired New York-based custom CPG specialist FRC Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
GfK has appointed Gary Schanzer to lead its Point-of-Sale (POS) teams in North America - including retail panels for the pet, optics and tire markets - as well as the Group's Value-Added Services in e-commerce content, discount ad tracking, and technology research for investment firms. More
Boston, MA-based text analytics firm Lexalytics has released Semantria for Excel 5.0, a text analytics add-in for Microsoft Excel which it says allows users to quickly and easily analyze both structured and unstructured survey data in one place. More
Netherlands online publisher group VINEX has awarded Kantar Media a contract to deliver a new 5,000-strong panel for Internet audience measurement, replacing a previous service operated by GfK. More
The US Census Bureau has awarded its 2020 integrated communications contract to WPP subsidiary Young & Rubicam (Y&R), charging it with successful execution of the first-ever digital census. More
London-based Network Research has announced the launch of an in-depth syndicated research study, tracking the views of the British Public towards retirement and pensions. More
Canada-based digital innovation firm Delvinia has partnered with full service MR company element54 to offer a new research tool on the former's Methodify platform, promising customer insight in as little as 48 hours. More
UK-based software solutions firm Sensum has upgraded its Sensum Insights neuromarketing solution, to include facial-recognition, eye-tracking & implicit testing technology - a first for a self-service solution, the company says. More
Research and advisory services provider MARU Group has opened an office in New York for its Maru/edr business, offering CEM, voice of the customer feedback, and multichannel consumer insight across the North America region. More
In London, IT, healthcare and B2B MR firm RONIN Development Corporation has been sold out of administration as a going concern to creative digital marketing agency Fat Media. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, presidential nominee Donald Trump is questioning a $767k invoice from his Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, for campaign polling work the latter's firm has conducted on his behalf. More
UK-based user experience (UX) design agency Foolproof has agreed to be acquired by IT services and business process outsourcer Zensar Technologies for an undisclosed sum. More
Tokyo-based sample and survey software business dataSpring has appointed MApps CEO Ikuo Hagino as Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Masahiro Takanohashi who will remain with the firm until the end of the year, when he will leave to pursue 'other leadership opportunities'. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has appointed former Kantar Retail exec Mayer Danzig as SVP of Product Management, responsible for overseeing the Product team and helping define and develop the next generation of product offerings. More
In the UK, Southend, Essex-based outsourced customer management services firm Ventrica has expanded its contact centre to 330 seats, and says it is planning to create 200 new jobs to meet both increased client demand and future expansion. More
WPP's Data Investment Management arm has reported a 12.1% increase in third quarter revenue to £655m, reflecting the lower value of the pound. On a like-for-like basis, DIM revenue fell 2%, while other divisions averaged more than 4% growth. More
Marketing technology and analytics specialist David Raab has launched a new trade association called the Customer Data Platform Institute. The association aims to educate companies about the solutions available for building a single view of customers, identifying behavior and tracking interaction across channels. More
Stockholm-based Voice of the Customer specialist Nepa AB has acquired the outstanding 9.9 percent of Nepa UK Ltd. Following the move, the company says it has 'parted ways' with UK MD Johnny Caldwell. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI and digital data collection specialist Research Now have expanded their relationship to create what the firms describe as the CPG industry's 'most robust and unique data set'. More
Manchester, UK-based researcher Amy Middleton has launched a company called BEAM Fieldwork, providing a bespoke approach to fieldwork for research projects across the country. More
Netherlands-based customer and employee feedback specialist Mopinion has expanded its Sales and Marketing teams with the appointment of seven new employees. More
Ipsos has reported a 0.9% increase in third quarter revenue to EUR 431.7m, with organic growth a 'satisfactory' 3.2% during the period. More
In the US, employee-owned full-service agency Target Research Group has appointed research industry veteran Patrick Gorman as its first Chief Marketing Officer. More
Google has acquired California-based eye-tracking technology firm Eyefluence. Terms have not been disclosed. More
Research data solutions and technology firm SSI has rolled out a real-time, dashboard-based project reporting and monitoring tool called SSI DataView. More
US-based pharma researcher Decision Resources Group (DRG) has expanded to the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, with the establishment of a consulting office in Singapore. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has appointed Zlatko Vucetic as Chief Commercial Officer of the EMEA and APAC regions; while promoting Oliver Brown to the role of Director of Client Services, EMEA. More
Online communities specialist Krealinks has partnered with video insight firm Voxpopme, to add consumer recorded video feedback to its range of community platforms and panels. More
Survey tech firm Qualtrics has teamed up with emotion measurement specialist Affectiva, adding its emotion recognition technology to the Qualtrics Insight Platform, which combines customer experience management, employee engagement and market research. More
Chicago-based 3-D virtual store research specialist InContext Solutions has closed a $15.2m round of funding, which it will use to accelerate its sales and marketing efforts, expand its geographical footprint, and improve its virtual reality (VR) product portfolio. More
Marketing intelligence firm Visual IQ has acquired German attribution and customer journey analytics specialist Refined Labs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Shopper behaviour division Kantar Worldpanel has launched a consumer panel in the Ivory Coast - its fifth African panel after launches in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt. More
Innovation business Delvinia, which owns a group of companies focused on data collection, has launched a division called DCS, which will create new ways to help marketers, researchers and business leaders collect, visualize and enable data. More
YouGov has hired Ben Leet as UK General Manager, overseeing the sales, marketing and client services teams. More
Online physician community SERMO has launched a new feature called Social Surveys, through which respondents can communicate with each other on its social network about a study and related topics. More
Nilesen has announced it will use its Portable People Meter (PPM) technology and panelists to measure out-of-home viewing for national television clients, and will provide subscribers with ratings combining this with in-home audiences. More
Research software firms MARSC and MI Pro have announced a merger, forming QuenchTec. The new company promises 'next generation insight tools' to give researchers more agile and automated insight processes. More
Automated MR platform ZappiStore has raised £12m from Amsterdam-based venture capital firm Prime Ventures, which specialises in European tech companies. More
Canada's research associations are negotiating a merger. Recently formed CAPOR, which focuses on public opinion and issue polling, is set to join with the broader-based MRIA, whose Code of Conduct changes in the Spring were the trigger for the talks. More
Australian consultancy Faster Horses has moved both its Perth and Sydney teams to larger premises, following triple digit growth in the last two financial years. More
Digital data collection firm Research Now has appointed Tom Johnson - a veteran of IDC, SSI and gartner - as EVP of North American Sales, effective immediately. More
UK-based voice of the Customer specialist Maru/edr has added thirteen new members of staff in its research and technical teams, including Senior Research Manager Jessica Abbott, Software Development Manager Robert Pointer and a number of graduates. More
Research technology and services company FocusVision has partnered with data collection group Schlesinger Associates to pilot a new focus group video system, using 360 degree cameras to pick up participants' facial expressions and non-verbal cues. More
In the US, Nielsen Sports has appointed former Repucom execs Danny Townsend and Glenn Lovett as Co-Managing Directors, following its acquisition of the business earlier in the year. In addition, Repucom founder Paul Smith has announced he will leave the business at the end of the year. More
US firm MFour Mobile has added features to its DIY mobile survey technology, to enable users to reach their respondents based on the apps they use, the make and model of their smartphones, and other characteristics. More
From today, DRNO will be adding a new section focusing on more news of actual surveys - from project wins to interesting fieldwork and results. See the link above for 'Survey Briefs'. We're also, for the first time, offering advertisers a chance to sit at the very top of the news email, for one day. More
Canadian qualitative software provider itracks has officially launched its GO platform, a central source for a number of its existing products, as well as VideoVault, an analysis and reporting system for MR video and audio data. More
With more and more research events popping up, it's harder to make them stand out, but the recent MRA Corporate Researchers Conference managed to do just that - in part by banning both agencies and exhibitors from the first day. Tariq Mirza snuck in, and reported for DRNO from a buzzing San Francisco. More
Nashville, Tennessee-based MR technology and services firm 20|20 Research is acquiring MR tech developer iModerate, for an undisclosed sum. More
US-based survey technology firm Qualtrics has appointed Microsoft veteran Zig Serafin as Chief Operating Officer, leading operations in the run up to a planned IPO. More
In Australia, television industry research firm ThinkTV has partnered with media academic Professor Karen Nelson-Field, to set up a laboratory which will conduct research into the performance of TV advertising. More
In Australia, The Lab Insight & Strategy has opened an office in Sydney, where it has hired former GfK director Andrew Therkelsen as Managing Director. More
Research Now veteran Heather White has joined US sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix, to lead expansion of its strategic partnerships and survey audience sources. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has promoted Andrew Van Wezel to Vice President of Operations and Simon Buckley to Vice President of Sales, both within EMEA. More
In the US, research and insights firm Shapiro+Raj has promoted social scientist Margaret Mueller to the role of President. More
In London, former Kadence execs Paul Donnelly and Colm Russell have set up an international data collection agency called Dynamic Fieldwork. More
In Sydney, Gai Le Roy is re-joining the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) as Research Director on 1st November, to lead activities tracking media consumption changes and commercial measurement options, while championing the industry's adoption of cross media measurement. More
Yorkshire-based full service research consultancy McCallum Layton has launched a statistical analysis solution called Opti/Net, to help clients assess and improve the performance of their product or service. More
UK-based full service agency MindMover has appointed former employee Georgina Botting as Commercial Director, with a remit to help the business achieve future growth plans. More
Marketing spend in the UK looks to be rising, despite the climate of uncertainty created by the Brexit vote in June, according to the IPA's quarterly Bellwether Report. More
Research Now has struck a deal with digital tech services company GlobalLogic, which the MR firm says will increase the quality and speed of its service delivery. More
London-based agency The Nursery Research & Planning has added no fewer than six researchers since the beginning of October, with Alex Paterson, Jane Passey, Kate Benson and Sophie Marder starting out at the company and Kat Cunningham and Adam Staton returning. More
UK-based market research translation and language services provider GlobaLexicon has expanded its internship programme, which has already brought no fewer than 50 interns to the company over three years. More
Canadian data collection company The Logit Group has acquired fieldwork firm Cido Research Americas, for an undisclosed sum. More
Leeds-based agency Trinity McQueen has completed its MBO with the help of a £2.5m funding package from Santander Corporate & Commercial. The money will also help with the company's 'ambitious plans for further growth and international expansion'. More
Detroit, USA-based agency Morpace has appointed Helen Armstrong to lead its growing European Consumer and Retail business. More
Kantar-owned agency Lightspeed has launched eight research products in Asia, combining its proprietary fieldwork and panel management expertise with emerging technology offers from partner companies. More
Insight and brand strategy consultancy Flamingo has launched a new division dedicated to healthcare and pharmaceutical clients, and appointed former Hall and Partners exec Lee Gazey to lead it. More
In Westlake Village, California, former Cint US MD Michael McCrary has launched PureSpectrum, a new global marketplace for buyers and sellers of online sample. The company is backed by strategic investments from Research Now and Critical Mix. More
New Jersey-based life science analytics and advisory firm KMK Consulting, Inc. has launched an independent subsidiary company, InTask, which will provide simulation platforms for use in healthcare market research. The first such tool, InTaskT, is available now and is targeted at healthcare professionals. More
Sampling firm Innovate has announced three new hires - Michael Krameisen, Erin Fredericks and Josh Brezner - along with impressive annual growth. In the last year, revenues have tripled and headcount has doubled to 50 people. More
Employee-owned US MR firm Directions Research has added another three owners from among its existing staff - Jeff Hunter, Aaron Gulley and Dan Argo. More
YouGov has announced strong preliminary results for the year ended 31st July, with group revenue up 12% on a constant currency basis to £88.2m, and adjusted profit before tax up 46% to £13.3m. More
US media firm Hearst Television has promoted Kevin Stuart to the new position of Vice President, Research. More
Healthcare research and online physician community Sermo has partnered with health information portal and marketing solutions provider Everyday Health, creating what it says is 'the largest US physician panel in existence'. More
Ipsos Marketing has launched a new tool called 'LIFE Path', providing a modular approach to path-to-purchase understanding that uses social media intelligence, passive metering, and qual and quant research. More
Emerging markets panel specialist Borderless Access has opened offices in Dubai and Munich, adding to its existing operations in the US, UK and India. More
In Germany, Kantar TNS veteran Peter Pirner has added the role of Head of Digital to his existing role as Practice Head, Customer Strategies. He replaces Dirk Steffen, who has taken up the role of Global Account Director for Google, at Kantar in Silicon Valley. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has strengthened its leadership team, adding former comScore SVP Steven Millman as Chief Scientist, Alan Resneck as CFO and Pyeush Gurha as CTO. More
In New York, competitive intelligence and user experience (UX) research specialist Corporate Insight is expanding its custom research offer with the addition of standalone studies, project series, ongoing programs, and retainer models. More
In New York, fashion trend analysis and forecasting specialist WGSN has launched a dedicated resource for trends across consumer insights, retail strategy, marketing, and innovation; supported by a global editorial team which will focus on building content and expertise for the product. More
Elizabeth Granahan and Meghan Surdenas, who previously worked at MR recruitment specialist Focus Forward, have set up their own language services agency SyncScripts, offering translations and transcription from an office in Philadelphia. More
Tim Britton has left his role as Head of Strategy & Transformation for PwC's r2i global data research and insight centre, to take up the position of Managing Director of the Open Research Group at academic publishing company Springer Nature. More
YouGov-owned sports and sponsorship specialist SMG Insight has appointed former Sodexo exec Sara Eddleston as Head of Consumer Insight. More
Nielsen has partnered with cross-cultural insights provider EthniFacts to launch a tool called the 'Nielsen Intercultural Affinity Segmentation', designed to help marketers understand how the multicultural landscape is influencing a broader set of consumers across the US. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has expanded its presence in Latin America through the opening of its first office in Brazil, led by Luca Bon as Sales Director. More
German sample and panel provider respondi has promoted Jennifer Roberton to the role of Managing Director, responsible for the UK office and market. The firm has also welcomed four new members to its Board, while founder and CEO Otto Hellwig continues to oversee management of the firm. More
In London, digital marcoms group Next15 has launched a data collection agency called Viga, led by former Research Now exec Lewis Reeves. More
In London, Harris Interactive has launched a 'rapid concept testing service' called Concept Express, with one option offering results within a day. More
Recently unveiled Kantar Public has launched a new research centre, bringing together a pan-European team of researchers with expertise in political and opinion polling, social and economic trends, and migration. More
Steve Aukers, former CEO of research firm J. Reckner Associates, has joined UK-based video analytics firm Big Sofa as President & CEO, North America. More
French audience measurement firm Mediametrie has announced that its audience analysis division EurodataTV Worldwide has acquired a 52% stake in programme analysis specialist TAPE Consultancy. Joint MDs John Peek and Paul Youngbluth will retain 48% of TAPE's shares. More
German eye tracking technology provider SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has launched a new framework to enable education researchers to collect behavioral data from up to 40 students simultaneously. More
In the UK, the Marketing Research Society (MRS) has launched a mentoring scheme, with the aim of equipping its members with a combination of skills for 'today's market'. More
In India, TV rating body BARC has appointed former Nielsen exec Jamie Kenney as Business Head, Digital, as part of its plans to launch digital audience measurement in the country. Kenney will be based at the organisation's Mumbai office. More
According to press reports, Aydin Mirzaee has left SurveyMonkey, two years after its acquisition of online survey and application review tools firm Fluidware, which he co-founded in 2008. His next career move is unknown. More
In the UK, Creston-owned qual and quant digital and sensory research specialist Marketing Sciences Unlimited has hired long-time Tesco exec Claire Hiett for the new role of Client Services Manager. More
Kantar Retail and Kantar TNS have partnered to launch an insights solution called the Canadian ShopperSpective, tracking shopper behavior and preferences in the Canadian retail market. More
US media conglomerate Viacom has promoted Christian Kurz to the new global role of SVP, Global Consumer Insights, overseeing corporate and consumer research, with a focus on exploring new technologies and consumer behavior. More
In the US, Hispanic online sampling specialist ThinkNow Research has launched what it claims to be the 'first' Minority Business Owner panel. More
Nielsen is adding Portable People Meter (PPM) panelists to its Local TV service, thereby doubling the sample size. The firm says it will begin introducing PPM measurement for in-home and out-of-home viewing in 2017. More
In the US, online community specialist GutCheck has appointed industry veteran Joe Giacobbe as Vice President of Research Operations. More
UK-based Chime Insight & Engagement has made more than two dozen new appointments across the business, including former Sainsbury's Customer Insight Manager Simon Rawlinson as Insight Director. More
Leeds, UK-based full-service agency Boxclever has launched a new company called Whizzbox Analytics, providing a dedicated team of analysts who will work alongside agency clients at each stage of the research process. More
UK television measurement body BARB has hired former Guardian News and Media Head of Research Rhiannon Griffiths as Head of Strategic Developments. More
US consultancy Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has appointed industry veteran Bob Ferguson as Executive Vice President, to help continue the expansion of its Qualitative Practice. More
Netherlands-based online specialist Blauw Research has launched a new solution called SPRINT, to help teams and organisations access the right consumer insights at any time during the product and service development process. More
Life science intelligence firm Zitter Health Insights has announced that founder and CEO Mark Zitter will step down from the role and become Chairman, with current President John Monahan promoted to CEO from January 1st 2017. More
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Ascribe, best known for its text analysis expertise, has linked with Google Consumer Surveys for a new solution offering clients custom market research with a 'massive' consumer sample. More
Former GfK Director Babita Earle has joined research automation innovator ZappiStore as Global Accounts and Partnership Director. More
Real-time polling and insights company CivicScience had enhanced its InsightStore automated research tools offering, adding rapid report generation, automated summaries and new ways of pulling significant data from cross-tabs. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has launched a proprietary engagement assessment metric called the Survey Health Score (SHS), which captures real-time panelist feedback and satisfaction levels post-survey. More
In the US, MR technology and services firm 20|20 Research has launched a solution called Velocity, delivering results in seven days. More
WPP's Kantar has unveiled a new global operating brand, pooling expertise to offer advice on the delivery of public policy, services and communications. More
Research data solutions and technology firm SSI has appointed former Lightspeed exec Ute Jaeger-Wolfe as Managing Director for Germany. More
In the UK, qualitative video research company Watch Me Think has appointed former Unilever exec Jenny Hearne as 'Head of Thinkers' Thoughts', while MRS co-Chair Danny Russell has been named as Chief Advisor. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger is preparing to launch a pre-programmed chatbot called FUEL CHAT, through which brands can conduct automated chat sessions with their customers through their mobile devices. More
Redshift Research founders Jane Hales and Guy Washer have partnered with former colleagues Jessica Bunce and Andrew White, to set up a new London-based agency called Sapio Research. More
In the US, audience measurement specialist Paul Krasinski has launched a technology company called Epicenter Experience, providing access to more than 30 million US consumers through its 'People Platform' mobile community. More
Thoroughbred Research Group President Steve Alsbury and his wife Nancy, the firm's VP of Operational Resources, have retired after fourteen years with the business. More
Interpublic-owned marketing network McCann Health has launched a business called 'Consulting at McCann Health', which will offer market research through sister agency Double Helix, as well as services such as business strategy and development of digital solutions. More
Members of the US-based Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) have voted to open up the group to allow more people in the qual research field to join. More
WPP's healthcare panel and patient community solutions provider Lightspeed All Global has appointed industry veteran Jennifer Carrea as Chief Executive Officer. She also joins the Lightspeed Board of Directors. More
In London, Chime Insight & Engagement Group (CIE) has hired long-time GfK exec Pam Armstrong for the newly created role of Managing Director of its Opinion Leader and Chime Insight & Engagement businesses. More
In Australia, Nielsen Book General Manager Shaun Symonds has left the company after seventeen years, to seek 'new opportunities', and Julie Winters has been appointed to head up the Australia and New Zealand business. More
In the US, audience testing and matching specialist Visual Targeting has launched a research solution called cleOpatra, to help marketers decide which visual style will appeal most to their target audience. More
Shopper insight specialist Kantar Retail has partnered with eye tracking firm SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI), to create a virtual shopping experience that provides shopper data via a controlled environment. More
British full service agency Boxclever has made three director-level appointments. More
Nielsen has partnered with research and technology firm Vision Critical, promising clients the ability to extract additional value from their insight communities and better understand their customers. More
Ipsos has launched its first syndicated Global Business Influencers (GBI) survey, looking at the media, business, financial, luxury and travel habits of senior executives across the US and fifteen countries in Europe and Asia. More
New York-based mobile survey network Pollfish has launched a feature for its user results page, which allows marketers to create profiles of their target customers and compare them with the firm's network of more than 300 million consumers. More
Toluna has added a concept testing tool, PowerConcept, to the Automated Insights suite within its QuickSurveys platform More
In the UK, Mustard Research has launched the 'Popcorn Innovation Process', a 3-stage approach to new product development work in consumer and B2B markets. More
US trade associations CASRO and the MRA are asking members to vote on their proposal to join forces. The new body would be known as the Insights Association, with a Board chaired by Cambiar's Simon Chadwick. More
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has sent the government its proposal for a regulatory framework for radio audience measurement, not dissimilar to that recently set up for television metrics. More
Northumberland, UK-based success story Dipsticks Research has rebranded, bringing together no fewer than seven group companies under the new umbrella brand of DRG. More
Viewing facility firm i-view London has moved to a new, larger purpose-built location on The Strand, where it has promoted Belma Lugic to the newly created role of Studio Director, and Sam Grey to Studio Manager. The firm has also made four new hires. More
Technology and communities business MARU/VCR&C has launched a new Qualitative Insights arm, which will make use of a broad range of online technologies to probe deeper into consumer behavior. More
In the UK, social and consumer trend forecasting firm the Trajectory Partnership has appointed former NatCen exec Jane O'Brien as a Director. More
Nielsen has set out plans to introduce all-electronic measurement for local TV ratings across all 210 of the USA's designated market areas (DMAs) by mid-2017 - and to stop using paper-based TV diaries early the following year. More
In the UK, outdoor advertising audience research body Route has commissioned Ipsos Connect UK to undertake an expanded and renewed six-year research project, providing data to the outdoor industry until 2023. The new contract, funded by an injection of £20m, begins on 1st April 2017. More
US-based sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix has appointed Colin Turner-Kerr as Managing Director, UK, in charge of leading the development and expansion of the business throughout Europe. More
In the US, Kathy Ofsthun has returned to custom market research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) to head its Qualitative practice. More
WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has rolled out ten new capabilities in the Australian market, combining emerging MR technologies such as facial coding and social media intelligence with its proprietary fieldwork and panel management expertise. More
In the US, tech-driven sample provider P2Sample is relocating its Alpharetta, GA headquarters, to accommodate anticipated future growth. The firm has already hired a dozen new team members since the start of the year, and says it plans to grow its team by 38 percent by the end of 2017. More
Employee-owned marketing research firm Hotspex has appointed Aron Galonsky as Managing Director of its US business. More
Nielsen has launched a product idea testing solution called 'Concept Quick Predict', which it says enables marketers to test innovations up to three times faster than traditional methods. The tool is initially available in the US and most of Europe. More
In the UK, insight and innovation consultancy FreshMinds has appointed Jason de Klerk as Head of Quantitative Research, Maeve O'Dwyer as a Senior Consultant, and James Wallis as a Consultant. The firm has also hired a number of Associates. More
Former GfK NOP leader Arno Hummerston has joined sampling automation provider Lucid as Vice President of Corporate Development, responsible for nurturing client, supplier and partner relationships from the firm's London office. More
New Jersey-based HCD Research has set up a User Experience division, integrating applied neuroscience and traditional market research methods to understand UX and user behavior. More
In the UK, Ipsos Connect has partnered with Partnership Audits & Consulting (PACL), to provide evaluation services for brands involved in sponsorship or marketing partnership activities. More
Los Angeles-based consumer insights specialist Kelton Global has relocated its headquarters from Culver City to LA's tech hub Playa Vista, to accommodate expansion and the diversification of its services. More
US-based audience-driven ad and media analytics firm Samba TV has rolled out its 'Sync and Retarget' digital ad buying platform in the UK market. To support this move, the firm has set up a London office as its European HQ, where it has appointed Hitesh Bhatt and Jay Fowdar. More
International data collection group Schlesinger Associates has opened a new focus group space on the fifth floor of its building in Phoenix, Arizona. More
WPP's data investment management division Kantar has re-branded its twelve operating businesses with a unifying prefix, for example 'Kantar TNS' and 'Kantar Millward Brown'. The exception is digital data collection specialist Lightspeed GMI, which now reverts to its original name Lightspeed. More
New York City-based full service agency SIS International Research has expanded a number of its B2B, healthcare and B2C panels. The firm has also appointed Gina Zaccheo as Director of Global Operations, and Troy Cole as a Project Manager. More
Data collection software firm Dooblo has introduced a new CAPI feature to help operations managers better control the fieldwork process. More
US-based sampling automation provider Lucid has appointed former Millward Brown exec Joseph Zahtila as SVP of Proof, its digital ad and marketing tech business unit. More
Bloomberg Media has hired former Dentsu Aegis Network exec Michelle Lynn as Global Head of Data Science and Insights, responsible for leading initiatives, and managing Data and Research teams globally from its office in New York. More
Brand strategy and research agency BrainJuicer has launched a specialist unit called 'System1 Politics', which will use the behavioural science principle behind its 3Fs model (Fame, Feeling & Fluency) to forecast the results of elections. More
US-based word-of-mouth (WOM) research and consulting firm Keller Fay has launched a tool called 'TotalSocial for TV', tracking consumer / viewer conversations about primetime TV shows. More
In the US, research technology and services group FocusVision has promoted Zhana Baleva to the role of Regional Head of EMEA, while also promoting three other members of staff. More
A new, free app, 'Kriddik', has been launched through which consumers can provide direct, private feedback to businesses without their information being shared publicly. More
Consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo has promoted Sam Gomez to the role of London co-CEO, alongside current agency head Ednyfed Tappy. The firm has also hired former Kantar exec Robert Nagadowski as its first Group Chief Operating Officer. More
Online data collection agency AskingCanadians has promoted six members of staff, including Roy Gonsalves to SVP of Sales and Amber Bartlett to VP of Sales. More
London-based emotion analysis specialist Realeyes has appointed industry veteran David Bilicic as Head of Global Sales and Strategic Partnerships, based in New York. He is joined by former Quantifind exec John Tomchek, who takes up the US-based position of Commercial Director. More
Ipsos division ProductQuest has launched a consumer-centric approach called Sense*Suite, to help guide clients' early stage product development initiatives. More
Oslo, Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has opened an office in Paris, where it has appointed former Research Now MD Marc-Antoine Jacoud as Managing Director. More
Former McDonalds Consumer Insights Lead Joseph Chen has joined online research 'app store' platform ZappiStore as Vice President for the Canadian market. More
MR language and translation specialist GlobaLexicon has reported its third consecutive year of over 50 percent revenue growth, and says it has increased its headcount from 39 to 61 in the past twelve months. More
London-based Video data tech company Big Sofa has appointed former FocusVision EMEA MD Richard Collins to the newly created position of Chief Customer Officer, responsible for managing its global client base. More
In Sydney, Australia, former 3 mobile and Yahoo!7 Insights specialist Sharon Keating has launched a company dedicated to improving the wellbeing and performance of execs, particularly in the market research industry. More
Family-owned agricultural and industrial commodities giant Cargill has appointed CPG veteran Chuck Gitkin in the newly created role of CMO of its North America protein business - with a remit to help shift its focus to a customer-centric, insight-based strategy. More
Mumbai-based digital MR agency MRSS India has filed a prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), to raise up to Rs. 100m ($US 1.5m) through Further Public Offering (FPO) of equity shares. More
Research technology and panel exchange operator Cint has opened an office in San Francisco; its fifth location in the US and second on the west coast. Deputy CEO Richard Thornton is relocating from London to head up the new office and build the team. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has opened a new office in India, based in the Cyber City business hub in Gurgaon, near New Delhi. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based emotion analytics specialist Beyond Verbal has raised $3m in a Series A round of funding. Money will be invested in future research projects, the recruitment of additional data scientists, and development of new emotional features. More
In the US, retail information firm the NPD Group has agreed to acquire video games industry researcher EEDAR for an undisclosed sum. More
Colorado-based cannabis industry data and insight provider BDS Analytics has launched a consumer research division, dedicated to conducting studies to help better understand the range of people who buy and consume marijuana. More
YouGov has announced the opening of a new office in Chicago, as part of its continued expansion across the US. More
GfK's majority owner GfK Verein has dismissed a report published in German weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche, which claimed the company may be considering putting itself up for sale. More
Tokyo-based panels and technology company dataSpring is opening an office in London, where it has named Arjen van Duijvenbode as Director of Business Development EMEA. More
GfK may be considering putting itself up for sale, alongside other options, according to reports in German weekly magazine, WirtschaftsWoche. More
Seattle-based Discuss.io has raised $880k from Unilever Ventures and other existing investors, to expand its video conferencing and crowdsourcing-based group discussion solution. Cash will be used to recruit engineers, sales and marketing staff. More
Henrik Åquist has joined panels and research fieldwork provider Norstat as MD for Sweden, from geo-data acquisition and provisioning firm Blom Sweden AB where he was also MD. He replaces Marie Sommar, who is leaving the company after almost ten years. More
Kantar's TNS Gallup team will continue to provide TV ratings for Norway for at least another seven years, after the firm won a competitive pitch against Ipsos. The new contract, running initially from 2018 to 2023, is billed by the partners as 'the most advanced hybrid model for TV and video measurement yet seen in the world'. More
The Supervisory Board of GfK has elected Ralf Klein-Bölting as its new Chairman - he succeeds Dr. Arno Mahlert on September 13th. More
Newly rebranded US agency AMC Global has appointed former MarketQuest Global CEO Mary Beth Lake as EVP, Corporate Strategy & Innovation, leading the product design and development practice. More
In New York, AI-based market research software firm Remesh has closed a $1m angel investment round, with backers including Schlesinger Associates CEO Steve Schlesinger; and has appointed Matt Gershner as EVP of Sales & Marketing. More
Software giant SAP has invested in Vivanda, which provides a context-sensitive personalization platform for the food and beverage industry based on a digitized 'food and flavor genome'. More
Ipsos has partnered with two centers at Yale University and senior insight figures in a number of top consumer companies to launch a new behavioral economics body, The YCCI-Ipsos Think Tank. More
WPP has reported Q2 revenue of £3.46bn, up 3.5% in like-for-like (LFL) terms. Net sales, the group's preferred measure, rose 4.3% on the same basis. As in previous quarters data investment management (DIM) lagged other divisions, with LFL revenue down -0.4% and net sales up 2.0%. More
Seed Strategy, a subsidiary of MR and training provider Burke, Inc., has acquired women's insights and innovation consultancy The Cherri Prince Company. More
The U.S. Census Bureau is preparing to release results from its first-ever Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs. More
US-based sampling automation provider Lucid has launched an independent, third-party-verified quality assurance and measurement program, which allows market researchers to test multiple characteristics of more than 40 major sample panels. More
In the US, retail information firm the NPD Group is combining its luxury tracking services with its 'Softlines' unit, following the departure of luxury tracking President Fred Levin. More
Numbers International, the home of brands Q Research Software and DataCracker, has appointed eight new members of staff at its offices in the US, UK and Australia. The firm is also planning to release a new data science platform. More
Android-based digital signage company NoviSign has hooked up with analysis firm Seemetrix to launch a solution which ensures an ad reaches its target audience, while analyzing consumer reactions in real-time. More
In the US, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) is inviting tenders for a contract to combine smart TV and set top box (STB) data, in order to create a nationally projectable 'mega sample' of TV tuning data. More
US trade association the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has appointed former media research veteran Daniel McDonald as Head of its Research division. More
In the US, marketing consultancy Wiser Marketing Group has launched a proprietary ethnographic and behavioral modeling methodology called PurchaSCIENCE, to help clients better understand the brand/consumer relationship. More
Marketing group Enero - the parent of insight agencies Jigsaw and The Leading Edge (TLE), has followed strong 2016 results with an announcement that it is back in the mood for acquisitions - following a seven-year period in which it battled for survival. More
Boise, Idaho-based Lynx Research Consulting has acquired Drake Insights, based in NYC. The latter's founder Terrett Drake will joins Lynx as a Partner, reporting directly to company President Chris Hauck. More
Digital data collection firm Research Now has partnered with MR technology group FocusVision, and will use its Decipher mobile-first survey design and data collection tool, alongside advanced reporting and visualization capabilities. More
GfK has announced that its results for the first six months of the year are 'below prior year's financials for the same reporting period', and warns it is no longer likely that group sales growth will outperform the market. More
Online MR software company Confirmit and predictive dialing specialist Sytel have jointly developed a series of new CATI features (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing), promising improved productivity and flexibility. More
Sampling automation provider Lucid has hired Emel Mohammadally as Executive Director of Business Development at its office in London. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has promoted Jonathan Tice to the role of SVP of North American Sales, while sensory research specialist Michael Kuehne joins as Senior Research Strategist. More
Accommodation rental marketplace Airbnb has launched an innovation and design studio called Samara, tasked with developing new ideas and services to support its community. More
Former Hall & Partners Managing Partner Grant Bird has joined behavioural science-focused 'research collective' house51 as a Partner. More
Mobile survey technology provider OnePoint Global has appointed former TNS North America Chief Financial Officer Rick Carbone as Corporate Advisor and interim CFO. More
Stockholm-based eyetracking technology firm Tobii has reported first half 2016 sales of SEK 493m ($US 57.5m), up 11 percent at constant currency. Continuing high investment in the Tobii Tech division outweighed profits elsewhere to leave an operating loss of SEK -46m. More
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has appointed former Kraft Foods insight exec Jen Acerra as Vice President, Global Brand Research and Insights, leading the group's global MR team. More
Online panel and survey software firm dataSpring has launched its first mobile survey app, known as surveyon. The app promises rapid turnaround surveys along with a new approach to driving panelist engagement. More
Panels and research fieldwork provider Norstat has appointed Michal Junik as its MD in Poland, replacing Mariusz Mroczek, who is leaving the company. More
Brand identity and media relations firm PUBLIC NYC has spun off its PANIC Brand Metrics perception measurement solution into a separate consulting practice with the same name. More
Iberian and Latin American online panel specialist Netquest has appointed Joana de Lacerda as Country Manager in Portugal. More
US research partnership The Intent Lab has launched a digital consumer satisfaction index, examining how consumers make connections with a brand before deciding whether to engage and purchase something, or go elsewhere. More
In the UK, full service agency DJS Research has reported a 17% increase in annual turnover from £3.6m to £4.2m for 2015/16. More
London-based Cello Health Insight has appointed former Kantar Health exec Duncan Munro as Joint Head of 'IQ', its specialist quantitative research practice. More
In the US, research technology firm FocusVision has integrated the Survox IVR (interactive voice response) multi-mode survey tool into its platform, to enable users of its Decipher survey software to add automated phone interviewing to any online study. More
Spanish-language broadcast network Telemundo has appointed Lia Silkworth as Senior Vice President of Insights and Consumer Development, in charge of the Programming and Consumer Research departments. More
Research data and technology firm SSI has partnered with Mexican rewards program Club Premier to add the latter's four million members to new Latin American scheme Opina y Acumula (Give Your Opinion and Earn), through which members earn points in exchange for participating in surveys. More
Ipsos has reported first half 2016 revenue of EUR 833.6m, equivalent to 3 percent organic growth once currency effects are excluded. The result is an improvement after a flat 2015. More
In London, tech market research company DigitalMR has appointed Maksim Sipos as its first Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the adaptation and technical delivery of its listening247 and communities247 tools, and its DIY software-as-a-service offering. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has introduced a range of techniques to combat what it calls 'communications saturation' - experienced by consumers since the introduction of smartphones and the increasing use of social media. More
Music and TV recognition app Shazam is working with five US broadcasters to develop a radio audience measurement solution for the country. More
Dubai-based management consultancy UAE Business Solutions (UBS) is launching a restaurant consultancy division, which will offer market research, feasibility studies, support, planning and strategy for new and existing eateries. More
DIY online survey platform SurveyMonkey has appointed former HomeAway COO Tom Hale as President, overseeing engineering, product, product marketing, user experience and growth. More
Manchester, UK-based full service agency Mustard has appointed Laura Lyon from BBC Worldwide, Irina Dimitriade from DJS Research, and Hannah Barnsley from NHS England, while promoting Anthony Shephard to Associate Director, and Jack Melton Bradley to Research Manager. More
In the UK, branding and retail design consultancy Portland Design has launched a standalone unit, offering consumer insights and trends for the retail, travel and leisure industries. More
In London, multi-platform usability testing specialist Usability247 has added Saul Annett as a new member of its Board, responsible for commercial and corporate social responsibility activities. More
Australian TV audience measurement (TAM) body OzTAM has extended Nielsen's contract to supply TAM services in the country's five mainland capital cities and nationally for subscription TV (STV); and is also increasing the number of homes in its TAM panels by 50 per cent. More
In the UK, IAB Chief Executive Guy Phillipson is stepping down from the role next January, after twelve years heading the industry body. He says he plans to stay involved in the media sector through advisory and non-exec roles. More
UK agency Future Thinking has launched an approach which promises to quantify, predict and explain a consumer's likelihood to alter their current behaviour. More
A new marijuana market research and tracking firm called Cannabiz Consumer Group has launched in the US, where it has hired Kinesis Survey Technologies co-founder Leslie Townsend as Chief Executive Officer. More
In New York, media and entertainment research veteran Bruce Friend has been named President of the Market Research Council (MRC). More
Mystery shopping and performance improvement firm Grass Roots has teamed up with Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) specialist QuestBack to launch a packaged survey solution called Tune, to enable brands to listen to and act on customer feedback. More
UK-based agency BrainJuicer has reported revenue up 13 percent, or 9 percent at constant currencies, in a trading update for the first half of the year. Gross profit growth was in double figures, with the Americas and Continental Europe leading the way. More
London-based data collection business ICM Direct has boosed its data services team with three new hires - Iulian Lincu, Kar-Hoo Lee and Vlad Stanculescu - and the promotion of Kumeshnie du Plessis to Data Services Manager. More
The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) division of broadcaster Turner has hired Channel 4 insight exec Pedro Cosa for a newly created role, Vice President Insights & Analytics. He will join the firm in September. More
London-based full service agency MESH Experience has appointed former Millward Brown MD Julian Green as Global Client Experience Director, with an initial focus on driving a new multi-brand proposition. More
In London, Kantar public sector division TNS BMRB has appointed YouthSight's former Director of Higher Education Research James MacGregor as a Director in its Qualitative team. More
DIY online survey platform SurveyMonkey has launched an election tracking polling product, giving subscribers access to polling data for the 2016 US Presidential, Senate and Gubernatorial elections. More
UK-based mobile survey tech firm Lumi has launched a respondent engagement tool called QuickSay, designed to enhance panellist engagement and ensure fewer dropouts. More
In New York, competitive intelligence and user experience research specialist Corporate Insight has appointed former Harris Interactive/TNS UX specialist Adam Hulnick as VP of User Experience Research, responsible for leading and expanding UX research. More
Research Now has launched an eye care panel covering the US, Canada, UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. It comprises more than 450,000 patients who suffer from eye diseases or complications such as dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, cataracts, and other visual impairments. More
GfK has promoted James Kennedy to the role of Business Group Director for POS Tracking (Optics), overseeing data gathering and reporting from point-of-sale systems in contact lens outlets, as well as report collection on lens fittings from optician's offices throughout the US. More
Netherlands-based customer feedback specialist Mopinion is set to expand, after receiving an undisclosed amount of investment from Capital Mills. The funds will be used to further develop Mopinion's technology and roll it out to other European countries and the USA. More
Former ESOMAR President Dan Foreman has taken on another Non-Executive Director role, this time with Amsterdam-based consumer insights platform Veylinx. More
Retail information firm the NPD Group has launched the 'Digital Games Tracking Service', to provide the US gaming industry with publisher-sourced SKU-level data on digital game sales, aggregated from the participants of a digital panel. More
UK-based Maru/edr - previously known as eDigitalResearch - has launched a digital visual semiotics research tool, to measure and quantify customers' emotional response to brands and products. More
Netherlands-based community research software provider CMNTY has added a Virtual Reality module to its platform, to enable companies to measure consumer retail experiences, gather product feedback, and understand opinions about public spaces. More
In Michigan, USA, DIY online qual platform Aha! has relocated to the historic Ford Valve Plant building in Northville. More
In the US, research technology and services group FocusVision has appointed former Added Value SVP Zoë Dowling as Lead Research Strategist. More
In New York, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and its Data Center of Excellence have launched a benchmarking system called the IAB Data Maturity Model, enabling users to determine how 'sophisticated' is their use of data. More
Healthcare research and online physician community Sermo has promoted Eva Laparra to the role of Managing Director of Europe. More
In Germany, computer vision technology developer SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has launched its ASGM analysis solution for mobile eye tracking out of private beta. More
New charity The Archive of Market and Social Research (AMSR) is appealing for those within the MR sector to get in touch regarding any historical industry material or records they hold, which might be suitable for inclusion in its collection. More
US-based MR training provider Research Rockstar has claimed a first by launching a 24/7 training 'portal' for market research professionals, giving access to courses, media content and expert instructors. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has acquired Bulgaria's GemSeek Consulting Ltd, a specialist in data science, advanced analytics and customer experience research including NPS. More
A substantial sideshow to the debate that has dominated British media for the past two months has been speculation over how opinion pollsters would fare. Some even suggested that if they were badly wrong again, they might give up. Given that pressure, we think they did OK. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has issued two new sets of guidelines following publication of the independent inquiry into discrepancies in opinion polling for the 2015 General Election. More
MR presentation and visual analysis specialist Dapresy is opening a London office, its first in Britain, and has appointed Marc Chester as Director, UK. More
UK-based medical MR firm Field Scope International has opened an office in New York, adding the US to its existing broad coverage of Western and Eastern European markets. More
Neuroscience specialist HCD Research has launched a product optimisation model, using three-dimensional 'Mood Mapping' - measurement and assessment of consumers' emotional responses based on unconscious physiological changes. More
Hotel industry research and benchmarking firm STR has acquired Edinburgh, Scotland-based full service research agency LJ Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
The founders of wealth intelligence specialist Wealth-X are to step down in September 2016 from their roles as CEO and President. Chief Commercial Officer Marc Cohen and CFO Richard Green become Co-Presidents, while Prasanth Ramanand and Christine Noh join in senior roles. More
With the UK's 'Brexit' referendum vote looming tomorrow, TNS has revealed details of an Election Day Voter Panel of 200 people intending to vote. The Panel aims to investigate the reasons for the much-discussed phenomenon of 'last minute swing', apparently common in referenda and elections. More
Professional services and consulting giant KPMG is to open an Innovation Lab in Sydney, Australia, and two clients Insight Centres in Sydney and Melbourne, starting in September this year. More
MR tech company FocusVision had appointed former Coca-Cola researcher Dave Singleton to its Board, and promoted Revelation founder Steve August to CMO and Decipher exec Braden Johnstone to SVP of Operations. More
GfK and MR facilities operator Fieldwork have teamed up to launch a new user experience (UX) research studio in Boston's MetroWest area. More
US polling legend and author John Zogby has joined his sons Benjamin and Jeremy to form a new strategic planning and consulting firm, John Zogby Strategies, based in Utica, NY. More
A team of researchers at MIT and the University of Georgia have developed software which will allow ordinary smartphones to be used for eyetracking research More
US-based cross-industry forum the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) has assessed Nielsen's BASES innovation sales forecasting model through its Marketing Metrics Audit Protocol - the first such model to go through the audit. More
US-based digital data tracking specialist Luth Research has launched a self-service platform called 'ZQ Now', to help users define and access online and mobile behavior-based survey samples. More
In the UK, employee engagement and staff survey specialist IBM Kenexa has partnered with business transformation firm Emenex, to deliver end-to-end survey and consultancy services based on its Smarter Workforce suite of products. More
Online healthcare specialist 42 market research has launched an online panel for pharmaceutical research in Luxembourg. More
In the UK, Creston-owned agency Marketing Sciences Unlimited has promoted neuroscience man Andy Myers to its Board. More
Ross Young, the founder of flat panel research specialist DisplaySearch, and former LG Philips Display exec Bob O'Brien have set up a new market research firm called Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) in Austin, Texas. More
London-based opinion and behaviour research specialist BritainThinks has appointed Karen Clarke as Operations Director, in charge of HR and operations strategy. More
London-based agency Cello Health Insight has hired former Ipsos exec Maria Eletskaya as a Director in its European quant research 'IQ' team. More
US-based Simmons Research has integrated national TV viewing data into its National Consumer Study (NCS). More
London-based Shift*Base Research has appointed former Forrester Research veteran Christine Overby as Chief Executive Officer. More
Indian healthcare and medical fieldwork specialist KreaPlus has launched a community called Cardio+, to connect with 3,000 of the country's cardiologists and associated individuals. More
Research software firm Confirmit and facial analysis specialist Affectiva have partnered to help clients understand the role of emotion in driving consumer spending and loyalty. More
In the US, Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience has launched a suite of tools called Video Ad Explorer, which uses a variety of neuroscience technologies to predict in-market consumer sales and behavior. More
Netherlands TV industry body Stichting KijkOnderzoek (SKO) and Kantar Media have rolled out what they describe as the 'first TV currency in the world' to deliver reach and GRPs (gross ratings points) for ad campaigns and commercials across all screens. More
Caroline Plumb, 37, founder and Executive Chair of research and consulting firm FreshMinds, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's 90th Birthday Honours list, for her services to Business and Charity. More
Australian digital health platform iPug has launched a Research Suite, which recruits and engages targeted participants for real-time research. More
Research-based consultancy Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) has appointed Jack MacKenzie as Executive Vice President, leading its Global Media and Entertainment practice based in Los Angeles. More
Boston, MA-based Netra, Inc. has closed $1.85m in Series Seed financing, and has announced an agreement to license its IRIS image analysis software to Kantar. More
In the US, commercial vehicle association the HDMA has announced the setting up of a new research body as a successor to the Automotive Market Research Council, which was shuttered last December. Past AMRC Chair Adrian Ratza of Hino Trucks will chair the new body. More
In a trading update, WPP says its Data Investment Management division Kantar returned to like-for-like growth in April, after a flat first quarter. Net sales were up 5.8 percent at constant currency, or 0.3 percent like-for-like. For the Group as a whole, the comparable figure was 3.1 percent. More
UK full-service research and insights consultancy Simpson Carpenter has appointed Joanna Grankin as Development Lead in its Innovation team. More
The Russian state duma is to consider amendments to the country's media law which would prohibit all forms of foreign control of audience measurement, according to online reports. More
Marcoms group Creston's Communications & Insight team has reported a 12% revenue increase in revenue to £62.9m for the year ending 31st March 2016, with like-for-like revenue up 2% to £57.5 million and an acquisition accounting for much of the rest. More
Australian brand and communications research agency Luma has opened a new office in Sydney, where it has appointed ad and brand researcher Kate Platter as Client Service Director. The firm has also expanded its team in Melbourne. More
Kinesis' European MD Tariq Mirza has left the business, following its recent takeover by US research technology and services group FocusVision. He is now looking for his next challenge. More
Global airline alliance SkyTeam has launched a customer feedback tool called the SkyPriority Audit App, through which passengers can rate their travel experience. More
In India, newspaper and magazine circulation measurement body the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has partnered with Nielsen to launch a solution for accredited digital measurement. More
ComRes MD Katharine Peacock has left the business to join the Brunswick Group as Director of Insight. Separately, ComRes has promoted Tom Mludzinski to the role of Research Director, overseeing the firm's political, media, sport, charity and government work. More
Netherlands-based data collection firm GDCC has appointed Simon Glanville as Managing Director of its newly established 60-seat CATI facility in London. More
GfK has appointed Stacy Bereck as Managing Director of its Market Opportunities and Innovation team in North America. More
Audience research agencies GeoPoll, Kantar Media and Cuende have launched a product called 'Pan-African OOH', providing a regular measure of out-of-home (OOH) media consumption across the continent. More
Users of Google Consumer Surveys will now be able to view and analyse results via a new platform developed by analytics and reporting software firm MarketSight, following a partnership between the two companies. More
US-based customer experience management specialist Market Force has launched a mystery shopping app called Eyes:On, through which shoppers can view available assignments in their area, and submit shopping audits from their mobile devices. More
US firm MFour Mobile says it is planning to double its headcount to more than 100 in the coming nine months. More
US-based MR agency Savitz Research has set up a new company called SavitzConsulting, which will match specialist freelance consultants with clients looking for help with research projects. More
Financial services specialist Charterhouse Research has appointed former Clydesdale/Yorkshire Bank Head of Market Research Marta Kovacs as a Director, to help develop new multi-client studies and ad hoc research. The firm has also hired Helen Davey as Research Manager. More
Ipsos Healthcare has launched a syndicated PD-L1 Testing Monitor, to measure and track awareness, perceptions, and detailed usage metrics around specific testing across all solid cancer types. More
Research community and survey technology firm Vision Critical has added a 'storytelling' feature to its Sparq customer intelligence platform, to enable companies to organize and share customer insights, accumulated over time, across their organization. More
In New York, full service ad agency AKA has launched a research business called Show & Tell Broadway, using online surveys, in-person focus groups, and other tools to provide insights into how theatergoers interact with brands. More
New York and Athens-based mobile survey network Pollfish has launched an in-app survey tool, with which it says users can create surveys in minutes and get results in hours. More
ORC International has appointed Bhavya Sehgal as Senior Vice President, Asia, to lead and expand its strategy business across the region. More
Survey tech firm Qualtrics has acquired statistical analysis software company Statwing for an undisclosed sum. More
UK agency Future Thinking has launched a new approach called Skin Deep, using the technique of galvanic skin response to gauge consumer emotions. More
In the US, WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has appointed Darren Magot as West Region Sales Vice President, while Mauricio Vasquez and Abbey Banegas join as Account Executives. More
GfK has appointed Gavin McLauchlan as Business Development Director, Global and UK Media. More
London-based IFF Research has appointed Genna Kik as Associate Director and Catherine O'Driscoll as Senior Research Executive; while new graduates Poppy Curd, Leanne Buksztel and Naomi Morrice also join the team. More
Rotterdam, Netherlands-based telephone sample and SMS survey specialist Sample Solutions has created a new management team by promoting Sebastian France to Head of Data, Daniel Boonman to Head of the Client Services division, and Vesna Markovska to Lead Developer. More
In Singapore, WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed GMI has promoted Neha Jindal to the role of Regional Operations Lead for the Asia Pacific region. More
Online specialist BrainJuicer has opened an office in Australia, led by company veteran Ed Harrison as Managing Director. More
London-based not-for-profit organisation NatCen has appointed Gillian Prior as Head of Health and Bio-Medical Surveys, while Fay Sullivan joins as Head of Health Policy Research. More
San Francisco-based DIY online consumer research firm Survata has launched a new methodology called Segment Surveys, giving clients access to niche audiences. More
In the UK, Manchester-based research consultancy Alterline has appointed former National Osteoporosis Society exec Nina Copping as Head of Research (Health). More
In New York, Kantar Health has launched a mobile survey app that collects qual and quant insights from patients, to enable researchers to understand the associations between daily disease-related experiences and health-related outcomes. More
Mobile survey technology specialist Lumi has released a new version of its Meetoo real-time messaging and polling app, allowing anonymous feedback and a range of customisation features. More
US research company Lieberman Research Worldwide (LRW) has acquired UK-based online community specialist Tonic Insight, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, two veteran sports researchers have set up a new full service agency focused on the sector. Jack Murray was most recently Head of MR at Kantar Sport, while Michael Stone led research at Sports Marketing Surveys. More
Four months after buying out the Southeast Asian business of global research firm Epinion, the management team have rebranded their company as Decision Lab. More
London-based digital marketing agency Lab has merged with Neuro Agency, a specialist neuroscience consulting firm run by Neuro-Linguistic Programming expert Daryll Scott. More
Tokyo-based Cross Marketing Group (CMG) has launched a service called Virtual Insight 360° View, which builds a panoramic virtual store space from images and videos of an actual store, to provide an environment for surveying and observing participating shoppers. More
Mobile MR technology company Unomer has launched out of beta with an in-app research platform, through which users can create interactive surveys that can be embedded and distributed across a network of consumer mobile apps. More
Research data solutions and technology firm SSI has appointed Ignite Research founder Mark Lloyd as Client and Business Development Manager for New Zealand. More
Healthcare specialist Research Partnership has appointed industry veteran Tom Nolte as Director, Head of Business Analytics for North America, based in its Philadelphia office. More
In the US, Kellen Frank has returned to retail information firm the NPD Group as Vice President, Product Development, working closely with its Retail Business Group team to enhance its product portfolio. More
US-based online survey and analysis platform SurveyGizmo has introduced a rapid data collection tool called Quick Audience, giving researchers access to a broad selection of respondents to check the pulse of the general public. More
London-based 'high-volume' MR and consumer insights platform Attest has launched out of beta. The firm has also appointed former WPP executive Justin Cooke and former Which? Chairman Paddy Barwise to its Advisory Board. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) has a new regional network in Northern Ireland, and has selected a steering group to help support, promote, and protect market and social research across the country. More
Research community and survey technology specialist Vision Critical has hired veteran software exec Divesh Sisodraker for a newly created position, EVP of Product, responsible for guiding strategy in product management, marketing and user experience. More
London-based consultancy FreshMinds has promoted Catherine Crump to the position of Chief Executive Officer, replacing co-founder Caroline Plumb who moves into the role of Executive Chair. More
Not-for-profit networking organization Women in Research (WIRe) has appointed Market Research Society CEO Jane Frost and Kantar Group CEO Eric Salama as new members of its Advisory Board. More
WPP digital data collection firm Lightspeed Group has hired former Hall & Partners EMEA CEO Caroline Frankum with the same title, plus a seat on the Board. She will replace Martin Filtz, who moved into the post of CEO, Asia Pacific in January. More
London-based comRes has appointed Olly Wright as Research Director, to drive its corporate client portfolio with a specific focus on employee research. More
Australian industry body The Readership Works has added a media planning tool to its 'emma' cross-platform audience insights and readership survey, allowing planners to track the 'complete' readership of magazines over time. More
The new Chief Executive of British high street legend Marks & Spencer has promoted head of marketing Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne and halved the size of the company's operating committee as the retailer looks to speed up decision-making and put the customer 'at the heart of everything it does'. More
According to German-language sports industry news site SPONSORS, Nielsen is planning to buy sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom for more than $100m. More
GfK has achieved 'moderate' organic growth of 0.9% during the first quarter of the year. Currency effects meant the reported sales figure declined 0.6% to EUR 360.5m versus Q1 2015. The firm's Consumer Choices sector grew strongly while 'Consumer Experiences' revenue fell. More
Nielsen has launched an online measurement platform called Mobile Game Tracking (MGT), to provide data and insight into the performance and consumer sentiment surrounding mobile game titles. More
Dublin based agency RED C Research & Marketing has appointed Millward Brown veteran Conor Murphy as a Director. More
Research data solutions and technology firm SSI has launched a service called Smart Cell Sample, centred on a cell phone database of 480 million numbers, through which researchers can target US participants by geographic and demographic variables. More
In the UK, customer experience management specialist KPMG Nunwood has promoted Tim Knight to the position of Managing Director, replacing co-founder Phil Rushfirth, who has left to 'pursue new interests'. More
GfK has unveiled a tool called Connected Consumer Index, to provide a single measure of how much, and on what devices, consumers in 78 countries and eight regions connect with each other and with digital content. More
London-based boutique qual research agency Spinach has restructured, shedding four positions, and increasing its focus on qualitative research, with an emphasis on strategy and communications work. More
Healthcare fieldwork agency Just Worldwide has opened an office in Japan, adding to existing operations in the US, UK, Italy, Poland and Singapore. More
Wyzerr, which creates customer feedback surveys and analytics tools that look like games, has raised $1.5m for use in further product development - including the hiring of more developers. More
US healthcare market research firm InCrowd has launched a tool called MicroTracker, providing an automated approach to life science tracking studies monitoring trends in brand perceptions of healthcare prescribers and consumers. More
Panel and survey software firm dataSpring has appointed Mark Sullivan as Director of Business Development - East Coast, based in New York; while Irene Wang joins as Director of Business Development - China, based in Shanghai. More
US-based online physician community SERMO has grown its platform to nearly 600,000 members in 30 countries, with the addition of physicians in Germany, Austria, Poland Switzerland, Greece and Hungary. More
In the US, online physician community SERMO has launched a new tool called RealTime, to enable clients to test ideas among the firm's nearly two million healthcare professionals, within 'minutes'. More
Digital audience, brand and ad effectiveness analyst Effective Measure has expanded its coverage of the African media market into Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, where it says there are 129.9 million Internet users. More
Proximity marketing analytics specialist ShopAdvisor has partnered with location behavior analytics and targeting firm Gravy, to deliver enhanced event attendance verification services to retailers, brands, media and consumers. More
Ipsos innovation and forecasting business InnoQuest has launched a concept development tool, InnoConstruct, which promises to optimize products, simulate and compare scenarios, and help differentiate new offerings. More
London-based opinion and behaviour consultancy Britain Thinks has hired former Treasury and Prime Ministerial adviser Spencer Livermore as a Partner, with a remit to build a new strategy consulting offer for the firm. More
Research technology provider Interactive Video Productions (IVP) has unveiled a 'Neuro Omnibus for Video Testing', allowing researchers to put their video in front of an audience of consumers and track their subconscious response. The Omnibus is supported by HCD Research. More
British MR support services firm Research Runner has appointed former Mintel and YouGov researcher James McCoy as Consulting Director, with the aim of broadening its offering. More
Lightspeed GMI has announced the US launch of a service called AmplifyR Appends, consisting of consumer datasets tied to an online survey panel. More
WPP-owned online specialist Lightspeed GMI has rolled out is tracker design review service 'Re-Track', and its QuickTurn Insights and Fast Track Service solutions in the Asia Pacific region. More
London-based not-for-profit organisation NatCen has appointed Nancy Kelley as Director of its Policy Research Centre. She will lead a team of more than 50 researchers with expertise across a variety of policy areas including health, crime and justice, and education. More
Kantar Retail has transferred Cédric Guyot to the CEO role in its Virtual Reality unit, replacing Jeremy Cohen who moves into the role of CEO Kantar Retail Europe. More
Kantar Health has appointed former Double Helix exec Diana Tan as General Manager, China, with a remit to introduce new approaches to physician and patient insights, based on the firm's proprietary digital and mobile methods. More
Kantar has entered into a partnership with Google Consumer Surveys, whose panels it will 'validate' by monitoring their accuracy, responsiveness and representativeness. More
Online marketplace provider Cint has launched a real-time insights tool, Cint Connect, which it says offers 'the world's first self-serve eco-system for audience and ad effectiveness measurement'. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has reported a 20 percent increase in staff numbers, supporting 'mass customer adoption of its digital research platform'. More
There may be no timescale set, but WPP has confirmed that it is beginning to think about who may eventually replace CEO Sir Martin Sorrell, including internal and external candidates. More
In London, research veterans Paul Laver and Douglas Dunn have opened a new consultancy, One Minute to Midnight, focusing on what it calls 'the 4 Dimensions of being Human'. More
Kantar and comScore have extended their behavioral data partnership to North America, in a deal which includes the transfer of a number of Millward Brown staff to comScore. More
Hispanic multimedia company Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has signed an agreement for Nielsen's National and Local 'Digital in TV Ratings' services, part of its Total Audience initiative. More
Personalized entertainment and audience discovery specialist Rovi Corporation is spending around $1.1bn to buy 'next generation TV' and audience analytics firm TiVo. The TiVo name will be retained for the combined corporation. More
In the US, Software development co-operative Vulk has partnered with custom research agency Sentier Strategic Resources to offer a new approach to research-driven user experience and user interface design. More
In the US, Greenberg Strategy has appointed former Microsoft exec Stephen Jensen in the role of Vice President, Strategy, with a focus on extending the Technology Practice. More
Palo Alto, California-based promotion-testing specialist Eversight has raised $14.5m in funding, with which to scale up its cloud-based predictive analytics software. More
WPP has reported first quarter revenue of £3.076bn, up 5.1% in like-for-like terms. Net sales - its preferred measure - rose 3.2%. As in recent quarters however, insight division Kantar performed less well than other units, with like-for-like revenue and net sales figures flat (up 0.5% and down 0.1% respectively). More
Another Canadian has taken a top UK public sector job - this time it's not the Bank of England, but the ICO. Elizabeth Denham, who currently holds a similar role in the province of British Columbia, has been approved by Parliament as the new data protection supremo. More
WPP digital data collection firm Lightspeed GMI has signed a multi-year panel building and maintenance contract with comScore, and hired Chris Fabber to lead it. The resulting 'Total Home Panel' will provide comScore with a window on cross-device Internet traffic in US households. More
Expanding Australia agency Jigsaw has appointed former employee Eva Ladas-Meyer as Head of Quant Research and former Millward Brown exec Jo Goddard as Head of Qual. More
Ipsos has announced organic growth of 3.7 percent for the first quarter of 2016, with revenue rising to EUR 386.9m, its best result for some time. The rise 'concerns all regions', with revenue up 4.6% in emerging economies and up 3.3% in developed markets. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has appointed former YouGov and Lieberman Research Worldwide exec Adele Gritten as Director of Key Accounts. More
Dublin based agency RED C Research & Marketing Ltd has opened a UK office, in Soho, London. RED C Research UK Ltd is a joint venture between the agency and Richard Barton and Charlotte Butterworth, both of whom left MD roles at Future Thinking in February. More
In Maine, USA, Digital Research Inc. (DRI) has acquired polling firm Critical Insights for an undisclosed sum. Critical will continue to operate from its current base in Portland, as a division of its new owner and with President MaryEllen Fitzgerald remaining in the role. More
In Australia, Ipsos has appointed Shaan Tainton as Head of its Business Consulting division, which it is relaunching in the country. More
Fast food leader McDonald's is in buoyant mood, pushing a growth agenda by 'applying forensic analytics across all aspects of the business', according to CEO Steve Easterbrook. More
MR technology developer iModerate has added former Research Now exec Michael Steinberg, and NPD Group veteran Steve Dodge to its client development team. More
US researcher Gongos has formed a strategic partnership with Minneapolis-based consumer trends specialist Panoramix Global. The firms aim to provide corporate clients with a holistic understanding of the forces shaping their business including cultural context, business environment and consumer insights. More
Translation service provider GlobaLexicon has hired ten new staff to strengthen its offer in market research and other sectors. The firm has also completed a rebrand. More
Mobile audience targeting platform Go2mobi has partnered with location-based ad targeting firm Placed, to provide insight into 'mobile moments' that drive engagement, foot traffic and in-store revenue. More
In Australia, research consultancy AMR has hired Dorothy Dudley as Qualitative Director and Nick Deverson as Group Account Director. More
Event management technology specialist Cvent, whose offer includes online survey technology, is to be acquired by affiliates of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners for approximately $1.65 billion. More
WPP has acquired the remaining 49% stake in Taylor Nelson Sofres ICAP Market Research (TNS ICAP) in Greece. More
Reporting and analysis software firm E-Tabs has appointed Russ Budden as Consultant Team Manager in its London head office, from where he will coordinate the firm's global team of Client Consultants. More
Automotive research pioneer J.D. Power & Associates is moving on from McGraw Hill Financial after eleven years with the group. The new owners are London-based XIO Group, and the price is $1.1bn in cash. More
Kantar Media has today announced a partnership with local audience data provider Eyeota. Beginning in the UK, the deal will give advertisers and media buyers access to pre-defined segments built from the research firm's TGI consumer and media study, for use in online ad targeting. More
The European Parliament has adopted new data protection legislation, following four years of sometimes tortuous negotiation. Meanwhile European data regulators have expressed doubts about the Privacy Shield framework for data transfers with the US, laid out in February. More
US-based data collection agency Azure Knowledge Corporation continues to expand with the launch of offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Moscow, Russia; and has appointed Danielle Ribeiro de Souza and Ernest Khodzhaev, respectively, to lead them. More
In London, kids, youth and family research specialist iGen Insight has promoted former AD Maxine Fox to Managing Director, and appointed Monika Gorasia as Insight Executive. More
DIY research software firm Qualtrics and MR technology developer iModerate have announced a partnership. Clients of the two can now use the latter's moderated one-on-one conversations to expand on feedback from a Qualtrics survey. More
Stockholm-based brand tracking researcher Nepa has announced the launch of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to fund the global roll-out its ActionHub platform. Separately, Cint founder Bo Mattsson has joined Nepa's Board of Directors. More
US-based sampling automation provider Lucid has appointed former Research Now MD Ben Hogg as Managing Director, EMEA; while promoting Brett Schnittlich to the role of President and CTO, and Andy Ellis to Chief Operating Officer. More
In London, video ad tech and emotion analytics platform Vyking has launched a suite of tools called ReactivAds, which deliver personalized ads based on real-time analysis of facial expressions. More
Full-service agency Illuminas has launched a new research community comprising CIOs, CTOs and other very senior technology execs from enterprises in the US. More
US-based fieldwork firm Schlesinger Interactive has appointed former Instantly exec Alan Mavretish as Vice President, Client Development, based in the Pittsburgh, PA office. More
London-based communications research agency MESH Experience has appointed Kahren Kersten as Experience Director for the EMEA region, responsible for leading its London-based team. More
German sample and panel provider respondi has acquired French market research, data science and IT company House of Common Knowledge (HCK). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US data collection firm Focus Pointe Global has appointed industry veteran Todd Napier as Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO), to coordinate sales planning, program development, and national development across all its business sectors. More
In the UK, a team of five independent consultants has set up a 'virtual consultancy' called The Measurement Practice (TMP), to help in-house and agency comms teams maximise the insight and value from their communications research programmes. More
US-based data collection firm SHC Universal has promoted co-founder Jerry Arbittier to the role of Chief Executive Officer. He replaces fellow co-founder Michael Lefkowitz, who has held the CEO role for the past two years and is not working at SHC Universal at this time. More
In London, TNS has transferred Richard Clissold-Vasey to the role of Chief Operating Officer, with a place on the UK Board. More
Media services division Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has unveiled a new data-driven marketing agency network, Hearts & Science; and appointed Scott Hagedorn - formerly Chief Executive of its analytics division Annalect - as its CEO. More
UK-based research company Join the Dots has announced 2015 revenue of £7.75m, an annual increase of 27%. More
Indian broadcasting regulator TRAI is involved in a consultation process over the creation of what it calls a 'credible' radio audience measurement framework. More
Media and comms research specialist Millward Brown has launched a new version of its Link ad copy-testing solution, allowing B2B marketers to assess the performance of their ads against brand and sales objectives. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has introduced an approach for identifying the value in dollars of individual product features, to help manufacturers and retailers make more informed product development and marketing decisions. More
In the US, Disney/ABC Television Group has promoted Elizabeth Sloan and hired Joan Gould for the newly created positions of Senior Vice President, Consumer Insights, working for the group's broadcast / studio and cable teams respectively. More
UKOM, the cross-industry organisation set up to oversee the measurement of online audiences, has appointed Microsoft veteran Julie Forey as its first Director of Insight. More
In the US, online pregnancy and parenting resource BabyCenter, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has appointed Laurie Dewan as Vice President of Research, Insights and Data. More
US data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has opened a new facility at the Coral Square Mall in Miami, led by Matt Wilson. More
In New York, broadcaster Turner has appointed Natasha Hritzuk in the new position of VP of Client Insights and Content Partnerships Research. The role includes overseeing research strategy and data analysis to support Turner Incite, the firm's ad sales intelligence platform. More
In New York, entertainment broadcaster MTV has appointed Laurel Weir as Senior Vice President, Strategic Insights and Research, to lead all research efforts including consumer insights, trend forecasting, and multi-platform measurement. More
Chinese investment and research firm XIO Group is considering a bid to acquire US-based auto research specialist JD Power and Associates, according to a report published by Reuters. More
Global panel marketplace provider Cint has promoted Richard Thornton to the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer. His remit includes driving corporate business development in future markets. More
Millward Brown has appointed former Warc CEO Louise Ainsworth as Chief Exec in the UK. She replaces UK MD Dale Beaton, who is transferring to the role of SVP Global Practice Lead. More
Independent agency Firefish has appointed Beth Broughton as Managing Director of its US business, based in Brooklyn, New York. She replaces Liam Daley, who has chosen to leave the business. More
YouGov-owned sports and sponsorship specialist SMG Insight has appointed former Repucom MD Charlie Dundas as Commercial Director. More
Four former Hall & Partners execs have launched a new London-based qualitative agency called Compton+Dean, focusing on brand and communications research. More
In the US, focus group facilities and recruiting services company L&E Research has acquired Minneapolis-based Focus Market Research from President and owner Judy Opstad. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US public policy research firm Abt Associates has named former Nielsen data scientist Michael Link as President and CEO of its survey, opinion, and public policy research business Abt SRBI. More
Canada-based research software firm Voxco has released a manual dialing solution called 'TCPA Connect', to help US call centers address recent regulations prohibiting the use of autodialers to call cellphones without the respondent's express prior consent. More
Opinion pollsters in the lead-up to the 2015 UK General election systematically over-represented Labour supporters and under-represented Conservative supporters in their samples, according to the report of the BPC / MRS inquiry. More
In the US, Interactive Video Productions (IVP) has launched a remote eyetracking tool called MobiLAB ET Online, allowing survey respondents to participate in studies from anywhere with a webcam and Internet access. More
UK-based BrainJuicer is planning to commence a share buy-back, using existing cash resources to purchase up to one million of its ordinary shares. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has launched a suite of study templates for common research topics, offering a rapid and lower-cost solution for business decision-makers, but still with input from a researcher. More
Online specialist InSites Consulting has reported a 20% increase in revenues so far in this fiscal year, and says it is anticipating revenues of EUR 23m - representing 30% organic growth - by the year end on 30th June. More
Toluna has combined its QuickSurveys DIY survey and analytics platform with its Toluna.com online panel community, to create a service which guarantees more than 1,000 nationally representative survey responses in 21 countries within hours. More
Australian television audience measurement body OzTAM is to include 8 to 28-day time shift viewing in its television ratings database from next Sunday. More
Industry association Commercial Radio Malaysia (CRM) has appointed GfK as its official research partner, to provide radio audience measurement across the country. More
US boutique PR and digital communications agency Hope-Beckham Inc. (HBI) has launched a market research business in Atlanta, GA. More
In the UK, online research technology and services provider FlexMR has hired industry veteran Charles Pearson for the newly created role of SVP of Strategic Business Development, responsible for new business with end clients, agencies and consultancies globally. More
Global panel marketplace provider Cint has appointed Greg Dunbar as Vice President of Sales, EMEA, based in London, and Dag Magni as Chief Financial Officer, based in its Stockholm headquarters. More
US full service agency Resolution Research has opened a new focus group facility in Denver, including facilities for one-on-one interviews, product tests and training. More
Winchester-based Marketing Sciences Unlimited has opened a London office, at the HQ of parent company Creston, in Soho. More
Strategy and innovation agency The Sound has launched a dedicated content division called The Sound Media, which will harness the firm's anthropological and filmmaking expertise to produce documentaries and culture-focused content. More
UK research and TV production company Vox Pops International (VPI) has relocated to larger premises in Ewell, Surrey, and will provide a number of new services to existing and potential clients. More
In New York, Hispanic media giant Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has appointed Nielsen veteran Jed Meyer as Executive Vice President, Corporate Research. More
Microsoft has launched a service called Video Pulse, to help market researchers, political campaigners, brands and movie studios measure the recorded reactions of audiences and customers to ads, political campaigns or other digital content. More
Harris Interactive has launched a new service called Harris 24, to provide survey design, audience reach, analysis and reporting in less than 24 hours to clients in the UK, US, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. More
Television measurement body BARB has launched The UK Television Landscape Report, a quarterly review of population trends and changes in how people watch TV. More
comScore has partnered with marketing software giant Adobe to provide new insights into cross-device media consumption. More
UK-based customer feedback software provider Platform One has introduced an online reporting solution, giving users qual, quant and multimedia insights side-by-side in a single dashboard. More
US-based energy and environment information giant IHS has announced it will merge with financial data company Markit. The all-share transaction is a mega-merger for the sector with an estimated equity value of more than $13 billion. More
UK-based online research agency YouGov plc has announced interim results for the six months ended 31st January 2016, showing revenue of £41.5m, up 13% at constant currencies, and adjusted profit before tax up by 42% to £5.0m. More
WPP is linking the panels and other data sources of its Kantar / DIM division with the expertise and planning tools of its GroupM media investment management division, to launch LIVE Panel. The new consumer and media insight solution will help advertisers develop and measure 'precise and targeted' media plans. More
UK-based BrainJuicer Group has announced 'modest' revenue growth of 3% (constant currency) in the calendar year 2015, to £25.18m. This is the second year of slower growth for the pioneering company, which nevertheless increased profits and cash at hand. More
Kantar Media has enhanced its TGI Clickstream study with the addition of metered consumer mobile behaviour, including phones and tablets. More
US-based customer listening solutions provider OpinionLab has announced an upgrade to its product which it says will 'harness the collaborative power of an organization to act on customer feedback'. More
Emerging markets panel specialist Borderless Access has appointed former TNS MENA CEO Steve Hamilton-Clark as a Non-Executive Director in the Middle East region, and part of its global advisory team. More
UK-based pharmaceutical and strategic marketing group Cello has announced a 7.4% fall in revenue to £157.3m for the calendar year 2015. However, profits and earnings per share rose and the Group says it has made a good start to 2016. More
DIY online survey platform SurveyMonkey has opened an APAC office in Sydney, Australia, with an initial staff of fifteen. More
Survey sample and technology firm WiseSample has opened an office in Singapore, where it has appointed Lim Soh as Director. More
Hollywood movie research veteran Richard Del Belso has died at the age of 76, after a year-long battle with lung cancer. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has appointed former WPP exec Gary Laben as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Kurt Knapton who resigned last October. Meanwhile John Rothwell has added the title of President to his existing role as Chief Operating Officer. More
GfK and Nielsen are in discussions to develop a set of services for advertisers, agencies and media groups, possibly for launch later this year. The firms say the initiative will kick-off with the design of Brazil's 'first' cross-media measurement for ad campaigns. More
London-based YouthSight has introduced a new 'vox pop' service called SnapMe, allowing clients to get video feedback from members of the firm's OpinionPanel community via their smartphone cameras. More
The UK's 'professional research and evidence market' has grown massively in the last three and a half years to an annual turnover of £4.8bn - up 62% - and a workforce of 73,000 professionals, according to a report by PwC for the MRS. More
WPP Chief Executive Sir Martin Sorrell has received shares worth £60m, according to reports. With salary and annual bonuses the figure is 'likely to approach £70m'. The share award is triggered by the group's success in outperforming both its peers and the FTSE 100 over five years. More
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger says his company has 'very limited access to the consumer' and doesn't have 'any idea of who went to see Star Wars in the movies'. Laudable honesty - and of course he is looking to change that - though of course the answer is 'practically everyone'. More
Melbourne, Australia-based mobile researcher MDI has launched an interactive chat based platform, combining qual and quant data. More
Nielsen has acquired Mumbai, India-based mobile usage measurement specialist Informate Mobile Intelligence, previously part of the Cross-Tab Group of companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Indian TV audience rating body BARC (The Broadcasters Audience Research Council) has issued satellite TV firm Raj Television Network with a legal notice for allegedly bribing BARC panel home members, according to a report in the Times of India. More
US consultancy Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has acquired full service agency Sterling Research Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has launched a new panel management platform, while expanding its capacity across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific through the addition of nineteen new panel partners. More
Research process outsourcing specialist Azure Knowledge Corporation has added an office in London, and says it plans further openings in Moscow, Sao Paulo and Shanghai. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has added a tool called PowerAttitudes to its QuickSurveys DIY survey platform, to enable marketers to generate 'immediate insights' on the consumer attitudes driving usage and purchase behavior. More
In the UK, TV broadcaster Channel 4 has promoted Sarah Rose to the role of Director Consumer Insight, following the news that Gill Whitehead is leaving to join Google as Senior Director of Market Insight, EMEA. More
Global panel marketplace platform Cint has introduced a new feature called Ad Hoc Supply, allowing clients to add sample from different sources into its platform, and run all their research from one single system. More
In the US, user experience (UX) research platform UserZoom has acquired research technology company YouEye. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based research technology and services group FocusVision has appointed Decipher US co-founder Jamin Brazil as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Eric Grosgogeat who has stepped down to 'pursue other opportunities' after eight years in the role. More
US-based direct marketing and targeting giant Harte Hanks has acquired strategy, business analytics and operations consultancy Aleutian Consulting for an undisclosed sum. In addition, Harte Hanks has opened new offices in Denver, Colorado to accommodate both firms' teams in the city. More
London-based not for profit organisation NatCen Social Research has appointed former TNS UK CEO Maureen Duffy to its Board of Trustees. Former UK Statistics Authority CEO Dame Jil Matheson and chartered accountant Stephen West also join as Trustees. More
In the US, neuroscience research specialist HCD Research has partnered with testing lab provider IVP to offer integrated sensory research and user experience (UX) services. More
Strategy and innovation agency The Sound has appointed Matt Palmer as Vice President / Head of Strategy in its Chicago office. More
In the US, MR and data analytics firm LRW (Lieberman Research Worldwide), has announced that its sister company ISA has acquired Austin, Texas-based community insight platform icanmakeitbetter (ICMIB) and its parent company Sentient Services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with retail media agency Capture, to enable supermarkets and brands to track the real-time effects of their in-store marketing material. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has appointed three new members of staff - Paul Das, Lindsay Hart and Bri McIntosh. More
Full service agency 2CV has appointed Andrew Lam to lead its North Asian quantitative business, from its office in Hong Kong. More
WPP has reported total 2015 revenue up 5.3% on a like-for-like basis, with headline EBITDA of £2.002bn, up 7.7% at constant currency. Revenue in pounds was up 6.1% to £12.235 bn. The insight-focused 'data investment management' division (DIM) remained flat for the year, although slightly improved in Q4. More
London-based not for profit organisation NatCen Social Research has found its new Chief Executive. Guy Goodwin joins on 3rd May from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) where he is the Director of Social and Analysis; and is also UK Director of Social Statistics at the European Union. More
UK-based 2CV has promoted Sabine Cronick to Head of Quant, and Nicola Godfrey to Head of Qual. More
The MRBA, the UK's MR charity, has launched its Annual Fundraising Charity Auction. More
Kantar has chosen Cross-Tab Group to be its outsourcing partner in India, in a four-year deal worth up to $25m. Ashwin Mittal, Cross-Tab Group President, described the contract as a 'significant milestone' in the firm's fifteen-year history. More
SurveyMonkey CEO Zander Lurie has announced in an internal memo that the company is making about 13 percent of its workforce - or around 100 of its 750 employees - redundant. More
Sagaci Research has opened an office in Luanda, Angola - its second base in Portuguese speaking Africa after the opening of the Maputo, Mozambique office in 2014. More
GfK is bringing its Consumer Choices and Consumer Experiences divisions closer together in North America, and has appointed Gary Cofer as Managing Director responsible for both sectors in the region. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has introduced a pre-market sales forecasting service, which can be used to assess and improve the sales potential of new and revamped products and services before they are launched. More
Millward Brown has partnered with on-demand online community specialist GutCheck to launch a qualitative tool called Pre-LinkNow, which offers a copy-testing framework to help marketers better understand ad performance. More
US firm MFour Mobile has launched its MYResearch DIY mobile survey technology, which enables researchers to program and field surveys to more than one million active consumers. More
UK agency Conquest is launching a 'brand love' measurement tool called Charismatix, which combines avatar-led online technology with cognitive science and enhanced implicit testing to understand what links customers to brands, advertising and products. More
Research technology and panel exchange operator Cint has launched OpinionAPP, an app for use by the nineteen million panellists who can be accessed through its OpinionHUB marketplace. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based Tobii has reported fourth quarter 2015 sales of SEK 287 million ($US 33.5m), up 29% after adjusting for currency effects; and SEK 967 million ($US 112.9m) for the full year, up 41% on the same basis. More
DIY online research software firm SurveyMonkey has added TechValidate co-founders Steve Norall and Brad O'Neill to its leadership team, effective immediately. Norall becomes SVP, SurveyMonkey for Business Product, and O'Neill SVP of Global Sales. More
In the US, full service marketing research and insight education agency Burke Inc. has promoted John Thomas to the position of Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Burke Healthcare. More
Three of the partners of California-based Nichols Research have formed a new company called AMS Ventures, in order to acquire the business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based full service agency IFF Research has appointed Rowan Foster as Research Director in its Learning and Skills team, and Siv Svanaes as Senior Research Manager and Libby Eastwood as Research Manager in its Research team. More
In India, TV rating body BARC and Nielsen/Kantar joint venture TAM India have formally launched their meter management company, Meterology Data Pvt Ltd. (MDL). BARC will have full control with a 51 percent stake in MDL, while TAM India will own 49 percent. More
In the UK, broadcaster the BBC has partnered with facial tracking specialist CrowdEmotion to monitor the 'conscious and unconscious' emotional reactions of viewers to TV programmes. More
London-based Silverman Research has partnered with consumer goods giant Unilever to launch a new real-time survey and discussion tool called Crowdoscope. More
In the UK, Marketing Sciences Unlimited has appointed Scott Harwood-Ramsay to head up its Qualitative Research team. More
Technology specialist Forrester has reported revenue of $313.7m for the full year 2015, $81m of it in the fourth quarter. In constant currency terms Research revenues rose 5 percent while advisory services and events were up 2 percent. More
Mystery shopping firm Jancyn has relocated to new office space in San Jose, California, as part of its ongoing growth and expansion plans. More
In India, Majestic Research Services and Solutions has completed its acquisition of New Delhi-based Emtee Research and Consultants Pte Ltd, with the purchase of the remaining 30 percent stake for an undisclosed sum. More
Polling and research consultancy ComRes is restructuring its Board and has appointed three new non-executive directors, Clare Hayward, Simon Carter and Chris Guyver, as it 'gears up for significant growth over the next three years'. More
In London, former Hall & Partners and Research Now exec Ashley Walker has launched a consulting firm, Culture Engineers, which will help clients develop their organisational culture as a principle source of competitive advantage. More
Brand insight agency BrandHook has open an office in Sydney and appointed Leading Edge co-founder Tim Biddlecombe as Head of Strategy. More
Manchester-based agency Join the Dots has opened an office in Singapore, its first outside the UK. Karen Schofield, previously the company's Innovations Director, will head it up as MD, Singapore. More
Former P&G and Walmart exec Andy Murray is to join the latter's UK subsidiary Asda next week as its Chief Customer Officer, taking a seat on the executive board and replacing Barry Williams who is leaving the company. More
Frank Møllerop, CEO of Enterprise Feedback Management specialist Questback is moving to work in the company's New York office this month, reflecting an increased focus on expansion in the US market. The firm says its enterprise revenues rose 40% in 2015. More
UK-based full service research agency Trinity McQueen has announced another year of double-digit growth, with turnover up 13 percent to £4.48m in the 12 months ending September 2015. The firm also has eight new recruits. More
Last week, the European Commission and the US agreed a new framework for the transfer of data between the two, known as the EU-US Privacy Shield. Under this, US companies and government agencies will have new obligations to guarantee protection for personal data. More
GfK has acquired Iberian and Latin American online panel specialist Netquest, and its subsidiary Wakoopa which provides cross-device passive measurement technology. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kantar has moved Adrian Gonzalez into a broader group role in charge of its Consumer Insights businesses - he was previously CEO of Millward Brown's Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (AMAP) region. TNS APAC CEO Chris Riquier is among those leaving the business in the restructure. More
Holding company Symphony Technology Group (STG) has sold its biopharma and consumer health research and analytics firm AlphaImpactRx to IMS Health. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Canadian opinion polling and consumer research specialist Insights West has moved its Vancouver team from Gastown to Yaletown, in order to accommodate growth in headcount, while showcasing its full-service capabilities. More
In Australia, Ipsos has appointed Sharon Barnes for the newly created role of Director, Public Affairs in its Indigenous Research Unit, focusing on research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. More
UK-based medical MR firm Field Scope International has opened an office in Belgrade, Serbia, from where it will provide respondent recruitment and telephone interviewing services. More
UK research agency Populus has promoted seven members of staff, including Laurence Stellings to the position of Director in its Reputation and Strategy division, and Daisy Powell-Chandler to Senior Consultant. More
In the UK, movement intelligence and shopper behaviour analyst Movvo has hired retail specialist Alexandra Petit as Customer Experience Officer. More
US-based online specialist Invoke Solutions has launched a Media & Entertainment practice, under the leadership of media industry veteran Kathy Alexander. More
In Australia, insights consultancy fiftyfive5 has expanded into retail strategy, category management and shopper insights, appointing Sue Temple as Director Shopper and Category, and Peter Firth as a Consultant. More
In the UK, retail behaviour specialist Shoppercentric has introduced an annual study called the 'Shopper Stock Take' index, tracking consumers' thoughts and feelings about the grocery retail sector. More
New Delhi-based MR project management company NextON Services has opened an office in Ras al-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). More
Tokyo-based Cross Marketing Group (CMG) - owner of research agency Kadence - has teamed up with marketing consultancy Centan Inc. to develop an 'enhanced neuromarketing service'. More
International data collection group Schlesinger Associates has merged its Advisors division with MedQuery, the Chicago-based medical recruitment business it acquired in October. Chris Lee will lead the new unit as EVP. More
Oslo-based fieldwork group Norstat has appointed Tue Meier-Poulsen as its MD in Denmark, replacing company 'legend' Jesper Platz who has decided to leave after nine years. More
MR app marketplace ZappiStore has promoted Christophe Ovaere to CMO, increasing his focus on the firm's brand, product marketing and key partner relations. More
GfK returned to organic growth (up 1.1%) during the 2015 financial year, after a decline of 2.0% the previous year. Reported sales increased by 6.3% to EUR 1.54bn (from EUR 1.45bn). More
Research industry body ESOMAR has teamed up with Kantar, comScore, GfK and Nielsen to launch an initiative called 'Research Choices', which aims to help the general public understand how their data is used for audience measurement research. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has promoted Jade Landfried to Chief Operating Officer, and Matt Campion to Executive Vice President of its Interactive division. More
Consumer specialist 2CV has promoted Adam Short from the role of Head of Quant to Managing Director of its operations in London. More
The management team of UK-based Illuminas has completed a management buyout (MBO) from former parent company MSQ Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now is preparing to roll out an automated, template-based suite of survey solutions for those with limited budgets. More
Australian TV audience measurement body OzTAM has announced it will launch the initial phase of its Video Player Measurement (VPM) Report in February. More
Ipsos Healthcare has launched a new syndicated study called the 'Pan-Cancer Testing Monitor', which measures and tracks the usage of pan-cancer tests designed to assess a wide range of cancer types. The study currently covers the US but will be rolled out in other markets at a later stage. More
Research data solutions and technology firm SSI has acquired LA-based Instantly - whose services include panels and product concept testing - for an undisclosed sum. More
Film and TV measurement firm Rentrak has acquired Los Angeles-based Hollywood Software Inc. (HSI), which develops enterprise tools for managing parts of the digital movie distribution and exhibition industries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In New Zealand, the Radio Broadcasters Association (RBA) has commissioned GfK to provide official radio research services for the country. The contract sees New Zealand's commercial networks, public broadcaster and independent stations join the same radio ratings system for the first time. More
UK-based customer feedback software provider Platform One has launched a new product called 'Instant Community', which it says collects customer data at 'every single touchpoint'. More
In London, independent agency Firefish has appointed branding specialist Lisa Hill as UK Qualitative Managing Director, responsible for leading the firm's core qual business. More
In the UK, MR and analytics staff recruitment consultancy Prime Insight has announced three appointments. Ed Binns and James Evans join the company, while Catherine Keeling has been promoted to Director for the UK and Europe. More
Utrecht, Netherlands-based research firm DVJ Insights has appointed Simon McDonald as Managing Director in the UK, where he will work alongside existing Commercial Director Roy Patel to increase the firm's presence in the market. More
In The Netherlands, research software firm Nebu has appointed Otto van Linden as Managing Director, responsible for the day-to-day running of the company. In this role, he will free up CEO Eric van Velzen to focus on the market, customers and promoting Nebu. More
In the UK, Guardian News & Media (GNM) has outlined a three-year business plan, which includes the creation of a new Data and Insight team to support editorial and commercial innovation; and the implementation of an ad model that tracks evolving market trends. More
Audience sampling firm Innovate, which was set up by uSamp founders Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin, has hired former colleagues Rodney Lazar as SVP of Global Finance and Accounting and Rachel Tak as Director of Global Account Management. Katherine Albers has also joined the company. More
In the US, the IAB Tech Lab has launched an app called the MRAID Ads SDK Tester, through which users can test ad creative across multiple ad software development kits (SDK). More
In the US, research technology and services company, 20|20 Research has promoted Chief Innovation Officer Isaac Rogers to the CEO role in its tech subsidiary 20|20 Technology. More
London-based mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research has promoted Nader Kobeissi to the newly created position of Global Managing Director. More
Ipsos InnoQuest has appointed former Mondelez exec Linda Lee as President, Global Solutions, based in New York. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 has announced a major expansion of its global MR team, with fourteen new staff added. They include Adam Wallace, as Director, Strategic Audience Recruitment; and Dan Lockwood and Jason Cammarata as VPs Market Research. More
UK-based online communities specialist Verve has announced twelve promotions, and the appointment of Jodie Chamberlain as Research Manager in its recently-opened northern office. Existing staff Warren Lister, Olly Robinson and Ana Garcia all become Director / RDs. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has expanded its presence in the Asia Pacific region with the opening of its first office in Malaysia. The new operation will be led by Christine Tan, Senior Director, Southeast Asia. More
Drinks sector joint venture Nielsen CGA has launched an on-premise measurement service for US alcohol beverage clients, called Brand Index. The service is already available to European clients. More
Oslo, Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has appointed Antanas Nasutavièius as Managing Director for the Lithuania market. He replaces Rasute Kazakeviciute, who is leaving the company. More
In the US, coupon trends and shopper promotion analysis specialist Inmar has acquired Chicago-based consumer product data and insights firm Willard Bishop. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
African agency Sagaci Research has expanded with the opening of three new offices, in Ivory Coast, Chad and Algeria. More
ThinkNow Research, which until now focused purely on the US Hispanic consumer segment, has expanded its coverage to include African-American and Asian demographics. More
In Australia, comms group Bastion Collective has acquired Melbourne and Sydney-based research agency Latitude Insights, which will be re-named Bastion Latitude on 1st February. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, eDigitalResearch has doubled its office space by relocating to a fully refurbished 18,500 square foot location in The Hub, at Berrywood Business Village, in Southampton - the place where the business first started back in 1999. More
US-based Paradigm Sample has appointed NPD Group veteran Michael Klotz as Vice President of Client Services. More
US research technology and services group FocusVision has acquired software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies, and renamed it KinesisPanel. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, survey tech firms Qualtrics and Dialsmith have partnered to allow clients to add dial testing of all forms of recorded media to their online surveys. More
UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo is opening its eight office next month, this time in Jakarta, Indonesia. The new operation will be headed by Adri Reksodipoetro, who was previously MD of the firm's APAC hub in Singapore. More
US data collection firm Focus Pointe Global (FPG) has promoted Laura Livers to the role of Chief Executive Officer. She replaces Noel Sitzmann, who will assume the role of Executive Chairman, working with the Board, investors, lenders, and guiding the firm's growth strategy. More
Draft findings from an inquiry steered by the British Polling Council (BPC) and MRS into why UK pollsters overestimated Labour and underestimated Conservative support in last year's UK general election, suggest that unrepresentative samples led to an inability to reach enough Conservative voters. More
Netherlands TV industry body Stichting KijkOnderzoek (SKO) has announced that it is now working with data scientists from Kantar Media to deliver daily online TV ratings to the market. More
UK-based mobile video market research specialist Voxpopme is rolling out its on-demand mobile app in Australia. More
Michael Kenyon, who died aged 72 in December after a long illness, spent nearly fifty years in the research industry and was MrWeb's Director of US Operations between 2003 and 2008, helping to establish the site and the Daily Research News service Stateside. More
UK-based independent media company Dennis Publishing has appointed J.D. Power veteran Brian Walters as Director of Research and Insight, tasked with developing its Driver Power car ownership survey into a standalone brand. More
US-based data collection firm SHC Universal has announced a preferred partnership with niche therapy specialist Rare Patient Voice, gaining survey access to patients with rare and orphan diseases, as well as their caregivers. More
Fieldwork specialist KeyQuest Health has moved into new UK headquarters in Richmond, Surrey. The firm has also appointed Vasilis Tzikas as a Project Co-ordinator in the UK, and promoted Kelly Bowe to Project Director in the US. More
US-based SIS International Research has launched an 'Integrated Research' unit, pulling together traditional methods, sensory research techniques such as biometrics and eye tracking, and access to the company's big data platform. Joe Messina joins the unit as Research Director. More
In the UK, video data mining specialist LivingLens has added machine speech recognition capabilities to its platform, to offer a near real-time 'speech to text' service. It has also added a module through which videos can be searched by consumer sentiment and activity. More
Ipsos has rolled out its suite of location-based tools, powered by Google Consumer Surveys, in the Asia Pacific region. The initial launch covers Japan and Australia. More
In the UK, specialist healthcare data collection firm Fieldwork International has appointed Kerensa Bindoff as Deputy Head. More
Palo Alto, CA-based DIY online survey platform SurveyMonkey has appointed Zander Lurie as its new Chief Executive Officer, less than six months after hiring former HP exec Bill Veghte to replace CEO Dave Goldberg, who died suddenly last May. More
Market research budgets fell for many companies in the final three months of 2015, according to the most recent IPA Bellwether Report of UK marketing expenditure. Respondents reporting a fall in MR budgets outnumbered those reporting a rise by an even bigger margin than in Q3. More
US-based data collection specialist Azure Knowledge Corporation has appointed former MRops MD and Ronin General Manager Rafal Gajdamowicz as Managing Director of its European business, based in London. More
Hampshire, UK-based eDigitalResearch has hired nine members of staff, including five in the Insight team and three in the Technical Delivery team. More
In the US, full service firm RTi Research has acquired Stamford, CT-based boutique strategic researcher and consultancy Hamill Associates. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Research data solutions and technology firm SSI has launched an online voter panel with nearly a million members, to provide political researchers with broad access to the attitudes, beliefs and opinions of American voters. More
London-based brand consultancy TransgressiveX has launched a proprietary tool called The Brand eXchange Power Survey, which analyses implicit (as opposed to rational) consumer response, to understand the impact of a brand at each point in consumer journeys. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research has officially opened its first US research facility in Philadelphia, where it will offer access to a wide range of custom AV technology, along with MR recruiting services. More
In the US, employee-owned research agency Westat has acquired education research and technical assistance specialist Edvance Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Germany, Kantar-owned media research specialist TNS Infratest has moved former MD Dirk Steffen to the newly created position of Chief Digital Officer, and promoted company veteran Oliver Ecke to replace him. More
WPP agency MediaCom has set up a global partnership with emotional analytics specialist Realeyes, to incorporate emotion measurement technology into its content testing and media planning services. More
Mobile location data platform UberRetail has teamed up with geospatial business intelligence consultancy B.I. Spatial and US shopping center data source Directory of Major Malls (DMM), to analyze shopping centers and malls using mobile device GPS data. More
In New York, GfK has appointed fashion retail specialist Dave Melnick to lead its Fashion and Lifestyle practices in North America. More
Online exchange provider Cint has been acquired by investment firm Nordic Capital, with terms of the transaction undisclosed. More
Kantar has acquired a majority stake in its partner in Denmark and Sweden, Millward Brown Denmark ApS, which has been a Millward Brown licensee since 1997. More
UK-based sampling agency Sample Answers has appointed Phil Bird, previously DP Director and Head of Data Development and Delivery at GfK NOP, as its new Managing Director. More
Research data solutions and technology firm SSI has announced a partnership with Boston-based mobile intelligence and engagement platform SessionM, offering a new panel app called mTHOUGHTS. More
Apple has acquired San Diego-based facial analysis firm Emotient, for an undisclosed sum, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). More
Nielsen has stopped using paper diaries to collect demographic data in 31 mid-size US TV markets, replacing them with its new 'Viewer Assignment' method and in consequence losing MRC accreditation for this part of the data. More
Mobile survey technology provider OnePoint Global has launched a new service it calls 'SMS invites', promising to boost online survey completion rates. More
US-based full service agency Market Strategies International (MSI) has hired former J.D. Power execs Melissa Sauter - as EVP and MD of Financial Services - and Todd Mundorf as SVP Research Operations. More
In the US, full service marketing research and insight education agency Burke Inc. has promoted Tara Marotti to the position of SVP, Head of Client Services, in charge of its entire Client Services function. More
Nielsen has sold its VideoScan home video market point-of-sale retail tracking service to The NPD Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, mobile research firm MFour Mobile has appointed former Instantly exec Scott Worthge as Senior Solutions Executive. More
Shopper research specialists PRS (Perception Research Services) and IN VIVO have merged under the new name PRS IN VIVO. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, public opinion experts EMC Research and Hamilton Campaigns have merged under the former's name to create a firm of 40 staff with national coverage and seven offices across the south, mid-west and west. More
In the US, NBC News and SurveyMonkey have extended their polling partnership to 2018, and launched weekly online polls giving snapshots of voter behavior and attitudes throughout the 2016 election cycle. More
Christopher Morasch, former MD UK of Respondi, has joined German MR agency Management Consult. More
Nielsen has partnered with alcohol industry analytics specialist BARTRENDr to launch a real-time mobile insights tool called Nielsen Bar Moments, which will analyse conversations taking place among alcohol consumers at bars and social gatherings in real-time. More
GfK has announced that based on its financial performance for the first eleven months of this year, it is no longer likely to achieve its predicted annual guidance for AOI margin (adjusted operating income based on sales). More
Women's non-profit MR networking group WIRe has launched an initiative which aims to increase the number of female speakers at industry conferences and events. More
Millward Brown and comScore have teamed up to connect validated ad viewing with changes in consumer behaviour, helping brands assess the performance of their digital advertising. The service will cover 'all markets outside the US, Canada and Taiwan'. More
Full-service research and sampling firm Offerwise has introduced two mobile apps, allowing users to complete online surveys in the LatAm and US Hispanic markets, as well as in Brazil. More
Long-time Kantar Media employee Nick Burfitt has re-located from London to Singapore, to serve as Managing Director for Asia Pacific. He takes charge of the firm's recently awarded contract to supply multi-platform TV ratings in Thailand. More
In the UK, Oxfordshire-based consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research has launched an online portal called MMR-TV, through which large volumes of video content can be analysed and edited. More
In Thailand, the Media Research Development Association has awarded Kantar Media a five-year contract to deliver the official multi-platform TV ratings for the country. The tender process also included GfK and Video Research. More
In New York, Nielsen is promoting Steve Hasker to the position of Global President and Chief Operating Officer from January 1st. He takes over the COO role from Brian West, who announced his resignation last month. More
In the US, research software firm Kinesis and phone survey specialist Survox have launched a multi-mode solution enabling panel managers to collect data through both self-administered and interviewer-assisted phone-based sessions. More
In New York, The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed Augustine Fou as Chief Marketing Science Officer, and Manuel Garcia-Garcia as SVP, Research and Innovation: Global and Ad Effectiveness. More
WPP-owned healthcare communications firm Sudler Hennessey has acquired a majority stake in London-based System Analytic, which helps clients engage with opinion leaders in the sector. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Manchester, UK, Harris Interactive has appointed Scott Davidson as Financial Services Research Director, to lead on a number of accounts and assist with the growth and development of the division. More
Kantar Health has acquired CEEOR, a specialist research and consulting company in the Czech Republic specialising in analytical services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries. More
Microsoft has relaunched its MR tool, dropping the name of its Bing search engine to reflect the tool's integration with a number of other Microsoft products including Skype and Yammer. The new version also includes enhancements to visuals and functionality. More
WPP-owned online panel provider Lightspeed has announced the promotion of Martin Filz to Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, effective January 1st, 2016. President and Global CEO David Day will temporarily take over Filz's former role as CEO for EMEA. More
In the UK, former 2CV Research MD Mark Bagnall is joining Basis Research as Head of Innovation. His remit includes 'consistently updating the firm's intellectual tool kit' as well as developing specific new proprietary tools and techniques. More
Information services giant Experian has sold two high profile consumer insights businesses, Hitwise and Simmons, to Symphony Technology Group for $US 47m plus up to $5m in earnout. More
The management of research tech solutions firm FocusVision is buying out the company with the assistance of private equity group EQT - terms were not disclosed. More
Following months of rumours, WPP has agreed to merge its Australian and New Zealand businesses with struggling Australia-based STW Communications Group Ltd, increasing its shareholding from 23.6% to 61.5%. STW's name will be changed 'to align it with WPP'. More
In Australia, Ipsos has announced a partnership with indigenous communications and research company Winangali, aimed at increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic participation and providing employment opportunities and business partnerships. More
Manchester, UK-based RealityMine, which provides mobile MR technologies and consumer analytics, has announced a $17.25m investment from growth equity firm Kennet Partners. More
Online MR software company Confirmit has embedded technology from facial expression analysis firm Emotient into its survey platform, to enable researchers to add emotion detection to any online or mobile research project. More
European firm Bilendi, which combines MR and online loyalty services, has opened a new office in Cologne, Germany, where it has appointed Andreas Knappstein as Sales Director for the DACH countries. More
In London, Harris Interactive has appointed Sabrina Qureshi as Head of Online Communities, replacing Pete Cooke who has taken on the expanded role of Head of Digital. More
In the US, member-based advisory company the Latinum Network has launched a platform called the Shared-Cost Insights Accelerator, through which companies can access data about America's multicultural consumers. More
The UK government is looking for freelance user researchers and organisations with user research labs to apply to become approved suppliers. The search is part of a new procurement initiative 'Digital Outcomes and Specialists'. More
IVR survey technology developer PinPoint Research has added speech-to-text (STT) automated transcription to its multi-modal survey research platform, as part of its strategy of 'Voice Driven Research'. More
In Palo Alto, mobile video company Vidlet has emerged from 'stealth' mode, offering researchers new tools for soliciting and collecting video feedback, as well as an analysis and reporting portal. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has launched a service called Swift, which provides the global movie industry with a single source of box office sales reporting data. More
This year's MRS Awards saw UK charity StreetInvest carry off the President's Medal for its 'Growing up on the Streets' project, which has recruited street children in three African cities to provide observations on their experiences and those of other young people in their network. More
TV audience rating body BARC India has issued a global request for information (RFI), as it prepares to expand its measurement offering across all digital platforms. More
London-based agency IFF Research has announced eight appointments and says it is gearing up for more recruitment in the New Year, to meet 'ambitious growth plans for 2016'. More
UK-based MR app store ZappiStore has appointed Jamie Shacklock as Director of Research Architecture, to help drive strategic partnerships with research agencies and end-user brands. More
More than one-third of insights providers agree with the statement that '50% of full-service market research suppliers will be out of business within five years', according to findings from the latest GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report (GRIT) *. More
Software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies and data collection provider SHC Universal have jointly developed a tool called the Project Management Dashboard, to help researchers with the simultaneous management of multiple projects. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has published its Annual League Table, with data drawn from 86 eligible organisations generating a combined turnover of more than £2.7 billion. The figure represents overall year-on-year growth of 4%. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has added several new features to its DIY sampling platform SampleXpress, including the ability to schedule project field, or select 'rush' to expedite project completion. More
Ad software firm Phorm has partnered with behavioural targeting specialist Insomnis to develop a new service called 'Hover Rate', telling advertisers how many Internet users have hovered their cursor over, but not clicked on, their display ads. More
In London, digital data collection specialist Research Now has promoted Aaron Simmons to the role of Senior Vice President, Northern Europe Client Development. More
UK-based healthcare market research specialist Narrative Health has opened a US office in New York, which will be established and led by former Cello Health Insight exec Avanti Ananthram. More
In the UK, the ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) has appointed its current Executive Director of Audit, Finance & ICT Simon Redlich as interim Chief Executive Officer from 1st January, after the departure of Jerry Wright. More
In the US, research technology and services group FocusVision has acquired the assets of video research solutions provider Qualvu, along with the firm's qual research intelligence platform 24Tru. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, full service agency Target Research Group is to merge with Relevation Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Technology firm Tobii is claiming a world first with the launch of a large-scale survey panel providing continuous online attention data from eye trackers. The data will come from 1,000 homes representing the Swedish population. More
Manchester, UK-based research agency Join the Dots has taken on eight new graduates, the third wave of its annual Graduate Development Programme. It has also hired former TBWA exec Hollie Clark, who will design creative strategies for global brands. More
This item was posted twice in error! See the original story from last Thursday... More
Daniel Blake has joined UK research provider Simpson Carpenter as an Associate Director in its fast-growing pharmaceutical and biotech division; and says more hires are 'imminent' to enhance the expertise and specialisms in the pharma team. More
US-based HCD has launched a communications research service, Emcode Omni, combining applied neuroscience methods at a central location and online quant. More
In the UK, food and drinks industry R&D firm Campden BRI has opened a dedicated consumer test centre in Leamington Spa, to uncover insights about new products and provide related quant and qual consumer research. More
In the UK, full service agency Boxclever has launched a Marketing Effectiveness business, and hired former Nunwood Board Director Colin Bunn to lead it. More
Former Millward Brown Ireland CEO Richard Waring and marketer Dan McGuiness have launched an online marketplace called the Research Exchange, to connect buyers and suppliers of market research. More
Customer experience management (CEM) software provider ResponseTek has launched a DIY solution called the Listening Lab, through which it says users can create and deploy ad hoc surveys in minutes. More
UK MR charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) has raised £14,000 through its 'Helping Researchers in Need' fundraising week - beating its original £10,000 target. More
The Readership Studies Council of India (RSCI) has named GroupM CEO CVL Srinivas as its new Chairman for a two-year period. More
Marcoms group Creston has reported an 8% increase in revenue to £40.3m for the six months ended 30th September 2015, while its Communications & Insight division saw revenue rise 14% to £30.6m and headline PBIT increase by 24% to £4.0m. More
Ipsos has promoted Elie Aoun to the position of Chief Executive Officer of its Connect division in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). He will take up the post in January. More
IntuiLab, which makes interactive experience software for use with digital signage and other devices, has launched an enterprise-class data tracking capability for use in gathering business insights. More
WPP's J. Walter Thompson Company is to take a majority stake in Lebanon-based creative digital agency Cleartag, whose services include social media analysis, curation of online communities and user experience research. More
US-based DIY survey platform Ask Your Target market (AYTM) has appointed former Ipsos VP and MRIA President Sandy Janzen in the newly-created position of Director, Client Engagement. More
In the US, kids and family researcher Julie Katz has joined specialist agency Smarty Pants in the role of Insights Jedi (yes). Katz was previously Consumer Insights Manager at the LEGO Group. More
Brand and comms researcher Hall & Partners has hired three staff for its mobile-focused division, Tempo, running since February and formally launched just last month. Simon Walker joins as 'Director of Crowds' and Kimberly Webb as Director, while Gedas Tamutis takes the role of 'Project Engager'. More
Mobile video feedback specialist Voxpopme has announced a partnership with US-based customer experience optimisation firm InMoment, adding the former's video capture and analytics capabilities to the latter's Voice of Customer (VoC) platform. More
MR software provider Dapresy has named Alexander Skorka as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), adding to his responsibilities as MD for its DACH Region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). More
US-based sampling automation provider Lucid has launched a digital marketing tool called Proof, which promises to combine measurement of audience exposure with reaction across mobile and non-mobile platforms. More
UK-based InsightBee, a service which gives access to the desk and primary research skills of a network of consultants via an online interface, has announced a partnership with independent consultant network MBA & Company. More
In California, Nielsen has sold its entertainment research subsidiary NRG to Stagwell Group, the investment company formed recently by Mark Penn, co-founder of Penn Schoen Berland. Terms were not disclosed. More
UK-based research agency B2B International has launched an advice and consultancy division, and says it is looking to accelerate its expansion. More
MFour Mobile Research, creator of the Surveys On The Go app, has moved into its new headquarters in Newport Beach, California, and continued its rapid growth with appointments including former Ipsos exec Irene Manahan and Andrea Han from Added Value. More
Research technology firm OMR Globus has launched a free customer feedback tool and portal called Q123, including survey set-up, analysis and reporting. More
On-demand survey sample company Innovate has announced a strategic relationship with online community specialist Passenger Inc., whose FUEL community platform it will now offer to clients. More
MR data quality and anti-fraud specialist Imperium has appointed Jennifer Weitz as VP, Business Development. Her fifteen years plus of online MR experience include time at SSI, Critical Mix and Greenfield Online. More
GfK has reported 0.7% organic growth for the third quarter, with sales in Euros up 4% to EUR 371.4m. For the first nine months of the year, the group saw sales rise 6.0% to EUR 1.118bn - up just 0.4% in organic terms. More
In the US two healthcare specialists, full service researcher InCrowd and data collection firm SHC Universal have announced a partnership to give clients access to a broader community of healthcare decision-makers. More
London School of Economics Professor Ronny Razin and designer Piers Aitman have launched a qualitative insight tool called Voxter, which they say can be used for market research, opinion polling, brand engagement, change management and crowd sourcing. More
In the US, digital consumer insights specialist Watch Me Think (WMT) has appointed Kenneth Monarrez to lead its US and Latin America team from its office in Chicago. More
UK TV audience research body BARB has agreed 'fusion projects' with Kantar Media and Nielsen for its Project Dovetail initiative, which will combine panel data with census data for TV viewing through all computer devices. More
In Pakistan, Kantar agency TNS and qual and quant agency Aftab Associates will be ending their partnership at the end of March 2016, when the regional franchise agreement will move to sister agency MRB Pakistan. More
In the UK, not-for-profit body NatCen has partnered with social policy research and development charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), to launch a panel to better understand the social and political attitudes of people on low incomes. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has promoted MD Richard Collins to the role of Managing Director for quant and qual solutions EMEA. He is based in London. More
Ipsos Healthcare has rolled out its Global Oncology Monitor in Indonesia, in response to local and multinational companies' growing need to understand diagnosis and treatment trends in the country. More
GfK has introduced a new brand and communications tracking platform, providing real-time access to data, dynamic 'hot alerts' based on a variety of KPIs, and data visualization tools. More
Global MR tech and services company 20|20 Research has launched an online collage tool named QualLage, to help researchers prepare and engage qualitative participants, and deliver more vivid reports. More
UK-based BrainJuicer has introduced a new methodology which taps into consumers' likelihood to select brands while on auto-pilot, in order to understand the current strength of a brand and predict whether it is likely to be growing or declining a year from now. More
A group of agencies in India are planning to set up a self-regulatory industry body, with the aim of improving standards in the way the country's polls are conducted. More
US-based full service agency Market Probe has appointed former Maritz Research CEO Michael Brereton as a Senior Consultant, to advise the firm on new CEM products and technology platforms and participate in business development activities. More
US agencies Mystery Researchers, Insula Research and Beyond Hello have merged under the new name SeeLevel HX. More
Czech Republic ratings body the Association of TV Organisations (ATO) has chosen Kantar Media and comScore to deliver a cross-platform measurement pilot of TV and video content. More
The EU says it expects to replace and improve upon its suspended Safe Harbor agreement with the US within three months; the US FCC continues to consider issues surrounding Do Not Track and TCPA; and some telephone researchers find ingenious ways to survive the latter. More
In Mumbai, digital MR agency MRSS India has released results for the half year ended September 30th, with revenue matching that for the previous full year at Rs 54m ($US 0.81m). More
UK-based research / business intelligence firm Future Thinking has streamlined its company structure with a simplified offer. More
Focusing in on its role as an all-round audience measurement firm, comScore is selling its BI service Digital Analytix to Adobe; entering a strategic partnership with streaming service Spotify; and launching a household media measure called the 'Total Home Panel'. More
WPP division Mindshare is rolling out its Shop+ real-time retail data unit globally. The unit works with a range of methods from beacons in physical stores to real-time response technologies used by online retailers. More
ORC International has extended its long-established CARAVAN omnibus product with the launch of an Online Omnibus Survey of Hispanic consumers. More
In Timisoara, Romania, DIY online survey and form builder 123ContactForm has formally launched a new product, CaptainForm, which allows the simple creation and customisation of forms or surveys via a WordPress plug-in. More
Product research and sensory testing company Contract Testing Inc. (CTI) is moving to a new location in Grand Rapids, Michigan. More
Multi-screen audience measurement specialist Rentrak has reported a 30% rise in second quarter revenue to $32.8m. The result was driven by a 53% increase for the TV Everywhere product line, up from $13.3m to $20.4m in the prior year period. More
In a London museum, cultural and semiotic insight specialist Space Doctors has launched an installation called Choco-Phonica, consisting of a series of booths which explore consumers' relationship with chocolate through sound and taste. More
In the UK, full service agency Boxclever has expanded its senior team with the appointment of former GfK and Nunwood exec Iain Stanfield as a Director. More
In New York, TNS has appointed former GfK exec Howard Lax as Head of Customer Strategies for the Americas region. More
Software company Unicom Global has agreed to buy IBM's Data Collection suite of products, which allow survey design, management and analysis. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kantar Media and TNS Gallup have won a continuation of their contract to provide the currency for measurement of TV audiences in Denmark. The new deal will run for five years from 2017, with the option to extend until 2024. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has announced that EVP Greg Ellis will take over responsibility for its North American sales from Tom Markert, who is leaving to pursue other business interests. More
Global marketing information services firm JD Power has named Greg Hoeg Vice President of US Insurance Operations, with responsibility for syndicated research studies and consulting services. More
Surrey, UK-based sampling and panel management specialist MARSC has promoted Allan Shaw to Managing Director, responsible for all commercial, operational and business development activities. More
In London, BDRC's telephone and online research agency Perspective Research Services (PRS) has split its qualitative and quantitative offerings to create two new divisions, and promoted Ger-Jan van der Maten and Tom Stacey to lead them. More
Canadian qualitative software provider itracks has announced a new version of its IDI online qual product; and a partnership with Research Now offering 'on-demand recruitment' for online and mobile qual studies. More
Fishkill, NY-based Virtual Incentives has hired former FocusVision exec Michelle Andre as its first Vice President of Marketing, based in a new west coast office in Oregon. More
US-based data collection firm SHC Universal has announced an exclusive partnership with rapid physician response specialist Truth On Call, promising insights in 24 hours. More
New York-based analytics company Moat Inc. has won MRC accreditation for its mobile metrics. The decision covers measurement of viewable ad impressions and related viewability metrics both for apps and mobile web browsing. More
CATE and RICK, meet MAT... MR technology firm Jibunu has added another qualitative tool to its growing family - this one is a Message Analysis Tool which simplifies card sort exercises in moderated message testing. More
Hyper-local micro data platform Findyr has announced a partnership with First Mile Geo, a company offering location-focused data sharing tools. The combination will offer clients 'on-demand, real-world, in-context insights and business analytics from across the globe'. More
McGraw Hill Financial is considering selling its US-based auto research specialist JD Power and Associates for up to $1 billion, according to an exclusive report published by Reuters. More
US-based full service agency MarketVision Research has opened an office in Dubai, to support the business needs of clients in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. More
Australian firm Local Measure, which provides customer intelligence for the tourism sector, has expanded to the US with an office in Miami. The new office will help local hotels, malls, airlines and attractions extract customer insights from publicly shared social media posts. More
Consumer insights specialist Macromill has appointed Shinichiro Oka as Chief Human Resources Officer, based in Tokyo, while Mark Sidell joins the firm as Chief Operating Officer, based in the United States. More
In-store marketing analytics provider NOMi has been awarded a patent for the tracking and analysis technologies available in its Brickstream LIVE sensor device. More
Nielsen is setting up industry discussions to initiate changes to its C3 and C7 television ratings, coinciding with the impending roll-out of its Total Audience Measurement tool. More
Computer vision technology developer SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has introduced an automated analysis solution for mobile eye tracking data. More
Nielsen is working with secure identity solutions firm Digimarc to make its digital watermarks available to clients for use in applications 'beyond audience measurement' - and specifically across second screens. More
US-based software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has launched a new reporting feature to enable users to track incentive redemption rates for online panels. More
US consumer insights specialist Kelton Global has appointed former Edelman Berland COO Brett Davis as its first Chief Operating Officer, responsible for strategic business planning and resource allocation, as well as overseeing its finance and operations. More
Toronto, Canada-based data collection agency The Logit Group is to open a 100-seat call center in Wichita, Kansas, which it says should become the hub of its US operations. More
Research and branding consultancy The Sound has appointed nine new members of staff across its offices on three continents. More
Denver, CO-based on-demand online community specialist GutCheck has closed $12m in Series D funding, almost doubling its investment to date, and says it will accelerate its growth to meet 'high demand in the agile market research space'. More
WPP has reported like-for-like revenue up 4.6% for Q3 2015. The insight division, known as 'Data Investment Management', was among those 'improving versus the second quarter' but once again was the only one to report a slight decline in revenue. More
Nielsen and GfK have announced a partnership for future co-operation within the book sector, with the aim of helping clients identify multinational trends and giving them more detail on market developments. More
Qual and quant full-service US agency Illumination Research is opening an office in San Francisco, and has appointed Brad Weiss to lead the expansion of its West Coast Operations. More
Ipsos MORI has appointed nineteen-year Kantar veteran Jeremy May as Senior Director in its face-to-face fieldwork operation. More
Research and technology firm Instantly has launched new features giving researchers direct access to its Automated Sample and to predefined audiences. Currently available in the US, the updates will be released in the UK before the end of the year. More
US research industry organizations CASRO and MRA are in discussions about a potential merger. More
Twitter has extended its built-in polling feature to enable anyone with an account to create their own polls, or to vote anonymously in someone else's. More
Creston subsidiary Marketing Sciences Unlimited has launched a panel called Reflected Life, to provide continuous data on the digital footprint of the UK population. More
Israeli measurement technology firm MRL (Mobile Research Labs) has been granted a UK patent for a mobile app-based system which both identifies the presence of ambient sound attributable to a specific ad or programme, and engages a person for a related survey. More
London-based viewing facility firm i-view has opened a new operation in the centre of Warsaw, Poland through a partnership with full service local agency Stratega Research. More
Nielsen has reported a 5.0% constant currency increase in third quarter revenue to $1.53bn on a basis, and adjusted EBITDA up 6.9% to $479m on the same basis. More
Ipsos has reported a 3.7% increase in revenue to EUR 428m for the period from July to September, but at constant scope and exchange rates this equates to a fall of 2.2%. The decline cancels out a small real-terms rise in the first half of the year. More
In the US, international mystery shopping and MR firm Measure Consumer Perspectives (MCP) has acquired 420 Intel Agency, a Colorado firm offering marijuana mystery shopping services - and has renamed the business CatchFire CX. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online DIY survey specialist SurveyMonkey has hired Pollster.com co-founder Mark Blumenthal for the newly created role of Head of Election Polling, based in Washington DC. More
In Seattle, former Microsoft Director Jessica Jobes has launched a new marketing agency, OnTheGrid, LLC, which will offer inbound marketing services based on an understanding of customers derived from interviews. More
Italian TV audience measurement body Auditel has suspended publication of viewing figures after the identities of families on its panel were accidentally disclosed, reportedly as a result of human error in a mail sent by supplier company Nielsen. More
Eye tracking technology pioneer Tobii has released two new products, the Tobii IS4 eye tracking platform and Tobii EyeChip, geared towards integrating eye tracking features into a wide range of consumer devices. More
The hearing of Kantar Market Research Services' appeal against Indian government guidelines effectively banning its TAM joint venture with Nielsen has been postponed yet again, this time to February 9th 2016. More
US healthcare data collection firm SHC Universal has promoted Hilary Fischer to Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer after just two and a half months at the company. Sal Brucculeri moves up to EVP, Client Relationships and Sales Management while David Katz and Laurie Shapiro also join the function. More
Healthcare Business Intelligence (BI) provider Maitems Analytics has announced two new products for pharmaceutical companies: 360 Brand View and Continuous Pulse Survey. More
San Francisco-based Quri, which provides retail intelligence based on reports from mystery shoppers, has raised $17m in a Series C round of funding. Plans for the money include expansion into markets in seven other major US cities. More
In the US, radio and music research specialist Coleman Insights has launched a new, online version of its FACT Strategic Music Test, which promises to help radio stations build the most appealing and targeted libraries possible. More
In India, Nielsen / Kantar joint venture TAM Media Research and WPP agency IMRB International have jointly launched a cross-media consumption data service called TeleWeb Audience Measurement, covering TV and online platforms. More
Shaswati Saradar, CEO of India's MRUC (Media Research Users Council) has 'decided to move on' after nearly five years, and will be replaced by Radhesh Uchil. The organisation also has a new Chairman and Vice Chairman. More
In the US, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has tagged a million of Research Now's consumer panelists using its 'propensity-to-purchase' ProScores models, enhancing its ability to select consumers and shoppers based on their predicted purchase behaviour. More
Digital measurement specialist comScore has rolled out its syndicated Mobile Metrix solution in Indonesia, where it is also jointly developing mobile panels with Kantar. More
In the UK, market research recruitment consultant Sarah Penny has set up her own company, Penny Cross Recruitment Ltd. More
UK fieldwork services company People for Research has combined its user testing lab and focus group facility under a new name, User Viewing, and moved the facility to a central Bristol office space, just off Queen Square. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now is looking for a new President and CEO, following Kurt Knapton's decision to resign for personal reasons. He will remain on the Board of Directors once his successor has been identified. More
Three founders of US full service agency Dialogue have renamed the company Alter Agents, and launched a CPG research platform called Shopper STAT. The fourth partner, Patrick O'Neal, will continue to deliver qual research and strategic planning under the Dialogue company name. More
In London, Kantar public sector division TNS BMRB has appointed Hazel Wilkinson and Sally Panayiotou as Directors in its Policy and Communications practices respectively. More
In London, GfK has hires James Howitt for the newly created role of Digital Lead, UK, driving the promotion of its digital media research capabilities and solutions. More
London-based brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners has formally launched a mobile-focused division called Tempo, which uses technology to gather 'in the moment' feedback in the form of data, pictures, video and stories. More
Canada-based digital innovation firm Delvinia has launched a fast turnaround research automation platform called Methodify, allowing marketers access to customer insight in as little as 48 hours. More
Surrey, UK-based agency Bonamy Finch has put Deputy MD Paul Carney at the head of a new Data Science team, helping brands to analyse large volumes of data and draw insights from both existing datasets and new primary research. More
YouGov has reported a 13 percent revenue rise - including organic growth of 11% - in preliminary results for the year ended 31st July. The year saw strong growth in new markets France and Asia Pacific; and a higher proportion of revenue from favoured product lines. More
US full service survey researcher SSRS and data collection specialist STR (Survey Technology & Research) have announced a merger under the SSRS brand. More
WPP has increased its holding in struggling Australian group STW Communications, owner of a number of data and MR agencies. More
In the UK, online communities specialist Verve has opened a Northern office in Leeds, and appointed Bryony Hughes to lead it. Ten more staff have also joined the company in its offices in London, Chicago and Iasi (Romania). More
Luxury department store Harrods is investing in audience measurement technology, to help understand which customer types are watching its in-store advertising screens. More
Online specialist MACROMILL-MetrixLab has appointed Scott Ernst as Chief Executive Officer. He replaces Han De Groot, who will remain as a member of the Board and provide advice to the leadership team on portfolio choices and strategy. More
In the UK, Research Now co-founder Andrew Cooper and the firm's former Chairman Geoff Westmore have led a $1.5m investment in mobile video MR specialist Voxpopme. More
UK-based MR staffing specialist CSA Recruitment has closed its doors for the last time after nearly twenty years serving the industry. Proprietors Caroline and Clive Warren will pursue business interests outside recruitment and the market research industry. More
In the US, 20|20 Research has launched a centralized storage hub and real-time video transcription service called QualMeeting Video Portal, which it claims will cut analysis and report time from days or weeks, to hours. More
Cello-owned co-creation agency FACE has appointed six new consultants in New York and London, following several new clients wins in the digital sector. More
Full service agency Relish Research has appointed former TNS director Rebecca Harrison as Head of Qualitative. The firm has also hired Yimen Lee as an Account Director, Ute Wenkemann as Qualitative Research Manager, and Matt O'Brien as an SRE. More
Canadian opinion polling and consumer research specialist Insights West has acquired focus group facility SmartPoint Research, which has now been renamed the Vancouver Insights Centre. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, MR verbatim analyst Ascribe has introduced a speech-to-text data analysis solution, to help draw out insights from customer phone conversations. More
London-based opinion research specialist BritainThinks has appointed former Shelter exec Julia Pitman as Associate Director, tasked with building the firm's Charity practice. More
In the UK, full service agency Explain Market Research has appointed Alex Gates as Marketing Director, Sam Riley as Market Research Executive, and Anna Wiltshire as Market Research Assistant on its graduate trainee scheme. More
Film and TV measurement specialist Rentrak has introduced a service for reporting syndicated US TV programming at a national level. More
In the US, HCD Research has introduced a suite of neuroscience-based video game research tools, which when combined with traditional research methods promise a 'comprehensive view' of respondents' non-conscious and cognitive responses to video game concepts. More
Kantar has moved Efrain Ribeiro into the role of company-wide Chief Research Officer, replacing Renee Smith who is leaving to join Colorado-based research company GutCheck (see today's DRNO). Ribeiro will take up the new role on November 1st. More
Former Kantar CRO Renee Smith has joined on-demand online community specialist GutCheck as Chief Research Officer. She will take up the role on October 19th. More
Healthcare fieldwork specialist M3 Global Research is opening its first studio in Philadelphia next January. The studio will provide a full-service research service for the healthcare community and the consumer goods sector. More
Online research 'app store' platform ZappiStore has appointed former Lightspeed GMI exec Roxan Toll as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing in Singapore; while Eileen Rozic joins in the US as Vice President of Sales, West Coast. More
In the US, audience-centric marketing intelligence firm CentraForce has set up a new business called CentraForce Health, which will offer consumer insights to the healthcare sector through a platform called Population 360. More
International data collection group Schlesinger Associates has acquired Chicago-based MedQuery, a specialist in medical fieldwork. More
Broadcast and entertainment giant Viacom has appointed Julian Zilberbrand as EVP of Audience Science, effective two weeks from today. More
Global panel marketplace provider Cint has opened an office in Hong Kong, moved to larger premises in Tokyo, and appointed former Toluna MD James Rogers to lead its continued expansion in Asia as Regional Head of Supply Acquisition & APAC MD. More
Asia / Pacific Managing Director Greg Wayman is to leave ORC International at the end of the year, and will be replaced by former Nielsen exec Oliver Rust, who joins on November 10th. More
French-based marketing services company Havas has announced the acquisition of MR group CSA and the Intervalles agency, from Bolloré Group, which is the majority shareholder in Havas itself. More
Oxfordshire, UK-based MMR Research Worldwide has launched MMR Express, a suite of tools for rapid and cost-effective insights. The solutions include screening, concept and package testing and optimisation, online focus groups and video, and rapid sensory evaluation. More
Dubai-based market research app developer TaskSpotting has closed $1.2m in Series A funding, and will expand to Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the next three months, according to cofounder and CEO Karim Aly. More
London-based research firm YouthSight has launched a tracking tool called SYN, to help marketers understand the behaviour of those in the 16 to 24-year-old age bracket. More
In the US, Nielsen has launched a service called 'Homescan Consumer Moments', which uses mobile app technology to research consumers' eating and drinking habits. More
UK-based healthcare fieldwork agency Just Worldwide has appointed industry veteran Bj Kirschner as Director of Business Development, based in its New York office. More
Los Angeles-based media and entertainment company AwesomenessTV has launched a new firm called Wildness, offering research and strategy services for brands engaging with youth culture. More
In the US, broadcast and cable company Viacom has launched a new study to analyze how different forms of entertainment impact viewer attention. More
In the US, customer experience analytics specialist ForeSee has expanded its platform with the addition of two new products - 'Feedback' and 'Sentiment Analytics' - to help clients gather and understand their voice-of-customer (VOC) data. More
Digital analytics specialist comScore is to buy film and TV measurement firm Rentrak in an all stock deal valued at around $732m. This acquisition, which will create a new giant in cross-platform measurement, is expected to close in early 2016. More
In India, TV rating body BARC has commissioned Nielsen to conduct what it is describing as the country's largest universe estimation study on television ownership and viewing habits. More
In Sydney, TNS has promoted Anne Rayner to the newly created role of Global Head of Communications Research. More
Tokyo-based panels and technology company Research Panel Asia (RPA) is changing its name to dataSpring, following its acquisition by Marketing Applications Inc. (MApps). MApps will retain its name in Japan while merging its overseas assets into dataSpring. More
UK supermarket Tesco is reportedly close to giving up on the sale of its customer data business dunnhumby, which has seen bidders withdraw and its potential price plummet in recent weeks. Instead it is said to be discussing the sale of its businesses in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. More
In New York, Ipsos Marketing has appointed Nagisa Manabe in the new role of Global President of the Path to Purchase & Shopper service line. More
MR software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has launched a new reporting tool, the 'Advanced Recruitment Source Report', within its Kinesis Panel platform - and says more reporting tools will follow in the last quarter of 2015. More
GfK has announced that Debbie Pruent will retire at the end of December, and will be replaced by David Krajicek as Chief Commercial Officer for the Consumer Experiences sector. In addition, Alessandra Cama will take up the new role of Chief Operations Officer. More
Research software firm Confirmit has added a range of enhancements to its Horizons solution, supporting large-scale programs for omni-channel feedback capture, and personalized, role-based analysis. More
Full service agency MRSS India continues to build its senior team, with the appointments of Rajesh Kumar as Transportation and Logistics Practise Guru; Chandramouli Guin as the Head of its Public Sector practice; and Manish Ganvir as Vice President - Insight Sciences. More
In the US, data archive the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research is to be relocated from its current home at the University of Connecticut to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. More
Data driven CRM firm Merkle has promoted Mark Guenther and hired Alex Kooluris as Vice Presidents in its Retail & Consumer Goods practice. More
UK-based online specialist BrainJuicer has launched a new communications testing tool called ComScan, providing overnight measure of the 'emotional resonance' of creative. More
London-based consultancy FreshMinds has appointed Drew Still as a Senior Consultant and Jade McMillan-Hainey as a Consultant. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has added social media sharing and login capabilities, advanced gamification, sentiment analysis tools and dashboards to its FUEL engagement platform. More
Mobile apps A/B testing service Taplytics has launched a platform called BigQuery, which provides open access to raw mobile data. More
London-based online community specialist Verve has opened an office in Chicago, supporting a new Fortune 50 client in the area; and has moved Tim Martin, VP Research & Consulting there with a remit to rapidly build a team. More
In the US, grocery giant The Kroger Co. has added to the responsibilities of its CIO Chris Hjelm, naming him EVP and putting him in overall charge of its recently launched data division, 84.51 degrees. More
Colorado-based cannabis industry data and insight provider BDS Analytics has officially launched with a $1.5m round of investment funding. More
US-based Civicom Marketing Research Services has opened an office in London, to support client qual research needs across the UK and EU. More
In the US, technology-driven sample provider P2Sample has appointed Nelson Davis as Director of Client Development and Engagement. He joins with more than 35 years' market research industry experience. More
In the US, broadcaster Disney|ABC Television Group has hired former Wal-Mart exec Cindy Davis as Executive Vice President, Consumer Experience. More
UK-based full service agency Tpoll has been re-named MindMover, and has announced the appointment of Laura Lake as Managing Director. More
In the US, consumer insight specialist Turnkey Intelligence (TI) has hired sports and entertainment researcher Donté Scott for a newly created role, Executive Vice President and Chief Insights Officer. More
UK-based health and consumer marketing group Cello has reported a 50% drop in pre-tax profit to £1.7m for the six months to the end of June, driven by investment in its US operations and a £1.1m provision made for an ongoing case with the UK tax authorities. More
In the US, Civicom Marketing Research Services has added gamification tools to its Chatterbox online community platform, aiming to improve participant engagement. More
Online community and survey tech provider Toluna has received a $10m investment from its holding company ITWP Acquisitions, for use in promoting its QuickSurveys DIY online consumer insights platform. More
Research community and survey tech firm Vision Critical has appointed software industry veteran George Skaryak as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales, responsible for leading the global sales team. More
In New York City, TV station operator and digital media firm Media General has hired former CBS researcher Lucy Hughes for the newly created role of Head of Research. More
Guildford, Surrey-based healthcare MR and fieldwork operations firm FieldBox has hired Phil Thorpe as its first Managing Director. More
Digital media operations and data analysis firm Theorem has acquired UK-based FaR Partners, a data-driven consultancy which helps publishers and media owners benchmark their performance. Terms were not disclosed. More
UK-based financial services research specialist Bdifferent has launched its first syndicated study for asset managers operating across Asia. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has hired IBM veteran Lori Gerber as Senior Vice President, Sales for North America. More
As part of a senior reshuffle, UK retailer John Lewis has promoted its Head of Marketing Craig Inglis to the role of Customer Director, with a seat on the Board. He retains responsibility for marketing and customer insight. More
Two former eBay researchers, Nicolas Bulois and Barbara Langer, have set up a new agency, Insight Angels, offering 'flexible freelance support' to clients and agencies. More
Customer satisfaction scorecard provider IgniteFeedback, founded this year, has raised more than $300k to be used to grow the business in the US. This includes hiring for sales, marketing and product development roles. More
In the US, Atlanta-based Jackson Associates Research, Inc. has merged with Californian company Adept Consumer Testing. More
Pollster ICM breached the Market Research Society's (MRS) Code of Conduct by asking a leading question in a health poll conducted for BBC Wales, the Society has confirmed after a complaint by the Welsh Government. More
In the UK, two major brands have underlined their focus on customer experience - British Airways with an appointment and Morrisons via an announcement by the CEO; while a third, publisher Trinity Mirror, has raised eyebrows with a new analytics-led business approach. More
DIY online survey firm SurveyMonkey has added Meg Whitman, currently Chairman, President and CEO of computer giant HP, to a Board of Directors which already includes Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. More
US research technology firm Jibunu has launched a tool called CATE, giving customers a smoother and faster survey testing environment. More
Nearly two decades on from its US launch, Kantar Retail has rolled out its PoweRanking study in the UK. The study probes manufacturers' views of the major retail chains, and flags up key areas for performance improvement. More
British online audience measurement body UKOM has appointed Ian Dowds as its first CEO. More
Japanese research and online panel provider GMO Research, Inc. has agreed a strategic capital and business alliance with Chinese ad network Ignite Vision Holdings, making its China Cloud Panel 'the number one panel in China in terms of reach'. More
Swedish-based affluent sample Provider Red Carpet Research now has a presence in Switzerland, following the appointment of former OnePoint and Annik exec Gary Stocks. More
Research software firm Confirmit has developed a location and beacon triggering solution, to help clients understand 'in-the-moment' customer behaviour. The company has also ammounced its official launch in Australia. More
Online research company Lightspeed GMI has announced a global roll-out for its survey programming platform, QuestionArts, backed by a newly strengthened leadership team. More
In the UK, business networking app AroundThen has released a web-based reporting tool called Proximity Portal, which provides real-time and historical reporting of Beacon notifications and location check-ins for event organisers. More
US-based facial analysis specialist Affectiva has launched a solution it calls 'Emotion as a Service', to provide clients with access to emotion data on demand. More
Pew Research founding Director, pollster and nonpartisan news commentator Andy Kohut died yesterday in John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after a six-year battle with lymphocytic leukemia. He was 73. More
London-based consumer insight agency BAMM has hired Ipsos MORI's former Head of Qual, Dr Sarah Jenkins, as Client Services Director. More
In the US, Spanish-language media group Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has promoted Belia Jimenez to the role of Vice President of Corporate Research. More
Cross-Tab-owned emerging markets panel specialist Borderless Access has launched a behavioral profiling capability for its panelists across twenty countries, allowing it to target consumers on the basis of their brand usage and consumption patterns. More
Fieldwork services group Norstat has appointed digital media industry consultant Nina Kulås as the Managing Director of Norstat Norway. She replaces Hans Peter Wøien, who has become Managing Director / Partner at research advisory company Barcode Intelligence. More
Podcasting platform Acast has partnered with brand tracking specialist Nepa, to launch what the firms say is the first research panel to exclusively engage podcast listeners in Sweden. More
Full-service agency Stable Research has bought a stake in mobile-based consumer MR firm Mobile Digital Indaba (MDI), partnering to create what the firms say will be Australia's largest dedicated mobile research community / panel. More
Survey technology firm CFMC has changed its name to that of its existing major brand, Survox, in line it says with the evolution of the industry and of its own go-to-market strategy. More
India-based digital MR firm Majestic Research Services and Solutions (MRSS India) has announced its first annual results since it commenced public trading, with revenue more than doubled to Rs 55m ($US 0.8m). More
Nielsen and multicultural consumer MR specialist Culturati have partnered to launch a new segmentation model, to help clients market to the Hispanic demographic in-store and elsewhere. More
The Publishers Audience Measurement Company (PAMCo) - the replacement for the UK's NRS - has appointed Ipsos MORI to provide the published media industry's new audience measurement service; and has named Aviva Group Brand Director Jan Gooding as its new Chair. More
In India, IMRB International has appointed marketer K Ramkrishnan as General Manager of its IMRB | Kantar Worldpanel business. More
UK-based business intelligence specialist Future Thinking has appointed Dan Young as Research Director and Head of its Quantum Lab in London. More
In the US, mobile data collection and field representative management software specialist VisitBasis Tech has launched a platform for compiling and analyzing large amounts of data. More
UK-based consultancy FreshMinds has launched an ideation approach called Spark, promising to help brands in the early stages of the innovation process by generating ideas for new products and services. The firm's existing product suite has also been upgraded. More
In the US, the AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) has set up a full-service marketing agency called Influent50, to help brands communicate and market products and services directly to those aged 50 and over. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has introduced the 'Mobile Member App', allowing users to participate in surveys while on the move, and post their own questions to the firm's community of nearly nine million members. More
In the US, B2B media and information company Winsight, which specializes in the convenience retailing, restaurant and non-commercial foodservice industries, has acquired foodservice research firm Technomic. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with workforce management specialist Gigwalk to provide retail intelligence to CPG brands. More
Brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners has announced the opening of an office in Dubai, led by Managing Director Ziad Skaff, who previously served as Regional Executive Director of Research and Insights at sister company Omnicom Media Group MENA. More
UK-based full service agency DJS Research has launched 'alumnus', a service allowing universities to benchmark their alumni relationship metrics against other institutions. More
In the UK, specialist MR staff recruiters Bridget Barry and Stephanie Fairbank have set up a new agency, Pollen Recruitment, which launches today. They are immediately joined by James Handley, formerly of Kantar and Australia's Hudson Global Resources. More
In San Francisco, DIY online MR specialist Ask Your Target Market (AYTM) has hired former Ipsos exec Dr. Jonathan (JD) Deitch as its first Chief Operating Officer. More
US-based voice-of-customer technology firm OpinionLab has released a new version of its product, enabling brands to connect consumer feedback gathered through digital channels such as smartphones, with specific physical locations. More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell is urging Rentrak and comScore to join forces and find a solution to what he describes as 'faulty measurement' of digital ad views and viewability. More
TV audience rating body BARC India has confirmed that it has partnered with Nielsen/Kantar joint venture TAM India, to form a new meter management company. According to a statement issued by BARC, ratings data produced by the new firm will be the sole trading currency for the country. More
Louisville, Kentucky-based Thoroughbred Research Group (TRG) is opening a new 65-seat call center in Phoenix, Arizona next month, and has hired Tim Wirtz as Director of Field Operations, to lead it. More
WPP has reported that revenue in its Data Investment Management (DIM) arm fell slightly (0.3%) to £1.173bn during the first half of the year, from £1.176bn in last year's first six months; while DIM headline profit before tax rose 11.7% to £100.6m from £88.1m a year earlier. More
London-based emotional analytics specialist Realeyes has appointed former US government mathematician Jeff Ryan as Chief Data Scientist. He is relocating from New York to join the firm's office in Budapest. More
In New York, digital cable and satellite television channel WE tv has appointed media researcher Stephanie Yates as Vice President of Research and Insights. More
In the UK, eDigitalResearch has appointed Angie Coombe as Research Manager and David Jeans as Senior Researcher Manager in its Insight team, while Darryl Sherborne joins the Strategic Technical team as Project Manager. The firm has also appointed four others, and promoted two. More
In New York, managed analytics firm Ugam has partnered with mobile and online survey technology provider OnePoint Global to enhance its mobile and SMS survey capabilities. More
Media research company 'other lines of enquiry' has consolidated its TV broadcast, radio and press research offerings under one umbrella brand, reflecting the converging of media platforms as well as company growth. Former Ipsos AD Sara Rice joins the newly merged team as Senior Manager. More
Dubai-based online healthcare specialist 42 market research has launched a new panel for pharmaceutical research in the Czech Republic, adding to existing offers in around 50 countries worldwide. More
WPP-owned digital research specialist Lightspeed GMI has opened an office in Gurgaon, India, with a team led by Ashish Pandey, Client Development Manager and Siddhartha Dutta, General Manager. More
Edinburgh-based qualitative analysis software developer Quirkos has upgraded its product, adding new features for working with text data. More
Former Nielsen SVP Kindra Tatarsky has joined in-store big data analytics specialist RetailNext in the new role of Head of Corporate Development, responsible for initiatives such as M&A, partnerships and investments. More
In the US, audience measurement specialist Rentrak has partnered with advance ticketing firm MovieTickets.com to produce a suite of marketing, planning and ROI measurement tools for the movie and TV industries. More
In the US, sampling automation provider Federated Sample has changed its name to Lucid, which the company says reflects 'explosive growth' in its two primary business units. More
Partners Kantar Media and mobile survey platform GeoPoll have announced the launch of a joint service bringing 'reliable, real-time audience measurement' to a swathe of African states. The service is currently available across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. More
In California, online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey is planning to relocate its headquarters from Silicon Valley's Palo Alto to the new Bay Meadows development in San Mateo. More
UK-based marcoms group Chime has announced revenues down 7% to £184.5m, with profit before tax slumping from £9.57m in H1 2014 to just £1.41m. Much of the drop hinged however on difficult comparatives and the effect of cyclical sporting events, and the insight division CIE was solid. More
In London, DIY survey software firm Qualtrics has appointed Ian McVey as Head of Enterprise Sales for Northern Europe, responsible for setting up and staffing the business in the UK. More
UK-based full service researcher BDRC Continental has appointed former Nationwide Building Society events leader Karen Small as Client Services Manager for its Hotels and Hospitality research team, tasked with expanding its VenueVerdict customer experience offering. More
'Tis only a rumour at this stage, but an Indian online publication suggests that long-time rating agency and Nielsen / Kantar joint venture TAM Media Research is talking to new audience body BARC about a 'merger' - which considering their previous relations would be some turnaround. More
Middle Eastern insights provider 4SiGHT has appointed Steve Hamilton-Clark as a non-executive Advisor. Hamilton-Clark has spent the last 21 years working for TNS and predecessor companies in MENA, most recently in a long spell as TNS CEO. More
In the US, MR and analytics industry management consulting firm Cambiar has reappointed Beth Rounds as a Partner in the firm after a two-year gap, during which she served as COO of Atlanta-based Cambiar client CMI Research. More
Healthcare panel and community solutions provider Lightspeed All Global has appointed Marie Fortier as Director, Business Development. More
GfK has reported organic growth of just 0.3% in the first half of 2015. Reported sales climbed 7.1% to EUR 747.2m, but almost all this increase resulted from the weak Euro. Adjusted operating income rose 3.7% to EUR 71.2m, and CEO Matthias Hartmann sales should pick up in the second half. More
American MR bodies CASRO and the MRA have filed a 'motion to intervene' in a court case against new telephone rules from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). More
Further evidence of the increasing recognition given to User Experience skills: ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty has promoted its own Head of UX Adam Powers to be the company's first Chief Experience Officer. More
In Mumbai, MRSS India Ltd has announced four appointments: Ms Archana Pai as VP Custom Research (South), Anita Pathak as Manager, Mansi Mody as Senior Field Operations Manager and Pratyush Upadhyay as a Research Manager. More
LA-based entertainment research specialist MarketCast has announced the acquisition of Insight Strategy Group, a research and strategy agency with headquarters in New York City. More
European EFM solutions provider Questback has announced it is raising some £12m in capital from existing investors, in order to support an ambitious programme of expansion. More
Three months on from announcing that it would embark on a 'bruising' restructure, Australia-based STW Communications Group has reported 'disappointing' results, with organic revenue down 4.2% and underlying net profit after tax sliding 22.5% to $15.1m. More
Ipsos MORI has appointed former Kantar Health MD Jim Needell as Managing Director, Marketing. More
Mobile event technology company DoubleDutch has announced a $45m round of growth financing, for use in global expansion, sales and marketing, and targeted acquisitions. More
In the US, partner firms Virtual Incentives and icanmakeitbetter have developed a system to improve the distribution of incentives to research participants, including the 'instant' delivery of a wide range of rewards. More
GfK has acquired a Swedish software company, NORM Research & Consulting AB, whose core product simulates environments for virtual shopper research. More
German-based agricultural MR specialist Kleffmann Group has boosted its North American operations with the acquisition of US firm MarketSense, Inc., another agricultural research agency and a specialist in the animal health sector. More
In South Africa, yearling 'microjobbing' platform M4JAM (Money for Jam) has acquired digital survey specialist Pondering Panda for an undisclosed amount. More
US-based marketing and MR technology firm Jibunu has launched a focus group tool rejoicing in the name of RICK (Roundtable Interview Conversation Kickstarter). More
UK-based full service researcher Incite has opened an office in San Francisco and appointed Kevin Waters as its Managing Director. More
Findyr, a technology platform allowing companies rapid access to 'hyper-local micro data and content' from around the world, has launched out of beta. More
MFour Mobile Research is planning to triple its office space by relocating to Newport Beach Gateway in California, and is beginning a recruitment drive to double its research and development team by year end. More
Netherlands-based online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has appointed three new client directors at its offices in the UK. More
In the UK, video data mining and analysis specialist LivingLens has raised £1m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to expand its client servicing function, and to develop additional video technology. More
London-based consumer agency Firefish has expanded to South East Asia with the opening of a Singapore office. The venture will be led by former ABN Impact Director Angela Cross, while company Board Director Bob Cook becomes Regional MD to help kick-start the business. More
Malaysian boutique MR agency Green Zebras has moved to larger premises in Oasis Square, Kuala Lumpur, and made three appointments there. Simon Wong joins as Chief Financial Officer, Cheong Tien Weng as Qualitative Research Specialist, and Fazril Jamal as Research Associate. More
In the US, WPP-owned online specialist Lightspeed GMI has appointed Michael Krameisen as Director of Business Development. He joins with more than 25 years' business development experience gained in the marketing research industry. More
In the US, data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has opened a new facility in the Northeast Mall in Hurst, Texas - its 28th mall-based facility to date. More
Media research specialist GfK MRI has set up a new Innovation team, to explore emerging trends in TV viewing. Kevin King joins the team as SVP Mobile Measurement and Trends; while Karen Ramspacher becomes SVP Consumer Insights. More
In the US, mobile research firm MFour Mobile has introduced a tool called MediaMatch 360, which integrates media matching technology with measurement techniques for rapid feedback on ads, broadcasts and videos. More
In the UK, full service market and social research agency Bright Blue Research has named Paul Cussell Head of Digital, and Kerry Robinson as Research and Digital Strategy Manager. The firm has also made a number of promotions and appointed graduate Sam Willcocks. More
In the UK, document scanning specialist Pearl Scan has introduced a service to capture data from paper-based customer feedback forms and return it in any preferred digital format. More
Consumer data firm dunnhumby has upgraded its Behavioural Attitudinal Research (BAR) tool, to enable brands to measure themselves against their competitors based on chosen brand attributes. More
Hertfordshire, UK-based data collection agency QRS Market Research is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a move to larger offices in Welwyn Garden City, on Friday this week. More
London-based IFF Research has announced five new hires - Sara Dobie and Sam Morris as SREs, graduate trainees Conor Healy and Jeffy Henderson, and Mark Lynch as Marketing Executive. Three employees are also promoted. More
Polling firm Gallup has agreed a $12m dollar settlement fund for a class action lawsuit claiming it called cell phones using an autodialer without consent. Gallup says it has never auto-dialled a respondent on a cell phone. As DRNO understands it, US law now doesn't care if that's true or not. More
WPP's digital data collection arm Lightspeed GMI has appointed Susanne Goller and Johannes Van Lochem as Key Account Directors in its London office. More
WPP and buyout specialist Provident Equity Partners are in 'advanced discussions' to buy UK marcoms group Chime Communications for around £350m. More
US research provider Gongos has named long-term employee Jason Solack as Vice President of its Data Science practice, O2 Integrated. The firm has also promoted Crystle Uyeda to the role of Director, Business Development. More
US data collection firm SHC Universal has appointed former Kantar senior exec Hilary Fischer as SVP - New Venture Acquisition. In this role, she will focus on global product development and corporate acquisitions, while expanding the business development team into Europe. More
German communications scientist and former WAPOR President Professor Wolfgang 'Wolf' Donsbach died on Tuesday following a heart attack. He was 65 years old. More
Multi-mode healthcare data collection company Glocal Mind has developed panel and process management software, to help clients and in-house teams automate a number of business areas. More
Canada-based social media analyst Engagement Labs has completed the acquisition of Word-of-Mouth specialist Keller Fay Group, for an undisclosed amount. More
GfK has appointed media research veteran Gregg Lindner in the new position of EVP of Media Research at its consumer and media research company GfK MRI. More
Asian panel platform GMO Research and global panel marketplace Cint have announced an agreement adding more than three million of the former's Asia Cloud Panel respondents to the current fifteen million active panellists in the latter's OpinionHUB exchange. More
Ipsos has reported half-year revenues up 10.2% in Euros to EUR 832.9m. Given that the Euro has lost around 20% of its value against the dollar and 10% against the pound in the last 12 months, this equates to a real-terms decline of -0.4%. Profit measures showed a slight improvement. More
The Board of New York-based circulation body the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) has approved plans to enhance its Media Intelligence Center database, and to expand reporting options for US and Canadian newspapers. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has been acquired by panels and analytics specialist Marketing Applications Inc. (MApps), in a deal involving a share swap between MApps and RPA's parent firm Voyage Group. RPA will now trade as a wholly owned business unit of MApps. More
San Francisco-based DIY consumer survey specialist Survata has raised $6m in a Series A round of funding, which will be used to improve its current offerings and build new products, and to hire new members of staff. More
In Australia, TNS has expanded Robyn Rutley's role to include oversight of its Social and Government teams in Sydney and Brisbane. More
US-based Schlesinger Associates has promoted Jason Horine to the role of Vice President Client Development, in charge of its Online Qualitative Solutions division. More
US healthcare researcher InCrowd has appointed business development veteran Art McKee as Vice President of Strategic Alliances. More
Microsoft has launched Pulse for Market Research, part of its Bing Pulse audience engagement division and billed as 'a [free] self-service solution for surveys, live content rating, and moderated response groups of any size'. More
Australia-based online survey tech company PureProfile has raised $AUD 12.1m in a funding round ahead of its IPO next week; has acquired media trading group Sparc Media; and is opening an office in New Zealand. More
Around a dozen middle-ranking execs have been laid off in the Los Angeles office of Nielsen's movie tracking division NRG this week, according to unconfirmed reports. More
In the US, entertainment giant NBCUniversal has promoted Ari Perler to the newly created role of SVP, Research & Strategy in its Television & New Media Distribution, U.S. & Canada unit. More
San Francisco, CA-based consumer video poll and dialogue platform GlimpzIt has launched a self service, freemium version of its product, following the recent enterprise version. More
UK-based online researcher BrainJuicer has issued a half-year trading update, in advance of formal results due on September 24th. Revenue rose four percent but pre-tax profits will be around 25% down on last year with overheads growing faster than revenues. More
Research solutions and outsourcing firm Markelytics has expanded into the Middle East with the opening of an office in Dubai, and appointed Vinod Rao to lead it as Director - Research & Business Development. More
US fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has opened an additional mall-based data collection facility in Seattle, and appointed Dorothy Thomas to manage it. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of US-based RDA Group, which specialises in quality tracking and customer satisfaction studies for auto manufacturers and other corporate clients. More
Welsh agency Beaufort Research has been bought by its management, with the help of a £220,000 loan from Finance Wales and funding from Bibby Financial Services. Directors and new owners Fiona McAllister and Chris Timmins have run the company since founder Peter Stolle retired in 2007. More
Mobile and technology panel division Kantar Worldpanel ComTech has launched a new consumer panel in India, consisting of more than 20,000 individual members and said to represent more than five hundred million people. More
Piers Leonard, Research Manager at social media research specialist FACE, has died after a battle with leukaemia. More
Cheshire, UK-based agency DJS Research has announced two new hires - Christine Scally and Holly Slater - and four promotions, strengthening its operations and research arms, and its focus on marcoms. More
The Nielsen Company has appointed Eric Dale, formerly a Partner at Robinson & Cole LLP, as its new Chief Legal Officer, effective August 1st. More
London-based customer retail specialist Perception Research Services has launched a new hybrid quant and qual methodology for evaluating e-commerce offerings. More
US-based marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has struck an agreement with sensory research specialist SENSANALYSIS, to co-develop and market products and services integrating neuroscience methods and qualitative 'multi-sensorial' research tools. More
Two months after its launch, global alliance The Digital Insight Network has announced five new partner firms, based in the USA, Russia, Italy, Poland and Austria. More
Chiswick, London-based full service agency Relish Research has promoted two members of its Leeds team, Carol Wale and Lisbeth Chilcott, to Account Director; appointed Gemma Langley as an SRE; and says it will move the northern office to larger premises at the end of the month following 22% annual growth. More
India-based services giant Wipro has announced that its Digital business unit will acquire Denmark-based experience-based strategic design firm Designit. More
Senior insight exec Ronita Mitra is leaving Vodafone India after two years, reports indicate. Her next destination is currently unknown. More
WPP-owned Kantar is consolidating its activities in Israel by transferring Millward Brown's country license to TNS. The group says this will help it expand its presence in the market and provide better service both for local and global clients. More
Marcoms group Chime's Insight & Engagement (CIE) division has appointed Floyd McMillan as Managing Director of Australia, based in Sydney. More
The firm behind Zappix, a mobile app that turns phone voice menus into visual menus, has enhanced its SmartPhone IVR solution with a package allowing clients to create, distribute and analyze mobile customer service surveys. More
Japanese research and online panel provider GMO Research has partnered with lifestyle and brand-focused loyalty card provider BCARD, adding more than three million Malaysian consumers to its platform. More
Online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has hired former HP exec Bill Veghte as Chief Executive Officer, following the sudden death of Dave Goldberg in May. The firm has also appointed Goldberg's widow, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, to its Board of Directors. More
Research software firm Confirmit has acquired Information Research Management (IRM), its exclusive reseller in Sydney, Australia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Yorkshire-based full service research and marketing insight consultancy McCallum Layton plans to recruit at least twenty new members of staff for its CATI unit, following a major client win. More
US-based full service market research and analytics firm LRW (Lieberman Research Worldwide) has raised what it describes as 'significant growth capital', with which it plans to develop and expand its suite of tools. More
UK research consultancy Simpson Carpenter has appointed former Cello Health Insight Director Dave Bostock as Head of Digital. More
Research data solutions and technology provider SSI has completed the acquisition of the assets of Australian panel MyOpinions and New Zealand's SmileCity, from their parent company PermissionCorp. More
US-based consumer research and consulting firm The Pert Group and 'influencer' research specialist MSS have merged to form a new company called Acturus. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
WPP has taken steps to become the first international marcoms group to conduct business on the island of Cuba. More
Belgian audience research body the Centrum voor Informatie over de Media (CIM) has extended its contracts with GfK to deliver both TV and radio audience measurement services until the end of 2017. More
Spanish-language media group Univision Communications has promoted Roberto Ruiz to the role of Executive Vice President, Strategy and Insights. More
In the Netherlands, innovation-driven market research agency Winkle has added an emotion analytics tool called Pansensic to its new product development platform, Concept Screener. More
US-based customer experience measurement firm LRA Worldwide (LRA) has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by accountancy and consulting firm Deloitte. More
Full service MR group CMG (Cross Marketing Group), parent of Kadence International, has set up a global healthcare research company called Medilead, based at the Group's Tokyo headquarters. More
Ipsos has brought together several of its retail measurement services to form a new Market Measurement business unit, which will be managed globally. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has appointed John Bremer as Senior Vice President, Research Science, to lead the team that designs, maintains and enhances its methodologies. More
Oslo, Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has appointed Francesco Renga as Country Manager for Italy, based in its newly opened office in Milan. More
UK-based RS Consulting, part of the Cello Group, has rebranded as Bright Blue. The new brand unites and replaces the four separate identities which have until now made up the RS Group - Consensus Research, Leapfrog, mruk and RS Consulting. More
Former Nielsen and GMI exec Simon Guy is heading up a new digital research company, DataChefs, based in Davos, Switzerland and with a global partner network. More
In Mumbai, full service provider MRSS India is to become the first MR agency to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, with an IPO opening tomorrow. More
Managed analytics company Ugam has expanded its technology team to thirty staff, adding eight over the last few months. More
Customer experience management specialist MaritzCX has reported a 9.2% increase in annual turnover in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to $47.3m. More
The UK's Joint Industry Committee for Web Standards (JICWEBS) has updated its guidelines for products that measure the viewability of online ads. More
UK audience research body BARB has awarded its newly combined Establishment Survey and Panel Recruitment contract to Ipsos Connect, from January 2016 for an initial three years. This combination replaces two previous contracts and follows a successful pilot study by BARB in 2014. More
In South Africa, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) - which represents the country's radio and television media owners - has awarded TNS a five-year contract to provide a new radio audience measurement service. More
Nielsen has launched a solution called the Design Navigator, which uses eye tracking technology to help marketers improve the effectiveness of package design. More
Nielsen has appointed banker Jordan Edmiston to investigate a possible sale of the movie tracking arm of its film and home entertainment firm NRG, according to news site Deadline Hollywood. More
According to reports in the press, dunnhumby founders Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby are 'considering involvement' in a bid to buy back the company from Tesco. More
Ipsos is promoting Canada President and CEO Gary Bennewies to the newly created role of Chief Talent Officer, from the beginning of next month. More
Manchester, UK-based agency Join the Dots has appointed former Tesco exec Mark MacNaughton as an Account Development Director, and Tim Burge as an Associate Director. More
London-based research and planning agency ruby cha cha UK has been renamed kubi kalloo; and has moved into new offices in Shoreditch. More
In the US, the FCC has approved proposals to restrict the use of autodiallers, which the Marketing Research Association (MRA) believes will 'seriously harm survey, opinion and marketing research conducted by phone'. More
The British Polling Council (BPC) has urged the House of Lords to reject a private members bill brought by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock this week, aiming to regulate opinion polls, in the light of apparent high profile errors in the Scottish referendum and general election. More
TNS has announced the launch of Social TR*M, an approach which combines traditional surveys with social media analysis to give deeper insight into consumers' feelings about products and services. More
US company Diversified Communications has launched what it describes as 'the first online market research panel specifically geared to administrative professionals'. Participants in the 'ASAP Power Panel' earn rewards for monthly input to surveys and online focus groups. More
Recently formed London agency Red Dot Research has rebranded as 3GEM Research and Insights, aligning itself with a sister company, 3GEM Media, specialising in PR. More
Kenya-based marketing services firm Scangroup Limited has prefixed its name with WPP, reflecting its majority ownership by the group, and signifying the 'shared vision and values' of the two firms. More
Mark Penn, co-founder of Penn Schoen Berland and currently a senior exec at Microsoft, is leaving to found an investment company, Stagwell Group LLC, focused on digital marketing services. More
Nice, France-based healthcare fieldwork agency QualWorld, which was launched eighteen months ago by four former WorldOne execs, has opened a US business, based in Pennsylvania. More
UK television measurement body BARB has announced two new appointments to help deliver its expanding range of services: Paul Smith joins as Project Manager and Sonja Ajdin as Research Manager. More
WPP has increased its shareholding in Denmark-based TAM analysis software company TechEdge, from 20 to 49 percent. More
Video clip research platform provider VoxPopMe has launched a new tool, Theme Explorer, which uses advanced thematic analysis to organise video content and simplify the task of pulling insights from it. More
In New York, former Harris Poll head Regina Corso has launched her own full service research company, focused on research specifically designed for public release. More
Ipsos' product testing wing ProductQuest has integrated the neuroscience technique known as Implicit Reaction Time (IRT) into its evaluations, to help clients probe consumers' non-conscious perceptions of their products. More
Boston-based consumer collaboration specialist Communispace has changed its name to C Space. With a new focus on 'Customer Inspired Growth', the firm says it has expanded its consulting and innovation teams, and its capability in storytelling and creative services. More
US research bodies CASRO and the MRA have filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission, making the research industry's case prior to a vote on changes to the TCPA regulations this Thursday. More
In the US, postal code and boundary-based data provider Maponics has teamed up with location-based analytics company Gadberry Group to offer household demographics and segmentation products, built from the name and address level. More
US-based research technology and services company 20|20 Research has upgraded a number of its research platforms, including its bulletin board technology QualBoard, real-time 'face-to-face' product QualMeeting, and recruitment tool QuickQual. More
Business information giant Dun & Bradstreet is selling its entire Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) business to a private equity firm, for around $AUD 220m. More
London-based research agency Firefish has launched a US office for its quantitative business, the numbers lab, appointing Emma Jones as Associate Director in New York; and in the UK has hired Anne-Marie McCallion as Research Manager. More
UK-based mobile research technology firm RealityMine has appointed former TNS Director Jonathan Briggs as MD of Australia, based in its Sydney office. More
Healthcare MR and consulting firm RG+A has named Kevin M. Kelly as its new EVP and Chief Operating Officer, charged with integrating the firm's strategy and planning, business development, CRM, project management and business operations. More
In the US, mobile data tools provider SessionM and MR firm Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) have announced a partnership giving access to a 'mobile-first' panel of more than twelve million consumers. More
Australia-based STW Group, which owns a number of research and analytics agencies has announced a new management structure and plans to merge a number of its businesses, following a troubled 2014 and a slump in share price. More
WIN/Gallup International, the worldwide association of independent market research and polling firms, has announced the election of its new Board Members. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has become a major shareholder in European out-of-home (OOH) information provider GIRA Foodservice. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, custom market research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) has launched a survey-based solution called Empact, which it says offers a 'practical approach' to measuring consumer emotions. More
Stockholm-based brand tracking researcher Nepa has expanded its services to include online qualitative research. More
UK-based healthcare specialist Adept Field Solutions has appointed Jennifer Steinberg as Operations Director for its newly established team in the US. More
Full service agency MRSS India has appointed former P&G sensory scientist Swati Sawant as Vice President. More
The American Marketing Association has teamed up with research body CASRO to produce this year's AMA Gold Top 50 report, ranking US research suppliers. The report suggests total US research revenue for 192 surveyed firms grew in real terms by 1.6% in 2014. Four companies grew revenue by more than 40 percent. More
US pollster Mervin Field, who founded both the Field Research Corporation and public opinion survey 'The Field Poll', died in Marin County on Monday, after a brief illness. He was 94 years of age. More
Around 20% of WPP's investors refused to endorse CEO Sir Martin Sorrell's £43m pay package at this afternoon's Annual General Meeting - quite a lot, 'though quite a lot fewer than in some previous years. More
TNS has appointed David Lansanah as Global Head of Innovation and Product Development. He will initially be based in London, before relocating to Singapore later this year. More
In the Netherlands, online publishing industry group VINEX and its partner Stichting KijkOnderzoek, (SKO) the body responsible for the reporting and monitoring of viewing behaviour, have expanded their contract with Kantar Media to include measurement of all online viewing behaviour. More
In London, WPP brand, media and comms researcher Millward Brown has appointed former Digital Radio UK director Jane Ostler as Sector Managing Director, Media and Digital. More
Marcoms group Creston has reported a 5% increase in annual revenue for its Communications & Insight businesses, to £56.2m. However, headline profits before interest fell slightly to £8.1m from £8.3m last year, due in part to the weakening Euro. More
In the UK, the ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) has announced that CEO Jerry Wright will be stepping down from the post at the end of 2015, after seven years with the organisation. More
WPP-owned marcoms network J. Walter Thompson Company has acquired a minority stake in full service agency WANDA Digital in Turkey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Germany, mobile survey specialist Dalia Research has received a seven-figure seed (sic) round of funding, which it will use to expand its Data Science and Engineering team, analytics capacities and geographical reach. More
Oxfordshire-based consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has appointed Doug Findlay and Jan Worsley as Directors in its EMEA team. More
UK-based youth research and marketing strategist Dubit has appointed children's media, play and learning insights specialist David Kleeman as Senior Vice President of Global Trends, based in its New York office. More
Consumer agency Firefish has appointed four new members of staff - in the Netherlands, Marjolein van Ballegooij joins as Joint MD and Noor Berkman as Associate Director; Francesca Ferrara joins as Senior Operations Manager in the US; and Claire Flanagan as Project Manager in the UK. More
In New York, brand influencer network Crowdtap has appointed former Jupiter Research President Peter Storck as Senior Vice President of Research & Analytics. More
UK MR charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) is organising its first fundraising week in October, pursuing its goal of helping researchers who have fallen on hard times. More
US polling and data analytics company 1World Online has raised $2.5m in an A2 round of funding, adding to the $1.5m in Series A financing it secured at the beginning of last year. More
As the British Polling Council commences its inquiry into how UK pollsters underestimated or completely missed the Conservative lead over Labour during the run-up to last month's general election, ComRes says it has developed a solution to predict who is more and less likely to vote. More
UK-based financial services research specialist Bdifferent has expanded to Asia with the opening of an office in the Marina Bay Financial Center in Singapore, to be led by Jessica Tuan Shepherd. More
US-based social media solutions firm Lithium has launched a portfolio of products to help clients respond to customer needs across social media channels and communities, and share the resulting insights across their organisations. More
Waltham, MA-based research firm Applied Marketing Science (AMS) has promoted management consultant and market researcher John Mitchell to the post of President and Managing Principal. He replaces Bob Klein who is stepping down after 26 years. More
Research and technology firm Instantly has appointed tech exec Jim Collins as EVP of its Audiences division. Collins' remit is to continue growing the firm's consumer panel, while further optimizing panelist responsiveness and survey completion. More
Cello Health Insight has overhauled its online pharmaceutical community platform eVillage with the addition of new tools, functionality and a new, mobile-responsive design. More
Full service agency Northstar Research Partners has opened an office in Jakarta, Indonesia, and plans further locations in China and India. Meity Rahtomo will lead the new hub as Managing Director ASEAN. More
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is due to vote on June 18th on new proposals which the Marketing Research Association (MRA) says 'could seriously harm survey, opinion and marketing research conducted by phone'. More
Analytics firm Absolutdata has released a cloud-based, automated decision support tool for concept testing, NAVIK, which it says will allow researchers, brand managers and product managers to go to market with new ideas 'faster than ever before'. More
Surrey, UK-based MR community and panel management tech company MARSC has announced a partnership with New York-based MR software and solutions firm thinqonline. More
GfK has won a three-year contract to provide a cross-device audio-visual audience measurement currency for Singapore, awarded by the country's Media Development Authority (MDA). More
SSI has agreed to buy online panel MyOpinions in Australia, and its sister panel SmileCity in New Zealand, from their parent company PermissionCorp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Ipsos Connect and Swedish firm MMS have partnered on a project to evaluate whether new TV technologies can boost TV panel sizes within existing budgets. More
In the UK, the National Readership Survey (NRS) is to add comScore's mobile and tablet estimates to the next release of its print and digital data product the NRS PADD, following changes to the way comScore measure mobile audiences. More
Netherlands-based community research software provider CMNTY has opened an office in New York City, which will be managed by digital marketing specialist Zach Katagiri. More
New York City-based full service agency SIS International Research has opened an office in Frankfurt, Germany. The office is led by Federica Sacchi, who has been promoted to the role of Managing Director of EMEA. More
Nielsen has acquired neuromarketing firm Innerscope Research, which it will merge with its brain specialist company NeuroFocus under the Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience brand name. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
FEPE, the worldwide association of outdoor advertising companies, has partnered with a consortium of firms to develop what it claims will be the first standardised industry approach to measuring digital out-of-home (OOH) audiences. More
UK-based firm TVbeat has rolled out its real-time television audience measurement solutions to broadcasters and agencies in Croatia. More
US-based DIY survey software firm Qualtrics is to create an additional 100 jobs at its European HQ in the centre of Dublin, where it will employ up to 250 staff by the end of 2016. More
Marcoms network MDC Partners and its digital strategy agency Doner have launched a specialist multicultural business called Cultura United Agency, offering full-service ad and PR expertise driven by insights across Hispanic, African American and Asian audiences. More
Ipsos innovation and forecasting business InnoQuest has introduced a new approach combining overnight concept testing with optimization - helping to identify high potential concepts and then providing guidance on how to make them more likely to succeed in-market. More
German beer manufacturer Astra Bierre is using facial recognition technology embedded in an outdoor digital advertising board, to target potential female beer drinkers. More
In the US, pharma researcher Decision Resources Group (DRG) has acquired membership-based hospital research specialist Healthcare Business Insights (HBI). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In New York, the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (CAB) has been replaced by the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB), with a remit to spearhead research to quantify the 'selling power' of TV content. More
In the UK, Midlands-based specialist public sector agency Community Research has appointed former Opinion Leader consultant Kate Waller. More
London-based mobile survey tech firm Lumi has announced a strategic partnership with panel marketplace platform provider Cint, combining technologies to create 'the largest mobile-first panel'. More
Fast-growing research technology and services group FocusVision has announced half a dozen appointments boosting its sales, business development and account management staff. Among four new arrivals is former Kinesis exec Gene Filipi. More
Market research language and translation service provider GlobaLexicon has opened an office in Antwerp, Belgium, to service a growing client base in the Benelux region. More
UK-based Voice of the Customer specialist eDigitalResearch has announced record 25% growth in its annual turnover, to 'just shy of £10m' for the 2014/2015 financial year. More
SSI has launched a geo-location product, SSI Proximity Sample, which integrates with its mobile data collection app QuickThoughts and survey quality tool QuestTest to provide an end-to-end mobile survey solution. More
London-based MR recruitment agency Sparkle Recruitment has announced a partnership with veteran Australian market research recruiter Andy McLellan of AML Resources. More
US-based Directions Research Inc. (DRI) has announced that company founder Randy Brooks is to step down from the role of President after 27 years, with current CMO Jim Lane adding the title of President. Brooks will become Chairman of the Board. More
In London, mobile app quality specialist Perfecto Mobile has launched the Mobile Test Coverage Index, a benchmarking service to help app developers and marketers test their products on the most appropriate devices and systems. More
Ipsos has announced the appointment of Tim Farmer to lead the deployment of its electronic TV and Radio audience measurement service MediaCell, within the newly formed Ipsos Connect division. More
TNS has appointed former Ipsos MORI exec Debbie Shuttlewood as Head of Mystery Customer Research in the UK, replacing Simon Taylor who moves to the role of Group Director in TNS Tech and Finance. More
Research software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has launched a set of enhancements to improve response rates in online panels, including 'Responsive Email Templates' for easier management of multiple communities and brands. More
Creston subsidiary Marketing Sciences Unlimited has promoted Dr Andy Myers to the position of Research Director, and five other members of staff to the rank of Research Manager. More
US-based full service agency SIS International Research has appointed Ana Rangel to help enhance its Hispanic Spanish-speaking offer, while Ralph Pagan joins as Vice President of Strategy and Market Intelligence in the B2B Market Research team. More
US broadcast monitoring and verification service Media Monitors has gained re-accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC) for its radio spot data service. The firm is also hoping to gain MRC accreditation for its TV data product. More
UK-based consultancy Nunwood, which specialises in customer experience management and feedback technology, has been acquired by accounting and advisory giant KPMG. More
Nielsen has launched a measurement solution called Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA), to help marketers gauge ROI across screens (mobile, set-top boxes, OTT devices), systems (CRM and POS platforms), and channels (paid media, search, social media and e-mail). More
US patient satisfaction and measurement solutions specialist Symphony Performance Health (SPH) has acquired health plan survey data provider The Myers Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
MMS, a group representing the leading broadcasters and ad agencies in Sweden, has commissioned GfK to produce the country's first currency covering traditional linear and time-shift TV audiences, as well as those viewing video content on smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs. More
A number of research organisations have come together to lead a new industry initiative called 'Insights 2020 - Driving Customer-Centric Growth', with the aim of studying the future of market research, insights and analytics strategy, structure and capability. More
In the US, data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has hired Iris Blaine as Executive Director, while Kelly Parsons and Janet Kennedy join in the role of Client Services Manager. The firm has also opened its 26th mall-based data collection facility - this time in the Annapolis Mall in Washington DC. More
GfK has reported first quarter sales of EUR 362.5m, an 8.2% rise of which 6.8% is the result of currency effects, and just 1.3% is organic growth. However, operating income and margins were up. More
UK-based call centre 1 Stop Data has opened a branch in Austin, Texas, which will offer services to North American agencies, while working with existing sales partners across the US. More
London-based child and family research specialist The Pineapple Lounge (TPL) has hired former Illuminas Research Director Pete Maginn as Head of Research. In addition, Tammy Perl joins as a Research Executive and the company has promoted two members of staff. More
In the US, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has appointed long-time P&G exec Joan Lewis as a Senior Advisor. More
WPP sister agencies TNS and Kantar Media have partnered with emerging markets mobile survey platform GeoPoll, to deploy a new range of research products and services across Africa. More
In the US, sports entertainment media firm ESPN has announced plans for closer integration of its marketing, data, research and sales functions; and accordingly has added consumer marketing and research responsibility to the role of sales and marketing leader Ed Erhardt. More
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle media specialist Fashion Insight has acquired the Fashion4Media and Beauty4Media databases from their parent company News4Media, for an undisclosed sum. More
Netherlands-based online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has appointed former GfK and TNS senior exec Kimberly Bastoni as EVP North America. More
UK-based Creston Unlimited has announced a partnership with The Digital Consultancy, which helps clients analyse and understand the difference between digital consumers' expectations and their actual experience. More
Palo Alto, CA-based online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has appointed Board Director Zander Lurie as temporary Executive Chairman, following the sudden death of CEO Dave Goldberg earlier this month. More
In the US, The Walt Disney Company has promoted Leslie Ferraro to the position of Director of its Consumer Products division. More
The British Polling Council, supported by the Market Research Society (MRS), is setting up an independent enquiry to look into why UK pollsters underestimated or completely missed the Conservative lead over Labour during the run-up to yesterday's general election. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has launched a Dermatology Panel, to provide insights into practices, treatments and attitudes regarding the health of hair, nails and skin. More
An anonymous $10m donation has been given to Princeton University, to help it establish a new faculty called the 'Daniel Kahneman and Anne Treisman Center for Behavioral Science and Public Policy'. More
In the UK, international healthcare specialist Adept Field Solutions has appointed former All Global Chief Operating Officer Kerensa Bindoff as Project Director. More
Nielsen has made available content from more than 3,000 Harris Polls dating back to the early 1970s, through a new interactive web site aimed at media execs, researchers, pollsters and academics. More
Ipsos Healthcare has introduced its syndicated services to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), to help drug companies better understand region-specific disease dynamics and physician prescribing habits, and plan for the launch of pharmaceutical drugs. More
In the UK, MR training and consultancy organisation the Insight Management Academy has appointed former Barclays Bank customer analysis specialist James Wycherley as Chief Executive Officer. More
In the North of England, online panel firm ResearchBods has acquired Harrogate-based phone, panel, community and online qual specialist ClearStream Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Indian TV audience measurement body BARC has launched its measurement service, and rolled out the first set of results. More
Texas-based telephone data collection specialist ReconMR has acquired acquired Voter Consumer Research Houston (VCR Houston), boosting its strength in political and public policy research. More
In the US, fieldwork specialist Schlesinger Associates has entered a strategic partnership with Focus Market Research, bringing the latter's project management and recruitment team into the Schlesinger business. Schlesinger has also acquired Focus' local Phoenix panel. More
TNS has announced a number of leadership changes in Asia, including the promotion of former CEO Greater China Chris Bonsi to the newly created role of Chief Client and Insights Officer for the APAC region. Grace Liu, MC Lai and Jon Foged also earn promotions while Narelle Burke joins as HR Director. More
SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg died on Friday whilst on holiday in Mexico with his family, apparently as a result of an accident in the gym. He was 47. More
Sticky, which uses web-cam based eye tracking technology to measure ad effectiveness, has raised $5m in Series A funding. The latest investment will be used to expand the firm's sales and technology teams, and enhance its products for the digital and advertising marketplace. More
WPP-owned marcoms network J.Walter Thompson has launched a global business intelligence practice, offering a combination of research, innovation and data analytics across its global network. More
North of England-based agency DJS Research has launched Chatter Zone, an online market research community for parents, kids and teens. More
In the US, ad giant Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (CCOA) has appointed Andy Stevens as Senior Vice President of Research, Insight & Analytics, with a remit to develop performance analytics and research related to the out-of-home (OOH) media market. More
Vancouver-based research and brand consultancy The Sound has made four of its staff Partners in the business. More
UK-based companies Creston Group and Future Foundation have partnered to combine the former's market research and neuroscience services from its ICM Unlimited, Marketing Sciences Unlimited, and Walnut Unlimited companies, with the latter's consumer trends and insight offer. More
A group of six independent research companies have set up an international association called The Digital Insight Network, focusing purely on digital methodologies. Members will share best practice and innovations, and assist each other with global research projects. More
In London and Hong Kong, two branding veterans have set up a new company called WeAreFearless, using consumer neuroscience to help clients understand brand partnerships, experiences and storytelling. More
comScore and Kantar Media are rolling out their first joint offering for cross-media audience measurement, to key clients. More
Creston-owned fieldwork business ICM Direct has appointed Michael Phillips as Data Services Director and Ali Yusuf as Solutions Development Executive, while promoting Mona Bläute to the role of Deputy Operations Director. Former Data Services Director Teresa Lynch has retired. More
Specialist MR recruiter Felice Mockford has launched a new employment agency, Ignite Talent Asia, based in Singapore. More
UK television broadcaster Channel 4 has promoted Charlie Palmer to the role of Head of Viewer Relationship Management, to drive the consumer-facing element of its data strategy. More
London-based online survey and panel management specialist Demographix has hired Gina Lee-Young for the newly created position of Head of Insight. More
Manchester, UK-based mobile research tech firm RealityMine is expanding its syndicated TouchPoints and passive measurement business to 20 new markets worldwide; simultaneously securing rights to the TouchPoints name and the services of the co-founders of USA TouchPoints. More
UK-based Chime has announced eight new appointments in its Insight & Engagement Group (CIE), spanning its Facts International, CIE Commercial, Watermelon, Cherry Picked and Opinion Leader businesses. More
In the UK, full service agency DJS Research has reported a 26% increase in turnover to £3.6m for the financial year 2014/15. More
Steve Lavine, the co-founder of Kinesis Survey Technology, has joined the company in the capacity of President, to provide consultancy to clients, and add value to the firm's online panel and community offering. More
WPP has reported like-for-like first quarter revenue growth across all its business sectors except for the Data Investment Management (DIM) division, where revenue fell 1.4% to £558m from £566m in the prior year period. More
Ipsos has reported 0.8% organic growth in revenue for the first quarter of 2015 - though measured in Euros revenue was up 10.6% to EUR 379.6m. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with digital research specialist comScore and audience analysis firm Rentrak to launch a solution linking cross-media advertising to actual shopping behavior. More
Marcoms network Publicis Worldwide has acquired London-based shopper marketing agency Vivid Brand. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has introduced a device agnostic package testing solution called COMPACT, allowing users to analyse packaging designs. More
UK agency eDigitalResearch has added the facility to embed surveys directly into its clients' apps and trigger feedback prompts via beacon technology. More
In London, marcoms group Creston has acquired user experience, digital design and technology consultancy How Splendid Ltd (Splendid) for an undisclosed sum. More
US-based online survey and analysis tool provider SurveyGizmo has opened a support office in London, as part of its plan to extend its services to international markets. More
UKOM, the cross-industry organisation set up to oversee the measurement of online audiences, has renewed comScore's contract to act as its exclusive partner for online media audience measurement in the UK. More
GfK has named Ben van der Werf to succeed company veteran Richard Jameson as head of its Consumer Experiences business in the UK, plus the Nordics and Baltics. Jameson leaves in mid-May after more than 25 years at the firm, to pursue as yet unspecified 'new opportunities'. More
Ipsos has announced a suite of research offerings based on geolocation technology and exploiting the Google Consumer Surveys platform. More
US-based HCD Research has launched a video game research division, combining neuroscience tools and traditional research methods to probe consumers' subconscious and cognitive response to video game concepts; andh as hired game development exec Josh Drescher to lead it. More
US consultancy Guidance is launching a Retail Strategy Solutions practice and has named eCommerce veteran Brian Beck to lead it. More
Research and technology firm Instantly is to build a research panel focused on South Asian audiences in the UK, on behalf of ethnic audience research specialist Quant Edge Ltd and known as Multi Cultural Britain Think. More
US publisher Progressive Business Media, which owns eight titles in the home furniture, furnishings and gift markets, has launched a new research division. The unit, Progressive Market Research, will be headed by Director of Research Dana French. More
The European Commission has awarded EUR 3.6m to Imperial College London and emotion measurement specialist Realeyes, to develop their technology. More
In the UK, consumer insight and brand consultancy Nutshell has launched a mobile app which can host traditional surveys, supplemented by uploads of photos or video clips. More
In the US, research and technology provider FocusVision has rolled out a new Discussion Engine for its Revelation qualitative mobile and web platform, which the firm says brings consumer experiences to life using the engagement of a social media app. More
New York-based trend tracking company Fashion Snoops has launched an online creative platform for cultural trend research, analysis and presentation. More
The IPA's latest Bellwether survey of marketing executives indicates a further upward revision to UK marketing budgets during the first quarter of 2015, but says spend on market research fell by 1.3%, having risen 0.6% in the previous quarter. More
The team responsible for online quiz tool Qzzr has rolled out a standalone product called Pollcaster, which allows users to create and embed social media polls on their web sites. More
Dubai-based online healthcare specialist 42 market research has launched a new research panel in Bulgaria. More
US-based direct marketing and targeting giant Harte Hanks has sold its B2B research businesses Aberdeen Group and Harte Hanks Market Intelligence to subsidiaries of private equity firm Halyard Capital. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Marcoms giant Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired US-based full-service consumer insight firm Forbes Consulting Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen Book has announced a partnership with Chinese retail tracking service Openbook. The deal promises clients in the English language book markets in the US and UK a better understanding of the market in China, and vice versa. More
Research and technology provider Instantly has appointed Carla Bourque as General Manager of its Automated Sample solution, which provides real-time access to millions of profiled respondents. More
Marcoms giant WPP has launched a consultancy called Gain Theory, which brings together analytics, technology solutions, and consumer research and insight capabilities from around the group. More
US-based MR sector technology provider YouEye has launched a suite of qualitative data tools called the Experience Analytics Platform, through which users can extract value from unstructured or semi-structured data such as focus group and other MR videos. More
Online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has launched a new data offering, to help organizations understand how their performance stacks up against peers, competitors, industry segments and companies of similar size. More
In the US, consumer video poll platform Glimpzlt is launching out of beta with a $1.1m seed funding round. More
In the UK, WPP-owned digital data collection specialist Lightspeed GMI has hired former Research Now ops exec Emma Beech for the newly created role of Vice President, Operations EMEA, overseeing its operations teams in Europe. More
US research agency Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has appointed Ina Mier y Terán Sheppard as SVP and Managing Director of Qualitative Research, while Olivia Ester joins as Vice President of Financial Services. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has appointed Ludovic Milet as Managing Director, APAC, based in Hong Kong and leading the business across the region. More
In the UK, consumer and sensory research specialist Product Perceptions has changed its name to PPL Insights. More
Andy Ellis, President of sampling automation provider Federated Sample, has transferred to lead the firm's sample management and exchange business Fulcrum, where he will oversee product, sales and operations. More
MR presentation and reporting specialist Dapresy has opened an office in Toronto, led by former Vision Critical exec Jonathon Ware as Vice President, Business Development, Canada. More
In India, broadcast audience measurement body BARC has appointed Dr Sumit Chowdhury as Technical Advisor, as it prepares for the launch its new audience measurement system next month. More
In the US, Sony Pictures has appointed former Nielsen NRG exec John Restall as Executive Vice President of Domestic Market Research, overseeing research for US theatres. More
Nielsen has announced a strategic alliance with RetailNext, which provides in-store analytics for bricks-and-mortar retailers. Nielsen becomes RetailNext's preferred channel for its service, which uses cameras and mobile tech to track shopper activities. More
UK-based agency SPA Future Thinking has dropped the first part of its name, as it prepares for 'aggressive' expansion. More
UK-based research group RS Consulting has announced seven promotions, including Lorena Arrospide, Rhiannon Jones and Danielle Rodgerson who all move from Senior Research Consultant to Research Manager. More
In the UK, Millward Brown has formally announced the appointment of Jane Bloomfield, previously Head of Innovations at Hall & Partners, as Brand Development Director. More
Dan Soulas, formerly US MD of media and marketing insights firm Ebiquity, has launched his own market intelligence and communications insight consultancy called Market Intel Group, near Philadelphia. More
GfK is planning to expand its point-of-sale (POS) pet retail outlet panel to Canada, targeting regional retailers and manufacturers across the category. More
In the UK, full service cultural insights and innovation specialist CrowdDNA has appointed two new members of staff, while promoting Sarah Brierley to the position of Business and Strategy Director, and Aurelie Jamard to Associate Director of Innovation. More
Ahead of May's general election, London-based opinion research specialist BritainThinks has partnered with The Guardian newspaper on an initiative called 'Battleground Britain', which will examine undecided voters' opinions in five key constituencies across the UK. More
In the US, WPP-owned online specialist Lightspeed GMI has launched Quick Turn Insights, a solution it claims can provide 'authentic feedback' in 24 hours. More
Industry organisations ESOMAR and the Global Research Business Network (GRBN) have published new online research guidelines, which focus on ensuring the integrity of sample quality. More
In the UK, full service agency Vision One Research has appointed former Optimsa exec Victoria Wood as Director in charge of its Qualitative Insights team. More
In the UK, Chime's Insight & Engagement Group (CIE) has restored its revenues to the record 2012 level of £13.6m, after a substantial drop to £11.0m in 2013. More
William 'Jay' Wilson, the former Chairman and CEO of Roper Starch Worldwide, died on Sunday at his family home in New London, New Hampshire, at the age of 77 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. More
A group of advertising executives based in Los Angeles has launched a cloud-based app called The Ad Auditor, to help businesses track the ROI of their campaigns in real-time. More
Manchester, UK-based agency Join the Dots has reported a 25% rise in annual revenue to £6.1m, driven by both existing clients and a number of new community contracts. More
Millward Brown has rolled out a rapid response copy-testing solution for digital advertising requirements, available through MR app store ZappiStore. More
Research software company Confirmit has partnered with translation specialist Language Connect to develop a solution called Connect Survey. The tool promises to save time and money for those co-ordinating MR and VoC programmes in multiple languages. More
Bristol, UK-based People for Research has relocated its Usability and MR Participant Recruitment team to larger premises in the city, following a second consecutive year of business growth. More
Tokyo-based online specialist Macromill has opened a new office in Singapore, where it has appointed former Millward Brown exec Rob Valsler as Managing Director in charge of the Southeast Asian team. More
Susan Shaw, the co-MD of GIM Suisse, has been elected as President of the Swiss Association of Market and Social Research (Verbands der Schweizer Markt- und Sozialforschung, or vsms). More
UK-based online research firm YouGov has announced interim results for the six months ended 31st January, with revenue up 11% year-on-year to £36.2m - up 10% in organic terms - and adjusted profit before tax up from £3.0m to £3.5m. More
In the US, standards body the Media Rating Council says Rentrak's national and local TV ratings products are as yet 'not sufficiently compliant with its standards', following more than a year of auditing. The two parties made positive statements and will continue to work towards accreditation. More
Customer and employee research specialist ORC International has appointed brand and innovation specialist Kevin Ford, previously Director of Research at NatCen, in the newly created role of Head of Markets and Products Research in Europe. More
Media giant Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) is expanding its PACE Panel platform, which combines media usage diary data, passive mobile usage data and custom research panel capabilities. More
UK-based MR agency Trinity McQueen grew its turnover 17% to £3.98m in the year to 30th September 2014. The rise follows a very impressive year in 2012-13, in which turnover was up 39%. More
Laurence (Larry) Gold, the former publisher of market research industry journal Inside Research, has died at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer. More
UK-based online specialist BrainJuicer has decided to close its office in Italy, which has made a 'significant' loss. The group as a whole published its formal results yesterday, confirming it had grown revenue just 1% in 2014, to £24.65m. More
UK-based health and consumer marketing group Cello has reported a 9.9% rise in 2014 headline operating profit before tax to £81.0m, on revenues up 6.4% to £169.9m. The group has also appointed a new COO. More
Private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners has completed its acquisition of Research Now. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. More
In New York, radio broadcaster Cumulus Media has hired Arbitron veteran Pierre Bouvard for the newly created role of Chief Marketing Officer, in charge of insights, data-driven targeting, and measurement solutions for advertisers. More
Online community specialist Communispace has appointed Jonathan Stinnett, former Research & Insights Director at banking group Citi, as Vice President and Managing Director of its New York City office. More
Online MR software company Confirmit has introduced a new SaaS environment for its Horizons product in Australia and New Zealand. More
Swedish firm Generation Research, a pioneer in MR in the travel retail sector established in the late 1970s, has been acquired by financial advisor and consultant Fredrik Lindh. More
China-based brand consultancy Labbrand is expanding into Europe with the launch of an office in Paris. More
Ask Afrika CEO and founder Andrea Rademeyer has moved back to South Africa, and will reportedly add the responsibilities of Chairman Ken McArthur to her remit as he retires after just ten months in the role. Meanwhile the company is launching a new benchmark survey focused on consumers in the country's townships. More
US-based research and consulting firm Vivisum has unveiled Brand Builder, a 'holistic market research solution' combining qual and quant inputs to help pharmaceutical clients optimise their product launches. More
Research technology and services group FocusVision has acquired Melbourne, Australia-based Insight Marketing Systems, creator of the Research Reporter SaaS platform. The buy is FocusVision's third in the last 12 months, as it seeks to round out its family of research offerings. More
In London four former employees of Screen Digest have launched Ampere Analysis, a new company backed by a panel of investors. The firm aims to shake up the information sector with a combination of new methodologies and techniques based around big data. More
Sampling, data collection and analytics firm SSI has agreed to purchase the majority of the assets of MRops, which supplier end-to-end research operations services to research agencies and consultancies. More
MR entrepreneur Kristin Luck, previously President and CMO of US-based quant MR tech firm Decipher, has formally launched a consulting practice with a focus on strategic assistance for marketing measurement and tech businesses moving from one stage of growth to the next. More
Omnicom-owned brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners is moving its global headquarters across the Thames to Bankside, making room for further growth. More
Pharma MR specialist Instar has appointed Art McKee in Philadelphia to head up its new US business unit, and Manfred Eberlein in Hamburg to oversee its new European business division. The firm has also hired ten new research and delivery team members. More
DIY online research platform SurveyMonkey has appointed former Microsoft and LinkedIn exec Tony Ward as MD in Australia and New Zealand. More
In the US, healthcare data specialist Lightspeed All Global has appointed John Daly and Jacki Spear as directors in its Business Development team. More
Bangalore-based news aggregator app NewsHunt has acquired mobile big data platform Vauntz. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, mobile research and retail data collection specialist Field Agent has raised $2m in a funding round, which it will use for expansion and new product development. More
Kantar Worldpanel has increased the size of its panel in Saudi Arabia from 2,000 to 3,000 households. More
In Japan, research and online panel provider GMO Research (GMOR) has added access to more than 74,000 physicians to its Asia Cloud Panel, through a partnership with medical research panel specialist MedPeer. More
London-based online community specialist Verve has received an undisclosed amount of series A funding in a round led by investment firm Subito Partners, whose founders Geoff Westmore and Neil Brown join the Verve Board. More
GfK has bought a stake in US-based MR sector technology provider YouEye Inc, strengthening its expertise in digital research. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
WPP has announced preliminary results for 2014 including like-for-like revenue up 8.2%, like-for-like net sales up 3.3%, and good profits - EBITDA grew 7.5% at constant currency. However like-for-like revenue in the firm's insight or 'Data Investment Management' division (DIM) was up just 0.6%. More
Mobile and online survey technology company OnePoint Global has enhanced its platform with new features for users of SPSS Dimensions, making it easier for them to script and deploy off-line and online surveys via any mobile channel. More
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and ten state attorneys general have imposed fines on a Florida-based cruise line company and several other firms which helped it conduct a telemarketing campaign under the guise of political polling - otherwise known as 'sugging'. More
UK-based BDRC Group has reported a 17.8% increase in turnover to £24.5m for the twelve months ended 30th September 2014, compared with £20.8m the previous year. Gross profits climbed 19.4%. More
In Australia, the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has upgraded its MOVE out-of-home (OoH) audience measurement system with a number of new features, including the ability to target reports to more precise geographies. More
In London, Kantar public sector division TNS BMRB has promoted Ben Toombs to the role of Head of Qualitative and Communications Research, while making Caitlin Connors his deputy. More
Digital data collection provider Research Now has appointed five new staff for its Client Development team, in three different US locations. They include four twenty-year-plus Nielsen veterans. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has elected Crispin Beale, CEO of Chime Insight and Engagement, and Danny Russell, UK General Manager of Business Intelligence at Telefonica, as its new joint Chairmen, replacing Richard Silman who took on the role last April. More
In the UK, OnePoll, which specialises in conducting online polls for PR purposes, has acquired panel provider 2Brewarded. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Research community and survey tech firm Vision Critical has expanded in Australia, with the opening of a new office in Melbourne and a move to a new location in Sydney. More
Oxfordshire-based consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has opened a new office in Mumbai, India and another in Durban, South Africa. More
Japanese-based online specialist Macromill has announced the opening of an office in Mexico, led by Ricardo Cuéllar who joins as Managing Director for the region. More
Vancouver-based research and brand consultancy The Sound has opened an office in Mumbai, India as a base for further expansion in Asia. More
MR agency B2B International has expanded its UK headquarters in Bramhall, Manchester and revealed a five-year plan to double its annual turnover to £15m. More
European-based Bilendi, which combines MR and online loyalty services, has agreed to acquire the Springboard UK access panel from Vision Critical, strengthening its online panels offering in the UK. More
In the UK, research firm Simpson Carpenter is forming a new department dedicated to comms research, and has appointed former Flamingo Group Insight Director Kirsty Higgins to lead it as Head of Communications Research. More
Former SSI and Greenfield Online exec Ryan Hopper has joined research technology and panels specialist OMR Globus as Managing Director, Healthcare. More
This month sees the return of the annual auction to help researchers who have fallen on hard times, run by the UK's Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA). Prizes include MR conference and football tickets, as well as access to the culinary skills of one of the industry's best known salespeople. More
Global agency TNS has launched a mini crowdsourcing tool called ThinkTank, through which clients will be able to interact and debate with a carefully selected group of consumers on issues affecting their business. More
Japanese research and online panel provider GMO Research (GMOR) has teamed up with emerging markets specialist Borderless Access to add the latter's panellists to the former's Asia Cloud Panel, which now reaches more than fourteen million consumers across the APAC region. More
In the US, social media management specialist Sprinklr has acquired community platforms specialist Pluck from parent company Demand Media. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
MR language and translation specialist GlobaLexicon has taken an additional floor at its Camden High Street, London headquarters, in preparation for an increase in headcount. More
Ipsos has brought together its brand communication, advertising and media businesses under a new division called Ipsos Connect, which has replaced legacy brands Ipsos ASI and Ipsos MediaCT. More
Ipsos has reported a 2.2% increase in fourth quarter revenue to EUR 500.7m - a rise it describes as a 'timid return to growth' reflecting more favourable foreign exchange trends - and 'slight' organic growth of 0.8%. More
Customer intelligence software company Vision Critical has launched a platform called the 'Sports Fan Council', through which teams can harness the collective wisdom of their supporters. More
In Chicago, digital data collection provider Research Now has appointed Nielsen veteran Doug Pierce as Senior Vice President of Client Development. More
Digital specialist comScore has rolled out its mobile audience solution Mobile Metrix in the UK, providing measurement of total mobile audience behaviour across smartphones and tablets. More
Cheshire-based full service agency DJS Research has appointed seven new members of staff, and promoted six of its existing team. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has named Chief Operating Officer Debrah Harding as Managing Director, to reflect her enhanced role and responsibilities. More
Sampling automation specialist Federated Sample has appointed former Research Now director Peter Costa as Executive Director, Client Development. More
In Japan, consumer insights specialist Macromill has reported a 44% increase in 2014 revenue to 25 billion Yen (EUR 178m), reflecting its recent merger with Netherlands-based online research and analytics firm MetrixLab. Sales for the period were 31 billion yen (EUR 214m). More
The Israeli Audience Research Board (IARB) has extended Kantar Media's contract for television measurement until 2019. More
London-based ComRes has partnered with The Daily Mail to deliver a programme of polling and political analysis, including extensive coverage in the run-up to the general election in May. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has promoted Masahiro Takanohashi to the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Toshiki Sano who will continue to work for parent company Voyage Group (VG) as Head of Overseas Business. More
London-based qual and quant agency Critical Research has acquired insight and data collection firm RSM research, for an undisclosed sum. More
South African firm Springleap has announced the launch of a Creative Insights division, making use of crowdsourced insights to help brands understand local markets. More
According to reports in the Australian media, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's government is considering canning the country's census, and replacing it with a smaller sample survey. More
London-based BDRC Group has launched BDRC Americas, a joint venture with Washington, DC-based full service researcher Fusion Analytics, which merges into the new company. More
ORC International has launched an off-the-shelf customer centricity tool, allowing client companies to assess and improve their performance. More
US-based Precision Sample has appointed Susan Hwang Nanzer as Chief Revenue Officer and a member of its executive committee, overseeing global sales for the company. More
In London, Basis Research has appointed Dr Sarah Jenkins, formerly Head of Qualitative in Ipsos MORI's MediaCT division, as a Senior Director to lead and develop its media, content and technology offer. More
Pharma research and data giant IMS Health has announced results for the quarter and year ended December 31st 2014, including revenue up 6.2% to $678m in Q4 and 5.9% to $2,641m for the full year on a constant currency basis; and adjusted EBITDA up 8.5% and 9.5% respectively. More
YouGov has confirmed former Chief Strategy Officer Alex McIntosh as its new UK CEO, replacing Tim Britton. More
US research consultancy RDA Group has announced 2014 revenue of $23.8 million, up 14% year-on-year and up 60% over the last five years. More
LA-based research technology company Instantly (formerly uSamp) has opened an office in central Manhattan, New York City, adding to its existing US location in Los Angeles. More
Language Connect, a specialist in language translation and communication services for the market research industry, has opened an office in Singapore, where it has appointed Baxter Tan as Executive Director. More
Five months on from its last adjournment and more than a year after the announcement which triggered it, Kantar Media Research's appeal against Indian government guidelines affecting its TAM TV audience measurement service has been postponed once more, this time until May 12th. More
In a deal with some similarities to the recent US tie-in with Rentrak, WPP is to take a 15% to 20% stake in comScore through its Kantar data and insight arm, while comScore acquires a number of Kantar assets in Europe. More
Nielsen has reported Q4 revenue up 1.4% to $1.6 billion. Excluding the impact of the Arbitron and Harris Interactive acquisitions, the increase was just 0.1%. However the firm notes that this was its 34th consecutive quarter of revenue growth. More
WPP's global Government & Public Sector practice has introduced a team tasked with driving excellence in communications and research for European Union institutional clients. More
In Chicago, Ipsos Loyalty has opened a Customer Experience practice, and transferred John Carroll to head it up. More
Netherlands-based software provider CMNTY has launched a solution allowing researchers and marketers to build their own customised online communities for research or engagement projects. More
European fieldwork group Norstat has appointed Marc Leimann as Managing Director in Germany, replacing Christoph Irmer who moves into the group position of Chief Marketing Officer. More
US-based technology specialists Invoke Solutions and Academic Management Systems (AMS) have merged to create a new company, serving both the market research and academic sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Digital data collection provider Research Now has made a number of changes in its executive leadership team, including the promotions of John Rothwell, Kathy Rowley and Melanie Courtright to C-suite and EVP roles. More
European-based MR and online loyalty specialist Bilendi is to acquire Nordic agency M3 Research for an undisclosed sum. In a statement, Bilendi said the transaction should double revenues from its 'Services for Market Research' division in 2016. More
Mehmet Xhambazi and Abdi Saïd, co-founders of Response Fusion and former directors of OnePoll, have set up a new London-based company called Red Dot Research, which specialises in multimode online MR and panel provision, as well as PR research services. More
The Audited Media Association of Australia (AMAA) has appointed media industry exec Josanne Ryan as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Paul Dovas who has left after sixteen years' service. More
Roy Morgan Research has partnered with big data insights specialist Qrious to offer clients an in-depth understanding of the trends, needs and wants of New Zealanders, and the communities in which they live. More
In Boulder, Colorado, former ABI Research leader and Pike Research founder Clint Wheelock has launched a new MR and consulting company called Tractica, which focuses on the understanding of human interaction with technology. More
In the UK, TNS has appointed former Leo Burnett SVP Sarah Patterson as Strategic Planning Director, working primarily on the Unilever account. More
LA-based research technology company Instantly (formerly known as uSamp) has introduced a new crowd-sourced insights tool called Product Watch, which alerts brands about newly launched consumer products and tracks their performance across key metrics nationwide. More
UK-based Kadence International has reported a 14% increase in gross global half year revenues to $16m, driven by growth in its US and Indian operations. More
Oslo, Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has appointed Knut Aasrud as Chief Executive Officer. He replaces Are Strøm, who has left the company after four years to take up a new role in the construction industry. More
US sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix has launched kNOW, a Daily Omnibus service providing feedback from a nationally representative sample of 1,000 US adults, or 500 mobile-only respondents on any day of the week, including weekends. More
In the UK, 70,000 members of cashback and rewards site Quidco have been integrated into the OpinionHub platform run by panel marketplace operator Cint. More
In Singapore, customer and employee research specialist ORC International has appointed Smitha Kuppa as Senior Research Director of its Qualitative practice, and Nellie Yeoh as Senior Consultant, Employee Research. More
Film and television measurement specialist Rentrak has reported a 38% increase in revenue to $26.9m for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 (ending December 31st, 2014), up from $19.5m in the same period of the previous year. TV Everywhere once again led the way with a 76% rise. More
In Brisbane, Australia, Ipsos has appointed Kathy Benson as Strategy & Research Director, and Kylie Brosnan as Director of Ipsos Public Affairs, while Anna Eden moves from the Perth office to take up the role of Senior Client Services Director. More
Film and television measurement specialist Rentrak has raised $7m by selling its Pay Per Transaction (PPT) video rental arm to Vobile, a provider of video content identification, analytics and management services. More
UK agency Opinion Matters has hired former Market Research Society (MRS) director Jennifer Sproul for the newly created position of Head of Client Services. More
Kantar Worldpanel has launched an out-of-home (OoH) panel in China, to gather data about consumer purchasing and consumption of snacks and beverages across the country. More
In Singapore, Nielsen is investing an initial sum of $SG 14m over the next five years in the launch of an 'Asia Innovation Centre', to encourage the development of new research and measurement techniques for organisations operating across the continent. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has launched a Gastrointestinal Panel, giving insights into the practices, treatments and sentiments of those with a variety of related disorders. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research has introduced a new service to provide market research to physicians who are attending specific medical conferences. More
In the UK, Sainsbury's veteran Kirstin Knight has joined Kantar Worldpanel, to manage the Grocery Retail division. More
Research technology firm and panel marketplace operator Cint has launched a sample supply management solution called Access Pro, to provide researchers and panel owners with 'total control' of the delivery process. More
In the US, full service agency Morpace has appointed Opinion Research Corporation veteran Gerard Miodus as a Vice President. More
A new guide which takes a fresh look at measuring social media impact has been launched by industry bodies the MRS (Market Research Society), IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), and The Marketing Society, working with Facebook and Twitter. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has appointed Robby Hart as Head of Analytics and Modeling; Steve Thornberry as Senior Vice President of Solutions Consulting; and Jim Hirshfield as Senior Vice President of Solutions Architecture. More
LA-based research technology company uSamp is changing its name to Instantly, Inc. While planning substantial investment in its sample business, the firm says the new name will allow it to grow this in tandem with its burgeoning insights platform. More
GfK is preparing to move into free-to-air (FTA) audience measurement in Brazil, according to reports, and has appointed Adhemar Garcia Neto as Director of Operations and Caroline Campos as Head of its Audience Measurement and Insights Department. More
Hispanic MR firm ThinkNow Research has announced the launch of MovieLink, which it describes as 'the first agile movie trailer test for the Hispanic Community'. More
Danish software product OfficeReports, which turns Microsoft PowerPoint and Word into 'a complete data analysis and reporting suite for surveys', has upgraded and is now available within Excel. More
GfK has reported a 2.9% drop in annual sales to EUR 1.451 billion from EUR 1.495 billion the previous year. Currency effects accounted for a 0.9% reduction: in organic terms, sales were down by 2.1%. More
Fashion retailer Gap has appointed company veteran Scott Key as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Customer Experience, in charge of the newly combined eCommerce and Marketing teams. More
London-based newspaper marketing body Newsworks has embarked on the second phase of a formal process to find suitable partners for a new audience measurement system. More
UK-based market research staff recruitment specialist Hasson Associates has appointed Stephanie Richards as a Senior Associate and Alex Giurgiu as an Associate. More
European firm Stratégir has invested an undisclosed sum in Paris-based qual consumer agency WSA, which will now become Stratégir-WSA. The new company will be 70% owned by Stratégir and 30% by WSA's current managers Pascal Bluteau, Dominique Suire and Jean-Pierre Michel. More
Colin Strong, UK Head of Industry, GfK, is leaving at the end of March after nineteen years with the business, to join online communities specialist Verve in the newly created position of Managing Director of Verve Ventures. Meanwhile GfK has announced three senior appointments of its own. More
In the US, research technology and panel exchange operator Cint has made a number of staff changes, including the appointment of two sales reps and a marketing specialist, and four senior promotions. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has issued new video recorded guidelines for researching children, designed to promote ethically driven standards in this field. More
In the UK, industry body the Market Research Society (MRS) is marking Data Privacy Day by reporting nineteen organisations to the Information Commissioner's Office for 'selling under the guise of research'. More
Berlin-based qual research specialist Point-Blank International (PBI) has developed a new methodology which uses LEGO to help participants communicate during creative group discussions. More
London-based online communities specialist Verve has hired former Research Now exec Pete Flower for the newly created role of Community Development Director, focused on delivering community panel innovation. The company has also recruited five other new members of staff. More
Surrey, UK-based MR community and panel management tech company MARSC has promoted Allan Shaw to the position of Director of Sales & Marketing, while appointing industry veteran Pat Molloy as a non-executive member of its Board. More
Former Infotools MD Ian Murray and Conquest Research Director Catherine Heaney have launched a new agency called house51, which will offer brand, communications and social research through a network of senior consultants. More
Private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners is to acquire an undisclosed number of shares in digital data collection specialist Research Now from a group of the latter's shareholders. Financial terms of the transaction have not been released. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has appointed non-practising barrister Dr Michelle Goddard as Director of Policy and Standards, to work alongside other regulatory authorities and public and professional trade bodies to ensure best practice across the sector. More
In Sydney, The Leading Edge (TLE) MD Lee Naylor is taking over the role of Chairman from Nigel Marsh, who is leaving the firm to become a Partner at strategy consultancy Growth Mantra. More
Sports marketing research group Repucom has commenced a restructure of its business operations in Europe, including the departure by mutual consent of President Europe Marcel Cordes. Meanwhile Alexandre Callay has joined as Global Director Media Research and Content. More
Analytic Partners has teamed up with social media consultancy Converseon and word of mouth (WoM) research firm Keller Fay Group to launch a new solution called Integrated Social Exploration Modeling (ISEM), combining on- and off-line data and marketing mix modeling to assess the value of WoM. More
In the US, Ipsos MarketQuest President Matt McNerney has left the group to pursue other opportunities. McNerney joined Ipsos seven years ago as President of its Loyalty Division. More
UK-based Voice of the Customer specialist eDigitalResearch has strengthened its technical and insight teams with five new hires - including Liz Boffey as a Research Director - and four promotions. More
British Airways has restructured its marketing team, according to reports, giving the new role of Head of Customer - including research and insight, customer service transformation, innovation and brand proposition - to former Head of Marketing Abigail Comber. More
Millward Brown has launched a rapid copy-testing solution for TV, LinkNow, promising results in as few as six hours. Based on the firm's well known Link solution, the new product is available through MR app store ZappiStore. More
Kantar Media has extended its contract providing TV audience measurement in Romania, until the end of 2019. The win follows a competitive tender process by ARMA, the country's television joint industry committee, and comes three years to the month after the current contract began. More
UK-based health and consumer marketing group Cello has reported 'strong trading' in an update for the year to 31st December 2014. The Health division reports double digit revenue growth and a strong business pipeline for 2015, while growth in the Signal consumer division is slower. More
TNS has promoted Anjali Puri to the position of Global Head of its Qualitative practice, replacing Rebecca Wynberg who will move to a non-executive position as Chair of TNS Qualitative. More
In the UK, MR technology consultancy Data Liberation has appointed industry veteran Pat Molloy as Chief Executive Officer, replacing founder Chris Morgan, who has moved to the role of Chairman and COO. Separately, Daniel Bailey becomes CTO and Deborah Whitworth CFO. More
Asian market research consultancy ABN Impact has appointed Kurt Thompson to launch operations in Indonesia. More
YouGov UK CEO Tim Britton has left the company after seven years, to pursue 'the next stage of his career'. He is replaced on an interim basis by Chief Strategy Officer Alex McIntosh. More
In London, Kantar Media has hired former BBC director Margo Swadley for the new role of Managing Director, UK TV & Video Measurement. More
WPP-owned Lightspeed GMI has expanded its online respondent validation product Honesty Detector to 27 markets across the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. More
UK consumer specialist Incite has appointed former Millward Brown MD Jason Spencer as Managing Director of its latest office, in Shanghai, China. He will take up the post on 1st February. More
In the US, Hall & Partners has promoted Joanna Fanuele to lead global innovations. She replaces former Head of Innovations Jane Bloomfield who has left the company to join Millward Brown as Brand Development Director. More
In London, sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom has hired former Lawn Tennis Association Chief Commercial Officer Simon Long as Head of Sales for the UK and Ireland (UK&I). More
UK-based research innovator BrainJuicer has announced a 1% increase in revenue to £24.6m in 2014. However, the firm said it had performed well in the US, where revenue increased by some 5%-6% on a constant currency basis. More
In the UK, mobile MR technology and consumer analytics specialist RealityMine has secured $2.5m of new investment funding, which it will use to recruit additional technical, sales and client support staff at its Manchester headquarters. More
WPP-owned brand and media specialist Millward Brown has appointed Karen Rivoire as Chief Human Resources Officer, to lead the firm's strategy for attracting, retaining, and developing 'top talent'. More
In the UK, user experience design agency Foolproof has acquired personalisation and targeting technology specialist Knit for an undisclosed sum. More
In India, Kantar-owned IMRB International has announced that SVP Preeti Reddy will take over as President from Thomas Puliyel, when he retires in August. The firm has also announced a number of other changes to its management team. More
Netherlands-based data collection software developer Nebu has partnered with MR software, services and solutions provider thinqonline, to establish a presence in the US. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research has announced the appointment of eleven new members of staff - nine in the US and two in the UK. More
London-based online research software and services provider Dub has appointed Dan Stracey as Chief Inspiration Officer. More
SPA Future Thinking's French subsidiary has launched a pharmaceutical healthcare division called Future Thinking Pharma, in Paris, which will be led by Béatrice Chemla, the founder and CEO of healthcare MR agency Listening Pharma. More
Research and sampling firm Offerwise has opened an office in Brazil, and is planning to expand its LatAm presence further through investment in additional personnel and panel capabilities, including a mobile research application. More
US-based audience measurement specialist Rentrak has been granted another patent for a solution which detects and corrects TV viewership levels caused by missing or 'dropped' set-top box viewing information. More
In the US, webcam-enabled focus group provider FocusVision has acquired quant MR tech firm Decipher, for an undisclosed sum. More
UK-based business-to-business agency B2B International has opened an office in Singapore - its third location in the Asia Pacific region. More
UK agency Marketing Sciences Unlimited has promoted Deborah Hall and Gerry Curtis to Research Director, Sadie Buckingham to Associate Director, and Becky Hutchins to Senior Research Executive. More
In the US, digital TV and video solutions provider Sorenson Media has partnered with business information and analysis specialist Neustar, to provide 'better insight' into TV audience viewing patterns and behaviour. More
Former ESPN media researcher Glenn Enoch has joined Nielsen as Senior Vice President of Audience Insights in New York, replacing Pat McDonough who retired at the end of last year. More
TNS has appointed Andrew Lancefield for a new role, Chief Operating Officer of the AMME (Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East) region. More
Desiree Lopez has been promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer of public sector specialist TNS BMRB, along with a seat on the TNS UK Board. More
US-based marketing and communications specialist HCD Research is introducing its integrated cognitive and applied neuroscience market research services across China. More
Philip (Phil) Converse, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Political Science at the University of Michigan, died on December 30th in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the age of 86. More
Virgin Media has appointed former Unilever and British Airways marketer Kerris Bright as Chief Marketing Officer, with an expanded remit that includes data, insight and analytics. She will join the company on 19th January. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based emotion analytics specialist Beyond Verbal has introduced 'The Empath App', allowing users to track and analyse their personal emotional wellbeing via their smartphones. More
London and New York-based Tonic Insight, formed last year from the merger of consumer-focused Spring Research and its online communities specialist Tuned In, has launched a suite of online qual tools promising rapid delivery of results. More
UK-based research innovator BrainJuicer Group has announced senior internal promotions in the Americas and Europe and the opening soon of an office in Miami. More
Global research tech and services company 20|20 Research has opened a UK office from which it will service its online qual offerings throughout EMEA. FocusVision veteran David Chandler will head up the new location in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. More
Research technology and panel exchange operator Cint has appointed Morten Strand as its new CEO, replacing Bo Mattsson who it says will 'remain on the board and continue to be a strong influence in the company'. The company plans 'rapid growth' in 2015, led by US expansion. More
New York City MR firms UniversalSurvey and SurveyHealthCare have completed an equity and debt funding round, for use in developing their current platforms and for planned M&A activity. More
London-based online communities specialist Verve has announced rapid growth in the final quarter of 2014 - detailing no fewer than 22 appointments - and ambitious plans for 2015. More
TNS UK has appointed former Quadrangle exec Jamie Burnett as Director of Survey Methods and Sampling. More
Public opinion research association WAPOR has named Patricia Moy as its new President, replacing two-year leader Alejandro Moreno. More
From all of us at MrWeb and Daily Research News to all of you, our readers and friends around the world, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for your support in 2014! More
London-based online research software and services provider Dub is relocating to new offices off City Road at the beginning of January, in preparation for an increase in headcount. More
Long-time Associated Press pollster Michael Mokrzycki died suddenly on Friday evening of what is thought to have been a heart attack. He was 52 years old. More
In the US, digital data marketer Peter Brooke has set up a new firm called Travel Tech Strategies, to help clients in the sector mine their existing big data to uncover trends in customer behavior, demographics and social media relationships. More
American film and TV production company Alcon Entertainment has hired National Research Group co-founder Catherine Paura, and her sister Angela, as co-presidents of Worldwide Marketing. More
In the US, full-service custom marketing research company Burke Inc. has acquired innovation and 'growth acceleration' specialist Seed Strategy. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Chicago, former McDonald's brand marketer Tania Haigh has launched an agency called Magnolia Insights, specializing in marketing to women. More
Dubai-based online healthcare specialist 42 market research has enhanced its panel coverage in Asia, through launches in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. More
In the US, social media polling platform Wedgies.com has raised $700k in seed funding, which it will use to scale its technology and expand into new markets. More
Brand and media specialist Millward Brown has acquired full-service agency Habitus Investigación, in Ecuador. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In London, newspaper marketing body Newsworks has appointed former Havas exec Denise Turner as Director of Insight. She will take up her new post in early 2015. More
US full service MR and technology consultancy 20|20 Research has moved its headquarters to larger premises in the center of Nashville, in order to accommodate future growth. More
US healthcare market research firm InCrowd has launched a 'microresearch' app, promising users access to physician and patient insights in hours rather than weeks or months. More
Online research specialist Macromill has formed a joint venture (JV) with medical information provider CareNet, in Tokyo, to provide marketing research services across the medical sector. More
WPP's Kantar has acquired the majority interest in IBOPE Media, which comprises IBOPE Pesquisa de Midia e Participações, IBOPE Latinoamericana, and IMI.com. It has also bought the remainder of Millward Brown do Brasil and a minority share in IBOPE's political and social subsidiary. More
US TV broadcasters FOX, Tribune Media and Univision have joined forces with social media analysis specialist Timeline Labs in a venture called NewCoin, which will address what the partners describe as 'deficiencies' in local market television audience measurement. More
WPP has appointed Smith & Nephew Chairman Roberto Quarta as a non-executive Director and Chairman-designate, succeeding Philip Lader. He will join the Board on 1st January 2015 and offer himself for re-election at the group's AGM in June. More
DIY survey software firm SurveyMonkey has raised $250m in an equity funding round, which it will use to pursue future M&A transactions and to enable existing investors and employees to sell some of their equity. According to reports, the funding values the firm at $2 billion. More
Online panel provider Prodege has launched a sampling technology platform called Prodege MR, and appointed former uSamp executives Dave Gaston and Kris Tarbet as Vice Presidents of Sales, and Daniel Ross as VP of Product Management. More
Edinburgh-based researcher Daniel Turner has launched a new software package called Quirkos, which allows users to code, retrieve and manage data from large text-based qualitative sources, with findings delivered in a visual format. More
In the UK, panel exchange operator Cint has partnered with research agency Opinium to roll out the latter's IFA (independent financial advisor) panel through the OpinionHUB marketplace. The deal gives Cint its first specialist B2B panel in the country. More
Simpson Carpenter co-founder and automotive research veteran Derek Carpenter is to retire at the end of the year, the company has announced. More
Kantar has announced that Mark Inskip, will take the role of Global CEO of its consulting business The Futures Company, from February. He replaces Will Galgey who is moving to the role of CEO of TNS UK. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based High Net Worth Individuals specialist Red Carpet Research (RCR) has launched an access panel, LuxuryOpinions.com, billed as the first of its kind in Europe. More
US research organisation CASRO has launched a Safe Harbor Program to help research companies comply with US-EU privacy regulations. More
Q&A software developer Askem has launched a qual / quant research and engagement platform, 'Askem Know', which it says 'targets key demographics in a quick, engaging, and cost-effective way'. More
According to the Market Research Society's latest Annual League Table, the UK MR industry grew 2.5% in the past year. The society says this demonstrates that the research industry is now recovering from the impacts of the recession. More
In the US, online survey software company QuestionPro has acquired web site feedback and engagement platform RapidEngage from tech incubator EvoNexus. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
On-demand panel and sample company Innovate has opened an office in Gurgaon, India, where it has already hired a number of execs for its operations team. Meanwhile in the US, the firm has appointed former uSamp exec Vanessa Carey, and promoted Amanda Keller and Jason Poyser. More
In Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University (QMU) has opened the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation, which will use a range of nutritional analysis, shelf life testing, consumer focus groups and taste panels to help businesses develop healthier products. More
Customer, employee, and market strategy research specialist ORC International has launched an online communities division, and appointed former Communispace exec Jennifer Adams to lead it. More
Netherlands-based customer insights agency SKIM is to open an office in Singapore in January, led by Director Robin de Rooij. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has added 100,000 UK panellists to its OpinionHUB marketplace, through a partnership with London-based online agency Aurora Market Research. More
Hispanic market specialist ThinkNow Research has appointed former uSamp exec Heather Scrittorale as Director of Business Development for Sample, while Greg DeLacy joins as Business Development Manager. More
London-based polling and research specialist ComRes has hired five new members of staff, including former Ipsos MORI exec Rob Melvill as Research Team Leader in charge of its FMCG and Food & Beverage practice. The firm has also promoted Tom Clarkston to Research Team Leader. More
Attendees at last night's MRS Awards ceremony in London saw Ipsos MORI and biopharma client Amgen scoop both 'The Grand Prix Award for Greatest Impact' and the 'Healthcare Research' prizes for their work highlighting patient experience for Psoriasis sufferers. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has launched a short-term branded panel product called PanelPortalLight, which can be launched in less than four weeks and host up to 2,000 members. More
Maktoob Research founder Tamara Deprez and marketer Maha Ahmad have set up a full service marcoms agency called The360mix in Dubai. More
Kantar Media and CSM Media Research - a joint venture firm between CTR Market Research and Kantar Media - have partnered with Hong Kong's largest TV broadcaster Now TV, to roll out the region's first cross-platform television audience measurement system using return path data (RPD) technology. More
Recently formed market strategy division Millward Brown Vermeer has appointed former London2012 consultant Patrick Fry as Director, responsible for leading the firm's engagements in Australia and New Zealand. More
UK full service agency Simpson Carpenter has appointed former BrainJuicer and SPA Future Thinking exec Paul Roberts as Digital Director, to focus on developing new methods and ideas in areas such as analytics, video and visualisation. More
Net Promoter Score metrics firm Promoter.io has announced a new analytics platform automating the 'delivery, calculation and feedback loop' of the widely-used customer loyalty metric. More
The Merlien Institute - which runs conferences and events for MR professionals - has launched a new set of Awards to celebrate innovation in the industry and recognize individuals who have achieved 'significant breakthroughs' in mobile market research. More
UK-based digital communications group Next Fifteen has acquired a 75% stake in London-based brand performance researcher Morar, for up to £1.8m in cash. More
The MR industry in the US has now recovered from the recession, according to professional association the MRA - whose Research Industry Index (RII) score has remained above 100 for the fifth consecutive quarter. More
In the UK, Tesco has promoted Robin Terrell to the position of Head of Customer, replacing Jill Easterbrook who is transferring to head the retailer's Business Transformation programme from 1st January. More
Switzerland's Mediapulse body has given GfK an extension of its contract to measure the country's radio audiences beyond 2017, using the agency's new Mediawatch platform. More
Healthcare specialist Krea has become the Indian member of Global Market Research, an alliance of accredited independent MR companies. More
WPP has extended its relationship with IBM, to expand its use of big data and analytics, and develop new digital services that will be run and managed within a global hybrid cloud infrastructure. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has expanded its supply-API technology with the launch of 'Cint Push Supply', which the firm claims enables both suppliers and buyers to achieve 'significantly increased survey conversion'. More
GfK has appointed former Nielsen exec James Llewellyn as UK Head of Shopper. More
UK-based mobile video MR specialist VoxPopMe has expanded to Singapore with the appointment of Robert Fry as Managing Director, Asia Pacific. The firm has also launched an app for iPhone, with an Android version available early in 2015. More
Ipsos has announced that its Co-President Jean-Marc Lech died this morning in Paris, after suffering from a 'serious health issue' since the summer. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has completed its acquisition of the US-based TV measurement assets of Kantar Media, in an all-stock deal worth about $128m - c.$30m more than was initially anticipated. More
US sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix has appointed former Market Strategies International COO Kevin Orians as Head of its Customer Care team. More
US research provider Gongos Inc. has promoted Greg Heist to the position of Chief Innovation Officer, co-ordinating a cross-disciplinary team which will tap into technological and societal trends to shape the future of the company and the industry it serves. More
Australian professional MR association AMSRO has become the first body to have its privacy code registered by the Australian Privacy Commissioner under new legislation. More
UK agency Simpson Carpenter has announced two appointments catering for 'recent expansion and anticipated growth in 2015': Weiwei Yang joins as a Senior Research Manager in the pharmaceutical division and Charlotte Donald as an RE in the Major Studies team. More
Australian market and opinion specialist Roy Morgan Research is moving to new offices in Kent Street, Sydney on December 8th, after 27 years at its previous location. More
Trade association The British Marine Federation (BMF) has appointed Alastair Wilson to head its Statistics and Market Research service. More
Deepak Singh has returned to Ipsos in the newly created role of Executive Director and Head of Ipsos Marketing in India. More
In the UK, Portsmouth-based mystery shopping firm Douglas Stafford has promoted Operations Director Ben Sargeant to the role of Managing Director. More
In the US, Civicom Marketing Research has added analytics tools to its online community platform Chatterbox, to help researchers speed up the data interpretation process. More
Ireland's radio industry has announced that it will trial a new people metering audience measurement system next year, as a possible alternative to the current system used for the Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) ratings. More
New York-based media agency Assembly has hired media research specialist Paul Beck for the new position of EVP, Director of Strategic Services, with a remit to build an Analytics and Traditional Media Research division. More
Marcoms holding group Creston has reported a 5% increase in half year revenue to £37.3m, and announced an international partnership with German-owned Serviceplan Group. More
Online research tech company uSamp has rolled out its Instant.ly Concept Test (ICT) tool in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. More
DIY research firm SurveyMonkey is to collaborate with employee-owned US research stalwart Westat and non-profit organization the Pew Research Center, to examine non-probability sampling, along with various means of gauging data quality. Results will be made publicly available. More
In the UK, healthcare researchers Martin Schlaeppi and Craig Scott have launched Greensand, a new agency focused on the medical device market. More
Stakeholder intelligence and engagement advisory firm GlobeScan is opening an office in Cape Town, South Africa. More
Digital out-of-home advertising company MediaZest has launched a retail analytics product, using facial recognition technology to help retailers understand store dynamics and trading patterns, and improve service. More
In the US, private investment firm RLJ Equity Partners has acquired entertainment sector researcher and analyst MarketCast, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, River Research co-founder and Partner Julian Kenway has left the company after six years to join SPA Future Thinking as its new Commercial Director, leading business development across all areas of the company. More
Nielsen has announced it will begin tracking viewing for Netflix next month, plugging a gap in its coverage created by the streaming video service's unwillingness to provide ratings information. Streaming on mobile devices will not for the time being be included. More
Roy Morgan Research has appointed former Ipsos Australia Chief Exec and AMSRO President Hugh Amoyal as its new Deputy CEO. The firm has also given Head of Client Services Howard Seccombe the new role of Chief Digital Officer. More
Healthcare panel provider M3 Global Research has promoted Roni DasGupta to the role of President of Market Research, Americas and Anton Richter to MD of Market Research, Europe, as it looks to 'accelerate its global growth'. More
MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has launched a new Sensory Science Centre in Singapore, with a panel of thirteen sensory assessors led by newly appointed Sensory Director Antonella Scarabelli. More
TNS has announced the appointment of Will Galgey, formerly of The Futures Company (TFC) as UK CEO from mid-January 2015, following the departure of Maureen Duffy earlier in the week. Separately, Michelle Harrison will become Global Head of Political and Social at the beginning of the year. More
In the UK, Kantar Media has admitted to a problem with its published BARB viewing data for July-September, requiring it to reissue certain audience data files. More
UK-based Kadence International has officially opened a Middle East office, in Dubai, which will be staffed by local quant and qual researchers. The company is also planning to open a second office in the region, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. More
Survey technology firms Qualtrics and CFMC have partnered to enable users to conduct online and phone surveys concurrently or consecutively. More
Omnicom-owned brand and comms research firm Hall & Partners has appointed former InsightExpress exec Todd Trautz as a Partner in its New York-based Consumer team. More
In the UK, The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has set up a research community called 'Big Voice', through which small firms can provide their opinion and feedback to government organisations and national policymakers. More
Online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has made its second investment in as many months - this time in workplace performance assessment firm The Marcus Buckingham Company (TMBC), with whom it will partner to find new ways to measure 'the pulse' of the workforce. More
Judy Taylor, the co-founder of Leapfrog Research & Planning, has joined Tonic Insight in a non-executive consultancy role at its office in London. The firm has also appointed three new Account Executives in New York. More
In the UK, full service agency Explain Research has appointed Kat Allen as a Market Research Executive, and Rhonda Winskill and Michael Spink as Market Research Assistants. More
Online panel services provider Borderless Access has launched panels in Australia, Singapore and Thailand, bringing its total coverage to 1.5 million respondents across twenty countries. More
Cinema research expert and AIMRI Company Secretary Richard Chilton died suddenly on Tuesday 4th November, at the age of 83. More
Media industry research veteran Joe Philport will retire from his role as CEO of industry body the Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement (TAB) at the end of the year. More
In the UK, MD Maureen Duffy has left TNS after less than three years in the role. Reasons for the departure are not yet known. Global CEO Richard Ingleton is stepping into the role until a UK replacement is found. More
Former Nielsen Indonesia MD Catherine Eddy is to join GfK in January as Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand. She takes over the role from Gary Lamb and Juergen Merz, who are moving to new positions within the group. More
London-based insight consultancy Firefish has appointed Lyn McGregor as Qualitative Managing Director in its UK office, and as a member of its Management Board. More
San Jose, CA-based in-store big data analytics specialist RetailNext has hired former IBM marketer Marc Dietz as Chief Marketing Officer. More
UK-based Kadence International has today been sold to full service Japanese MR group CMG (Cross Marketing Group) for an undisclosed sum. More
UK TV broadcaster Channel 4 has identified a new demographic it calls the 'Proactives', an audience segment said to have more money, more influence and a higher propensity to trial. More
London-based agency ruby cha cha has appointed former Engage Research director Hetta Bramley as Director of Insight and Planning at its Shoreditch office. More
GfK has unveiled a new concept it calls the 'Emotional Imprint', to help clients address the gap between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. More
London-based online research specialist DigitalMR has partnered with MRB Hellas to roll out its 'listening247' and 'communities247' services to companies in Greece. More
San Diego, CA-based MR consultancy TrendSource has introduced a mobile research solution called aAmplify, allowing consumers to give feedback on their experiences and satisfaction levels while they are using mobile devices to interact with brands. More
UK radio and television audience measurement veteran Tony Twyman died last Friday, 31st October, at the age of 82. More
In Malaysia, broadcaster Star Radio Group has commissioned GfK to introduce electronic / mobile diary radio rating methodology to the country, as it seeks 'more holistic insights' into radio listening habits. More
US start-up agency Mizzouri has hired Procter & Gamble veteran Kim Dedeker as Principal and Chief Research Officer. More
US-based consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has launched a new service called Checkout Tracking, which will provide information on consumer buying behaviour based on receipts for both online and in-store retail purchases. More
Palo Alto, CA-based online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has rolled out its 'Audience' sampling service in the UK, providing businesses with direct online access to a panel of tens of thousands of consumers. More
MR and market intelligence company Dobney Research has launched new web survey software called Cxoice. The package offers a non-linear questionnaire allowing respondents to choose their route and pick out the topics and values they care about and want to rate or select. More
MR language and translation specialist GlobaLexicon has opened a new office in Nuremberg, Germany, and says it plans to expand to Asia next year. More
Palo Alto, California-based private equity firm HGGC has become the majority owner of the parent of sampling, data collection and analytics firm Survey Sampling International (SSI). The company was previously owned by two other investors, who will retain minority stakes. More
Research technology and panel exchange operator Cint has announced a new strategic global relationship with DIY online research firm SurveyMonkey. More
Millward Brown has expanded its team in Indonesia with eight appointments, including former Diageo exec Chris Thomas as Director of strategic consulting arm Millward Brown Vermeer. More
Ipsos Healthcare has launched a new syndicated project, the Biosimilar Impact Study, to help clients understand the potential impact of launches of these drugs, which are rival companies' versions of original products, hitting the market as patents expire. More
Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) software firm QuestBack has parted company 'by mutual consent' with Hilarius Dressen, CEO of its operations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More
Audience measurement's rising star Rentrak Corporation has announced fiscal second quarter results. Total revenue is up 41% to $25.2m, driven by the continuing boom in its TV Everywhere business which grew 85% to $13.3m. More
Nielsen has been testing a new service which will add previously unmeasured out-of-home (OoH) TV viewing to its ratings. More
London-based online survey and panel management specialist Demographix has added a weighting tool to its suite of analysis products. More
In the US, former Nielsen exec Joe Hardin has joined The Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) as Vice President of Product Leadership. More
In the US, medical fieldwork firm MedQuery has launched a new service called Fast Track, which guarantees to recruit any type of physician to a qualitative research study in one week. More
UK-based 72Point, the parent of OnePoll, is expanding to the US market with the launch of an office in New York, offering a range of content-led marketing and social media products. More
UK brand research specialist Conquest has launched a tool called Automatix, which uses avatar-based online technology combined with cognitive science and implicit testing techniques, to uncover implicit 'truths' about brands, advertising and products. More
UK audience research body BARB has extended Kantar Media's TV measurement panel contract and RSMB's contract for survey design and methodology until the end of 2018. The organisation will also combine two of its main research contracts from January 2016. More
GfK has launched a methodology called FutureWave, to help companies predict the potential future direction of their category and determine which new product or service benefits will appeal to their consumers. More
Japanese online specialist Macromill has merged with Netherlands-based online research and analytics firm MetrixLab. The combined firm will now operate under the Macromill brand, and has plans to open new offices in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Russia. More
TV audience measurement body TAM Ireland has begun a pilot scheme to capture data on laptop and PC viewing, using an initial test panel of 60 homes established using Nielsen's Netsight meter. More
UK-based MR support agency Research Runner has partnered with marketing services consultancy Magnificent Stuff, in order to provide its clients with a full range of digital and print marketing services. More
Sampling, data collection and analytics specialist SSI has partnered with US Hispanic media firm Univision, to access 56 million Hispanic Americans through a new digital survey panel called ¿Qué Crees? (What do you think?). More
Nielsen has acquired concept testing and forecasting software specialist Affinnova, and will integrate the latter's team into its Innovation Practice division. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Marketing services network WPP has reported a slower than expected 3.1% rise in third quarter revenue to £2.76bn. Reported revenue in its Data Investment Management division fell 4.7% to £588m, but allowing for currency effects and acquisitions, like-for-like revenue growth was 0.5%. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has appointed Matt Powell as Vice President, Industry Analysis for Sports and Leisure Trends. More
In the US, Turner Broadcasting has named former [x+1] President Stephano Kim as Senior Vice President, Ad Operations and Chief Data Strategist for its newly created Ad Sales division. More
Kantar Retail has invested an undisclosed sum in Paris-based image recognition tech company Planorama Group. More
In London, Kantar Media has appointed Alex Kuhnel as Chief Operating Officer of its TGI global online / off-line consumer behaviour and media consumption study. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has announced three senior appointments: Scott Stein is promoted to VP, Research Solutions; Alan Mavretish, has joined as Senior Director, Research Solutions and Scott Jones returns to the firm as Senior Director, Retail Solutions. More
Full service agency Opinium has appointed former FreshMinds Research execs Andrew Littlewood and Adam Wilson at its central London-based offices. More
US-based information and analytics firm IHS is to acquire two subsidiary firms from retail researcher the NPD Group: flat-panel display specialist DisplaySearch and solar energy MR business Solarbuzz. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Industry association ESOMAR has elected Laurent Flores as its new President for the two-year term from January 2015 to December 2016. He will be supported by newly elected Vice President David Smith. More
UK-based mobile video MR specialist VoxPopMe has expanded to the US with the appointment of former Qualvu exec Dean Macko as Managing Director, North America. More
UK-based insights consultancy Simpson Carpenter has appointed Emily Hunt, former Director of Insights and SVP at Edelman Berland, as Head of Strategic Insights and Innovation - and a member of the Board. More
Sampling, data collection and analytics specialist SSI has announced a deal with air loyalty program Avios, which will offer the latter's collectors the option to join SSI's B2B inSSItes panel. More
New Jersey, US-based MedePanel Inc. has announced the launch of a panel of patients and caregivers, MyHealthOpinion.com. More
In the UK, the Health and Social Care Information Centre has extended NatCen Social Research's contract to deliver its Health Survey for England study for four more years until 2019. NatCen will deliver the survey in collaboration with University College London. More
Australian-based custom research firm The Leading Edge (TLE) has appointed Katharine Milner as Director of Qualitative Insights and Florencia Tarelli as Director of Strategy. Separately, Head of Brand Strategy Chrissy Blackburn left the company last month. More
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has partnered with eye tracking and biometric sensor software provider iMotions to open a neuromarketing-focused research facility, for use by scholars studying human responses to online advertising messages. More
Denmark's VIA University College has partnered with Canadian crowdsourcing firm Chaordix, to build an innovation community called VIA Connect, through which businesses can hook up with thousands of students, as well as researchers and tutors. More
UK television marketing body Thinkbox has appointed Channel 5's insight leader Matt Hill as Research and Planning Director. He will join in early 2015, replacing Neil Mortensen who is leaving to become Director of Planning and Research at ITV. More
Ipsos has reported third quarter revenue of EUR 412.7m, representing marginal organic growth (0.2%) year-on-year. The decline in reported figures slowed to 1.4%. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has added access to 1.5 million proprietary consumer panellists across seventeen countries to its platform, through a partnership with emerging markets specialist Borderless Access. More
In the UK, Kantar Health has recruited five new members of staff for its Epsom, Surrey-based team, including former TNS exec Hazel Haskayne as Group Director. More
UK-based medical fieldwork specialist KeyQuest Health (KQH) has opened an office in New Jersey, US. The new operation is led by Miina Rafinski, who previously served as Client Services Director at Olson Research. More
A call centre has been set up at HMP High Down Prison in Surrey, where up to twenty inmates will gather information from the general public for market research purposes. More
New York-based SIS International Research has expanded its Asia Pacific team with the appointment of four senior executives, while promoting Mandy Pan to the role of General Manager of the APAC Region and China. More
In the UK, newspaper and consumer magazine publishers have issued a time frame for their audience measurement review, with the aim of testing a new multi-platform system from mid-2015 and rolling it out from early 2016. More
In London, online community and consumer collaboration specialist Communispace has hired Franco Bonadio as Chief Creative Officer, responsible for setting the vision, goals and priorities of the firm's creative teams around the world. More
Surrey, UK-based tech research specialist EasyInsites Ltd has been acquired by Tribes Research Ltd, a full service agency with a focus on online communities and other digital research services. Tribes is co-owned by one of EasyInsites' founders, Jo Winning. More
Charles Pearson, co-founder of Guildford, Surrey-based EasyInsites, has left the firm to lead client development in North America for community panel specialist Verve. More
Retail data pioneer dunnhumby has launched BAR, a market research tool allowing users to identify customer segments using purchase data, then target surveys to them by means of the firm's Shopper Thoughts research panel. More
US-based audience measurement specialist Rentrak has been granted a patent for the system it uses to measure the status of set-top boxes (STBs). More
Cambridge, UK-based emerging technologies researcher IDTechEx has appointed Mr. Yasuo Yamamoto as Head of Business Development in Japan. More
Another fortnight, another NED role for ESOMAR President Dan Foreman, this time with fast-growing Berlin-based technology firm Dalia Research. More
UK-based agency RSM has released results from its six-monthly survey of research professionals. Among the findings, the agency notes strong support for the value of, and confidence in the continuing use of, 'traditional' methods of data collection. More
Nigeria - much in the news spotlight this week for other (positive) reasons - could soon have a new living standards index and a more standard definition of socio-economic class: a major breakthrough for data collection and analysis in the country. More
Global operations firm MRops has hired Chris Fabber as Senior Vice President Sample Solutions. More
In the UK, marketing budgets were revised up for the eighth consecutive quarter, reflecting continued confidence in the business outlook, according to the Q3 2014 Bellwether report from ad association the IPA. More
Los Angeles, California-based researcher Vital Findings has appointed former Millward Brown exec Amanda Hirsch as Vice President, charged with evolving its strategic consulting services and managing growth into new verticals. More
Emeryville, California-based Greenberg Strategy has appointed Nick Collins, formerly an Account Director at Kantar, as its Chief Client Officer, overseeing client relationship management across the US and Asia in qual, quant, consulting and design. More
In Washington, veteran survey researcher and political scientist Michael Dimock has been promoted to President of the Pew Research Center, effective today. More
London-based brand communications agency PrettyGreen has launched a sister company, Pretty Black&White, combining research, planning and creative functions. More
Kantar public sector division TNS BMRB has made two senior appointments, Keith Bolling as Head of National and Official Statistics Surveys and Gillian Prior as Head of Longitudinal Studies - on the back of strong growth in the two areas. More
London-based insight consultancy Firefish has announced six appointments. Simon Gedman joins as an Associate Director, while five Research Executives are added to the team - Ellie O'Dell, Anna Leggett, Posy Knightly-Brown, Tom Hayes and Toni Coker. More
Dutch radio audience survey body NLO has signed an amended contract with current provider GfK, extending the current radio diary deal and simultaneously exploring the use of mobile apps to allow reporting on a minute-by-minute level. More
Amsterdam-based games market specialist Newzoo has opened its first international office, in Shanghai, China; and announced the launch of new research covering six SE Asian countries. More
Healthcare fieldwork specialist Krea has taken the unusual step of turning what began as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative into a separate division of its company. 'CAN DO' provides opportunities for people with disabilities and will offer data collection along with archival and scanning services. More
Online research specialist YouGov has reported preliminary results for the year ended 31st July 2014, with revenue up 10% in constant currency terms, to £67.4m, and adjusted profit before tax rising 12%. More
Following a long tender process, online ad association IAB Australia has chosen Nielsen as sole supplier of digital audience measurement services in the country, for three years from January 1st 2015. More
GfK MRI has teamed up with modeling and analytics provider Santiago Solutions Group to launch a health and wellness-based segmentation and solution, SSG Wellness Spectrum. More
DIY online research firm SurveyMonkey has announced a new app, allowing users to send and analyze surveys from within the widely used Salesforce platform. More
In Nashville, Tennessee, workforce development and research / patient experience solutions provider HealthStream, Inc. is to build a new Patient Interview Center, creating around 200 new jobs over the next few years. More
US company Directions Research, Inc. (DRI) has hired Betsy Sutherland as Senior Vice President of Client Service. More
Film and television measurement specialist Rentrak is to acquire the US TV measurement business of WPP's Kantar Media for $98m in Rentrak common stock. WPP will then spend a further $56m to bring its overall share of the US-based firm to 16.7%. The deal gives WPP's GroupM agencies full access to Rentrak audience data. More
DIY online research firm SurveyMonkey has announced a partnership with broadcast and digital news provider NBC News. The deal has two aims: to deliver in-depth assessments of public opinion and attitudes; and more generally to explore best practice in online survey research. More
In the US, survey and panel management software specialist Kinesis Survey Technologies has announced a new technology partnership with mobile panel firm Paradigm Sample. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has announced the launch of proprietary panels in Thailand and Malaysia. More
Emerging markets panel specialist Borderless Access has become the latest company to appoint current ESOMAR President Dan Foreman as a Non-Executive Director. More
UK group St. Ives Plc has reported a 3% annual increase in revenue to £327.6m, providing what it calls 'clear evidence' of the success its strategy to move into marketing services through a major M&A push. More
Kantar Media is to provide a proprietary audience measurement service for Malaysian Pay TV and radio group Astro. Launched next year, the new service will make use of Kantar Worldpanel's Malaysian household FMCG panel. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched an East Coast US office in Avenue of the Americas, New York - its seventh office worldwide. More
Majestic MRSS has announced a strategic partnership with foreign direct investment specialist Dezan Shira & Associates. More
In the US, business intelligence provider Mystery Researchers has acquired customer service measurement and mystery shopping specialist Beyond Hello - its second acquisition in two months. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
SIS International Research has appointed Joseph Kim as Director of Client Relations, based in Seoul, Korea. More
Kantar's telecoms purchasing and usage trend analysis division, Worldpanel ComTech has launched a new consumer panel in Russia; and has announced it is increasing its panel in China by 50% to 22,000 individuals. More
British retailer Argos has appointed Ian Dobson as Head of Customer and Market Insight, based at its head office in Milton Keynes. More
In the US, location analytics firm PlaceIQ has partnered with multi-screen audience measurement specialist Rentrak to develop a new product called PIQ PrimeTime, combining location intelligence with television viewing data. More
Facebook has introduced strict research guidelines, in response to a recent revelation that the firm had conducted a psychological experiment in which it manipulated users' news feeds to assess the impact on the mood of their subsequent posts. More
US-based survey and panel management software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has enhanced its offer to add survey research options for users of in-store 'beaconing' for smartphones. More
In the US, Michael J. Hennessy Associates (MJH), a full service healthcare MR and communications firm, has acquired CURE Media Group, publisher of a cancer patient magazine with more than one million readers. The buy will strengthen its research division, HRA. More
In the UK, ethnographic and customer journey research specialist Siamack Salari has launched a new smartphone app called Journey HQ, to provide insight into customers' natural decision-making and buying patterns. More
Customer and employee engagement solutions firm PeriscopeIQ has acquired DIY feedback platform provider Opinionmeter International, for an undisclosed sum. More
How much is a piece of personal data worth? According to a study conducted by mobile giant Orange, consumers' price tag is around £13 for a single piece if it is shared with a brand they already know, and £15 for organisations they have not dealt with previously. More
US firm Federated Sample has spun off its Fulcrum sample management and exchange platform as an independent division. More
Data collection specialist OMR Globus has launched an online panel hosting, sampling and survey platform called Q One, which it says provides tools for every step in the data collection process, from initial quote to invoice. More
US-based fieldwork provider Schlesinger Associates has launched a new service to connect those seeking healthcare insights with 'world-class thought leaders'. More
In the US, online sampling and technology company uSamp has appointed former Ipsos and Hall & Partners exec Dean Burnett as Senior Director, Global Panel and Sampling Operations. More
UK-based market research staff recruitment specialist Hasson Associates has appointed former Survey Sampling International (SSI) exec Beatrice Zornek as an Associate, and Aileen Ryan as Office Manager. More
In New Zealand, MR software provider Infotools has promoted Chris Spence for a newly created role, Sales & Marketing Director, in charge of the global sales team and marketing initiatives. The firm has also appointed former Ipsos ASI Director Horst Feldhaeuser. More
Ipsos has hired Jake Dorn as Senior Vice President - Chief Client Director for Microsoft, based in Seattle, Washington and leading the agency's global initiatives with the software giant. More
Newcastle, UK-based Explain Research has teamed up with REALsafe Technologies, creator of the REALRIDER app, to launch what they describe as 'the industry's first dedicated online research panel of motorcycle users'. More
Kent, UK-based fieldwork agency Facts International has announced four appointments: Ellie Osborne returns to the company as an AD, while Kirsty Bridgland, Cindy Ramnath Dawn Chapman all join the team. More
Life science research and advisory firm BioInformatics LLC has announced the acquisition of LA-based analytical equipment research specialist Strategic Directions International (SDi). More
Survey technology firm Qualtrics has closed a $150m Series B financing round, giving it the means to expand rapidly into new geographic and vertical markets, develop new products and consider acquisitions of appropriate technology solutions. More
A suit filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern California claims that Arbitron - now Nielsen Audio - made calls and left messages for consumers, contrary to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). More
US physician network Doximity has added two new Vice Presidents: Emily Peters in the newly created role of VP Marketing Communications, and Peter Alperin, MD, as VP, Connectivity Solutions. More
London-based online communities specialist Verve has opened an office in Toronto, and has appointed former Research Now exec Suzanne Costa to lead it. More
MR outsourcing company Cross-Tab Marketing Services has launched a process automation and project management tool called Promise, which it says can reduce project turnaround times by more than 40%. More
Creative video studio the Commotion Agency has rolled out an analytics service, to help clients measure the effectiveness of their online video campaigns. More
US-based consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has launched a new wearables advisory service, led by Eddie Hold, Vice President of the firm's Connected Intelligence division. More
In the UK, comScore has announced that its partnership developing metrics with the GSMA mobile operators' trade association is to terminate at the end of 2014. The digital measurement giant will shortly launch a new service called Mobile Metrix, working with cross-industry body UKOM. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based emotion analytics specialist Beyond Verbal has raised $3.3m in new funding, simultaneously launching the Beyond Wellness API, which will enable app developers and wearable device makers to add emotion sensing capabilities to their offerings. More
Canadian survey sample and panel technology firm WiseSample has moved its Indian operations to larger premises in New Delhi, to accommodate new members of staff and to prepare for future growth. More
In Germany, GfK is to merge its media analysis specialist firms GfK Enigma and Media Markt Analysen, to form one company which will now operate under the name GfK Media & Communication Research. More
Global online sample aggregator EMI Research Solutions has appointed MR industry veteran Janet Miller as Business Development Consultant. More
Vidya Sen has been promoted to the role of Head of innovation and forecasting business Ipsos InnoQuest in India. More
According to a number of reports in the media, WPP is in 'advanced talks' regarding the possible acquisition of some divisions of Brazilian research agency IBOPE Group by its Kantar arm. More
In the US, the Board of the Media Rating Council has voted to remove accreditation for Simmons Research's National Consumer Study (NCS), following an independent audit which uncovered 'declines in service performance metrics'. More
TNS is to move into the Mongolian market in partnership with sister WPP agency Y&R Advertising, with the latter acquiring a majority stake in the Creative and Research Agency (CRA) from conglomerate MCS Holding LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online research specialist BrainJuicer has reported a 'relatively flat' first half year, with a 4% rise in revenue to £11.2m (H1 2013: £10.8m). A decline in US and UK turnover was more than compensated by strong performances in Asia, continental Europe and Brazil. More
In the US, former Synovate exec Steve Wolf has launched a new multi-country research agency called Wisdom, Insight and Mojo, which aims to deliver contextual insight merged with cultural understanding and novel thinking. More
Media researcher Pat McDonough is to retire from Nielsen at the end of 2014, after 44 years with the company. More
Ad, media and brand research specialist Millward Brown has opened an office in Karachi, Pakistan, led by Noaman Asar, who joins from fellow WPP company JWT. More
In the UK, Chime Communications-owned Facts International has won the Best Field Force category in the newly launched Market Research Society (MRS) Operations Awards, announced at a party in the McQueen bar in London's Shoreditch last night. More
Canadian public opinion polling and consumer research specialist Insights West has launched an online community, comprising 2,100 British Columbians of Chinese and South Asian ethnic descent. More
In the UK, not-for-profit body NatCen Social Research has appointed former Kantar Head of Field Sophie Ainsby to lead its 1,200 strong field force. More
Consumer and sensory research specialist Product Perceptions has appointed former Marketing Sciences Board Director Andy Grout as a Consultant. More
Insight and marketing services group Cello has had what it describes as 'an excellent half year', with revenue up 9.4% to £78.3m, and a 14.8% rise in gross profits to £39.5m. More
Detroit, Michigan-based DIY online qual platform Aha! has named co-founder Ray Fischer Chief Executive Officer. More
In London, sports marketing researcher Repucom has promoted Jon Stainer for the new role of Managing Director of the UK and Ireland. More
Omnicom-owned healthcare marketing agency Adelphi Worldwide has acquired London-based healthcare brand and research agency The Planning Shop international (TPSi), for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, trade body the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has brought in University of East Anglia (UEA) Psychology Lecturer Dr Simon Hampton, to provide the organisation with a deeper understanding of the latest theories about digital technology and its effect on user behaviour. More
UK data collection agency QRS Market Research has completed a management-led buyout of retiring MD and shareholder Sam Adby. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US Gongos, Inc. has launched a third business unit, Arti|fact, to sit alongside primary research division Gongos Research and data sciences division O2 Integrated. The firm has appointed Amy Perifanos to lead the new unit and re-hired Brett Bridges as a Director. More
WPP division Kantar Health has acquired Brazilian healthcare research company Evidências, for an undisclosed sum. More
In Australia, Paul Dovas is stepping down as CEO of not-for-profit industry body the AMAA after sixteen years' service in the organisation and its predecessor. The AMAA said he intends to pursue other opportunities in digital media. More
London-based online communities specialist Verve has announced seven more hires, including former GfK execs Rich Preedy and Olly Robinson who will help drive the expansion of its International service. More
US technology company Mobile Accord has hired former GfK East Africa MD John Muthee as Vice President of Business Development, Africa, for its real-time mobile survey platform GeoPoll. More
MRSS India has partnered with computer vision technology developer SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) to integrate the latter's eye tracking solutions with its full service offer. More
Larry Gold, the publisher of market research industry journal Inside Research, has discontinued operations after twenty four years in business, following distribution of the journal's final edition last week. More
TNS has added three senior members of staff to its Qualitative practice, including former Opinion Leader exec Sarah Morris (nee Houghton), who joins as Head of TNS Qualitative. More
In New York, Nielsen has hired former Accenture exec Benjamin Hayes as Chief Privacy Officer, overseeing its global privacy program. More
Denver-based MR technology firm iModerate has appointed former QualVu MD Julia Eisenberg as Senior Vice President of Client Services, responsible for the day-to-day management of its Client, Moderating, and Technical Services teams. More
Online research tech company uSamp has opened an office in Frankfurt, Germany and hired Susanne Minneker and Catherine Gibbon who will be based there. More
UK television audience body BARB has announced the launch of a new measurement technique, developed with Kantar Media, for panellists' viewing on iPad and Android tablets. More
MR technology and services firm 20|20 Research has launched a virtual reality (VR) platform which simulates 'a multitude of consumer products and sensory experiences'. Participants don VR headsets to enter in-store environments or other locations such as restaurants, cruise ships, hotels or events. More
Survey and reporting software firm Confirmit has launched the Confirmit Panel App, which it says will allow clients to offer a 'seamless mobile experience' to participants in their research and customer panels. More
Digital ad specialist Adknowledge and emotion analytics firm Realeyes have agreed a global partnership, promising advertisers the chance to 'make better ads, put them in more effective places and more accurately analyse performance to improve future campaigns'. More
In New York, MR operations specialist Gazelle Global has announced the launch of a standalone online sample solution, GoSample! More
The global research industry grew faster than inflation in 2013, with turnover for 'traditionally defined MR' passing the $40bn mark, according to ESOMAR's annual report, just released. More
UK-based agency SPA Future Thinking has restructured its senior management team, promoting Richard Barton to Group Managing Director, with four new divisional MDs - Steve King, Neil Aulton, Chris Bland and Claudia Strauss - working under him. More
US research association CASRO has formalised its new Code of Standards and Ethics, after its approval by more than two-thirds of member companies. More
Online panel services provider Borderless Access has launched a proprietary community and panel management platform, Communisense, which it says will help clients understand and predict panelist behavior across recruitment, engagement, sampling and incentive management. More
UK-based research consultancy Incite has moved its Singapore office to larger premises and added two new members of staff there. More
Cambiar, the management consultancy dedicated to the MR industry, has acquired MR advisory firm Transition Strategies Corporation. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Oslo, Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has promoted Matt Reynolds to the position of Managing Director for the UK market. The firm has also appointed Elisabeth Sampaio as Senior Project Manager in the UK. More
Market research software firm Askia has opened an office in Los Angeles, where it has named SPSS veteran Jamey Corriveau as Director of US Operations. More
In London, YouthSight has appointed former Cint exec Ross Pinnegar as Panel Services Manager, replacing Tatenda Musesengwa who has been promoted to the role of Client Services Director. More
WPP marcoms agency JWT has acquired a majority stake in Sao Paulo-based user experience agency Try, also known as Cairos Usabilidade Eireli. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, Tribune Media-owned music data provider Gracenote has acquired movie and television information and services company Baseline for $50m. More
In the US, online qual specialist 20|20 Research has added a fifth focus group room and client suite to its existing facilities in Charlotte, Tennessee; and has recently appointed four new employees. More
Iberian and Latin American online panel provider Netquest has acquired behavioural data collection technology specialist Wakoopa. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Wakoopa is now a fully-owned subsidiary of Netquest. More
Business information provider Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has appointed AOL's former Global CTO Curtis Brown as Chief Information Officer (CIO), responsible for the firm's portfolio of technology, proprietary data and related intellectual property. More
UK-based full service research provider BDRC has opened an office in Jakarta, Indonesia, and expanded Piers Lee's role to include oversight of the new operation. The firm has also added two new members of staff to its senior management team in Asia. More
Paper-based packaging company Smurfit Kappa and eye tracking specialist EyeSee have partnered to launch a new online tool, through which brand owners can test and understand the impact of shelf-ready packaging (SRP) in a virtual store environment. More
SKO, the industry body responsible for the reporting and monitoring of viewing behaviour in the Netherlands, has extended GfK's television audience measurement (TAM) contract by a further two years to 2017. More
In the UK, Julia Godfrey has re-joined global healthcare specialist The Research Partnership in the newly created role of Research Director, working in the firm's Therapy Watch division. More
Indian medical fieldwork specialist Krea has today launched DIAB+, which it says provides access to 'the entire Diabetes ecosystem of India'. This includes access to diabetologists, endocrinologists, clinicians and hospital and laboratory decision makers. More
Arthur H. White, co-founder of the research business that became Yankelovich, has died aged 90, in Stamford, Connecticut, from complications following a stroke. More
Recently formed strategic consultancy Millward Brown Vermeer has launched in Australia, and appointed Caspar Wright as Managing Partner there. More
In Texas, former Bank of America exec Tim Mahaffey has set up a brand strategy firm called Retail Passage, offering a platform for product developers and inventors to assess a product's retail potential. More
Kantar has partnered with US non-profit agency disABILITYincites to create what is described as the country's largest panel of consumers with disabilities. More
Palo Alto, CA-based online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has set up a 'Survey Advisory Committee', tasked with advising the firm on topics such as survey design, quality and innovation. More
In Sydney, Australia, former Ipsos execs Peter Fairbrother and Veronica Mayne have launched an insights consultancy called Faster Horses, which will cover both the east and west coasts of Australia, while also reaching clients in the Asia Pacific region. More
CIE, the Insight & Engagement Group within UK firm Chime, has reported first half operating profit up 22% to £1.4m, and a 5% increase in operating income to £4.2m. However, revenue was flat at £5.37m compared with £5.35m in the prior year period. More
Hall & Partners has made four New York appointments in its specialist Health division, including Ariella Evenzahav as Director, US Oncology Center of Excellence. More
In Chicago, web based 3-D virtual store research specialist InContext Solutions has received $12m in Series D funding, which it will use to fuel its expansion plans. More
US-based online research and analytics firm InsightExpress has been acquired by WPP's brand, media and comms research specialist Millward Brown. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
WPP's data investment management division (DIM) has reported Q2 net sales of £436m and revenue of £611m, the latter up 2.6% in like-for-like terms but well below the overall group growth of 10.2%. More
In the UK, former Mindshare CEO Jed Glanvill has been brought in by newspaper industry body Newsworks, to chair an advisory group compiling a brief for a 'future-proof' cross-platform measurement system and approving the appointment of research providers. More
WPP's healthcare data company All Global has been integrated into the group's online panels specialist Lightspeed Research, allowing combined access to general population panels and physician and payor panels. More
Eye tracking specialist Tobii Technology has raised $15m (SEK 100m) to support its continued expansion in existing and new markets, and specifically its acquisition of speech-generating tech firm DynaVox Systems. More
Darleen Lee is to leave her role as MD of Ipsos in Hong Kong and relocate back to New York City. She will be succeeded by Mick Gordon, who currently serves as MD of Ipsos India. More
Global marketers' confidence fell in August despite overall conditions improving across the sector, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI). More
London-based online research 'app store' platform ZappiStore has officially opened an office in Boston with the appointment of former GMI exec Ryan Barry as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America. More
Shopper insights specialists Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) is combining its data on what consumers watch and buy, with set-top-box (STB) data from FourthWall Media, in order to extend its single-source panel for CPG marketers. More
GfK is to launch a cross-media and cross-device measurement tool called the 'Crossmedia Visualizer', to help clients understand how individuals use their different devices. More
San Mateo, California-based mobile ad platform Opera Mediaworks has opened an Innovation Lab, with the aim of understanding how consumers will interact with their mobile devices in the future. More
Nielsen has promoted John Lewis to the role of Global President, in charge of its worldwide business in the FMCG vertical. Company veteran Karen Fichuk replaces him as President, North America. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has appointed Nielsen veteran Tom Markert as EVP of Sales and Business Development for the Americas. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has launched a panel focusing on women's health - initially in Germany, with the US, Canada and the UK following rapidly. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has relocated to new premises in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, where it has appointed Arianne Dumayas as Project and Customer Support Manager. More
Research Now Healthcare has launched a Mental Health Panel, providing access to a targeted audience of over 350,000 panelists in the US and Canada who have been diagnosed with one or more of a list of conditions. More than 27,000 caregivers are also available. More
India-based GroupM agency Maxus has launched a comms planning tool called Resolve, which uses a bespoke proprietary consumer survey called Compose to examine consumer sentiment towards media channels and their content. More
Emotion analytics specialist Affectiva has developed a 'simple and intuitive' metric linked to its Affdex facial recognition suite. The 'Affdex Score' and associated API allow clients to integrate data on emotional reaction to content into their existing systems. More
Strategic insight and innovation consultancy The Futures Company has appointed multicultural strategist and lifestyle trendwatcher Valeria Piaggio as VP of Multicultural Insights for its U.S. Yankelovich Monitor. More
Former Ipsos and TNS MDs Steve Murphy and Yazid Jamian have launched a new agency called Green Zebras, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More
London-based brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners (H&P) has launched a new service called 'Video Selfies', to help capture real-time consumer feedback from its YourWord online community. More
Online research specialist YouGov has promoted Sundip Chahal to the newly created role of Group Chief Operating Officer. More
In Texas, Tim Glowa and Garry Spinks have launched a full service MR and analytics firm called Bug Insights, offering a range of research methodologies such as focus groups, A/B testing, data mining and trade-off analysis. More
London-based online research 'app store' platform ZappiStore has commenced operations in Singapore and will open an office there in the first week of November. A Boston office will also be opened, later this month. More
In London, research firm YouthSight has appointed James MacGregor as Director of Higher Education Research, responsible for developing new business, new products, project delivery, and representing the firm on Higher Education issues. More
GfK has reported a 1.6% organic decline in sales for the first half of 2014, to EUR 697.9m, magnified to 4.2% by currency effects - but says that it is now seeing the positive effects of the 'strategic realignment' plan it has been pursuing. More
In the US, business intelligence provider Mystery Researchers has acquired on-site data collection specialist Insula Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, recently launched full service agency Mizzouri has selected Franklin, Tennessee, south of Nashville, as the location for its new headquarters. More
London-based insight consultancy Firefish has appointed former Kadence qual leader Selena King as Qualitative Group Head. More
Australian not-for-profit body The Newspaper Works has appointed Brian Rock, formerly of Network Ten, as Research and Insights Manager. More
Hollywood-based entertainment research start-up C4 has completed the acquisition of the assets of Motion Picture Group (MPG), which was shut down in controversial circumstances in June. C4 says it now has 20 staff and will grow to 45 in the next couple of months. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has teamed up with Interactive Video Productions LLC to offer EEG-based neuromarketing data collection during in-depth Interviews. The firm already has solutions for facial coding and biometrics labs. More
DIY online research firm SurveyMonkey has acquired Fluidware, an Ottawa, Canada-based provider of online survey and application review tools. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More
UK-based research firm Incite is moving its US operations to larger premises just one year after launching them, and has appointed two execs to boost the team. More
comScore is to pay an undisclosed sum for MdotLabs, an agency which 'detects non-human traffic' (NHT) - not by watching the skies, but by looking down at some of the murkier practices inflating digital audience figures. The measurement giant, which announced strong growth today, also appointed Mel Wesley as its new CFO. More
Two announcements from Ipsos: the Loyalty division has a new syndicated study providing benchmark data on consumers' views across 23 sectors in 30 countries; while Canada's Ipsos Reid will work with the country's Sporting Goods Association (CSGA) to track trends in equipment, clothing and participation. More
Manchester, UK-based research agency Join the Dots has reported revenue growth of 16% in the first half of the year, compared with H1 2013. More
US research provider Gongos, Inc. has promoted Katherine Ephlin to Chief Operating Officer and Susan Scarlet to Vice President, Strategic Branding. More
Australian television audience measurement body OzTAM has appointed Padraig O'Donovan in the newly created role of Digital Strategy Director, overseeing the extension of its service to cover viewing on other screens. He was previously Head of Digital Technology at Network Ten. More
ORC International is to join two partner firms in 'a next generation marketing services company' with annual revenues of c.$400m, following the acquisition of marcoms group Engine by ORC's Chicago-based backers Lake Capital. Partner firms will keep their separate identity. More
In Cold Spring, KY, USA, former Procter and Gamble exec Sarah Faulkner has launched her own consultancy providing insight-driven innovation and brand building services for consumer goods and services companies. More
Sony Music Entertainment has launched a survey called the 'Music India Segmentation Study', to help artists, marketers and brands understand the music consumption habits of consumers. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access has launched new panels in Nigeria, Colombia and New Zealand - the last reflecting a new policy of adding panels giving access to 'niche segments within developed countries'. More
San Jose, CA-based in-store big data analytics specialist RetailNext has completed a $30m round of financing, which it will use to expand operations in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and other, emerging markets. More
In New Zealand, MR tools and software provider Infotools has appointed co-founder Ant Franklin as its first ever Chief Executive Officer, with a remit to grow the company internationally. More
GfK has added three more African countries to its annual 'GfK Roper Reports Worldwide' consumer trends study, allowing businesses to tailor their offerings to specific target markets, geographies and 'psychographic segments' within the continent. More
Nielsen has reported a 15% increase in second quarter 2014 revenue to $1.59bn - excluding acquisitions the figure was still a very respectable 4.4%. Q2 profit fell to $76m from $426m due to fees for re-financing long-term debt, but Adjusted EBITDA was up 16.2% to $460m. More
Ipsos' MediaCT division has launched an approach it calls PLSme!, to help media and content clients better understand audience behaviour, engagement and monetisation opportunities. More
In the US, multi-platform research technology firm Survey Analytics has acquired remote usability testing specialist TryMyUI, for an undisclosed sum. More
UK-based online community specialist Verve has appointed former GfK exec Ryan Garner to head up its Personal Information Economy proposition, while recruiting six other new members of staff. More
Research community and survey tech specialist Vision Critical has secured a $16m round of funding, led by a new investor, growth equity firm Georgian Partners. More
Slovakian TV audience measurement steering committee PMT has renewed its contract with Kantar Media for the provision of audience measurement services. Kantar-owned TNS will manage the service until 2021. More
US-based emotion measurement specialist Affectiva has appointed former Merkle and Nielsen exec Tom Butler as Chief Revenue Officer. More
UK-based full service provider BDRC has officially launched a digital research agency called Alligator Research, led by former Toluna director Suzy Hassan. More
UK-based database marketing and loyalty scheme specialist GI Insight has hired analytics industry exec Andrew Adkins as Head of Client Services and Analytics, and former ASDA Customer Insight Manager Melanie Brown as Senior Analytical Team Leader. More
In the US, online sample and research operations company Market Cube has appointed Ted Pulsifer as a Partner in its Charleston, SC-based office. More
Professional services firm Ernst & Young (EY) is to acquire Australian full service agency Sweeney Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has expanded its coverage to two new countries, Bolivia and Paraguay, and now has operations in nineteen Latin American states. More
In the UK, Ipsos MORI's Social Research Institute (SRI) has appointed three senior directors, including Sam Clemens who previously served as NatCen's Head of Health and Wellbeing. More
In London, Kantar has invested an undisclosed amount in self-service online research 'app store' platform ZappiStore. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has announced an API collaboration with Ghent, Belgium-based online specialist InSites Consulting, which will add access to an initial 1.5 million European and LATAM respondents across 50 countries to the former's OpinionHUB platform. More
Ipsos has reported a 5.9% drop in first half revenue to EUR 756m, with currency effects responsible for most of the fall (5.1%). In organic terms, second quarter decline all but wiped out the modest gains of the first quarter, giving overall H1 organic growth of 0.1%. More
Morocco's joint industry committee CIAUMED has awarded GfK a contract to deliver an electronic TV audience measurement (TAM) service. The agency has also won an extension of its radio audience contract in Switzerland. More
The MRA's Research Industry Index study (RII) has maintained a score of 100 or higher for four straight quarters, for the first time since its launch in 2007. According to the MRA, this is a strong indication that the industry has recovered from the recession. More
In India, Nielsen/Kantar joint venture TAM Media Research has launched a mobile app called 'TAM India', which will provide subscribers with access to weekly top line television audience measurement (TAM) data on their iPhone, Android and Blackberry devices. More
Online research technology company uSamp has introduced a tool called Instant.ly Shelf Score, giving CPG manufacturers and retailers a measure of consumers' intent to purchase recently launched products. More
Online MR software company Confirmit has launched a new solution called 'Confirmit Genius' for text and social media analytics. More
In the US, global non-profit research-based consultancy InterMedia has appointed former GfK SVP Christopher Fleury as President and CEO. More
Nielsen is integrating RDA Research's geoTribes segmentation tool into its Consumer and Media Insights (CMI) service, to provide a 360 degree view of the New Zealand consumer. More
London-based retail consultancy Footfall Analytics has developed a service which uses CCTV to gather data about customer behaviour in bricks and mortar retail sites. More
Kantar Worldpanel has added to its new presence in Africa with the launch of a consumer panel in Egypt, covering both urban and rural areas and with the first data available in January 2015. More
London-based insight consultancy Firefish has revealed impressive revenue figures for the first year of operation of its US office - $1.9m - and says it will be further expanding its team 'in the coming months' to cope with demand. More
Manchester, UK-based agency Join the Dots has appointed Jane Dugdale, formerly of Colgate-Palmolive and Kimberly-Clark Europe, as a Research Director; and David Waring as an AD. Three other recent hires have also been announced. More
Nashville, US-based 20|20 Research has launched Affdex Discovery Online, an adapted version of Affectiva's emotion insights tool, which it says will 'take facial coding literally anywhere there is a computer with a webcam and the Internet'. More
Millward Brown has launched its new Vermeer brand and business strategy consultancy in South Africa, servicing clients across Africa and the Middle East and with Nicki Cunliffe at the helm. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has relocated its Chicago office to a newly upgraded research space on the 26th floor of its existing address at North Michigan Avenue. More
In Germany, four former senior GfK execs have founded Exevia, a new healthcare market research agency based in Nuremberg. The four are Norbert Schell, Ulrik Scheuermann, Andrea Gock and Roland Herterich. More
Online research specialist BrainJuicer has issued a pre-close trading update for the six months to 30th June, announcing revenue up 10% in constant currency terms, or 4% reported. More
In Australia, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has shortlisted three agencies to challenge incumbent Nielsen for its three-year online audience measurement contract. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has partnered with mobile rewards platform YOYO Holdings to offer panel coverage in the Philippines and additional access to panellists across Indonesia. More
In London, the BBC has appointed GfK's Head of Innovation Nick North to lead its Audiences teams. He will take up the role on 15th September. More
Online research technology company uSamp has introduced a new system called Instant.ly Concept Test (ICT), which it says will help consumer packaged goods brands and retailers screen new product ideas faster and more cost-effectively. More
UK audience research body BARB has announced plans to work with Ipsos MORI to trial the latter's Mediacell Tablet Peoplemeter, as part of an ongoing investigation into new techniques for collecting viewing data. More
Asia Market Development (AMD) has partnered with online community specialist Passenger to launch a research-based community called ECHO, comprising 4,000 consumers across China. More
The High Court in Delhi has once again adjourned Kantar Media Research's appeal against new government guidelines imposed on its TAM TV audience measurement service. The case will now be heard on 26th August. More
London-based Opinion Leader has hired five new members of staff, including Jane Buswell as Insight Director and Daniel Taylor as Senior Research Executive. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has launched a sugging/frugging hotline through which organisations and members of the public can report unsolicited calls which contravene its Code of Conduct. More
Non-profit educational body the Marketing Research Institute International (MRII) has named research industry veteran Reg Baker as Executive Director. He will take up the new post on October 1st, following the retirement of Don Marek the previous month. More
Nielsen is planning to recruit more than 500 employees for its Dallas call center, which was previously owned by radio ratings giant Arbitron (now Nielsen Audio); and 200 staff for its call center in San Antonio, which is being expanded to accommodate them. More
Shopper research specialist PRS (Perception Research Services) has opened offices in Shanghai and Chicago. More
The UK's newspaper industry is to appoint a strategy consultant to advise on the building of an audience measurement system to reflect the way people now read newspapers - across print, laptops, tablets and mobile. More
London-based child and family research specialist The Pineapple Lounge (TPL) has launched a new technique called KIDS-VISION, to help clients see the world from a child's perspective. More
The Futures Company has re-launched its US Yankelovich MONITOR, adding new content to provide what it describes as the first unified multicultural and general market consumer insight service in the marketplace. More
Stichting KijkOnderzoek (SKO), the industry body responsible for the reporting and monitoring of viewing behaviour in the Netherlands, has awarded WPP firms Kantar Media and TNS NIPO a four-year contract for the provision of cross platform ratings across the country. More
UK-based agency SPA Future Thinking has launched a Financial Services practice comprising a team of ten staff, led by Research Director Annabelle Truscott. More
Omnicom-owned brand and comms research firm Hall & Partners has opened an office in Tokyo, Japan, where it has recruited qual specialist Buntari (Tari) Martosudirjo as Research Director. More
Brighton, UK-based global insight consultancy Space Doctors has appointed former Added Value semiotics specialist Cato Hunt to lead its London office. The firm has also announced plans to establish teams in Asia Pacific and the Americas. More
Canadian survey sample and panel technology firm WiseSample has relocated to bigger premises in downtown Toronto, in preparation for a recruitment drive across several areas of the business. More
UK agency Trinity McQueen has appointed two former ICM execs in its London-based Retail team: Nathan Bartlett as Research Director, and Anna Johns as Research Manager. More
UK-based Intellection Software has appointed Wojtek Kokoszka as Commercial Director and Charlotte Atkins as COO, plus ESOMAR President Dan Foreman as a Non-Executive Director. More
A new research and business consulting firm, DelveInsight Business Research, has opened in New Delhi, focused on the healthcare sector. More
In South Africa, media monitoring specialist Tonya Khoury is launching a company called ROi Africa, offering technology for big content management and measurement, along with cross-media trend spotting. More
Leeds, UK-based quant fieldwork specialist Face Facts has hired former Quaestor director Rachel Hoy for the new role of Client Services Director. The firm has also made three other appointments and two senior internal promotions. More
Event feedback and voting technology company PowerVote has expanded to the Asia Pacific region with the opening of an office in Singapore. More
UK-based online community specialist Verve has partnered with MR agency InsightAsia to meet client demand for full service quant and qual community panel research across Asia. More
US data collection agency MRops has appointed three former WorldOne execs to roles in its offices in London, Hong Kong and Philadelphia. More
MRSS India has appointed Satish Belani as Measurement Science Advisor; Jyoti Katke as Director, Client Servicing (Western Region); Manish Shah as Operations Head, India; and Sankalp Shrie as Project Director - B2B. More
Creston-owned full service agency ICM has promoted Sarah Perry to the role of Head of Development, and Gina Moore to Field Director. The firm has also hired Jenifer Curren as a Research Manager and Kate Bewick as an Associate Director. More
London-based mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research has appointed former SPA Future Thinking exec William Ullstein as Commercial Director. More
ITWP, the parent company of online community and survey technology provider Toluna, has acquired Harris Interactive's European arm from Nielsen. As part of the deal, Nielsen will take a minority share in ITWP. More
UK firm Product Perceptions has been acquired by one of its Directors, Yvonne Taylor. Founders Dominic Buck and Keith Greenhoff will retain a financial interest in the business following the buy-out, but have also set up a new firm called Sensometrica. More
TNS has launched an 'express' screening tool, to enable businesses to determine in less than 24 hours whether a new product idea will drive business growth. More
In Sydney, Australia, ethnography and qual specialist Charlie Cochrane has set up a new research consultancy called Jump the Fence, which he says will 'challenge the notion' that consumer psychology determines brand and buying motivation. More
North of England-based online panel firm ResearchBods has opened its first overseas office near Melbourne, Australia; and appointed David Gibbs to lead it. More
Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble is to restructure its marketing function under the name 'brand management', with marketing directors worldwide becoming 'brand directors' with 'single-point responsibility for the strategies, plans and results for the brands'. More
Former Ipsos Country Manager Enrique Domingo has set up a new agency in Madrid called Dialogs&Beyond. The firm's offer will include mobile research, applied neuroscience techniques, marketing and innovation services, and ad effectiveness understanding. More
Sampling and data collection firm SSI has appointed Mark Lepine as Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region, with responsibility for all sales and operations across Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. More
Netherlands-based community research software provider CMNTY has opened an office in London, and has appointed Alastair Macmillan to lead it. More
UK-based agency business intelligence firm SPA Future Thinking has appointed Tom Meyritz, formerly of QuestBack, Lightspeed and Ciao, as Commercial Director, responsible for leading business development across all areas of the company. More
TV audience measurement body TAM Ireland has set out its plans for the extension of its measurement services over the next few years, including its intention 'to measure all forms of viewing across all devices by 2017'. More
Knowledge management and data visualisation specialist Data Liberation has announced the launch of Embrace, a bespoke interactive knowledge management system combining 'multiple and complex' data sources. More
Australian agency I-view has appointed John Leahy as Commercial Director, responsible for the implementation of its commercial strategy. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has added another Asian panel, this time in Singapore. More
Customer and employee research specialist ORC International has opened an office in Sevres, south west of Paris, where it has appointed former Ipsos exec Anne Lavielle to head up the new operation. More
In the US, pharm data giant IMS Health has announced its intention to acquire information solutions and CRM businesses from Cegedim, for around EUR 385m ($520m) in cash. More
In Hollywood, former OTX and MPG Chief Executive Vincent Bruzzese is heading up a new entertainment research firm, C4, with the backing of three film producers. The move closely follows the closure of MPG, many of whose staff are joining the new company. More
Innovate, the on-demand panels and sample company launched recently by uSamp founders Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin, has hired Lisa Wilding-Brown as EVP of Global Operations, based in Dallas, Texas; and Amanda Keller as Senior Director of Global Project Management, based in Encino, CA. More
In the US Ingredion Incorporated, which provides ingredient solutions to a variety of industries, has launched three 'Idea Labs' innovation centers, focused on using consumer-centric methods to create 'innovative, profitable products'. Twenty-one other Labs are planned across the world this year. More
YouGov has launched a 'next day GB omnibus service', with a sample of 2,000 adults, running each day at noon and promising results by 4pm the following day. The firm says it is 'the only such offer of its kind in the sector'. More
Independent San Francisco-based TV station KTSF has become the first to have TV viewing via mobiles added into its ratings figures courtesy of Nielsen's SDK and its recent deal with tech firm Syncbak. More
Netherlands audience measurement association SKO has announced a new contract with Kantar Media Audiences, allowing the measurement of commercials on a wide range of digital platforms and establishing 'a marketwide, transparent, manageable standard'. More
Nielsen has announced an enhanced version of its Homescan consumer purchase panel. Homescan Premium taps the company's proprietary platforms and methods 'to create a million plus consumer panel', and promises unique in-depth analysis of consumer purchase behavior. More
Kantar Health has launched PINNAKLE, billed as an integrated, holistic brand marketing solution helping pharma companies maximise the success of their brands and tap into 'unrealized brand opportunity'. More
Canadian broadcast measurement body BBM Canada has changed its name to Numeris. More
Australian industry body The Readership Works has enhanced its 'emma' readership survey with the addition of a new engagement metric, designed to demonstrate a reader's unique relationship with specific printed newspapers - including regional dailies - and magazines. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched an Indonesian panel, accessed through its recently launched online SOP platform. More
London-based agency FieldGlobal has hired former MRops MD Rafal Gajdamowicz for a newly created role, Global Chief Operating Officer. More
Customer and employee satisfaction specialist ORC International has appointed four new members of staff in its Singapore office. More
UK research firm Cello Health Insight has launched a continuous staff development programme called BUILD, and promoted Leyla Itani and Helen Porter to lead the initiative. More
After announcing earlier this month its return to Scotland with the opening of a new office in the centre of Glasgow, social research firm mruk has appointed Alison Johnston as Research Manager and Neil Simpson as Research Consultant. More
WPP-owned firm The Data Alliance has partnered with location analytics specialist Factual, giving WPP group companies access to data that maps the known location of mobile phones to physical places, including more than 65 million businesses in 50 countries. More
In the US, multi-screen audience measurement firm Rentrak has been asked by the Media Rating Council (MRC) to stop using the term 'census-like' to describe its national and local television measurement services. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) is preparing to update its Code of Conduct, which was first issued 60 years ago as a means of reassuring the general public and other interested parties that research is carried out in a professional and ethnical manner. More
Community panel specialist Verve has opened a dedicated survey programming office in Iași, Romania, headed by Senior Survey Programmer Eugen Tuchendria. More
US-based Lieberman Research Worldwide has integrated Beyond Verbal's emotion analytics technology with the services of its Pragmatic Brain Science Institute, which fuses traditional research techniques and new approaches to provide a holistic understanding of consumers. More
Spanish-language broadcasting group Univision Communications has fired an executive at its KSCA-FM (101.9) station in Los Angeles for using a number of Nielsen's Portable People Meters (PPM) to inflate audience ratings. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has launched the 'FUEL Community Engine', a platform designed to nurture dialogue with community members, clients and employees. More
In Sydney, Australia, BBC Worldwide Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) has appointed former Nunwood/TLE researcher Joe Lynch as Head of Research and Consumer Insights, starting in August. More
Tonic Insight has promoted Anna Wills to the role of Managing Director UK, and Lucie Holliday to that of Group Director, Research & Innovation. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched a Vietnam panel, accessed through its recently launched online SOP platform. More
Millward Brown has acquired global marketing strategy consultancy EffectiveBrands, and will merge it with its Optimor brand strategy division to form a new business called Millward Brown Vermeer. More
WPP-owned Kantar Media has rolled out its TGI (Target Group Index) consumer insights business in the US. More
UK product development specialist Marketing Sciences has appointed former Tesco Head of Market Research Deborah Hall as an Associate Director in its Retail division. More
In the US, The NPD Group has promoted Steve Coffey from Chief Research Officer to the newly created position of Chief Innovation Officer. More
UK-based independent communications company Engine Group has acquired youth consumer insights and consulting firm The Intelligence Group (IG) from Creative Artists Agency (CAA). The company will be merged with Engine's creative and consumer engagement agency Noise. More
Madeline McMahon, Director Strategic Market Research at Double Helix US, died suddenly on June 7th after a cerebral hemorrhage. She was 35 years old. More
The UK's research industry returned to growth in 2013 after four years of contraction, according to results from the annual survey of agencies by the Market Research Society (MRS). More
In Australia, marketing and sales services company Crossmark has launched Shopper Republic, a specialist shopper marketing division focused on global insights and 'deep retailer collaboration'. More
London-based mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research has hired former Ipsos director Nader Kobeissi as Managing Director for the MENA region, launching the company's new Dubai office. More
Healthcare MR consultancy Adelphi Research UK has announced three promotions and two new appointments. Caroline Coe and Jo Thompson are both promoted to Research Director; Emma Tweats becomes an RM, while Kris Barker returns and Steve Loasby joins the company. More
GfK has launched a tool called MarketBuilder, which it says puts actual consumer behavior - as opposed to stated intentions - at the center of measuring innovation performance. More
In the US, mystery shopping app provider Mobee has launched a retail intelligence dashboard, using crowdsourced data to help users assess their in-store product and marketing performance. More
Employee-owned MR provider Illuminas has reported a 27% revenue rise to £10m for the year ended February 2014. The firm has also appointed Steven Maskell as Senior Vice President in its New York office. More
Canadian pollster Angus Reid, most recently the co-founder of research community and survey tech specialist Vision Critical, is retiring as the firm's Executive Chair, in order to set up an independent public opinion research organization he will call the Angus Reid Institute. More
UK-based Brass Insight has changed its name to Trinity McQueen, as part of a management buyout by its Joint MDs Anna Cliffe and Robin Horsfield. The rebrand will move it away from its former parent firm, marcoms agency Brass. More
In London, Fox International has promoted Christian Brent to the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Global Research and Audience Strategy for Fox International Channels (FIC). More
Creston's insight division - which comprises Marketing Sciences and ICM - has reported a 7% increase in annual revenue to £12.9m. The remainder of the Group by contrast saw a slight decline in revenue and profit. More
Ipsos and Warsaw-based consumer neuroscience specialist NEUROHM have announced an upgrade of the IRT system, which probes unconscious consumer associations and perceptions, and assesses their impact. NEUROHM will also now act as Ipsos' primary partner for IRT roll out. More
In London, online specialist YouGov has promoted Paul Marshall to Director in the Media & Technology team, and Simon Mottram to Lead Consulting Director. In addition, James Starkie has re-joined the firm as Business Development Consultant in the Reputation team. More
US-based full service agency Radius Global Market Research has expanded operations to the Middle East and Africa by opening an office in Dubai, led by Research Director Nitin Ladva. More
In the US, television industry trade association TVB has appointed media research veteran Hadassa Gerber as Senior Vice President, Chief Research Officer. More
UK potato supplier Greenvale has hired former dunnhumby exec Kate Wright for the newly created role of Category Insight Manager, with a remit to use insight to help the firm identify and prioritise opportunities for growth. More
Iberian and Latin American online panel specialist Netquest has opened an office in Lisbon, from where it plans to work more closely with the Portuguese research community and develop its business in the country. More
Kantar Media has acquired a majority stake in Precise Media Group Holdings Limited, which provides monitoring and evaluation services to the PR and communications industries. The price and details of the percentage of shares bought have not been disclosed. More
Former TNS exec James Fergusson has launched a mobile and digital insights agency, Mobile Digital Indaba (MDI), based in Melbourne, Australia and already with offices in Singapore and Cape Town, South Africa. More
Nielsen is once again the 'official market research supplier' for an Olympic Games, adding Rio 2016 to London 2012 and Beijing 2008. More
UK-based insurance specialist Litmus Analysis has recruited Robin Dicks as a Partner for a new market research and analysis venture, Litmus Research Associates. More
Delvinia, the parent company of AskingCanadians, is expanding its leadership team with four senior promotions; and has taken over neighbouring office space to double its capacity. More
mruk, the social research firm within RS Consulting group, is returning to Scotland with the opening of a new office in the centre of Glasgow, to support a growing number of Scottish clients. More
Consumer products specialist MMR Research Worldwide has appointed Suzanne Hernandez as US Head of Business, based in New York and overseeing its Stateside strategy development and expansion. More
In India, BPO and KPO firm Navigant Technologies says it will more than double its headcount in the current financial year, adding 1,000 staff; and will add a third call centre, in Delhi or Gurgaon. More
London-based Voodoo Research has appointed former Millward Brown exec Alex Duckett as a Junior Partner, as it continues to grow its quantitative offering. More
This week sees the launch of the 'first ever' overnight television ratings service in a number of African markets. Mobile survey platform GeoPoll will bring the data to countries including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda in time for the viewing and advertising bonanza of the World Cup. More
European-based MR and online loyalty specialist Maximiles is to rebrand as Bilendi, 'putting data insights firmly at the centre of its two core activities' as it looks to double the size of its research arm by 2016. More
California-based ThinkNow Research has launched an online Spanish language ad testing platform, assessing 15- and 30-second television ads and linked to a normative database. More
Mobile survey technology provider OnePoint Global is launching an app giving researchers access to regular mobile survey ideas from around the world. More
UK firm The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has partnered with Dutch consulting engineer Fugro, integrating its own survey and consultancy services with Fugro's data on highway condition and construction for the benefit of global clients. More
In New York, brand influencer network Crowdtap has appointed marketer Sean Foster as Chief Executive Officer, replacing founder Brandon Evans who has left the firm. More
In New York, online research and technology specialist Toluna has promoted John Bremer to Group Chief Research and Strategy Officer. More
Webcam-enabled focus group provider FocusVision Worldwide has acquired US-based research tool developer Revelation Global. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has announced it will stop its political polling in Australia at the end of July, specifically the monthly Fairfax Nielsen Poll, which has been running for the past nineteen years. More
In the UK, full service agency Relish Research has appointed three new London members of staff, bringing the company's team to 26 across its two offices. More
Former Stopgap recruiters Kathy King and Janet Chambers have launched their own recruitment agency, Sparkle, which will work on permanent and freelance market research and insight roles at all levels. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched a Hong Kong panel, to strengthen its reach across the Asia Pacific region. More
London-based B2B specialist BDRC Group has promoted Richard Sheldrake to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. More
George Terhanian has left Toluna to join consumer specialist The NPD Group in the newly created role of Group President and Chief Research and Analytics Officer. More
Global online sample aggregator EMI Research Solutions has opened its first European office, in London. More
UK-based research and consulting firm Populus has launched a 'Future Parliament Panel', comprising a group of MPs who are considered well placed to retain their seats at the 2015 general election, combined with candidates hoping to win new seats. More
In Rotterdam, Survey Sampling International (SSI) has appointed Marlies Kerklaan as Managing Director for the Benelux region. More
Social media and text analytics specialist Texifter has entered a strategic partnership with DIY research firm SurveyMonkey, helping the latter's users get to grips with verbatim-heavy survey responses. More
UK-based Swift Research and Ireland's Amárach Research have joined forces to create a new research tool for food and drink producers. More
South African company FoneWorx has bought a 44% stake in quant and qual agency Living Facts, for an undisclosed amount. More
California-based research tech firm Decipher has added a new Sample and Panel API into its research and reporting platform, Beacon, allowing users to integrate panelist data from their own databases and other sources. More
User Experience (UX) specialist AnswerLab has launched UXimpact, a solution for improving user experience of digital properties and measuring the resulting business impact. More
Latin American fieldwork specialist Brasil Global Research has rebranded as Kampo Brasil Research. More
In the US, Nielsen is increasing the size of its local television sample in fifteen Local People Meter markets, to increase the stability of the ratings and improve representation of hard-to-reach demographics. More
Newcastle and London-based creative, technology and insights specialist d.fferento/ogy has appointed James Dickie as Head of Research. More
US marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has partnered with kids and families research, brand and product innovation firm PlayCollective, to provide a specialist service for clients targeting flavour and fragrance products at children and parents. More
GfK has increased its stake in UK-based Genius Digital, to become the TV viewer data specialist's majority shareholder. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has reached a settlement agreement with Jacksonville-based Renda Broadcasting, which Arbitron had accused of using its radio ratings information without paying. More
Online sampling and research technology company uSamp has appointed industry veteran Joe Jordan as Vice President, Panel Operations, with a focus on mobile. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has launched two new products - Mobile In-Home and Mobile In-Store - to allow real-time access to consumers in these two very different contexts. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has appointed former Nielsen Global Panel Leader Jade Landfried as Chief Technology Officer. More
Kantar-owned research technology and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has opened a new office in Frankfurt, and appointed Key Account Director Norman-René Schwalme to lead it. More
Singapore-based rewards platform YOYO Holdings has raised $1.3m, which it will use to drive business growth, strengthen its management team and staffing levels and boost its marketing efforts. More
UK-based international data collection agency OMR Globus has hired Paul Campbell for the new role of Research Director, in its London office. Campbell will service UK and EU clients, expand qual services in the EU and Asia, and strengthen quant support for global programmes. More
Optimism among marketing execs remains high, according to the May wave of the Warc Global Marketing Index (GMI), with respondents generally upping their forecasts for marketing budgets and positive about trading conditions. More
In the US, Massachusetts-based station Channel 5 has taken the unusual step of writing to its advertisers to blame Nielsen for its 'puzzling ratings decline' in recent months. Reports suggest Nielsen has acknowledged a problem with sampling and is at work to redress it. More
In the UK, Jim Easton, former CEO of customer and market insight specialist AMR International, has launched a new consulting firm, Plural Strategy Group, focusing on media, events, agribusiness and software markets. More
UK agency Bonamy Finch has launched a free app, 'SigTester', allowing a rapid assessment of whether results are statistically significant. It can also be used to estimate confidence intervals and sample size requirements. More
UK-based agency SPA Future Thinking has appointed Claudia Strauss, formerly Head of Insight at Burton's Biscuits Company, as Client Development Director. More
Millward Brown has agreed to acquire its Romanian partner agency Daedalus Consulting S.R.L., along with its wholly-owned subsidiary Visionwise Consulting, for an undisclosed sum. The firms will now become Millward Brown Romania. More
DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey is opening an office in Sydney, Australia - its first in the Asia Pacific region - and says it will hire around 25 people there over the next few years. More
US-based market research firm ORI has launched an event evaluation tool, Audience Insights, which combines expert analysis with feedback questionnaires and social media monitoring. More
In Australia, media intelligence group iSentia - formerly known as Media Monitors - is headed for a June IPO which it hopes will raise $AUD 283.5m. Funds will help consolidate market positions and continue growth in Australia and New Zealand, and in South East and East Asia. More
UK-based Voice of the Customer specialist eDigitalResearch has reported a 20 percent rise in annual turnover to £7.5m, and says it has employed an additional 30 new members of staff over the past twelve months. More
Stockholm-based panel exchange operator Cint has boosted its UK customer service and sales teams with three new hires and the promotion of Jane Attale (nee Mills) to the leadership role of UK Sales Director. More
Strategic insight and innovation specialist The Futures Company has strengthened its Asia Pacific team, based in Singapore, moving Radha Patel from the London office to the role of Director of Consulting, and hiring Tara Hirebet as Senior Consultant. More
Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) specialist QuestBack has appointed Paul Barnes to head up its UK operations as Country Manager, managing a team of twenty people. He was previously VP Operations at software provider Eptica. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has integrated Affectiva's Affdex Discovery facial coding tool into its portfolio of qualitative services, having itself helped to adapt the tool for moderator use in focus groups. More
Mystery shopping and retail audit specialist Helion Research has opened an African regional HQ in Johannesburg, led by Customer Experience Agency founders Ian Jeffrey and Ronelle Van Rensburg. More
Click With Me Now - which provides data about how people engage with web sites - has raised $2.25m in investment funding from a group of unnamed private investors, and has appointed former Disney CTO Bud Albers as Chief Executive Officer. More
Cello-owned consumer specialist 2CV has relocated to new premises in Singapore, double the size of its previous office. More
Digital audience profiling specialist Effective Measure has launched a tool called EM Mobile, to provide businesses with better understanding of their mobile users, and a mobile and tablet app through which clients can gain real-time access to their survey and campaign-related data. More
In London, former ORC employee research exec Phil Pringle has joined global management consultancy Hay Group, as Senior Consultant in its Employee Opinion Research division. More
GfK has announced results for the first quarter, with an organic decline of 0.7% in sales, reported as EUR 334.9m, a decline of 3.5% due to currency effects. However the Group said it achieved 'a significant increase in all profit indicators', and has confirmed its forecast for the year. More
Asian market research consultancy ABN Impact is launching an office in Shanghai, China, and has appointed Stephane Courqueux as its Managing Director. The company says it aims to set up offices 'throughout Asia in the near future'. More
UK agency Marketing Sciences has acquired consumer neuroscience consultancy Walnut Group. Walnut's founder Dr Cristina de Balanzó, a former global head of neuroscience for TNS, will join Marketing Sciences to strengthen its existing offer in the field. More
TNS has promoted Chaitanya Reddy to the newly created role of Political & Social Director, Mekong Region, adding Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar to his existing responsibility leading Political & Social research in Vietnam. More
Crowdsourced brand and product innovation specialist Chaordix has acquired Colorado-based crowdsourcing technology provider Napkin Labs. More
US-based data collection company Schlesinger Associates has appointed Matt Campion as an Executive Vice President, charged with developing its quantitative client portfolio in healthcare and expanding its service solutions across the group. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has announced that MD, Americas Craig Stevens is to leave the business after a decade to pursue new opportunities, and that John Rothwell will step into his shoes. More
Ipsos Public Affairs has made three senior management changes in its US team: Clifford Young has been promoted to President and John Vidmar to Chairman of the division in the US, while Julia Clark takes on additional responsibilities as VP leading the team in Chicago. More
Customer data pioneer dunnhumby has teamed up with BSkyB's customer intelligence business Sky IQ to what the firms describe as 'the largest panel of viewing and shopping insight in the UK', offering clients new ad targeting possibilities. More
US researcher Michael Kassab has announced the launch of a new MR firm, ConsumerDNA, following the acquisition of the assets of Savitz Research Solutions, the firm he has led for sixteen of the last 30 years. Savitz' office in Richardson, Texas will form the headquarters of the new company. More
The Pineapple Lounge (TPL), youth and family division of London-based Firefish, has added five new members of staff to its existing team of seven, to meet fast-growing demand for its services. More
Kantar has completed its upgrade of the Indian MarketPulse consumer panel, first announced last year, and have rebranded it as Kantar Worldpanel. The panel is operated jointly by the Kantar Worldpanel division and sister agency IMRB International. More
GfK has acquired French agricultural tracking specialist TerrEtude, and will integrate it into its GfK Kynetec France subsidiary from this July. More
John Pullinger, currently the House of Commons Librarian and DG of Information has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, and National Statistician, succeeding Jil Matheson who retires at the end of June 2014. More
In the US, analytics-driven customer engagement specialist Precision Dialogue has acquired the assets of Cleveland-based Opinion Centers America, whose services include focus groups, recruitment, telephone interviews and analysis. More
Online research innovator BrainJuicer has warned in an AGM statement today of an increase in its costs, resulting from increased share based payment charges and the expansion of its account management teams to support long-term growth. Shares were down 21% as of Monday morning. More
London-based IFF Research has added two more new directors: Pamela Bremner will strengthen the firm's work in the employment & benefits and health & lifestyle sectors, while Danny Millar joins as Interviewing Services Director. More
Global recruitment firm Aspire Global Network is bringing all its companies - including UK-based MR specialist RP Cushing - under the single brand of Aspire. More
Cello's Health Insight division has launched two new mobile apps designed to provide richer, more relevant quant and qual data. Respondents including patients, healthcare professionals, payors and pharma field forces can include images and record videos as part of their feedback. More
'Socially intelligent' researcher Face, part of the Cello Group, has recruited two senior execs from M&C Saatchi brand agency Clear: James Hirst, as London-based Global Business Development Director, and Sofia Mavros, based in Hong Kong in the role of Research Director of the Asia team. More
Following news earlier in the week of job cuts in Florida, Nielsen is reportedly to close its call center operations in Columbia, Maryland, with the loss of 325 jobs; and in Radcliff, Kentucky, shedding 237. More
Cheshire, UK-based agency DJS Research has announced its twelfth consecutive year of growth, with revenue up 32% to £2.9m. More
Indian start-up ResearchSuite Technologies has secured angel funding from serial entrepreneur and Krea founder Pravin Shekar, who joins the Board of Directors as non-executive Chairman. More
In the US, online research specialist iModerate has expanded its research suite to offer its clients full-service, private bulletin boards, powered by its proprietary cognitive framework ThoughtPath. More
Full service provider Radius Global Market Research has announced the opening of an office in Beijing, China, and appointed Cindy Han to lead it as Managing Director, Radius Asia. More
MR agency nQuire and Chinese mobile crowdsourcing company Weichaishi have launched their recently announced mobile panel under the name 'CrowdSurvey'; and published its first weekly report, 'China Buys'. More
Nielsen is closing Scarborough Research's call center in Sarasota, Florida, making 220 employees redundant by the end of September. More
WPP's data investment management (DIM) arm has sold off its US call center business, Center Partners, to Mexico-based business process outsourcing (BPO) and call centre service provider Qualfon. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo is opening an office in São Paulo, in September, to serve as a hub for research throughout Brazil and the wider Latam region. More
US-based emotion measurement specialist Affectiva has introduced a new facial coding solution called Affdex Discovery, to enable researchers to gather key emotion insights from consumers in a qualitative study. More
Brand engagement and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has relocated its global headquarters within London, from Dean Street in Soho, to Holborn in WC1, to support recent and planned growth in the business. More
Netherlands-based online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has fully integrated MarketTools and CRM Metrix into its global network, and announced that all fifteen offices in the US, Europe, and Asia will now operate under the MetrixLab brand name. More
Pretoria-based full service agency Ask Afrika has appointed former Nielsen MD Ken McArthur as company Chairperson. More
In the US, former Ford Motor Co. Market Research Analyst Mark Fields is to become the company's ninth President and Chief Executive Officer, when Alan Mulally retires in July. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has promoted Jim Kelley to the role of President of its newly combined Sports and Leisure Trends business. More
In the US, full service consumer product testing agency Q Research Solutions (QRS) has appointed four new members of staff at its Old Bridge, New Jersey office. Each has two decades or more of research experience. More
Former BSkyB Research Director Harry Mirpuri has joined central London consultancy FreshMinds as a Director. More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell saw his annual pay package rise by nearly two-thirds to £29.8m in 2013, from £17.5m the previous year, boosted by a plan linked to the company's share price and performance. More
In the UK, youth brand and marketing specialist Steve Reece has launched a consumer research agency called Kids Brand Insight, offering qualitative research for the toy, gaming and children's entertainment sectors. More
The MRA's quarterly Research Industry Index (RII) confidence measure has celebrated its 25th wave with a good result: a third consecutive three figure score, for the first time since 2008. More
In the US, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan has signed into law a bill clearing the way once again for legitimate political polling in the state, following years in which an over-broad definition of push polling made it almost impossible for researchers to work there. More
Three years on from a decision to look into definitions for web users' Do Not Track requests, Internet standards group W3C has put up a draft for public scrutiny; and separately, in Australia, the IAB has announced the formation of a body to combat online ad fraud, the Brand Safety Council (BSC). More
D3 Systems, known for its research in some of the world's most dangerous environments, has added five execs to its team: Kerry Brown, Alicia Boyd, Jessica Beaird, Kyle Block and April Bethune. More
Medical MR firm Field Scope International has expanded its panel of registered Nurses, and now has access to over 5000 across the UK and 'similar figures' in the other big four EU nations. More
WPP's Data Investment Management (DIM) division saw revenues fall 3.8% to £566m in the first quarter of 2014, while net sales dropped 4.5% to £406m. More
Seattle-based innovation and idea management software company IdeaScale has acquired Canadian crowdsourcing platform IdeaVibes for an undisclosed sum. More
Nielsen has reported a 12.9% rise in first quarter 2014 revenues to $1.49 billion, driven by 28% growth in its media research business following the acquisition of Arbitron. More
Research and brand intelligence specialist Digital Luxury Group (DLG) has acquired Luxury Society, an online community of more than 30,000 'luxury professionals' in 150 countries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Food, drink and consumer goods specialist MMR is launching a DIY packaging research tool called Impackt Lite, via the online research 'app store' platform, ZappiStore. More
Ipsos has reported a 4.5% drop in revenue to EUR 343.3m in the first quarter of 2014, compared with EUR 359.6m a year previously. However organic growth - at constant scope and exchange rates - was 1.5%, in line with the performances recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2013. More
Ben Werzinger, the co-founder of online research community specialist PluggedIN, has launched a new full-service research firm called MoveMR, which will specialize in mobile qualitative approaches including digital focus groups, mobile interviews and mobile ethnography. More
In Melbourne, Australia, former GfK Blue Moon exec Mark George has set up a new insights consultancy called Quirk. More
UK insight and communications group Creston says it is expecting a drop in revenue to £74.8m for the year ended 31st March 2014, compared with £75.2m a year earlier. More
MRSS India has moved into its own office in Mumbai, ready for the future appointment of around twenty new staff. More
US-based 'influencer' research specialist MSS has opened an office in London, led by Susan Luebke, who has been promoted to Director, Global Research and Analytics. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access has extended its presence in Asia through the launch of a 20,000 member consumer panel in the Philippines. More
eCGlobal Solutions - which provides online communities and panels across Latin America - has launched a DIY research platform called eCInstant, providing access to millions of online consumers across the region. More
Business information provider Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has acquired the social media data matching unit of online data aggregation specialist Fliptop. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Social media research and communities specialist Ipsos SMX (Social Media Exchange) has launched a web app called 'Socialized Research Platform Mobile', which it says will give members a new way to view optimized content, and provide access to insights on any device. More
In Singapore three senior execs, Jasal Shah, Shogo Nakazato and Masaaki Nomiya have this week announced the official launch of Union Panels, an alliance of online research panel providers. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna is integrating BrainJuicer's proprietary emotion measure FaceTrace into its global survey platform. The upgrade will allow clients to gauge emotional reactions to stimuli such as products, web sites, packaging and ads. More
In the UK, the BBC is looking for qual, quant and specialist agencies for its new research roster. Successful agencies will be appointed for a four-year term. More
In New York, Radius Global Market Research has promoted Bari Weinhausen to the role of Director of Qualitative Research, in charge of its qual practice in the US. She will also lead efforts to develop new research approaches using online and traditional techniques. More
Creston-owned full service agency ICM has promoted Head of Qualitative Research Iain Carruthers to its Board, and given existing Director Alex Knight a wider remit as Insight Division COO and CFO. More
Gurgaon, India-based MR agency Orchidea Research has appointed two execs in Chicago: Navneet Singh Virk as Director Survey Solutions and Nitin Sharma as Global Director Survey Solutions. The firm has also launched a new survey platform. More
In London, community panel specialist Verve has hired Emel Mohammadally as Innovations Director, a newly created position, with a remit to roll out new technologies, tools and approaches for clients. More
Online panel specialist Research Now has appointed BlueKai co-founder Michael Bigby as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and a member of its Executive Leadership team. More
Tonic Insight, which was recently formed from the merger of consumer-focused Spring Research and its online communities specialist Tuned In Research, has appointed five new members of staff in the UK and two in the US. More
US-based multilingual data collection and contact center services provider CustomerSpeak has closed down its facility in Mall San Pedro, San José leaving 500 unemployed, according to Costa Rican news site Teletica. More
US marketing consultancy Priority Metrics Group (PMG) has set up a research division called Xperience, to help healthcare professionals measure and analyse data from patient experience surveys. More
Firefish's specialist children and families research consultancy The Pineapple Lounge (TPL) has launched in the US, where it has appointed children's industry expert Cheryl Gotthelf as Managing Director. More
Palo Alto, CA-based DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey is moving its European headquarters to Dublin, where corporation taxes are far lower than in the UK. The firm will hire 50 new members of staff in Ireland, and relocate its international team there from its office in Lisbon. More
Policy and strategy consultancy ComRes has launched a number of new services in preparation for May's European Parliament elections and next year's UK general election. More
London-based mobile research technology specialist Lumi has appointed former Cint MD Daniel Cunill as European Sales Manager. More
London-based emotional analytics specialist Realeyes has signed an agreement to provide Ipsos with facial coding and body gesture response metrics, to help measure how people feel while they view advertising and communications content. More
In Mumbai, full service agency MRSS India and Frankfurt-based Scent Analysis have formed a joint venture called SA#M, which will provide a multi-sensory research platform for projects in all areas of product and concept development. More
Brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners (H&P) has appointed qual health researcher Jeanette Hodgson as a Partner in its London office, while promoting Marie Bennett to the same level. More
Marcoms giant WPP has launched a global Government & Public Sector Practice to drive 'excellence' in government communications. The new initiative is led by Dr Michelle Harrison, who is also CEO of the group's TNS BMRB agency. More
Online data collection agency AskingCanadians has expanded its business into the US with the launch of AskingAmericans, offering access to more than ten million consumers. More
The Readers Studies Council of India (RSCI) and the Media Research Users Council (MRUC) have suspended results from their Indian Readership Survey (IRS) for a further four to six weeks, to provide extra time for a third party to complete the re-validation and audit of its fieldwork. More
Sample industry pioneers Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin have announced that former uSamp exec George Llorens has joined them as co-founder of their new online and mobile sampling and data collection business Innovate. The team has also appointed three further former uSamp colleagues. More
Millward Brown has launched Link for Apps, an extension of its long-established ad evaluation tool Link, available initially in the US and Canada and promising to help marketers understand the impact of mobile apps on brands. More
Nielsen has announced the completion of a Proof Of Concept study in partnership with CBS, on the 'power of combining media buys for major advertising campaigns'; and separately the integration by media technology company Syncbak of its Software Development Kit (SDK). More
European online specialist InSites Consulting is extending its moderator network in Asia Pacific and has agreed a long-term strategic partnership with Sydney-based boutique agency Direction First. More
In the US, brand strategist The Beauty Company has spun off its consumer research and beauty product testing division into a separate firm called The Benchmarking Company, which also houses the consumer PinkPanel. More
TNS has promoted Ignacio Galceran to the newly created role of Chief Client & Offer Officer - Americas, while also promoting five staff to become 'Americas Practice Leaders'. More
Kantar's online specialist Lightspeed GMI has launched a service called Survey Cycle, which combines its research design and project management skills with Google Consumer Surveys, to deliver 'micro surveys' comprising ten questions or fewer. More
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved Nielsen's plan to sell off its LinkMeter cross-platform measurement technology to comScore - one of the requirements of the deal agreed for Nielsen to acquire Arbitron. More
US-based Federated Sample has launched a new tool called Fulcrum Bid Manager, allowing users of the firm's Fulcrum Exchange to manage, track and centralize the online sample procurement process through one platform. More
In the Middle East, online social media rewards platform Rewardcraze has introduced a portfolio of online research services, including data collection and survey programming, along with new consumer and business panels. More
WPP's brand and media specialist Millward Brown has appointed Narayanan Radhakrishnan as Chief Client Officer, South East Asia (SEA) - a role vacated by Priti Mehra, who became MD in Singapore last month. More
US data collection firm Focus Pointe Global has expanded its online division Focus Pointe Online, led by MD of Online Research Wally Balden. More
Audience measurement specialist Kantar Media has acquired Barcelona-based TV and social media analytics agency The Data Republic. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Mark Lasbury and Sarah Jones, former employees of Nottingham-based JRA Research, have launched a new agency called ampersand research. More
Innovation and forecasting business Ipsos InnoQuest has launched a new methodology called the 'Insight Accelerator', allowing marketers to test innovations and ideas through a process that takes just two days. More
TNS has promoted James Conrad to the role of Managing Director, Brazil; and filled his previous post as Executive Vice President, West Region Lead through the appointment of former GfK exec Rogerio Monteiro. More
London-based agency IFF Research has appointed Martin Marine as Financial Services Director, while promoting Alistair Kuechel and Angus Tindle to Director level. More
BrainJuicer has appointed former Nielsen NeuroFocus exec Jeff McDonald as Vice President, North America, overseeing the firm's new Southeast account team. More
In the US, GfK MRI has launched a new set of 44 consumer segments based on its data on consumers' off-line activities and attitudes, for use in online ad targeting. The launch involves deals with three online data management platforms (DMPs), BlueKai, eXelate and Lotame. More
Custom pharma research specialist Double Helix is celebrating its tenth anniversary in the US with the opening of an office in San Francisco, and has appointed Madeline McMahon to head it up. More
Dubai-based 42 market research, a specialist in full service online research for healthcare clients, is adding a panel in The Philippines. More
Bob Barocci, former President and CEO of the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) died last Thursday in Manhattan, at the age of 72. More
In the US, shopper insight specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) has teamed up with Nielsen Audio (formerly Arbitron) to launch what the firms describe as the first single-source measurement approach built for the radio industry. More
The Independent newspaper's parent company ESI Media has awarded brand tracking specialist Nepa the contract to co-create a consumer panel called indyViews, which will provide a platform for readers around the UK to air their views. More
US company Precision Opinion, which provides market research field services to the entertainment industry and political polling for the government, has opened a mobile division, Turning Point Research, at its headquarters in Las Vegas. More
GfK has appointed Jacqueline Richardson as Regional Director and EVP of Human Resources in North America; leading workforce development, talent management, employee relations, training, diversity and recruitment efforts in the US and Canada. More
In Sweden, a team of former Spotify engineers has raised $2.2m in seed funding for their Lookback platform, used for mobile app user experience testing. More
Britain's National Statistician has recommended to the Board of the UK Statistics Authority that the country's ten-year census is retained, but moved online from its previously paper-based format. More
Chinese mobile crowdsourcing company Wei Chai Shi and market research agency nQuire have partnered to create what they describe as China's largest mobile research panel, along with a DIY tool offering researchers immediate responses. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has launched an automated survey tool called PowerPosition, promising fast-turnaround insights into positioning and communications. More
London-based brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners has appointed former Saatchi & Saatchi planner Ailean Mills with the title of Head of Cultural Investigation. More
North of England-based data collection agency Peak Answers has appointed Paul Sutton as Associate Director, replacing Call Centre Manager Jean Seddon who is retiring in May, after 25 years in the industry. More
St Louis-based Q&A specialist Answers Corporation has launched a product review platform called Shopper Ratings, to enable brands and retailers to tap into feedback from their customers. More
In the US, WPP-owned online specialist Lightspeed GMI has introduced a social media intelligence solution called Context, allowing clients to profile and survey existing consumer segments 'through a social lens'. More
Despite a drop in annual revenue from £13.6m to £11.0m, Chime's Insight and Engagement (CIE) division has reported a 19% rise in operating income to £9.1m for the year 2013, while operating profit increased 29% to £2.8m. More
In the US, online research community builder Communispace has launched a new business unit dedicated to healthcare clients; and has named VP Corey Schwartz as its Managing Director. The firm says more such 'sub-brand' launches may be in the pipeline. More
Social media analyst Pick1 and DIY survey firm SurveyMonkey are integrating services to allow customers a simple way to collect and analyse survey respondents' social media data. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has opened an office in Seoul, Korea, where it has promoted Kayne Park to the position of Country Director. More
Nielsen has set up a new Multicultural Growth and Strategy team, to provide market understanding of, and deliver strategies to reach multicultural consumers. Mónica Gil has been promoted to lead it, as Senior Vice President and General Manager. More
Dublin-based RED C Research has launched a new online omnibus called RED Line, which enables users to ask questions in Ireland, the UK, or both markets together. More
TNS has hired client side researcher Yong Joo Park for the newly created role of Chief Research Officer for the Asia Pacific region. He will join on 1st April. More
uSamp co-founders Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin have launched a new firm called Innovate, which they say will 'pinpoint' global panelists on demand and deliver sample via connected APIs. More
SoapBoxSample, the online sampling division of US-based data collection firm ISA, has acquired the ClickIQ e/visor panel of more than 350,000 panel members across the US and Canada as part of its strategy for growth and expansion; along with its full service research team IQCenter. More
NYC-based Hispanic media group Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) has appointed Marshall Cohen as Executive Vice President of Corporate Research. More
In London, Simon Glanville has rejoined healthcare & B2B specialist RONIN Corporation, as UK Managing Director. More
London-based emotional analytics specialist Realeyes has appointed former Nielsen Director of Sales Bill Jaris as its first President of North America, based in New York. More
Australian research body AMSRO has launched a 'Trustmark', guaranteeing its members' adherence to ethical standards including data protection and respect for privacy. More
On Tuesday, renowned investigative psychologist Professor David Canter described how his commercial use of cluster analysis, combined with his development of what is now known as geographical offender profiling, led to the conviction of a serial murderer. Mel Crowther reports. More
Toronto, Canada-based online and telephone data collection agency The Logit Group has expanded to the US, where it has appointed industry veteran Marcus Turner as US Vice President. More
Another Tuesday morning session looked at 'ideas for triggering commercial success'. Three clients described how they have addressed specific business issues with research-led solutions. Mel Crowther reports. More
Manchester-based consumer research agency Join the Dots has announced a 23% increase in annual revenue to £4.9m in 2013, driven by a mix of existing and new clients, and 35% growth in international revenues. More
Media research veteran Jack Wakshlag has announced that he is stepping down from his role as Chief Research Officer of Turner Broadcasting System, at the end of March. More
UK-based insight and marketing services group Cello has reported an 18.2% increase in revenue to £159.7m for the year to 31st December 2013. More
Online sampling specialist uSamp is launching a system called 'Adaptive Profiling', which involves asking questions to panellists based on their correlated attributes. The firm claims this will reduce the total number of profile questions asked by half, while doubling completion rates. More
South Africa's National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has commissioned UK-based media research veteran Roger Gane to provide technical input into the development of a new national radio audience research survey. More
In the UK, Creston-owned Marketing Sciences has appointed Dr Debbie Parker as Associate Director, in charge of its Sensory Profiling lab in Westerham, Kent. She replaces Angie Reyner, who has left the company. More
Former Aer Lingus Marketing & Sales Director David Kelly has joined customer satisfaction and mystery shopping specialist Catalyst Market Research as a Consultant at its offices in Dublin. More
Described by MRS CEO Jane Frost as a 'brand in his own right', WPP leader Sir Martin Sorrell opened this year's conference with an overview of how his group is moving towards a more 'digital' future. Mel Crowther reports. More
UK-based independent agency firefish has announced an annual revenue increase of 18%, to £9.55m in its full financial year 2014. More
Cincinnati, US-based RDI Corporation has completed the acquisition of Fort Mitchell, KY-based research firm SIRS Inc., for an undisclosed sum. More
In the second session of the day, Tim Harford, writer of Financial Times column 'The Undercover Economist', weighed up the pros and cons of different approaches to innovation when creating winning ideas. Mel Crowther reports. More
George Llorens is leaving his role as EVP of Sales at online sampling firm uSamp 'to pursue other interests'. He will be replaced by Ted Bouzakis, who most recently served as Head of North American Sales. More
Consumer specialist firefish has appointed former TLE exec Dee Campbell as Research Manager in its New York office, while in London Yimen Lee joins as Associate Director and Heather Williams as Research Manager. More
Advertising and communications network Hakuhodo and its marketing intelligence agency Tokyo Survey Research (TSR) have jointly acquired a 'substantial' stake in Asia Pacific-based marketing and brand research consultancy Cimigo. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Roger Banks, the UK MD of consumer specialist Incite, has been promoted to the role of Group Managing Director, following growth in the firm's international business. Director Peter Kneale has taken over Banks' previous role in the UK. More
In the UK, the Market Research Benevolent Organisation (MRBA) is hosting its annual online charity auction, to raise funds for industry personnel who are in need of financial help. More
GfK has merged its existing retail tracking and media business with full service agency PT Primera Indonesia, in order to offer its Consumer Experiences portfolio to clients across Southeast Asia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Multi-platform eye tracking software firm The Eye Tribe has introduced a cloud-based platform called EyeProof, allowing users to collect and analyse data on where people look on a web site or ad, from multiple devices and locations simultaneously. More
Former GMI/Lightspeed operations exec Mitra Asilzadeh has set up a new firm called Smart Outsourcing and Consultancy (SOC), providing online market research, survey programming and data analytics services, along with sample procurement via specialised panel companies. More
Ipsos Healthcare has extended its Molecular Diagnostics (MDx) portfolio to Japan and Australia, where it will initially focus on oncology, with other therapy areas to be rolled out in the coming months. More
In the UK, Royal Mail has appointed former Aegis Media exec Antony Jones as Head of Insight for its MarketReach business, while Diana Rhodes joins the division as Mail Strategy and Planning Director, to lead the planning and data teams. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp is to move to a fully open application programming interface (API) platform called SampleCORE, allowing clients to gather richer insights from sample - including traditional profile, social, behavioral and geo-location information. More
Former Ipsos Poland CEO Dinko Svetopetric has joined insight communities specialist MRevolution as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, replacing Matyas Bauer who has moved into the role of Client Service Manager. More
Netherlands-based online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has acquired a majority stake in fellow Dutch firm Oxyme, a social media analytics specialist. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
OfficeReports, a data analysis and reporting overlay within Microsoft Office, has now been extended to integrate directly with DIY platform SurveyMonkey. More
Data collection and sampling solutions provider SSI has launched a business research panel called 'Miles for Thoughts', open to members of the Free Spirit loyalty program run by its new partner, Spirit Airlines. More
The High Court in Delhi has given further breathing space to TAM and to the Indian ad industry, previously threatened with a ratings blackout for much of the year, by adjourning until July the hearing of the appeal brought by Kantar Media against new government guidelines. More
Recently-rebranded London-based mobile research technology specialist Lumi has announced the launch of Lumi Say, a new DIY mobile survey app which extends the existing Lumi SURVEY platform. More
Millward Brown has appointed Nichola Rastrick as its new MD of Southeast Asia, succeeding the recently promoted Gonzalo Fuentes. Rastrick's current role as MD Singapore is filled by Priti Mehra who steps up from the role of Chief Client Officer, Southeast Asia. More
San Diego-based facial analysis firm Emotient has announced a $6 million Series B round of funding, along with the launch of new 'glassware', using the camera of Google Glass to measure wearers' emotions. More
Former Nielsen MD Sarang Panchal has acquired a 'significant stake' in MRSS India, and has been named its Chief Executive Officer. More
London-based brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners has appointed former Kantar Group/Millward Brown recruitment consultant Estelle Shepherd as Global Head of People, with a remit to 'hire the best talent' and support and develop careers. More
US marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has introduced a cognitive and neuromarketing metrics solution, which links tools such as facial electromyography and galvanic skin response with eye tracking and qual and quant research. More
Netherlands-based online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has reported a 22% increase in annual revenue to EUR 49m ($67m), with revenues up 25% in the UK. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has announced that its next President will be Camelot Group CEO Dianne Thompson. She takes up the position at the beginning of April when Rita Clifton completes her five-year term. More
In the US, radio industry technology provider Triton Digital has received Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its Webcast Metrics Local (WCML) measurement product. More
Media intelligence and monitoring specialist Gorkana Group has launched a real-time DIY survey solution for use in PR surveys, crisis monitoring, 'newsjacking' and KPI tracking. More
In London, Omnicom-owned brand and communications research consultancy Hall & Partners has promoted Abigail Stuart to the newly created role of Global CEO of its Health division. More
In the US, Nielsen veteran Tom Drouillard will take up the position of President and CEO of the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM), following the retirement of Mike Lavery on March 31st. More
Nielsen has announced that a group of its shareholders is planning to sell 30 million shares of common stock, with a possible value of around $1.4bn. More
Innovation and forecasting specialist Ipsos InnoQuest has launched a new service to test ideas and deliver a snapshot of quantitative consumer feedback in around eighteen hours. More
US-based data collection agency MRops has moved to a purpose-built office in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, to make space for its twenty full-time staff, and its 'Executive Interviewing Center' which houses 50 interviewers. The company has also made several new hires in the city. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access has extended its coverage in Latin America with the launch of a new consumer panel in Chile. Seven more emerging markets are targeted for launch this year. More
UK-based researcher Vision One has launched an 'ultra-quick' mobile phone survey service called Lightning. More
Neuroscience firms Sands Research and Neurons Inc ApS, based respectively in The US and Denmark, have announced a merger, forming 'one of the largest applied neuroscience services firms serving clients around the world'. More
TNS Baltic has announced plans to enhance its existing Television Audience Measurement services in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania over the next four years. They include new measurement technology to replace the current Eurometers; larger panels; and enhanced processing systems. More
In London, community panels specialist Verve has reported a strong start to 2014, including the arrival of twelve new team members. More
Millward Brown has promoted Mark Henning to Head of Media and Digital, Africa, Middle East & Asia Pacific (AMAP), responsible for driving the practice across the region. More
UK-based marketing services group Cello has unified its health-oriented agencies under the Cello Health brand, bringing together five existing businesses. More
In India, a number of opinion polling agencies have been caught on camera agreeing to manipulate poll data or supply misleading results in exchange for cash, according to an undercover investigation conducted by broadcaster News Express. More
ORC International has re-located its Singapore office to bigger premises in preparation for the launch of its new Strategy Research practice, which will focus on helping businesses drive organizational growth across the Asia Pacific region. More
UK-based mobile market research technology developer Sumo Insight has raised an undisclosed amount of venture capital from B2B start-up accelerator Collider. More
Swiss market and opinion research firm ISOPUBLIC has changed its name to Léger Schweiz, after the Canadian Léger Group, its majority shareholder. More
In the US, on-demand online community specialist GutCheck has introduced a multi-language version of its consumer insights solution, supporting sixteen markets and with eight new languages. More
WPP's Data Investment Management Division (DIM) has reported a 3.6% increase in annual revenue for 2013. More
Ipsos has reported a 4.3% decline in annual revenue to EUR 1.71bn, from EUR 1.79bn in 2012. The company blames the fall on exchange rates, its partial withdrawal from Eurozone countries like Greece and Portugal, and the sale of its Los Angeles-based film testing arm. Organic growth was 0.8%. More
London-based mobile research technology specialist Lumi Mobile and its audience response and voting systems business IML Worldwide are now to be known simply as Lumi, following their recent merger. More
Nielsen has acquired Madrid-based shopper marketing and sales intelligence specialist Nexium Customer Solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, Ipsos MediaCT and comScore have introduced a new cross-media planning tool which combines the Ipsos Affluent Survey with comScore Media Metrix data, in order to understand how affluent audiences access media across channels. More
India's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has commissioned Dutch watermarking and fingerprinting tech solutions provider Civolution to underpin its TV audience measurement contract, recently awarded to French firm Mediametrie. More
Leeds-based MR agency Swift Research has partnered with Amarach Research in Dublin, to launch a low-cost omnibus-type service called 'Ten-4-Ten'. The package allows clients to add ten 'key' questions to a nationwide consumer survey and also run four focus groups. More
In Chennai, India, former Krea exec Arindam Bhattacharya has set up a new firm called ResearchSuite Technologies, offering survey programming, translations and data analytics solutions. More
Canadian firm Leger Metrics has partnered with Dublin-based Red C Research, in order to extend its reach to Europe. More
Millward Brown is releasing a DIY version of eStatic, its copy-testing solution for print and outdoor advertising, available via market research 'app store' ZappiStore. More
Indian healthcare and medical fieldwork specialist Krea has launched a new service, ONCO+, based around a panel of 3,000 of the country's oncologists. More
MR outsourcing firm Cross-Tab has announced the commercial launch of its multi-device reporting and data analysis package Analyzer, part of the Cross-Tab Optimizer Suite operating system (ctOS). More
Former Leo Burnett Group Head of Research Steve Watkins has been appointed as a Research Director at pioneering UK agency Join the Dots. Emma Kirk and Mo Mahar have also joined the company. More
Nielsen has promoted CFO Brian West to Chief Operating Officer, replacing Mitchell Habib; and has appointed Jamere Jackson, who joins from General Electric, to fill the vacant finance role. More
UK-based researchers in RSM's 6-monthly survey are increasingly optimistic about research spend and about the economy in general; and are increasingly likely to have worked with at least one emerging technique, in an industry seen as changing rapidly. More
In the US, marketing and research expert Kimberly Bonniksen and finance and consulting veteran David Grzan have teamed up to launch KlarosKonsulting, whose services will include market research, branding, sales optimisation and digital marketing. More
UK-based researcher Vision One has opened an office in Willenhall, near Birmingham - its third location, for use as 'a platform to grow its market share in the Midlands'. More
TAM Media Research has applied to the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for registration as a television ratings service provider, in accordance with stipulations made when a court postponed the implementation of new government guidelines just over a week ago. More
UK-based research firm SPA Future Thinking has introduced a new brand performance tracking tool called BrandBox, which includes a measure of the influence of 'Connectors' or advocates. More
GfK has extended CEO Matthias Hartmann's contract by a further five years, to 30th November 2019. More
Palo Alto, CA-based DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has launched its first mobile app, allowing the creation, monitoring and analysis of surveys on-the-move. The firm has also introduced a tool to enable developers to gather in-app feedback. More
In the UK, WPP-owned Kantar Media has promoted Richard Poustie to the position of Chief Executive Officer of its TGI & Custom division, which has recently been expanded to include the Kantar Sport business. More
GfK has launched an approach it calls 'FutureScape', which identifies and sizes a range of opportunities within a market, prioritizes those with most potential, and then use segmentation to pinpoint the highest-value consumers to target. More
Mobile research technology firm OnePoint Global has opened an office in Madrid, where it has appointed former Ipsos Loyalty exec César Rodriguez as Sales Director for the Iberia market. More
The Readers Studies Council of India (RSCI) has temporarily suspended findings from its latest Indian Readership Survey (IRS), following complaints by several members of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) who claim it contains 'shocking anomalies'. More
US marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has set up a business unit which will use integrated psychophysiology and traditional cognitive research tools to tailor campaign messages to the needs of professionals in political, policy and advocacy roles. More
San Francisco-based Peanut Labs has set up an office in London, from where it will offer social media sampling services across the UK, France and Germany. Will Carroll and Lewis Reeves join from sister company Research Now, to lead the new office. More
Data usage think tank The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) has introduced an online platform through which shoppers can opt-out of retail tracking at thousands of locations across the US. More
In London, research and strategy consultancy Quadrangle has promoted former MD Dr Nick Baker to the role of Group Chief Executive. More
WPP digital agency Possible has appointed Mikhail Goldgaber as Head of Experience, with a remit to build the firm's User Experience (UX) team in London, and introduce UX, digital psychology and consumer neuroscience techniques across all departments. More
Global data collection specialist Cido has promoted Ayaz Akhtar to the role of General Manager of its Hong Kong office. More
US-based fieldwork provider Schlesinger Associates has transferred Pam Lintner from San Francisco to Chicago to oversee its Midwest market, while Scott Baker will take her place in San Francisco, overseeing West Coast markets. More
UK-based, consumer-focused Spring Research has announced it is 'merging' with its online communities specialist, Tuned In Research, under a new brand, Tonic Insight. More
Multi-platform survey technology firm Survey Analytics has launched FlashLet, a tool for gathering and analysing employee feedback. More
An Indian court has given ratings agency TAM a lifeline, postponing some provisions of the government's recent policy guidelines which would have left the company in breach and the country without audience currency for most of the year. More
Stockholm-based brand tracking specialist Nepa has opened a subsidiary company in Helsinki, and appointed Minna Mehtälä to lead it. More
London-based research technologist Lumi Mobile has appointed Kimberly White as Director of Business Development. More
Nielsen has reported a 5.5% increase in annual revenue to $5.7 billion. Media measurement arm 'Watch', enlarged by the Arbitron buy, saw revenue rise 11.2%, compared with 1.9% growth in the consumer research 'Buy' division. More
The Pan African Media Research Organisation (PAMRO) has appointed former SAARF CEO Dr Paul Haupt as its first-ever Executive Director. More
TNS has named former Ipsos ops leader Hemant Dham as Executive Director of Operations in India, based in Mumbai. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has launched a new panel called PayerPlus, which offers access to executive-level clinical and business decision makers and influencers across the healthcare market. More
Channel 4 has introduced targeted advertising for its video on demand service, following an increase in its audience database to more than 10 million registered viewers - including, it says, one half of all 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK. More
North of England-based DJS Research has launched a population segmentation tool called Localise, which uses street level census data to create profiles matching a required region. More
Nielsen has today announced today that it has completed its tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Harris Interactive, and that the acquisition should close today. More
UK-based Facts International has appointed former Opinion Leader and Diagnostics exec Sarah Carter as a Research Director. More
UK insight and communications group Creston plc has issued an interim management statement for the last quarter of 2013, reporting an increase in headline profit (PBIT) and a levelling out of its revenue, which had dropped four percent in results for the previous six months. More
GfK's sales have dipped back below the EUR 1.5 billion mark, not helped by a strengthening of the currency: the 2013 figure fell by 1.3%, from EUR 1.514bn in 2012 to EUR 1.495bn in 2013 despite modest organic growth of 0.8%. Adjusted operating income crept up by 1.5% to EUR 190m. More
Market research firms Fieldwork Network, i-view London, Viewpoint Europe, and Estudio Silvia Roca have joined forces to create an international alliance called FIVE Research, which aims to provide MR services across 'any city, any methodology, anywhere in the world'. More
Healthcare market research, market access and brand planning specialist OPEN Plan, which is part of Chime Communication's Insight and Engagement arm, has appointed Neil Rees as Head of Research and Catherine Swanson as an SRE. More
In the US, The Marketing Research Institute International (MRII), which provides MR training and education, is looking for a new Executive Director to replace Don Marek when he retires in September. More
Former Campbell Soup shopper strategist Russ Onish has joined virtual shopping research specialist Decision Insight to lead its Client Solutions team. More
Canadian firm Leger Metrics has introduced a mobile reporting platform called CIM Mobile, for users who spend most of their time in the field and need to view customer feedback response in real-time. More
US research provider Gongos has reported a 12% rise in gross revenue to $22.5m in 2013, from $20.1m in 2012. More
Digital research specialist comScore is collaborating with the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) to expand its cross-platform measurement service and determine the feasibility of syndicating the service industry-wide. More
US-based multicultural research specialists Michele Cordoba, Brenda Lee and Iris Yim have set up a new full service research and strategic consulting firm called Vision Strategy and Insights (VSI), with a focus on Hispanic, African American and Asian consumers. More
Startup TinyHR has launched an employee research and sentiment analysis tool called CLIENTpulse, to enable organizations to conduct simple surveys to gain insights into their clients. More
In the US, on-demand online community specialist GutCheck has secured an 'unsolicited' $4m in new investment, which it will use to expand its sales, marketing and product development teams. More
GfK has signed a five-year contract with Saudi Media Measurement Company (SMCC) to introduce the 'first ever' electronic television audience measurement (TAM) service to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. More
US customer and employee engagement specialist PeopleMetrics has spun off its healthcare custom market research business into a separate company known as Reason Research, which has been acquired by four senior staff at the firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based research and consulting firm Populus has launched a London Omnibus, to enable clients to tap into the attitudes and opinions of Londoners on a variety of issues such as transport and tourism, housing, cost of living, politics and wellbeing. More
Paris-based social media monitoring and competitive intelligence firm Digimind has opened offices in Singapore and London, as the first phase of a three-year international expansion plan. More
In London, online panel specialist Research Now has promoted Ben Hogg to the position of Managing Director of EMEA, Portfolio Companies. More
Ipsos is facing a legal challenge from a number of broadcasters in Egypt, who accuse it of bias in reporting audience ratings, according to reports in the Egyptian press. A statement from the global group says it is committed to quality and transparency and will prosecute those making unfounded claims. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based emotion analytics specialist Beyond Verbal has launched its first app, 'Moodies', allowing mobile users to extract, decode and measure 'a full spectrum of human emotions from their raw voice in real time as they speak'. More
US-based fieldwork firm Schlesinger Associates has launched its online service Schlesinger Interactive in Europe, led by James Sallows, who joined the company in September. More
London-based online, mobile and social media specialist Effective Research has expanded to Latin America with the opening of an office in Bogotá, Colombia. More
US-based research tech firm Decipher has added new mobile capabilities to its Beacon survey and reporting platform, to enable the uploading of rich media such as videos and photos via smartphones. More
US company Precision Opinion, which provides market research field services to the entertainment industry and political polling for the government, has appointed Emily Carothers as Director Panel Operations. More
Cecil 'Bud' Phillips, the founder of Irving, Texas-based M/A/R/C Research, died on Tuesday at the age of 89. More
ESOMAR President Dan Foreman has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors at online DIY market research platform ZappiStore. More
UK-based research firm SPA Future Thinking has launched a new division called 'Playground', to provide businesses with an understanding of the way children and families think and behave. More
Millward Brown has named Carmen Bohoyo as Managing Director in Turkey, based in its Istanbul office. She replaces Dimitris Mannoussakis, who continues as MD of Millward Brown in Greece. More
Biometric measurement specialist Innerscope Research has launched a standalone neuroscience kiosk called Sensus, to provide marketers with a cost-effective way to gain insights into consumers' conscious and non-conscious attitudes and emotions. More
Millward Brown has signed a multi-year deal with emotion measurement specialist Affectiva to integrate the latter's Affdex automated facial coding as a standard feature in all MB's 'Link' ad copy testing services. More
Online MR software company Confirmit has acquired social media intelligence and text analytics specialist Integrasco. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More
US-based SIS International Research has opened an office in Manila, to offer fieldwork and data collection services in South East Asia while expanding its Market Intelligence Unit. More
Insight and marketing group Cello has recorded double-digit 2013 revenue growth in its Health and Consumer divisions, according to a trading update. More
Ipsos MediaCT has launched a real-time content monitor called MediaMoments, allowing clients to understand how, when and where their content is consumed, and how experience of consumption differs according to platform. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access has extended its reach to Eastern Europe with the launch of a panel in Poland. More
Angus Reid, the Executive Chairman of research community and survey tech firm Vision Critical, sold $10.5m worth of company shares last month, in a move which one analyst is claiming 'clears the deck' for a potential IPO. More
UK pregnancy, baby and parenting club Bounty has extended its partnership with custom panel provider EasyInsites to launch the 'Word of Family' panel; building on its existing 39,000-strong 'Word of Mum' opinion panel to provide insights into the rest of the family. More
Pharma researcher Thomas Gleissner has set up a new agency called Research Excellence, in Frankfurt, offering customized market research services to clients in the pharmaceutical, medical technology, and medical device sectors. More
German eye tracking technology provider SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has opened an office in San Francisco, California, from where it will serve customers on the US West Coast. More
In India, TV ratings regulator BARC has confirmed rumours that French company Médiamétrie is its official technology partner, and will provide licences to BARC to use its TV metering system. Meanwhile the country faces the prospect of having no audience ratings at all until October this year. More
Data collection and sampling solutions provider SSI has added a further three countries - Brazil, South Korea and New Zealand - to its QuickThoughts mobile data collection platform; and has launched a new business sample source for researchers, SSI B2B inSSItes. More
Research company nQuire Services has opened an office in Shanghai, to handle an increasing volume of work in China. Company President Tom Fuller has moved to the country to head up the new business. More
Expanding UK-based agency BDRC Continental has created two new divisions, Commercial and On the Move, and promoted Ian Stevens and Matt Costin, respectively, to lead them as Managing Directors. Five other promotions include Richard Smith, who becomes a Director and joins the Board. More
Panels specialist Research Now has promoted Chris Dubreuil from SVP of Client Development - Northern Europe to Managing Director of Northern Europe. More
In the US, customer experience researcher IntelliShop has acquired mystery shopping firm 'Shops, Training, And Results Inc.' (STAR), a subsidiary of Multifamily Ancillary Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based online specialist BrainJuicer has reported a 17% increase in revenue to £24m for the year ended 31st December 2013. Pre-tax profit for the period will be around £3.5m, compared to £1.5m in 2012 and £2.8m in 2011. More
SMG Insight, the sport and sponsorship arm of YouGov, has opened an office in Edinburgh to support Scottish events clients. More
Albuquerque, New Mexico-based ad research agency Ameritest has appointed Ralph Blessing as Managing Director, in charge of its Chicago office. More
Nielsen has increased its offer to buy Harris Interactive from $2.00 to $2.04 per share, valuing the company at around $118.9m. More
US data collection agency MRops has made three senior hires: Steve Connelly as Director of Client Reporting Solutions, Andrea Stoltz as VP Client Services, and Danielle Popp as Lead Statistician. More
Diane Hessan, President and CEO of online community specialist Communispace, is to move into the role of Chairman, and has named co-creation expert Charles Trevail as her successor. More
US marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has opened a Flavor and Fragrance market research division, which will combine neuroscience tools with traditional methods to provide a view of both respondents' subconscious and cognitive response to stimuli. More
Research community and survey technology specialist Vision Critical has secured a $3.5m share investment from Difference Capital Financial. The firm has also appointed former OMERS Ventures MD Derek Smyth as its first ever Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). More
Public policy consultant Mercury has appointed polling experts Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward to lead its corporate polling operation, based in its Florida and Washington DC offices. More
UK-based research firm SPA Future Thinking has welcomed back four former employees, who take up positions in its account and operations teams. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston has hired former TNS CEO Pedro Ros for the newly created role of Head of Strategic Insight. More
Mobile research technology firm OnePoint Global has opened an office in France, and has appointed former Annik Principal Consultant Gary Stocks to lead the new venture. More
US-based fieldwork provider Schlesinger Associates has appointed former TNS Ops Director Samantha Bacelieri-Centers as Operations Director of Schlesinger Qualitative, while Scott Baker joins the division as Vice President, Account Management, after sixteen years at Adept Consumer Testing. More
Marketing services giant Publicis Groupe has acquired Washington, DC-based PR agency Qorvis Communications, for an undisclosed sum. The buy includes public affairs analyst Clarus Research Group. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston Plc has announced the retirement of CEO and founder Don Elgie, with effect from 31st March 2014. Elgie will 'pursue a career of non-executive roles', and will be succeeded by current COO and CFO Barrie Brien, who has been with the Group since 2004. More
The Indian government has announced it will regulate television ratings agencies in the country, requiring them to register with the I&B Ministry within 30 days, and raise sample size to a minimum of 20,000 panel homes - potentially a blow to Nielsen/Kantar joint venture TAM. More
In Nice, France, four pharma research colleagues from WorldOne have launched a new independent fieldwork agency, QualWorld, specializing in qual market research for the healthcare industry. More
Ipsos' Country Manager for Malaysia, Steve Murphy, has left the company and is replaced by Miranda Cheung, who adds the title to her existing responsibilities as country manager for Singapore. More
Online research specialist YouGov has extended its reach to China and South East Asia through the acquisition of Asian MR and tech firm Decision Fuel (DF). YouGov will pay an initial sum of £0.6m, but the full deal is expected to total $5m before 2017. More
Mark Lieberman, co-founder and former CEO of TV analytics firm TRA, has joined TV ad services specialist Viamedia as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. More
Research and polling firm Gallup has closed its office in Budapest, Hungary, after 24 years in the country. According to local press reports, twenty employees have been made redundant, and client contracts are now being managed from the London office. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research has opened a new office in Rochester, New York, while appointing four new members of staff in the US and five in London. More
Ipsos has realigned its resources in Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest, aiming to bring staff closer together and boost collaboration. To support the move, Mike Rodenburgh will now lead the company's business operations across the regions. More
Consumer electronics giant Sony has unveiled a wearable device called a 'SmartBand', containing a 'life-tracking' sensor which logs users' day-to-day activities. More
Former Paddy Power Insight Director Danny Russell has joined mobile phone giant Telefónica O2 as General Manager of Business Intelligence. The firm has also made two other senior appointments in its marketing team, which is led by Marketing & Consumer Director Nina Bibby. More
In the US, the Research Industry Index (RII) compiled by the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has increased from 100 to 102, reflecting management's growing confidence in the health of research firms. More
UK-based Research Runner - the MR support agency set up by former Opinion Health sales specialist Julian Haste - has appointed Giuseppe Mancuso as Fieldwork Solutions Director, in charge of its fieldwork division. More
University academics Ridvan Peshkopia, Mergim Cahani and Alejtin Berisha have teamed up with entrepreneur Edi Demaj to launch a new DIY research firm called iziSurvey. More
Online research specialist BrainJuicer has introduced the FeelMore50 - a ranking of the '50 most effective emotional ads' in the US. More
DIY online research platform ZappiStore, already available in the UK, US, Australia, France and Germany, has been rolled out in Canada. The firm says it plans 'aggressive expansion' in 2014. More
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has given its approval to a new method for obtaining parents' verifiable consent for online collection and use of children's personal information, developed by technology firm Imperium. More
UK-based consultancy DJS Research has announced a number of appointments and promotions, including three which strengthen its Operations department. More
Less than a year on from its launch, US-based polling and data analytics company 1World Online has closed $1.5m in Series A financing, for use in product development, geographical expansion and growth in its partner base. More
Rotterdam, Netherlands-based Sample Solutions has released RDD onDemand, an online platform for acquiring Random-Digit-Dialling sample - both landline and mobile - directly from its central database. More
MRS President Rita Clifton has been made a CBE in the UK's New Year's Honours List for 'services to the advertising industry'. More
China-based brand development and marketing insight consultancy Oracle Added Value is to adopt the global brand name and logo of Added Value. More
In the US, on-demand online community specialist GutCheck has raised a further $2.5m in venture funding, adding to the $4m in Series B equity financing the firm secured in the summer. More
TNS South Africa CEO Karin Du Chenne is handing over her role to Rob Powell, and relocating to Istanbul where she will take up the position of Regional Director Business Development for AMME (Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East). More
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has expressed its concern that the sale of the Australian Associated Press (AAP) media monitoring business to media intelligence group iSentia would create a monopoly in the market. More
Full service agency FieldGlobal has opened a research facility in London, where it has appointed Illitch Real as Associate Vice President - Business Development. More
The business outlook for marketers around the world remains positive, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI), which takes into account marketers' expectations for trading conditions, marketing and staffing levels. More
Four new regional radio survey providers have been accredited by Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) to join its panel of suppliers, and to undertake audience measurement research from 2014. More
Millward Brown has acquired a 70% stake in Moscow-based custom research firm ARMI-Marketing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based BDRC Group has acquired specialist qual field and viewing studio business Viewpoint Services, from financial services group Rivington Street Holdings (RSH) which has gone into administration. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Former IDC Vice President Bob O'Donnell has launched his own technology market research and consulting firm, TECHnalysis Research, in Foster City, California. More
In New York, GfK has appointed Pat Pellegrini as Executive Vice President of both its Media & Entertainment and Digital Market Intelligence teams. More
GfK has finalised its $100m plus five-year contract with four of Brazil's broadcasters, bringing its TV audience measurement service to the country, and says it plans to hire approximately 100 new employees to support the project. More
Indian authorities have arrested two of the three founders of online survey firm Speak Asia, which is accused of defrauding participants out of an estimated Rs 2,200 crores (approximately EUR 260m). More
WPP-owned Kantar is to combine the resources of Kantar Retail with its TNS Retailer & Shopper practice, to form a new organisation offering a single source of retail and shopper expertise. More
Ipsos has confirmed that former TNS Regional CEO Judith Passingham will join its online data collection arm Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) as Global CEO on 2nd January 2014. IIS was formerly part of Global Operations, led by Stewart Jones, and will now operate as a separate business. More
Ratings provider Medialogic Pakistan has announced a partnership with global group Kantar Media which it says will enhance the TV audience measurement service available in the country. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston plc has announced that Keith Bates is to step down from the role of Head of Creston Insight, seeking 'new challenges' outside the Group. More
Palo Alto, CA-based DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey is scouting around various German cities in search of a potential location for a new office. More
Ipsos Healthcare has launched a multi-client Lupus Therapy Monitor in the top 5 EU markets - the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. More
WPP research and ad agencies Millward Brown and Ogilvy & Mather have partnered to launch a syndicated tool called The Brand Cross-Cultural Index (BCCI), designed to help understand a brand's value across racial or ethnic segments. More
Private investment firm Bain Capital Partners has made an offer of 51.4 billion yen ($501m) to buy all the shares of Tokyo-based online research firm Macromill. More
US-based survey and panel management software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has appointed former CfMC Managing Director Daniele Pizzocchero to lead its European Customer Support team. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has appointed former uSamp director Kristen Tripphahn as Vice President, Global Panels, to oversee their growth and development, and drive best practice in panel management. More
Online MR software company Confirmit has added a 'backchecking' feature to its survey on-demand application (SODA), to enable researchers to verify data collected in the field via mobile devices using a desktop or mobile device, an app, or a browser. More
Brand and media specialist Millward Brown has opened an office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to support local, regional and global clients operating in the country. Piotr Chodakowski joins to lead the new operation, with a team of ten. More
Nielsen has appointed Ipsos ad research veteran David Brandt as Executive Vice President, Advertising Effectiveness Strategy, with a focus on leading the development of the firm's 'Nielsen NeuroFocus' neuroscience-based copy testing solutions. More
Data collection firm GDCC has opened a new 30-seat call centre in Istanbul, supporting its existing facility in the Netherlands, where it has promoted Karl Fieldhouse to the role of Operations Manager, and Melanie van Schijndel to New Project Director. More
In London, online sampling and technology company uSamp has promoted Ben Leet to the position of Managing Director for Europe, following the departure of Gaelle Norman who has returned to France to set up her own market research support consultancy. More
Eye-tracking specialist Tobii has opened an exclusive beta program for a new web-based research solution, Tobii Track, designed to enable users to conduct research in any environment including across the cloud. More
Market research industry legend Jack Honomichl died in Barrington, IL on Sunday at the age of 85, after a long illness. More
In the UK, Katariina Hannelius has left specialist recruiters RPCushing after almost nine years, to set up her own consultancy, Hannelius Recruitment, focused on the market research sector. Former colleague Inger Christensen joins her. More
BSkyB's research team scooped three top honours - Best In-house Research team, Client of the Year, and the AURA/MRS Insight Management award - at this year's MRS Awards, held last night at London's Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel. More
Palo Alto, CA-based DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey has appointed former Washington Post (WaPo) polling chief Jon Cohen as Vice President of Survey Research. He will take up the new role on January 6th, 2014. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has added geo-fencing capabilities to its TolunaMobile Diary app, enabling users to target respondents based on their location. More
Former Ipsos MORI Operations MD Yusuf Ramadan has opened a consultancy called INOSEER, based in central London, to provide ops expertise to market research companies across the UK. More
Two years on from its launch, YouGov's French office has announced a substantial expansion of its staff, to date adding Jean-Romain Lehr as Marketing & Business Development Manager, Diane Thebaudeau as Research Manager and Lucie Schweizer as Research Executive. More
Online specialist Lightspeed Research (LSR) has appointed David Shanker to the newly created role of The Americas Chief Executive Officer, and promoted Daniel S. Fitzgerald to global Chief Client and Marketing Officer. More
Michigan-based Market Strategies International (MSI) has announced five new hires and two senior promotions. Janice Anderson, Rob Delghiaccio, Paul Hartley, Chris Oberle and Dawn Palace are the new arrivals while newly promoted VPs are Tish Hasting and Sue Nicol. More
In the US, employee-owned Target Research Group has acquired Montvale, NJ-based full service agency A&G Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Manchester, UK-based passive mobile behaviour tools developer RealityMine has bought media usage study USA TouchPoints, which was previously operated by the Media Behavior Institute (MBI). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Palo Alto, CA-based online DIY research specialist SurveyMonkey is planning to open an office in London's Tech City, where it will hire up to 50 sales, marketing and business development specialists. More
US-based online and CATI data collection specialist Harmon Research Group has opened a new call center in San Jose, Costa Rica, which will house more than 200 employees. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research has expanded its Qual department with the appointment of Alan Mavretish as Vice President of MR and the promotion of Brooke Allen-Watson to US Qualitative Manager. More
Panel and sample provider Offerwise is expanding throughout Central and South America, including the Caribbean. More
UK-based Marketing Sciences has hired Andy Grout, former European Head of Quantitative Research at The Leading Edge, as a board member; and has also promoted Laura Ablett to its board. The company also reports strong first-half results. More
uSamp co-founders Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin have confirmed that they have left the company to 'explore new opportunities'. More
US District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin has thrown out TRA's patent infringement claims against Kantar for the second time in less than two months. More
The US Department of Commerce has launched an initiative to evaluate privacy issues surrounding the commercial use of facial recognition technology. More
Online community and survey technology provider Toluna has introduced a service called TolunaTracking, combining reporting, analysis and visualisation with statistical matching methodologies, to enable researchers to extract insight from tracking studies in real-time. More
London-based mobile research and sample specialist On Device Research has appointed former Research Now director Martin Tomlinson as Managing Director of its Singapore office, in charge of the South East Asia region. More
Swiss company Sportradar, which specialises in content and information for the sports and betting sector, has acquired US-based statistics and research provider SportsData for an undisclosed sum. More
Ipsos Healthcare has appointed Tom Nolte as Global Head of Innovation, based in the US, to drive the creation and delivery of solutions addressing emerging issues across the industry. More
In Australia, the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) has joined forces with seven publishers to launch a measurement pilot for a 'Mobile Audience Panel', which will be jointly funded and delivered by Nielsen. More
Indian audience measurement body BARC met over the weekend to decide between short-listed suppliers for its television ratings contract. With no official announcement as yet, some reports suggest French firm Mediametrie has been chosen, with a contract to be signed this week. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has published its Annual League Table ranking the 81 provider companies with the largest UK turnover. Like-for-like growth of 0.12% is seen as a sign of general recovery - but which firm grew 63% and which shrank by a third? More
UK-based sampling agency SampleAnswers is looking to expand after an injection of cash from private investment partnership EXIMS. Meanwhile MD Neil Whelpton is leaving, and Abdi Mohamed has joined as group Technical Operations Manager. More
Former GfK exec Serra Bozkurt has launched Plus Research Solutions (PRS), a healthcare market research agency based in Istanbul and serving both pharmaceutical and consumer health clients and international research agencies. More
Former Millward Brown Ireland CEO Richard Waring has joined customer satisfaction and mystery shopping firm Catalyst Marketing Research as a Partner and Director. More
Stockholm-based panel exchange platform Cint has announced two partnerships in Asia: with mobile panel developer Open Survey, and Thailand-based smartphone platform Buzzebees. More
MR outsourcing company Cross-Tab Marketing Services has launched Livewire, a reporting and analysis tool forming part of its research operations technology platform ctOS. More
UK-based insight and comms group Creston has reported results for the six months ending 30th September. Overall revenue fell 4.0% year-on-year to £35.7m, and headline EBITDA from £5.4m to £4.6m, but the Insight division grew revenue by ten percent to £6.1m and improved profitability. More
In New Delhi, former uSamp India Director Naim ul Qadar has launched a project management company, NextON Services, offering research and panel companies sampling expertise, vendor management and other help. More
Hard to believe, but on Friday 29th November, DRNO's publisher MrWeb is celebrating 15 years in business. More
Antwerp, Belgium-based Survey Anyplace has launched a made-for-mobile survey tool whose respondents are not required to load an app or join a panel, but can scan a QR code or type in a shortened URL to take part. More
Confirmit has announced strong results for the third quarter of 2013, with 'solid double digit revenue growth' and particularly impressive growth in multi-year contracts, up 130 percent for the year as a whole. More
London-based research firm YouthSight continues to expand with the appointment of Josephine Hansom as Head of Brand, Policy and Professional research, plus other appointments and an office move. More
WPP has taken a majority stake in Johannesburg, South Africa-based strategic comms agency Cerebra Communications, whose services focus around building and running brand communities. More
Swiss-based Voice of the Customer (VoC) and Customer Experience Management (CEM) technology firm SandSIV AG has released a new version of its VoC Feedback data capture product. More
Nielsen is to buy Harris Interactive for around $116.6m, or $2 a share. The deal was unanimously approved on Monday by the Board of Directors of Harris, which has recently improved profits despite a continuing slide in its revenues. More
Researcher and electoral pollster Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) has announced the launch of its first Middle East office. More
Mobile research firm Field Agent has agreed to acquire shopper insights firm CORE4 Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
Ipsos Loyalty has appointed Nick Lygo-Baker as Head of its real-time customer feedback platform ViewsCast in the UK. More
Former ad planner and Essential Research co-founder Luca Antilli has joined London-based online community specialist Verve as a Partner. More
Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) technology specialist QuestBack has opened a new office in Austin, Texas, its second in the US. More
Marketers around the world are growing in confidence, according to Warc's latest Global Marketing Index (GMI). The overall index hit a two year high - climbing three points to 57.8 from 54.8 in October, on a scale where values above 50 indicate a positive trend. More
On-demand online community specialist GutCheck has hired two new members of staff, and is preparing to recruit a further twenty. More
In Chicago, TV research veteran Toni Falvo is to join Tribune Broadcast as Senior Vice President of Research, in charge of all research functions across the broadcaster's 23 television stations. More
WEGO Health, an online network of consumer health opinion leaders, has hired Ross Fetterolf as Senior Vice President of Innovation in charge of its Truvio mobile research platform. More
Millward Brown has appointed Gonzalo Fuentes as Chief Executive Officer of its Latin American business, succeeding Fabian Hernandez who will retire in early 2014. More
The US Census Bureau has been accused of faking data used to calculate the national unemployment rate, during the final month of the 2012 presidential election campaign. In response, the Bureau says it does not believe that there was a 'systematic manipulation' of the data. More
Sampling, data collection and analytics specialist SSI has rolled out its 'QuickThoughts' mobile data collection platform in seven additional countries: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. More
GfK is preparing to deliver Lebanese TV audience data on a daily basis, using TAM technology to measure live and time-shifted TV consumption. More
Industry veteran Jon Harding has left US data collection agency MRops after just seven months, to lead the sales team for Harris Interactive's Custom Solutions. More
In India, healthcare panel specialist Krea has opened a 5,000sq ft focus group facility in Chennai called the Qhub. More
US-based Interpret has rolled out a Hispanic version of its media consumption tracker New Media Measure, and appointed former Federated Sample VP Diego Rodriguez to lead a new Hispanic Media & Entertainment Research Practice. More
Online DIY survey specialist SurveyMonkey has launched Enterprise, an enhanced version of its survey product promising organisations the ability to bring individual users into a centrally managed system. More
Nielsen plans to lay off around 333 workers at the Columbia, Maryland site which formed the headquarters of Arbitron, according to reports. Now renamed Nielsen Audio, the division employs around 1,000 workers across the US, a majority based in the Columbia site. More
Digital marketing agency XM Asia Pacific, a part of WPP, has announced the launch of a Behavioural Sciences practice, building on the expertise in the Consumer Experience Lab it established last year. More
GfK has reported a 4% drop in sales to EUR 361.4m during the third quarter 2013, from EUR 376.7m in Q3 2012, driven by what the firm describes as the 'considerable impact' of negative currency exchange effects. Like-for-like, sales were down by around 1.5%. More
Nielsen has made an unconfirmed number of staff redundant in its Audio division, formed from recently-acquired Arbitron. More
GfK has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four Brazilian television broadcasters: Band TV, Record, RedeTV! and SBT, to bring its audience measurement services to the country. The planned initial contract will have a five-year timespan and a value of more than $100m. More
Harris Interactive has reported 'flat' first quarter fiscal 2014 results, with revenue down 1.9% to $32.4m, from $33m in the prior year period, driven by declines in the US and German operations, offset by results in Canada, France and the UK. More
Prima Research, which develops wireless location-tracking technology, has been granted two US patents for a solution tracking any radio frequency emitting tracking device - such as mobile phones, tablets or computers - across any three dimensional space indoors or out. More
Helsinki-based in-store behaviour analyst Walkbase has raised EUR 3m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to strengthen its sales, marketing and customer insights teams. More
Full service agency Northstar Research Partners has opened a new Insights practice in London, and hired Noah Roychowdhury as Principal, with a remit to broaden the firm's range of market research and brand consultancy services. More
In the US, ThinkNow Research has launched Omnibus Plus+, a monthly Hispanic customer omnibus allowing comparison with results for the population as a whole. More
Nearly a third (30%) of UK MPs would support a ban on the publication of opinion polls in the run-up to general elections, according to a recent survey carried out by ComRes. More
UK-based IT and telecoms industry research specialist The Business Advantage Group has opened an office in San Francisco, where it has appointed Bill Gordon as Vice President of Business Development. More
In the UK, GfK has appointed former TNS mystery shopping leader Oli Bailey as Business Development Director for its own Mystery Shopping division. More
US market research technology firm 20|20 Research has launched a real-time interactive tool called Virtual Intercepts, allowing researchers to gain qualitative feedback from respondents as they participate in online quant surveys. More
Research community and survey technology specialist Vision Critical has partnered with Nectar loyalty card owner Aeroplan to make the latter's community of 90,000 Canada-based members available for use in online surveys. More
GfK has introduced an 'end-to-end' strategic innovation process called the Innovation Roadmap, which it says will guide an organization's product launch journey from strategy to creation, and evaluation to forecasting. More
In the UK, mobile market research technology developer Sumo Insight has launched a real-time research platform created by the firm's co-founders: former Nokia researcher Tina Newport and former EE marketer Colin White. More
Online MR software company Confirmit has promoted Tore Haggren to the role of Senior Vice President, Voice of the Employee (VoE). More
Pharma and CPG giant Johnson & Johnson is moving to a more global approach to market research for some of its major brands. More
Rentrak has reported a 31% second fiscal quarter 2014 revenue rise to $29.5m, with 29% growth in the firm's Advanced Media and Information (AMI) business and the Home Entertainment division for once outperforming it with 35% growth. More
Global research consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has hired five new members of staff at its offices in London, Shanghai and Sydney. More
UK brand research specialist Conquest has launched an avatar-based tool called Implicix, which it claims 'unlocks the truth' about consumers' feelings and 'predicts the authentic drivers of behaviour'. More
Sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom has acquired Italian sports research agency Immagine & Sport for an undisclosed sum. More
Mobile research technology firm OnePoint Global has opened an office in Amsterdam, where it has appointed former Ipsos EFM Head Otto Vroegop as Sales Director, Netherlands. Separately, the firm has hired past Ipsos MORI exec Ben Phillips as Sales Director, UK. More
GfK has launched a customer experience management (CEM) solution called Echo, which captures real-time feedback and integrates it with transaction and other data and with user experience consultancy, to provide a 'holistic' view of customer satisfaction. More
Former Research Now and Verve execs Jo Winning and Kevin Goldberg have set up a full service online research agency called Tribes Research, based in Guildford, Surrey. More
Nielsen is to promote Mitch Barns to the role of Chief Executive Officer from January 1st 2014, replacing David Calhoun who takes on the role of Executive Chairman. More
In the US, IP intelligence and geolocation solutions specialist Digital Element has received Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for the geographic location analysis provided by its NetAcuity platform. More
In the US, technology company Mobile Accord has launched a mobile survey platform called GeoPoll, which will gather real-time data from people in emerging markets. To fund the launch, the firm has raised $6.6m in a Series A financing round. More
UK-based research and consulting firm Populus has reported a 52% increase in revenue to £5.86m for fiscal year 2013. During the period, pre-tax profits rose from c.£360k to just under £550k. More
In Canada, former Toluna exec Gaurav Agarwal has opened a new company called WiseSample, with backing from Microsoft's Bizspark technology and support program. More
Singapore agency Agility Research & Strategy has launched a do-it-yourself online survey platform giving marketers access to more than seventeen million affluent and luxury goods consumers in thirteen markets around the world. More
US-based research tool developer Revelation Global has appointed former GfK Healthcare exec Jeff Sperring as Vice President of Business Operations. More
In the UK, Creston-owned product development specialist Marketing Sciences has appointed former Nokia researcher Richard Snoxell as Research Director in its Technology team, Jenny Guerreri as Research Manager in the Product Testing team, and Nick Rafferty as Senior Data Analyst. More
Manchester-based consumer research agency Join the Dots has moved to a new head office in the city, reporting £1 million of new client business and 20% growth in 2013. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has appointed former Kraft Foods insight leader Karyn Hall as Vice President responsible for its Instant.ly online survey product. More
TNS has appointed Vishy Rajagopal S. as Regional Director, Operations for Asia Pacific. He was VP, Operations for TNS India for five years until 2009, and re-joins from Nielsen where he has served as regional Head of Data Acquisition for the Middle East, Africa & Pakistan, and South Asia. More
Dubai-based research consultancy AMRB has opened an office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in order to provide local support to clients across the region. More
Ipsos has continued the restoration of the Fieldwork International name, dropping the Ipsos Healthcare Field Services brand from its data collection businesses in Hong Kong and Spain. More
Following the recent seventeen-day shutdown of the US government, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is giving the public more time to comment on the 'consent agreement' for Nielsen's acquisition of Arbitron - even though the Commission approved the $1.26 billion deal a month ago. More
European online fieldwork specialist ODC Services is now to be known as Norstat UK, following its acquisition by fieldwork firm the Norstat Group last year. More
In the UK, Ipsos Retail Performance has introduced new facial analysis technology called 'Shopper Profile', promising retailers a better understanding of the demographics and behaviour of their customers. More
In the US, the University of Rochester has committed $50m to the creation of an Institute for Data Science, including the construction of a 'state-of-the-art' building in which to house it. More
Web-based software developer Cvent is investing $7m in a plan to relocate its Fairfax County headquarters to a new location next to the Greensborough Metro Station, where it says it will create 400 new jobs. More
Millward Brown Digital has introduced a suite of behavior-based mobile intelligence solutions, to provide new insights on how people use their mobile devices while shopping. More
WPP has reported third quarter revenue growth of 3.2% in its 'Data Investment Management' (DIM) businesses, to £617m, and growth of 2.6% to £1.8 billion for the first nine months of the year. More
In the US, a group of in-store tracking technology firms have agreed to abide by a 'code of conduct' which will ensure that consumers are given the opportunity to opt out before stores can track their movement via their mobile devices. More
In the UK, brand tracking researcher Nepa has appointed media research veteran David Brennan as a Partner and shareholder, to coincide with the launch of a new product for evaluating early stage television programme concepts. More
Ipsos has announced a 5% drop in third quarter revenues to EUR 418m (Q2 2012: EUR 440m) - the result of a 6.8% negative currency effect. The decline was partly offset by 1.8% organic growth during the period. More
Nielsen has reported a 2.7% increase in third quarter revenue to $1.39 billion, the result of a 2.2% rise in the 'Buy' consumer research arm to $871m, and a 3.4% rise in the 'Watch' media research arm to $516m. More
North American industry body the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) and audience research firm GfK MRI have linked up to enable publishers to include the latter's top-line print and digital readership data in AAM reports, as well as in its cross-media database, the Media Intelligence Center. More
US retail analytics provider Prism Skylabs has secured a $15m Series B round of funding, which it says it will use to drive continued adoption of its products. More
Internet companies including Facebook, Google, and Yahoo! could face fines of up to EUR 100m (£84.8m) if they break consumer data protection rulings agreed by the EU Civil Liberties Committee yesterday. More
Mobile research technology firm OnePoint Global has appointed Rob Huijboom as Chief Commercial Officer, to build and lead the firm's global sales team, and open eight new offices around the globe. More
US-based telecoms industry specialist Pyramid Research has 'doubled' its coverage of telecoms markets in Africa and the Middle East, expanding the number of countries and operators tracked to offer additional insight into market trends across the region. More
Research community specialist Vision Critical has launched a co-creation tool called the IdeaHub, through which clients can tap into the ideas of customers, employees or other stakeholders for innovation and new product development. More
Mobile-focused retail market research provider InfoScout has raised $5m in a Series A round of funding from dunnhumby Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures and Founder Collective. The company has also launched the public beta of its 'freemium' consumer shopping analytics service. More
Pharma researcher InCrowd has enhanced its 'crowd' of US and international healthcare professionals, accessible to clients for market research purposes, with the addition of pharmacists, dentists and veterinarians. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has strengthened its Code of Conduct and issued new Mobile Research Guidelines, emphasizing privacy and data protection rights. More
London-based MR community and panel specialist Verve has launched AllDevice, a suite of JavaScript tools to enhance respondent experience on... all devices - including iPhones and iPads, which don't support Flash. More
UK-based fieldwork agency Field Initiatives has moved from its Barnet, Herts home of twenty-five years to new offices in Central London. More
Millward Brown has officially launched its qualitative practice, Firefly Millward Brown, in Canada. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association has made what it describes as a 'landmark revision' to its Code of Marketing Research Standards, by establishing 42 best practice principles designed to promote an ethical culture. More
In the US, the judge who threw out TRA's patent infringement lawsuit against Kantar has now ordered that decision to be withdrawn from the record. More
In the US, full-service online research specialist Infosurv has launched a new company called Intengo, which uses crowdsourcing techniques to help clients develop new ideas and go-to-market strategies. More
US qual firm iModerate Research Technologies has appointed Umbria co-founder David Howlett as Senior Vice President, Innovation, while former Nielsen exec Chris Smith joins as Vice President of Sales. More
London-based research technology firm Lumi Mobile has been selected as one of the first tech companies to join the government and private sector-backed 'Future Fifty' scheme, set up to support high growth companies in the UK. More
TNS has launched an 'express' version of its flagship ConversionModel brand equity tool, which it says will enable businesses to identify growth opportunities and build brand equity in a matter of hours. More
While UK marketing spend has risen at the strongest rate recorded in nearly thirteen years, market research budgets were down in Q3, according to the latest IPA Bellwether survey. More
Chicago-based full service consumer insights agency C+R Research has appointed client side researcher Terrie Wendricks to head its Shopper Insights division ShopperEyes. More
The UK Government has confirmed the fifteen agencies on its new Strategy & Planning roster, which will provide public sector organisations with a range of marcoms support including campaign strategy development, trend forecasting and target audience identification. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group is to acquire the retail sales tracking and consumer research business of Boulder, Colorado-based sports and recreation researcher Leisure Trends. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has officially rolled out its Cross-Platform Campaign Ratings tool in the UK, offering advertisers and agencies a means to integrate media planning and measurement across television and the Internet. More
Research Now has released a new version of its Mobile platform, featuring its newly developed 'Relevant Movement' geo-location technology and integration of its Mobile Access Panel. More
Brand tracking researcher Nepa UK has relocated its London offices to a larger site in Soho, where Business Development Director Johnny Caldwell has been promoted to the role of UK Managing Director. More
US-based online community provider CrowdGather has raised the final $400k of a $1m Series B round of financing, and will use the proceeds as working capital and to launch a forum-based ad network in early 2014. The firm has also settled pending litigation. More
Data collection firm Focus Pointe Global (FPG) has acquired St Louis-based full service agency Delve from owner Bush O'Donnell Capital Partners, creating what it says is the 'largest focus group facilities company in the US'. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online research and polling firm YouGov has reported an 8% rise in group revenue to £62.6m for the year ended 31 July 2013. UK, US and Middle East companies all saw substantial growth. More
London-based brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners has launched a Global Brand and Marketing team, to help client-facing staff translate big data insights into 'visually interesting' ways to share a client's story. More
Stockholm-based panel exchange operator Cint has made nine appointments to support its global expansion plans. More
Manchester, UK-based marcoms agency Foundry Communications has appointed former McCann strategist Julie Neilson to lead its Research & Planning division. The firm has also opened 'virtual offices' in Dundee and Birmingham, and affiliate offices in Europe, the US and Asia. More
In the US, Hispanic consumer insights agency ThinkNow Research has hired former Q-Insights Director of Operations Lara Fordis to head its Qualitative Research Division. More
In the UK, digital communications analysis specialist KBC Media has launched a social media mystery shopping service called Intelligage. More
In the US, the Nielsen-sponsored Council for Research Excellence says its recent study findings show random error in Nielsen diaries continues to grow, with the great majority of local broadcast and cable ratings falling outside the traditional 10% benchmark error range. More
In the UK, Carole Oag is to retire as Group Managing Director of MR agency Progressive Partnership after thirty years with the company. More
GfK has revealed details of its new measurement system for Commercial Radio Australia, to be known as AudienScope, which it says will introduce quarterly assessments of listeners' response to ads, emotional bonds with stations and motivations for listening. More
In the US, TRA has asked the judge who threw out the patent infringement part of its claim against Kantar to reconsider, claiming that she had granted its earlier request for an oral argument but then issued last week's summary judgment ruling before it had taken place. More
US market research and recruitment firm L&E Research has opened a new office in Charlotte, NC, which it says will help those of its clients who require 'a thorough snapshot of the Southeast market'. More
In the UK, National Readership Survey CEO Mike Ironside has announced his intention to step down from the role in June 2014. More
New York-based social media marketing platform Offerpop has introduced an app through which marketers can launch mobile-ready polling campaigns on Facebook, in order to capture data about their 'fans'. More
DIY survey technology firm SurveyMonkey has agreed to sell off its online data quality arm TrueSample to a group of investors led by Five Peaks Capital Management. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Australia-based custom research firm The Leading Edge (TLE) has appointed Nigel Marsh as Chairman, following the departure of Global CEO Andy Bateman, who is joining telecoms giant Telstra in the newly created position of Director of Segment Marketing. More
In the UK, oil and gas production and power generation company Centrica Energy has appointed former IoD Senior Economic Advisor Corin Taylor as Head of Communications Research. More
The Research Industry Index (RII) - the Marketing Research Association's indicator of business activity in the profession in the US - has reached 100 for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2010, signalling growing optimism across the sector. More
Nigel Sharrocks, previously CEO of Aegis Media Global Brands, has joined UK TV ratings body BARB as Chairman, succeeding Nigel Walmsley who moves on after eleven years in the role. More
US-based market research and market intelligence agency SIS International Research has opened an office in Berlin, Germany, and appointed Christoph Bodden-Brux as its Managing Director. More
WPP firms Kantar Worldpanel and IMRB have formed a partnership to run a joint consumer panel service across India, providing insight on purchasing habits across a broad range of products. More
Customer experience management specialist Nunwood has developed a new system called Fizz: Experience Management, which connects people in all parts of a business to real-time customer insights and alerts. More
India-based MR technology and operations company Annik has transferred founder, President & CEO Rahul Sahgal from its HQ in Gurgaon to New York, as it looks to extend the firm's footprint in North America. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched a panel in Taiwan, for which it aims to recruit 100,000 people in the coming months. More
Mobile research technology firm OnePoint Global has initiated a recruitment drive to fill 45 new positions in its Development and Innovation teams. The firm is also launching the OnePoint Global Innovation Centre (OPIC). More
US-based research technology firm Federated Sample has adapted its 'Fulcrum' sample management and exchange platform to work on almost any mobile device, matching respondents with the most appropriate surveys for their device type. More
UK consultancy FreshMinds Research has merged with its sister social and digital agency FreshNetworks. The new innovation consultancy formed will be known simply as FreshMinds and will offer a combination of research, predictive data analytics and digital strategy services. More
Trainee movie producer Peter Dickinson has launched a new crowdsourcing tool called WeGreenlight, which will enable consumers to vote on the movies and entertainment they want to see produced. More
DIY mobile survey platform SlimSurveys has introduced a new 'widget' which can be added to web sites and used to run real-time customer surveys. More
A US judge has thrown out the patent infringement part of TRA's claim against WPP firms including Kantar, over the companies' abortive merger talks and the subsequent launch of competing product RapidView. However, TRA's claims over breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty continue. More
Kantar Media is launching Audience Advisor, which will use Return Path Data (RPD) from more than 1 million multichannel television subscribers to give second-by-second data on audiences, projectable to a national footprint of nearly 100 million households. More
Canada's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has dismissed a complaint against Ottawa-based Nanos Research by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), concerning a poll used to promote legislation opposed by unions, in 2011. More
Netherlands-based customer feedback specialist Mopinion has launched a new solution to help companies collect, analyse and act on direct feedback from customers as they move through their web sites. More
Canadian market research software development firm Q-FI Solutions has launched a new DIY software tool called VID-OE, which enables users to integrate video recordings into web surveys, web sites and online communities. More
US-based Qualtrics, which provides software for DIY data collection and analysis, has moved into the employee insights market with the launch of a new tool it calls Qualtrics 360. More
San Francisco-based retail intelligence specialist Quri has raised $10m in a Series B round of funding, which it plans to use to meet growing demand for its in-store analytics. More
Following the Nielsen acquisition, a number of Arbitron's execs are said to be leaving the company, including CFO Debra Delman. It is also rumoured that Arbitron CEO Sean Creamer will be leaving at the end of the year. More
US-based Qualtrics, which provides software for DIY data collection and analysis, has expanded to Europe with the opening of an office in Dublin, Ireland. The firm has also confirmed plans to create 150 new jobs in the EMEA region within the next 36 months. More
Research Now has launched its first 'condition-based' panel, to provide access to 336,000 people in the US and Canada who have been diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity. More
Nielsen has announced that Vice Chair Susan D. Whiting has decided to retire at the end of 2013, after thirty-five years with the company. More
Millward Brown has appointed two Regional Managing Directors in Europe: Benoît Tranzer takes responsibility for France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands; and Jean-Michel Janoueix for Central / Eastern Europe and the Nordics. More
UK-based research consultancy Incite has announced a number of appointments in its recently opened New York and Singapore offices. More
Nielsen has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Arbitron, which was finally cleared by the FTC a week ago. Arbitron becomes Nielsen Audio and will be integrated into Nielsen's US Watch business segment. More
Panel and data collection pioneer Research Now is given clients the option of targeting members of its US research panel based on their online behavior, rather than / in addition to their answers to survey questions. More
In the UK, MR training and consultancy organisation Insight Management Academy has launched the 'Agency Group', an initiative offering members workshops, assessments and the chance to 'work closely with major clients'. More
London-based research community and panel firm Verve has expanded its qual team with three specialist senior hires - Richie Jones, Tim Martin and Lisa Chautard, bolstering both its digital and face to face skills base. More
Mansoor Khan has been promoted to the new role of Director of MENA and South Asia, Kantar Media Audiences, as the company looks to build on existing operations in the UAE, Egypt and Turkey. More
Data intelligence and technology company Potentiate Australia has opened an office in Malaysia, and appointed Nielsen veteran Barry Ooi as its Managing Director. More
Deerfield, Illinois-based print and online media company Stagnito Media has acquired Carbonview Research, which provides custom primary market research and analysis for CPG manufacturers, retailers and agencies. More
DVR and TV viewing data pioneer TiVo Research and Analytics, Inc. (TRA) has extended its two-year relationship with dunnhumbyUSA, signing an exclusive partnership agreement further integrating the firms' grocery purchasing and television audience data. More
US-based full-service agency Target Research Group, Inc. has released details of its recent buyout by its own employees, led by new CEO Greg Spagna. More
Stockholm-based presentation software specialist Dapresy has opened two US offices, in Boston and San Francisco. More
Research community and survey technology specialist Vision Critical has launched a new product, Mobile Discussion Forums, offering integrated mobile qual and quant research options in one tool. More
MR industry marketing and sales consultancy Harpeth has launched the M|R Marketing Workshop, an online educational program for agency owners, senior execs and independent research consultants. More
GfK has announced a strategic investment in Genius Digital, giving its clients access to the firm's technology for collecting and acting upon customer data from IP-enabled video devices. More
Online MR software pioneer Confirmit has moved its EMEA headquarters to the landmark Blue Fin building on London's South Bank, where it will combine staff from its existing City of London and Guildford offices. More
Multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak has been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a method it says statistically adjusts big data from set-top boxes and other transaction data, removing bias. More
In India, the MRUC (Media Research Users Council) has elected Ravi Rao, Leader South Asia for Mindshare, as its new Chairman, for the year 2013-14 - he was previously Vice Chairman, and takes over from Ravindra Kumar of The Statesman. More
Retail analytics giant dunnhumby has launched a seed-stage investment fund, dunnhumby Ventures, focusing on innovations in retail technology. The fund will support those 'embracing data for innovations along the consumer's path to purchase'. More
TNS BMRB, the division of Kantar providing specialist social research and insight on public policy for government and not-for-profit clients, has expanded its qualitative practice with a number of recent senior level appointments, following a year of growth. More
US-based in-store analytics firm ShopperTrak Corporation has appointed Bill McCarthy, previously CTO at the company's Chicago headquarters, as CEO of its EMEA operations. Current EMEA head Todd Starcevich returns to Chicago for the newly created role of head of the global mall division. More
Panel exchange operator Cint and research software specialist Nebu have announced a partnership, integrating Cint's Link system with Nebu's offering to give the latter's clients automatic access to the former's 10 million double opt-in OpinionHUB respondents, in 57 countries. More
Decrypt, the UK-based wing of US research technology firm Decipher, has announced an agreement with German MR IT solutions provider datab, to distribute the Beacon survey and reporting platform in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More
UK-based agency Vision One has launched AdProbe, which measures the performance of advertising (including TV and radio) against seven emotional triggers, linking them via an 'E-index' score to purchase intentions and overall ad effectiveness. More
AIP Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, has added Australia to its twice monthly Asia Omnibus Online product, which currently runs across 12 Asian countries. More
The FTC has announced it has reached an agreement with Nielsen, allowing the latter's acquisition of Arbitron to go through, with a condition safeguarding Arbitron's September 2012 cross-platform project with comScore and broadcaster ESPN. More
Iberian and Latin American online panel specialist Netquest has opened a subsidiary in New York, and appointed Cristián Enríquez to lead business development for it. More
Leading edge UK-based agency BrainJuicer has announced Interim Results for the six months ended 30th June, with revenue up 4% to £10.8m, and operating profit up 81% to £1.3m. More
Speculation in the papers suggests that Nielsen's $1.3bn merger with Arbitron could finally get approval today from the FTC, perhaps with an agreement to license technology to comScore. However, at time of going to press, nothing further has been announced. More
Google is looking at a system which would replace 'cookies' with a system of anonymous identifiers for individual consumers, according to an official of the company. More
Ipsos Healthcare has launched a range of 'syndicated patient journey studies', giving a holistic view of the end-to-end patient experience including the whole buying process. The first to launch is 'OncoJourney'. More
Sampling and data collection firm SSI has rolled out its QuickThoughts mobile app in France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and the UK, and says 'at least ten' more countries will follow before the end of the year. More
Online panel community and survey technology provider Toluna has launched a DIY sampling platform called SampleXpress, which it says enables clients to select their own survey respondents, assess price, and launch and manage projects from their office or their home. More
London-based research software firm E-Tabs has launched a new ad hoc charting tool called Graphique, which it says enables instant visualization of research data, with full editable outputs available in PowerPoint. More
WPP-owned Xaxis - which links the group's ad buying technologies with a proprietary database containing 'the world's largest pool of audience profiles' - has appointed former Microsoft leader Christian Wilkens as Managing Director for Germany. More
UK MR agencies Engage Research and Bonamy Finch have partnered to introduce a proprietary approach called 'EvolveScope', through which brands can evaluate new ideas, claims or packs prior to launch. More
In the US, Civicom Marketing Research has launched a new tool called ShopTalk, to enable mystery shoppers to collect user-generated content through their mobile devices. More
Global MR industry turnover grew by 3.2% to $39.1 billion in 2012, according to ESOMAR's latest Global Market Research Report. During the year, strong performance was seen in Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America, countering 'sluggish' performances elsewhere. More
Insight and marketing group Cello has reported a 14.3% revenue rise to £71.5m for the six months to 30th June 2013, up from £62.6m in the prior year period. Gross profit increased 7.9% to £34.4m. More
UK broadcaster ITV has appointed former Google UK and Ireland Strategic Marketing Director Sarah Speake as Director of Commercial Marketing and Research. She will replace Paul Gilshan who left earlier in the year to join Freesat. More
Customer experience management consultancy Nunwood has appointed twelve new members of staff at its London and Sydney offices, on the back of several new business wins from clients including British Airways and the Post Office in the UK and Suncorp Bank & Insurance in Australia. More
IMS Health has partnered with the Life Sciences division of BroadReach Healthcare, to offer advisory services, commercial solutions and market measurement for life sciences clients operating in Africa. More
David Jones, a former Head of Communications at First Direct, has launched a new UK-based market research agency called Habit5, which will focus on providing mutual understanding between brands and their customers. More
Former Nielsen colleagues Jeff Stewart and Christophe Cazes have launched a new firm called Asia Market Development (AMD), offering alternative approaches to the larger global firms which they say offer 'inflexible solutions' not designed for the Asian market. More
Australian firm QSR International has combined its flagship qual research software NVivo with SurveyMonkey's DIY research tool, which it says will make it easier for individuals to collect, organize, understand and report on open-ended survey responses. More
Publishing giant Gannett has appointed media veteran Judy Vogel as Vice President of Research, responsible for leading corporate research and addressing ad sales, digital, editorial and brand strategy. More
Ipsos has appointed Evan Borak as Senior Vice President of its media, content and technology division Ipsos MediaCT in the US, and Head of its Audience Measurement Group (AMG). More
Ipsos MORI Scotland has been commissioned by television channel STV to provide its News unit with a series of six opinion polls charting the views of Scottish voters in the run up to the independence referendum in a year's time. More
Panel firm Research Now has appointed Elizabeth May as Vice President of Client Development in its Sydney office, where she will be responsible for leading client development teams across both Australia and New Zealand. More
US sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix has acquired SurveyMonkey's ZoomPanel community, and will combine it with its own online panel sample in the US, UK, France, Canada and Australia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Germany, qual specialist The Psyma Group has set up a new 'Energy & Infrastructure' research division, led by former GfK leader Marion Krämer-Bongartz. More
Marcoms group STW has acquired a majority stake in Colmar Brunton Australia, the country's largest independently owned market research agency. The amount of the investment was not disclosed. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has created two new senior roles in Europe: Eric Nalpas becomes overall Managing Director, and James Sallows Managing Director of its online data collection arm Schlesinger Interactive. More
Bob Carrigan, the former CEO of media, events and research group IDG Communications Worldwide, has been appointed President and CEO of business information provider D&B (Dun and Bradstreet) from October 7, replacing Sara Mathew who is soon to retire. More
DIY online survey firm SurveyMonkey is introducing features that will enable US healthcare providers who use its software to collect sensitive patient feedback to comply with the HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act). More
In the UK, WPP-owned Kantar Media has promoted Sarah Sanderson to the position of Managing Director of its Custom research unit. She replaces Liz McMahon, who is transferring to sister agency TNS UK as Managing Director, Consumer. More
London-based online research software and services provider Dub has added a number of new languages to its web and mobile platforms including Mandarin, Turkish, Polish, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Urdu and Hindi. More
India-based MR technology and operations company Annik has launched a solution called 'Rapid Insights' to enable retailers to gather and respond to in-store customer feedback in real-time. More
Nielsen is said to be in negotiations with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding its acquisition of ratings giant Arbitron, with talks centering around a concession involving the combined company licensing measurement technology to rival comScore and other parties. More
In the US, research technology firms Decipher and Federated Sample have combined their Beacon and Fulcrum market research platforms, in order to launch a solution which 'addresses the entire research process'. More
US-based InCrowd, which provides real-time market intelligence to the pharmaceutical industry, has launched a DIY product called InCrowd Answers. More
Canadian polling firm Leger has acquired healthcare and consumer insights specialist IFOP North America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Australia, audience measurement firm Roy Morgan Research has hit out at industry body The Newspaper Works' plans to offer its new emma newspaper and magazine readership survey free for the next 12 months, describing the move as 'predatory pricing'. More
Brand tracking researcher Nepa has built a consumer panel for the London Evening Standard, allowing Londoners to air their views on events and issues affecting their lives in the capital. More
Ana Garcia has returned to London-based research panel and online community specialist Verve as Associate Director of Team, with a remit to bring staff recruitment in-house. The firm has also hired five new employees. More
US-based data collection agency MRops has hired former TNS exec Wander Meijer for the newly created role of Global Chief Operating Officer, based in the firm's Hong Kong office. More
In New York, customer and employee satisfaction specialist ORC International has hired Jeff Cox as Senior Vice President of US Business Development, and Richard Catrone as Executive Vice President of Global Operations. More
In the US, ad optimization specialist BoostCTR has raised $8m in Series B funding. The funds will help to extend the firm's proprietary Boost Method, which uses crowdsourcing and split-testing to help businesses find the most effective words and images for their targeted ads. More
TNS has been retained for The European Commission's $85m framework contract to deliver the Standard Eurobarometer studies for the next four years, seeing off competition from Ipsos, Gallup and GfK. More
The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has proposed two money-saving options to replace the ten-year paper-based UK Census - either moving it online, or using existing administrative data combined with a 'rolling' annual survey conducted among 4% of the population. More
UK trend forecasting business WGSN has acquired Latin American firm Mindset Communicaco e Marketing, which specialises in studying current and forecasting future consumer behavior. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Anna Noonan, formerly Qualitative Field Manager at ICM Direct, has launched her own face-to-face field agency called Strawberry Field, named after the London suburb where she lives. More
In the US, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and the Society for Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) are working together to create an industry standard for tracking advertising and content across TV, broadband and mobile video. More
In the US, sample and data collection company SurveyHealthCare has opened a new office in Pocatello, Idaho, adding to its existing presence in New York. More
In the US, mobile and web-based healthcare data/analytics and physician community platform Quantia has raised $10m in a Series B round of financing. More
UK youth marketing specialist The Beans Group has spun off its market research arm into a separate agency called Voxburner. More
In Africa, Kantar has teamed up with fellow WPP agency TNS RMS to form a joint consumer panel, for use in shopper and product research studies. More
Former Hall & Partners New York Managing Partner Mark Stapylton has launched his own firm, BrandPanorama Research & Consulting. More
In London, ad and brand research specialist Hall & Partners has transferred its European CEO Paul Edwards to the position of Chief Strategic Officer. More
Nielsen has once agreed to extend the period for regulatory review of the Arbitron transaction, into September - but continues to stress that it is 'confident in the ultimate outcome'. More
Nielsen has struck a last-minute deal with the Audited Media Association of Australia to ensure publishers and advertisers do not face a month without audited circulation statistics, according to reports. More
A pioneering outdoor audience measurement system has kicked off in Lagos State in Nigeria, billed as the first survey in West Africa to line up outdoor with radio, TV and press ratings. More
New York-based speech and text analytics specialist Verint - which owns survey management software firm Vovici - has introduced an employee survey and engagement solution, 'Voice of the Employee' (VoE). More
In New York, Spanish-language broadcast network Telemundo Media has promoted Yatisha Bothwell to VP, Insights and Strategy, and appointed Latha Sarathy as Vice President of its Media Digital Research division. More
Marcoms giant WPP has reported a 2.1% increase in second quarter revenue in its 'Data Investment Management' (DIM) arm, previously known as the Consumer Insight division. The total figure of £651m reflects growth in all regions except the UK and Western Europe. More
Retail analytics firm Ugam Solutions has opened a new office in Bangalore, from where it will continue its investments in project management, big data and other analytics technologies. More
Marcoms group Chime has reported a 'strong' half year for its CIE (Insight & Engagement) arm, with operating profit up 33% to £1.2m, compared with £0.7m in the first six months of 2012. Reported revenue of £5.35m for the division is almost unchanged from H1 2012. More
Millward Brown has launched a mobile tracker, through which to deliver insights to marketers in the Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific (AMAP) region, as part of what the firm describes as an 'aggressive regional mobile research strategy'. More
In Australia, MR and public opinion polling firm Roy Morgan Research has appointed industry specialist Tim Martin for the newly created role of Digital Director, Client Services. More
WPP's research and insight arm Kantar has acquired US research and consulting firm the Benenson Strategy Group (BSG). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Harris Interactive has reported a 5% drop in revenue for the year ended June 30th, to $140.3m; but adjusted EBITDA growth of 25% to $15.3m, leading CEO Al Angrisani to describe fiscal 2013 as a 'pivotal year' in the firm's turnaround process. More
Netherlands-based agency SKIM has expanded to Latin America with the opening of new offices in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and San José, Costa Rica. More
Revenue at Sydney-based research and marcoms group Enero plunged in the last financial year, with the total figure dropping from $AUD 225.2m to $AUD 127.3m. Revenue from continuing operations was down from $AUD 174m last year; and the group's reported loss was $AUD 83m. More
Nielsen is to acquire the Business Intelligence and Commerce Solutions products of bibliographic information specialist R.R. Bowker, aiming to measure the impact of eBook sales in the US and UK, and analyse by demographics. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research has appointed All Global's former European Director of Operations Kerry Haynes as a senior member of its team. More
Los Angeles-based tech start-up Bedloo has launched out of beta with an online voting platform, through which users can create their own polls to get instant feedback on things like clothes or songs, or cast their vote on images uploaded by other users. More
UK prisoners at HMP Oakwood near Wolverhampton and Drake Hall in Staffordshire are being paid to work in call centres inside their prisons. The Centre for Crime Prevention has described the move as 'incredibly naïve'. More
Social media intelligence platform Swipp has launched a new DIY tool called Swipp Surveys, which enables users to run surveys via the web, Facebook, Twitter, text message and e-mail; see results over time; and watch how geography affects how people think and feel. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has acquired iTVX, a product placement analysis firm, for an undisclosed sum. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has promoted Thomas Finkle to the position of Chief Executive Officer, replacing former Chairman and CEO Bahram Nour-Omid who will remain Executive Chairman and continue to be involved in a strategic role. More
Kantar's US call center business Center Partners has appointed Jim Dunn as Chief Executive Officer, and Tom Maddux as President, while Chris Kneeland remains in post as Chief Operating Officer. The team takes over from Bob Meyers, who has been interim CEO since April. More
Arbitron has announced MRC accreditation for its PPM ratings in another eight markets, along with continued accreditation in eighteen markets previously approved. More
Ipsos - via its Hong Kong office - has launched a platform integrating data from different stages of the staff recruitment process, branded as the Candidate Experience Optimizer (CEO). More
emma, Australia's new industry-backed newspaper and magazine readership survey, has published its first figures, which show substantially larger audiences - for most publications - than the metrics produced by Roy Morgan. More
According to reports, India's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has shortlisted five bidders for the technology section of its soon-to-be-launched television ratings system. TAM Media Research is not said to be amongst them, although both its backers, Nielsen and Kantar, are. More
Research veteran Bill Weylock - the long-time QRCA President said to have conducted the first online focus group in 1994 - has died after a battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. More
The City of London Corporation, which provides local authority services to the business district around St Paul's, has ordered marketing agency Renew to stop collecting data using devices in recycling bins in the Square Mile streets. More
Apple has introduced a new set of rules to ensure that developers no longer use behavioral ad targeting techniques aimed at those aged under 13. Developers must also ensure that children's apps include a privacy policy and a system for seeking parental permission for in-app purchases. More
Australian market and opinion researcher Roy Morgan has added a suite of research products to its Single Source survey, which it claims will change the way media, ad agencies and marketers view and analyse media performance and potential. More
San Francisco-based mobile ad targeting and analytics firm Apsalar has raised $9m in a Series B round of financing, which it will use to increase head count across all departments, expand its technology, and enhance its marketing and sales programs. More
Location analytics specialist Placed has introduced a solution to measure the impact of mobile advertising on in-store visits. More
In the UK, insight and innovation consultancy The Futures Company has promoted Deputy MD Henry Tucker to the role of EMEA Managing Director, replacing Sarah King who is transferring to a new position at Kantar. More
Australian industry body The Readership Works has announced that its new 'emma' newspaper and magazine readership survey will roll out monthly from November. More
GfK has announced organic revenue growth of 1.7% in the first half of 2013, with sales totalling EUR 728.6m, and a 'particularly profitable' Q2, with adjusted operating income up 15.7 percent. More
WPP is to accelerate its move towards digital sources and fast-growth markets, raising longstanding targets for the proportion of business from each, according to a LinkedIn post by CEO Sir Martin Sorrell. He also appears to be phasing out the words 'research' and 'insight' in favour of a catchy new expression... More
Nielsen is 'running into rising regulatory static' over its proposed $1.26bn acquisition of radio ratings giant Arbitron, according to reports in the New York Post. Arbitron also has a potential headache as a critical media owner takes his argument with its methods to the US authorities. More
Surrey, UK-based agency Impact Research has appointed Sarah Birkett, formerly a Research Director at Ipsos MORI, to help lead its Project Delivery Team. More
UK-based consumer insight and database marketing company Transactis is upgrading its data centre and moving its Liverpool office to a new location. More
Ipsos Healthcare has announced the global launch of a new research framework, EquityVision, which builds on its BrandVision product to 'link the major sources of commercial equity in the multi-channel healthcare marketing environment.' More
DIY online research platform ZappiStore is expanding to France and Germany, just four months after launching. More
Strategic qual consultancy The Sound Research has appointed Kelli Johnson, formerly VP, Strategy Director at Leo Burnett, as Vice President and Head of its Chicago Operations. More
WPP is increasing its stake in Kenya-based marketing services firm Scangroup Limited, JV partner of its subsidiary Millward Brown, and will now hold a majority (50.1 percent of shares). More
WPP-owned brand and media specialist Millward Brown has bought a 'majority stake' in Brazilian consultancy BrandAnalytics. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Harris Interactive has launched QuickQuery instant (QQi), which combines expert survey design guidance with the DIY tools of Google Consumer Surveys. More
Japanese research giant INTAGE Inc. has signed a strategic alliance agreement with New Delhi-based R.S. Market Research Solutions, through its subsidiary INTAGE India. More
Cincinnati-based custom researcher StrataMark Dynamic Solutions has hired Dr. Michael Cook, former Head of Consumer Understanding at flavours and fragrances giant Givaudan, as SVP, Consulting & Insights. More
The world's 25 largest research firms reported a 'better than expected' 2012, thanks in large part to syndicated services and global acquisitions, according to industry authority Jack Honomichl. More
Radio research giant Arbitron is suing broadcaster LM Communications for alleged unauthorized use of its ratings in the Charleston, SC market. The firm has also fallen out with radio station owner Jeff Jacobs after he posted a picture of Arbitron's diary instruction page on his Facebook page. More
In the UK, mobile research firm CrowdLab has updated its platform with the addition of several new functions, while introducing a 'white label' version to enable agencies to build their own branded apps. In addition, the solution is now available in 'any language'. More
DIY mobile survey platform SlimSurveys has introduced an API, through which developers can integrate micro-surveys and polls into third-party web and mobile applications. More
US-based Passenger has partnered with text analytics software developer MeshLabs to enable conversation and sentiment analysis of its online communities. More
Patient insights and healthcare analytics specialist the National Research Corporation (NRC) has reported an 8% increase in second quarter revenue to $22.4m. More
Research software company Survey Analytics has appointed Prashant Hari as 'Oceania Representative', to lead the roll-out of its tools and services across New Zealand and Australia. More
London-based full service agency IFF Research has launched a Health & Wellbeing (H&W) division, to provide a range of services from patient satisfaction tracking surveys and health and lifestyle studies, to more niche studies involving hard-to-reach audiences. More
London-based research firm YouthSight has spun off its co-creation tool Bright Young Minds into a separate business, to help brands and creative agencies collaborate with the 'top 25%' of skilled young people via its OpinionPanel Community. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has extended its International Box Office Essentials service to China, where it will report daily theatre-level information for what it describes as the world's fastest-growing movie market. More
UK-based DJS Research is launching an online research community for education professionals in all parts of the sector, backed by the Prince's Teaching Institute and managed on a day-to-day basis by Elliot Simmonds. More
Social media intelligence platform Swipp is launching an app offering Facebook users the ability to gather 'rich, meaningful data around any topic'. More
US data collection agency MRops has acquired Hong Kong-based Radar Global, which specializes in executive and high-end B2B and customer satisfaction research in the Asia Pacific and Middle East markets and beyond. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has reported second quarter net income of $7.1m, compared with $10m in the prior year period, after incurring $6.1m of costs and expenses related to its pending acquisition by Nielsen. More
In India, WPP-owned IMRB has expanded its household consumer panel to reflect changes taking place across the country. More
TLE has restructured its Sydney office, with the promotion of Lee Naylor to Managing Director, as Tim Riches moves to a new role in the design sector. The firm has also expanded Chrissy Blackburn's position to include leadership of the Qual team. More
The private-equity backers of e-Rewards - owner of Research Now and Peanut Labs - are said to be in discussions to find a buyer, according to sources quoted on Bloomberg, with a price tag of 'at least $600m' according to one contact. More
In Manila, Philippines, the country's Supreme Court has ruled that research firms Social Weather Station and Pulse Asia are entitled to withhold the identities of their clients, at least for the present, despite a contrary order from the Commission on Elections (Comelec). More
UK-based online database FieldShare, which details market research interviewers and recruiters, has been 'spring-cleaned' to refresh and revalidate its listings for a new era of research. More
In the UK, retail data specialist dunnhumby is planning to relocate 1,000 staff from its two Ealing offices to a newly refurbished, 115,000 sq ft building in Hammersmith, in 2016. More
Caleb Elston, one of the men behind a mobile chat app called Yobongo, has set up a new company in California called Delighted, with the aim of helping businesses connect with their customers. More
US-based Survey Analytics is rolling out its research software tools across New Zealand and Australia. More
Family-run research business Survey Marketing Services (SMS), based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, is being handed over to the next generation, as its two founders Joy Maxwell and Judith Scrivener retire. More
London-based full service agency Basis Research has reported a 26% increase in revenues to £6.1m for the financial year ending 31 March 2013, reflecting a sustained period of organic growth. More
UK researchers are feeling more positive, possibly because of an increase in their budgets and revenues, suggests RSM in its latest Research Professionals' survey. More
In London, marcoms group Chime Communications has launched a dedicated qualitative recruitment agency called Cherry Picked, which will offer bespoke respondent recruitment services to businesses in the UK and internationally. More
In the US, online business document firm Zoho has launched a DIY survey tool for business users, called Zoho Survey. More
In the UK, full service agency Tpoll has launched a tool to help councils produce resident engagement surveys. More
In the UK, NatCen Social Research has promoted Kirby Swales to head up its Income and Work team, leading sixteen methodological researchers who specialise in employment, skills and income studies. More
Insurance industry Veteran Wendy Aarons-Corman has launched a new company called UX Game Changers, which offers a range of evaluation techniques to help clients deliver ideal user experiences across both web and mobile devices. More
Insight and comms group Creston is expecting revenue for the three months to 30 June 2013 (Q1) to be 'slightly lower' than for the same period in 2012 - down 5% in like-for-like terms. However, the firm's Insight division expects to report an increase in revenue during the period. More
Chicago-based full service agency Peryam & Kroll Research (P&K) has promoted Richard Popper to the position of Chief Executive Officer, replacing Beverley Kroll, who will continue in the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors. Eric Maddux meanwhile becomes President. More
In India, advertisers, agencies and broadcasters have settled a dispute over TV ratings measurement supplied by TAM Media Research. Tam will now issue data in the 'television viewership in thousands' (TVT) format, rather than focusing on percentage of audience share. More
US-based boutique qual/quant agency Chatter has appointed former Siegel+Gale Research Insights practice leader Lisa Bertelsen as a Partner, charged with building the firm's Usability and Customer Experience practice. More
US-based market research and market intelligence agency SIS International Research has opened an office in Los Angeles, and appointed Michael Stanat Managing Director for the West Coast region. More
Following a 2.7% fall in first quarter revenue, Ipsos has reported a 0.4% rise in its second quarter figures. However, negative currency effects meant that total first half 2013 revenues fell by 4% to EUR 803.7m. More
UK-based business-to-business agency B2B International has reported its 'best ever' half year, with revenue up 70% to £3.1m during the period. More
UK-based consumer agency Firefish has opened an office in New York, headed by former The Leading Edge (TLE) partner Liam Daley. More
Japanese IT solutions and consulting services provider Nomura Research Institute (NRI) has bought a 25% stake in Indian research company Market Xcel Data Matrix (MX), in order to strengthen its own research and consulting services offer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Employee communications tech firm Softomate has launched a new tool using its existing DeskAlerts platform to allow users to build employee surveys and distribute them instantly. More
Ipsos has promoted ad research veteran Gordon Bingham to the role of President at Ipsos ASI in Canada. More
London and New York-based Qriously, which provides a location-based public opinion survey app, has launched a new service called 'Opinion Targeting', offering to match mobile ads to consumers' preferences and sentiments. More
Online panel and survey technology company Netquest has promoted Joan Miró to the newly created role of Managing Director and Iberia Country Manager, to lead the company in Spain and Portugal. More
Israel-based start-up Beyond Verbal, which offers software which can gauge human emotions by listening to the tone of a voice, has raised a further $1m in a second seed round of funding, and says it will use it for R&D and to market its services. More
Arbitron has settled with an investor who sued over its proposed $1.26bn buyout by Nielsen, admitting no wrongdoing but agreeing to remove some of what the investor had claimed were obstacles to other bidders and a higher price - and to make further disclosures about the process. More
Online panel provider Borderless Access has introduced a proprietary health & wellness panel, adding to an existing range of niche audience and business market research panels. The new offering covers five countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico. More
The New Hampshire Attorney General's office has launched an appeal in an attempt to salvage what MRA Director of Government Affairs Howard Fienberg calls 'a misguided law [which] purports to combat deceptive campaign advocacy techniques, but actually just targets bona fide research.' More
Ipsos Healthcare has extended its syndicated Cardiovascular Therapy Monitor Portfolio with the addition of a Monitor covering Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF). More
New Zealand-based full service quant and qual agency Cinta Research is looking for a buyer, as founder and MD Fiona Hudson looks to focus her attention on her daughter's career as New Zealand's top alpine skier. More
Melbourne, Australia-based software firm Research Reporter has released a customized version of its insight management platform focused on the MR needs of media companies - including broadcast and cable networks, film and video distributors. More
Financial services sector data and market intelligence specialist Ipreo has acquired its competitor Discovery Data, which provides information about firms and professionals across the industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based market research technology firm Federated Sample has appointed former Lieberman Research Worldwide (LRW) CTO Brett Schnittlich as Chief Technology Officer and EVP, responsible for leading the Product & Technology team. More
Gallup has agreed to pay $10.5m to settle charges that it overbilled the US Mint and State Department by overstating billable hours. Former Gallup exec turned whistle-blower Michael Lindley is to receive $1.9m for his part in the case. More
GfK is transferring Florian Kahlert to the position of Managing Director of its US media and consumer insight arm GfK MRI, replacing former CEO Kathi Love who left in February to pursue her interest in psychology and sociology. More
UK company Shopper Retail Insight (SRI) has developed a new service based on football player performance analytics, in order to deliver an improved understanding of in-store shopper behaviour. More
Ipsos has filed a lawsuit in London's High Court against Aegis, claiming that the marcoms giant failed to disclose tax and fraud probes at Synovate, before it sold the company for £525m ($792m). As a result, Ipsos is seeking up to £65.8m ($100m) in compensation from Aegis. More
Media and publishing industry analyst Simba Information has merged its Education Group with US school market intelligence firm Education Market Research (EMR). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak is claiming a movie industry first, with the launch of a service called 'PreAct' measuring interest in forthcoming films and marketing impact up to a year before release. More
UK-based insight and marketing group Cello has reported 'robust trading' for the first six months to 30 June 2013, and says its Consumer arm returned to revenue growth in the period while its Health division continued its expansion. More
Kadence International has reported a 35% year-on-year increase in net revenues to $27m for the year ending 30th June 2013. Business in Indonesia, the US and Singapore was particularly brisk. More
Chris Eynon has retired as Head of TNS BMRB Scotland after an MR career spanning more than thirty years. He has been replaced by Katherine McIsaac in the firm's Edinburgh office. More
Advertising giant Publicis has made a $15m investment in technology start-up Jana Mobile, which rewards consumers with mobile airtime in return for taking market research surveys and trying out new products. More
Foviance co-founder Paul Blunden has set up a firm called Usability247, to provide 24-7 multi-platform user experience research and usability testing services to clients around the world. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has closed $15m in a Series D round of funding, with development of its instant.ly survey product one of the priorities for investment. More
Cape Town-based MR and strategy company Dashboard Market Intelligence has announced a partnership with advertising and media expert Dave Kelly to launch Pinpoint, which promises accurate and up-to-date tracking of media consumption for the African continent. More
Former Toluna exec William Yattah has launched France's first specialist MR recruitment consultancy, Market Research People. More
Research portal provider Northern Light has launched an application called Primary Research Manager, embedded within its SinglePoint Strategic Research Portal, helping research managers to set up, track and control primary research projects. More
Life sciences MR consultancy KJT Group has hired Finnish pharma researcher Nicola Guerra as Director of European Practice, based in its Amsterdam office. More
US Latino panel SusOpiniones has launched SusPing, a qualitative research app that takes brands 'directly into Latino lives' through their iPhones and Android smartphones. More
Connecticut, US-based Civicom Marketing Research Services has added Arabic language options to its online discussion tools. More
Toluna has launched an app, TolunaMobile Diary, which gathers feedback on consumer activities in real-time. More
Marketing budgets in many British firms were revised upwards in the second quarter of 2013, giving the most optimistic picture in six years according to one measure in the latest IPA Bellwether survey, published today. Market research budgets however appear little changed. More
In the US, business intelligence technology firm Geoscape has opened a new division to provide multicultural market research, integrated with its existing data resources and analytics expertise. More
Online specialist BrainJuicer is predicting a 4% increase in half year sales (vs H1 2012) and gross profit up approximately 6%, after what the firm describes as a 'difficult end' to 2012. More
In Shanghai, TNS has appointed former Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) exec Dr Michael Griffiths as Qualitative Research Director and Global Expert in Ethnography and Culture. More
US company SoGoSurvey has launched an enterprise version of its DIY survey software, to enable organizations to create, launch and analyze their own online or mobile surveys. More
US full service agency CMI has hired industry veteran Beth Rounds for its newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, responsible for sales, marketing, client services, operations and product development, as well as corporate strategy formulation and execution. More
Australian industry body The Readership Works is to work with Nielsen to merge the latter's Online Ratings data with its forthcoming cross platform audience insights survey 'emma'. More
Newcastle, UK-based full service firm Explain Research has reported an 8% growth in sales revenue, to £1.04m, for the financial year ending March 31st 2013. More
Digital print and imaging specialist EFI has introduced a system called SmartSign Analytics (SSA), to enable retailers to measure which point-of-sale print ads have performed best at reaching a targeted demographic in a specific location. More
India's fair trade regulator the CCI has asked the country's broadcasters, media buying and ad agencies to send feedback in the next two weeks on their views of audience measurement agency TAM Media Research, as it investigates claims of unfair practices. More
Tokyo-based panel operator AIP Corporation has opened an office in Jakarta, Indonesia, and made an unspecified investment in local MR firm Pixel Research to enhance its market knowledge and services in the country. More
Canadian consumer response service IntelliResponse has launched a new service called VOICES, which it says will capture 'voice-of-the-customer' (VoC) data from client interactions across web, mobile and social media channels and convert this data into customer insights. More
Pharma specialist dtw Marketing Research is relocating its headquarters to Amelia Island, Florida, and in the process creating 40 new jobs. More
Two Asia Pac panel providers, Sydney-based MyOpinions and Tokyo-based AIP, have struck a deal to off their clients combined sample and related research services across Asia. More
Watermelon Research, the specialist digital company within Chime's CIE division, has announced the opening of an office in Sydney, its first in the Asia Pacific region. Company MD Mark Squires will oversee the setup and management of the new office. More
Global consultancy Accenture and Moscow-based non-profit organization the Skolkovo Foundation have partnered to establish a centre through which to develop and commercialize new predictive analytics technologies in Russia. More
Full service agency FieldGlobal has opened new offices in the UAE, China and Indonesia, as well as a second India-based office in Delhi. More
Vipul Chokshi, a former director of rdsi-owned Field Initiatives (FI), has left the company after thirteen years, to set up his own qualitative and quantitative agency called Ardent Fieldwork. More
While turnover in the UK market research industry is still 'fragile', the sector has reported a slower decline in the past twelve months according to research conducted by the Market Research Society (MRS). A majority of firms expect growth in 2013. More
In Australia, industry body The Readership Works has finally got round to naming its new newspaper and magazine readership survey, three years after Ipsos MediaCT was selected to run the programme. It's to be known as 'emma' - Enhanced Media Metrics Australia. More
IT services specialist the dotH Group has opened a survey programming and data analysis firm in Toronto, dotH Research, offering a wide range of qual and quant tools to clients across North America. More
Online community specialist Vision Critical has partnered with Sao Paulo-based market research agency Nox4Think, which will resell its insight community technologies to clients and prospects across Brazil. More
In the US, youth research specialist Ypulse has merged with mobile app polling company Thumb Inc, giving it access to the latter's social network and feedback platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based customer feedback specialist Mindshare Technologies has appointed Marriott Vacations CEO Steve Weisz as Chairman of its Board of Trustees, replacing founder Rich Hanks who is stepping down to serve a three-year mission for his church. More
In the UK, specialist social research agency TNS BMRB has won a £17m contract to deliver the next three waves of the 'Understanding Society' household study, which is claimed to be the largest social research programme of its kind in the world. More
Nielsen has launched beta trials of its Cross-Platform Campaign Ratings tool in the UK with brands including Unilever and Mondelez International (formerly Kraft Foods), agencies Aegis, OMG and Universal McCann London, and several publishers and ad networks. More
GfK has introduced a communications tracker to measure the social and emotional reaction of consumers to the various 'touch points' for a particular brand, and identify those the individual finds most memorable. More
Nashville-based cable TV network Country Music Television (CMT) has appointed Justin Wyatt as Vice President of Consumer Insights and Research, responsible for leading research across all its platforms. More
UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo is opening a sixth international office next month in Mumbai, adding to bases in London, New York, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. More
Panel and research technology provider Toluna has opened an office in Singapore, where Julie dePontbriand takes up the role of Director, ASEAN. Meanwhile, the firm's Hong Kong office will shortly be relocating from Sheung Wan to Central. More
Data collection specialist Ipsos Healthcare Field Services has returned to its former name, Fieldwork International, in Italy. More
Cint North America MD Terence McCarron is leaving the company to pursue a new venture, through which he will however 'continue a relationship' with the company. More
Not-for-profit bodies NatCen Social Research and RTI International have signed a three-year agreement through which they will aim to share knowledge and expertise and build their research capacity and capabilities. More
UK-based Kadence International has launched in Vietnam - the fifth Asian country in which it now has a presence - with offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi; and has appointed Ivy Trang as Country Head, leading a team of nine. More
Pharma brand and communications specialist Hall & Partners Health has launched a 'patient experience framework', PatientPulse, looking at what people 'feel', 'think' and 'do' before, during and after treatment. More
Surrey, UK-based MR community and panel management tech company MARSC Ltd has released a new version of its MARSC solution, including a panellists' interface built into a fully featured Content Management System (CMS); and new tools for monitoring panel health. More
Television production firm Shine America has appointed former NBCUniversal researcher Kevin Ivey to set up and lead a new research department in Los Angeles. More
American football team The Chicago Bears has appointed Mitch Tanney for a newly created role, Director of Analytics, responsible for developing techniques to identify, extract and analyze player data. More
Global media agency MEC has launched a proprietary approach called Momentum, designed to understand and quantify how consumers make purchasing decisions. More
UK-based consumer specialist Incite has opened full service offices in New York and Singapore, strengthening its service for global clients. More
App-based music and television identification and sharing service Shazam has launched a new TV metric called the 'Shazam Engagement Rate', which analyses the real-time activity of the firm's user base to provide insights on when and where TV ads resonate most with consumers. More
In the US, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) is inviting technology firms to bid for a contract to build and operate a warehouse for video content viewing data. More
US-based shopper behavior specialist MarketingLab has rolled out its neuromarketing service SellCheck in the UK, offering brand owners and retailers a new way to measure the effectiveness of their shopper marketing materials. More
Ipsos has launched a social media research and communities division called Ipsos SMX (Social Media Exchange), to provide clients with new approaches to market research into consumer engagement and interaction. More
The founders of photo sharing site TweetPhoto have set up a DIY mobile survey platform called SlimSurveys, in a bid to take on companies like Survey Monkey which they claim provide a 'terrible experience' for survey takers. More
In the UK, the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has embarked on a qual/quant research project to find out how consumers move from one device to another as they navigate along the path-to-purchase. Consumer agency Firefish will be using its Fisheye approach to support the initiative. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has appointed former Ipsos researcher Kristine Dow as Operations Director, Client Services. Liz Dyer has also joined the firm as Senior Director of Marketing. More
Research veterans Adam Weinstein and Nathan Lynch have launched a new research company called Full Circle, which will use a new 'Mixed-mode Validation Process' (MVP) combining online methods with a substantial CATI resource. More
Octonogerian Gerald (Gerry) Glasser, the co-founder and CEO of media measurement firm Statistical Research Inc. (SRI), died on Sunday after a brief illness. More
Research outsourcing and panels company Pulse Group has inked a deal with Chicago-based 'Over the Shoulder', to bring the latter's smartphone-based consumer insight tool to the Asia Pacific region. More
In the US, panel and research technology provider Toluna has partnered with online 'tween' fashion site FashionPlaytes to help clients gain insights from the latter's community of more than 880,000 'Gen Z girls'. More
In London, former YouthSight AD Mia Lorenz has opened her own training consultancy called the Research Academy, which will offer face-to-face and distance learning courses for the MRS Advanced Certificate and the MRS Diploma in Market & Social Research. More
London-based consumer insight technology firm Lumi Mobile has appointed electronics industry exec and former test pilot Pat Moody as Chief Operating Officer, working from Michigan in the US. Moody will play a key role in the integration of newly acquired IML. More
US research provider Kelton has reported revenue up by 15% to more than $18million, and headcount up by a quarter. It has also announced a new office and a rebrand. More
The legal and commercial ramifications of NDTV's suing of Indian ratings venture TAM continue: in India, two more networks are reported to have withdrawn subscriptions to the ratings firm, while in New York, law firm Sabharwal & Finkel is now fighting both Sir Martin Sorrell and its former client NDTV. More
Ipsos Healthcare has launched its Molecular Diagnostics (MDx) Monitor in Europe. The service, gathers data from a wide range of stakeholders including drug-treating physicians and pathologists, will begin with coverage of oncology and be rolled out to other therapy areas. More
UK-based Tpoll has announced a new online qual research platform, developed in-house and allowing researchers to moderate forums simultaneously in different languages across formats and in different time zones. More
Analysis conducted by industry authority Jack Honomichl points to a 'weak downward trend' in the research sector in 2012. A total of $9.5 billion was spent in the US on the sector, which is defined as including marketing, advertising and public opinion research services. More
US multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak has reported its strongest quarterly revenue growth in six years - up 16% to $28.5m for Q4 fiscal 2013 from $24.6m in the prior year period - again driven by its AMI business. For the full year, revenue increased 9% to $99.2m. More
Online panel and survey technology company Netquest has expanded its footprint in Latin America by opening an office in Bogotá, Colombia. More
AOL's branded video content and analytics business Be On has partnered with emotional testing platform Realeyes to develop a biometric tracking service which reveals subconscious reactions to any piece of video content. More
Lakewood, CO-based qualitative and sensory testing specialist Ingather Research has opened new facilities in downtown Denver. More
From August, UK TV ratings body BARB will begin measuring catch-up viewing in addition to traditional screen viewing. The former includes services such as the BBC iPlayer, 4oD, ITV Player and Sky Go. More
In the UK, consumer insight technology firm Lumi Mobile is to acquire Computershare subsidiary IML, which specialises in audience response and voting systems. The deal will be funded by Lumi's existing shareholders, but other terms were not disclosed. More
On-demand online community specialist GutCheck has raised $4m in Series B equity financing, which it will use to expand its sales, marketing and engineering teams. More
Full service agency Kadence International has made three senior appointments supporting its expansion in India. More
The partners of UK-based brand consultancy Purpose have teamed up with neuroscientist Dr Beau Lotto to launch a lab called Beautiful Mind, offering a combination of neuroscience, behavioural science and 'design thinking' for examining customer and client behaviour. More
Biometric measurement specialist Innerscope Research has appointed former Nielsen media researcher Bill Moult as Chief Executive Officer, according to US press reports. More
US information and analytics firm IHS Inc is to acquire automotive research specialist R.L. Polk & Co. for $1.4bn. The deal will be funded 10% by equity and the remainder in cash. More
EFM and customer experience solutions firm QuestBack has announced revenues up 25% in 2012, to $US 49.54m. More
Pharma data giant IMS Health has acquired SaaS firm Incential Software, as it looks to extend its performance management capabilities for life sciences organizations worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
San Francisco-based online consumer survey specialist Survata (formerly known as NomoPay) has completed a seed funding round, raising $1.5m for product development and expansion of its sales efforts. More
Facial expression analysis specialist Emotient and eye tracking software solutions firm iMotions have teamed up to create a platform that combines their key offerings, along with EEG and GSR technologies. More
UK-based consumer agency Firefish has appointed former Flamingo director Liz Seok as Group Qualitative Director. More
Las Vegas-based tech startup imagoo has raised $1.2m in angel funding, for use in rolling out its real-time social polling iPhone app and web platform - also called imagoo. More
Torben Laustsen and Fred Balkenende, the creators of Danish data collection survey software tool TricTrac, have launched a new piece of software called OfficeReports, said to convert Microsoft Office into a complete data analysis and reporting suite for surveys. More
US shopper analytics specialist Euclid has appointed ShopperTrak co-founder Tad Shepperd as Senior Vice President, responsible for driving sales and overseeing New York-based teams of sales execs, client services managers and analysts. More
Thomas Turey, the former Controller at market research agency Rothstein-Tauber (RTi), has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $3.4m from the company. He faces a maximum prison sentence of up to twenty years when sentenced in August. More
Nielsen has completed a successful trial using technology developed by mobile streaming provider Syncbak to capture and measure viewing of TV content on mobile devices. More
Outdoor advertising firm Laqshya has launched an audience measurement tool called ROAM (Research on Outdoor Audience Movement), initially for use in gathering Opportunity To See (OTS) metrics in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has appointed three new members of staff to support expansion both in the US and Europe. More
US agency Forbes Consulting Group has launched a DIY version of its MindSight applied neuroscience technology, offering quick, low cost insights into the subconscious emotions that motivate consumers to buy. More
Ipsos Marketing has appointed Sophie Goddard to lead its partnership with Bounty, the UK pregnancy, baby and parenting club. More
US-based footfall analyst ShopperTrak has acquired retail data and analytics firm RapidBlue Solutions Oy, based in Helsinki. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based start-up Beyond Verbal claims to have software which can gauge human emotions by listening to the tone of a voice, regardless of language. The company has recently raised $2.8m in a round of seed funding. More
Former Molson Coors MD of Brands Chris McDonough has joined Asda as Marketing Director, as the Walmart-owned UK retail giant restructures its marketing department. More
Austin, Texas-based design and marketing firm Rock Candy Media (RCM) has launched a focus group app named SocialSense, via its Market Research division. More
Research software specialist Confirmit has launched Version 12.2 of its CustomerSat solution, which it says brings 'key metrics from multiple survey programmes together in a single dashboard to track performance against corporate goals'. More
US-based software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has announced the integration of its solutions with the Fulcrum sample management platform of its partner company Federated Sample. More
US qual firm iModerate Research Technologies has hired IBM veteran Mike Israel as SVP of Sales, responsible for both sales strategy and day-to-day management of the business development team. More
In the US, Dana Stanley has left his VP Marketing role at Survey Analytics to join former colleague Dean Wiltse at tween girl community FashionPlaytes. As VP of Research, Stanley will lead MR programs including online community Club Z and opinion and motivation tracker FPgirl Market Insights. More
uSamp has announced the newest version of its iPoll mobile app, which it says offers improved performance and a faster, more intuitive in-app user experience. More
MMR Research Worldwide has launched a real-time, point-of-purchase survey app called MyDiaLog, which allows users to share videos, pictures and audio clips recorded on their smartphones. More
President Obama has appointed social science research specialist John Thompson to lead the US Census Bureau, replacing Robert Groves who left last August to take up the post of Provost of Georgetown University. More
In the UK, full service agency Tpoll has launched a panel called 'The Future Thinking Forum', comprising 'tech savvy' individuals who enjoy discussing the latest product innovations, gadgets and software. More
In Chicago, Hyatt Hotels Corporation has promoted Heather Briggs to the newly created position of Vice President of Consumer Insights and Market Research; and has announced three other VP appointments in branding and digital roles. More
Cambiar, the management consultancy dedicated to the MR and analytics industry, has appointed General Mills veteran Russ Rubin as an Associate in its Research Impact Practice. More
US web-based software developer Cvent has opened an office in London, from which it will support its existing client base in Europe and continue to expand the business internationally. More
US firm Civicom Marketing Research Services has introduced a service to enable clients to use Pinterest for their market research projects. More
Vision Critical has announced a partnership with Shanghai-based agency N Dynamic Market Research and Consultancy, which will offer its insight community technologies to clients across China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. More
Brand and communications researcher Hall & Partners has appointed Jim Forrest as Global Partner, Digital Innovations, based in New York, with a remit to drive digital strategy and the creation, global roll-out and integration of digital capabilities across the company. More
UK-based market research recruiter RP Cushing is to open an office in Hong Kong in the summer, two years after the launch of its Singapore branch. More
Pharma specialist Double Helix Consulting has appointed former Deloitte exec Callum Bir to lead its Asia Pacific consulting business, based in its Singapore office. More
Indian network New Delhi Television (NDTV) has appealed against a ruling by the New York State Supreme Court that its $1 billion ratings manipulation lawsuit against Nielsen and WPP should be heard in India. However, NDTV has only named Nielsen in the appeal. More
Former Philips exec Oana Stroie has been revealed as the voice behind the Angry_MR_Client Twitter account as she joins Cello-owned co-creation agency Face as an Account Manager. Former NM Incite director Erika Ammerman has also joined the firm, as Head of Social Media Research. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has chosen Singapore for the location of its sixth office, which it says will act as a hub for marketing research across the APAC region. More
April Jeffries has been promoted to the role of President of Ipsos UU, Ipsos Marketing's qualitative research arm in the US. She is based in the firm's office in Mahwah, NJ. More
Millward Brown has appointed Travyn Rhall as Global CEO, succeeding Eileen Campbell who is stepping down in mid-July for personal reasons. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has appointed Nestle Purina PetCare insights exec Jill Donahue as its 2013-2014 Chairman. More
In the US, MR holding company MVL Group has sold its full service agencies 3Q Global and Discovery Research Group, and its qual and quant data collection agency Quick Test/Heakin to Morgan Investors for an undisclosed sum. More
Nielsen has opted not to participate in a tender put out by the Audited Media Association of Australia (AAMA), for a new range of metrics to be included in its Web Audit Service. The measurement giant says the ad industry has made clear its preference for a single metric. More
In the UK, fieldwork firm Facts International has appointed three new members of staff - Sian Kerr, Daniel Thirkell and Karen Voutt - for its team in Ashford, Kent. More
Rotterdam, Netherlands-based online research firm MetrixLab has agreed to acquire a stake in US firm Precision Sample, whose panels will be integrated with the former's MarketTools sample ecosystem. More
Pharma data giant IMS Health has announced the acquisition of US marketing technology provider 360 Vantage, with an eye to extending its commercial Software-as-a-Service offer for life sciences and healthcare clients. More
In Moscow, independent polling agency the Levada Centre faces the threat of closure, according to its head Lev Gudkov, after government officials insisted it register as a 'foreign agent', involved in political activity and in receipt of foreign funds. More
In India, Nielsen / WPP joint venture TAM Media Research has set up a 'vigilance desk', headed by a former senior policeman, and a 'transparency panel' of regulation experts, aiming to guarantee the impartiality of its methods and ratings. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates has announced two key hires. Robert Ramirez joins as SVP, Strategic Development for the US-based Global Management Solutions service, while Tim Holley is appointed as Director, Specialty Panels and Recruiting. More
In the UK, fieldwork division ICM Direct has expanded its Bedford Call Centre by 20 percent, responding to 'increased client demand for fieldwork services'. More
In the US, full service agency Market Strategies International (MSI) has acquired Cogent Research, which specializes in the wealth management sector. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Business information provider Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) has introduced a product called Hoover's Analytics, to help small business segment and evaluate their customers and prospects and identify new market opportunities. More
US firm Civicom Marketing Research Services has launched a mobile app through which consumers can 'dial in' and record their thoughts while out shopping. More
In New York, analysis tech firm IMRSV has launched facial recognition software called Cara, through which any webcam can be used to gather audience data such as gender, age, attention time and 'glances'. More
Marcoms group Chime Communications has acquired London-based shopper marketing agency WARL from its shareholders Marcus Wilcox, Kerry Bateman and Brian Lloyd, for an initial consideration of £4.5m. Chime has also acquired Shanghai sports marcoms agency People Marketing. More
WPP brand and media specialist Millward Brown has opened an office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, headed by Samina Afrin, who recently joined the company from Nielsen. More
Emanuel Maxl, the Chairman of Austrian MR body VMÖ, has set up a new consultancy called Context Research, based in Vienna. More
Healthcare consultancy Double Helix has opened an office in Munich, where it has appointed Thomas Becker as 'Head of Germany for Global Market Research'. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has hired consumer insights expert Chandra Chaterji as Director of Solutions Development, to lead development of new approaches and methodologies for the company. The firm has also appointed Whitney Miller as Director of Insights. More
In the UK, Cello-owned healthcare agency Insight Research Group has launched a Digital Business Team, to help clients understand the impact of new digital channels. Research Director Damian Eade will lead the new initiative. More
In the US, online sampling and technology company uSamp has appointed former Ticketmaster SVP Carl Trudel as Chief Technology Officer, to oversee existing platforms and help it navigate developments in areas such as virtualization, the cloud, big data and data management. More
Healthcare consultancy Double Helix has put together an APAC market research team, which will be led by former IMS Health exec Diana Tan and will work out of its Singapore offices. More
Online customer experience specialist Foresee has launched an SaaS tool called 'SessionReplay for Mobile', to help organisations see how mobile users are interacting with their sites and apps. More
Former Ipsos MORI Scotland exec Margaret Frazer has opened a new agency called 9 Dots Insights, with bases in Edinburgh and London and offering market, brand and communications research as well as strategic marketing consultancy. More
US ad agency veteran Sheree Johnson has launched a firm called SJ Insights, which will offer market intelligence and analysis, proprietary market research, media planning and buying, along with marketing and advertising related consultancy services. More
GfK has issued an ad hoc statement on preliminary figures for the first quarter, showing organic sales growth of only 0.6 percent, and adjusted operating income and margin down on Q1 2012. However the global group says order levels are good and it should meet annual forecasts of 3-4 percent sales growth. More
TNS has agreed to acquire China-based automotive specialist Sinotrust Market Research (SMR), from Experian. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. More
Singapore-based consultancy TapestryWorks has announced the launch of BehaviourWorks, a new framework for evaluating shopper behaviour for point-of-sale, web site design and promotional materials, building on advances in neuroscience and behavioural economics. More
Minneapolis-based custom qual provider Gordon Weiss Research has rebranded as Sivo Insights with immediate effect. More
London-based research panel and online community specialist Verve has moved to a new loft space in The Leather Market near Tower Bridge, in preparation for substantial growth during the year. The firm has also appointed Georgina Botting and Sali Turner as Directors. More
Singapore-based YFind, which helps brick-and-mortar retailers track and analyze movement in any indoor or urban environment, has launched a shopper analytics dashboard called TheRetailHQ, which pinpoints shoppers' specific locations inside a store. More
In the US, remote usability testing specialist YouEye has raised $3m from angel investors, and plans to develop existing and new products, while expanding into new markets. The firm has also released the beta version of a user experience solution called Insite. More
Research Now has joined online community specialist Vision Critical's Global Partner Program, in order to offer the latter's insight community technologies to its own clients and prospects around the world. More
Radio ratings giant Arbitron has reported a 5.1% increase in Q1 revenue to $111.8m, compared with $106.4m in the prior year period. Earnings are slightly down - Q1 EBITDA was to $34.7m vs $36.6m a year earlier - due the firm says to the costs associated with the planned Nielsen merger. More
Mobile marketing firm Brandtone has signed a one-year partnership with TNS, which will give the research company exclusive access to its database of engaged consumers in developing and emerging markets. The initial partnership will cover South Africa, Turkey, Russia and Brazil. More
Specialist healthcare fieldwork consultancy Ipsos Healthcare Field Services has returned to its former name, Fieldwork International, in the UK. More
A team of researchers from Cambridge University have developed a smartphone app called 'Emotion Sense', which collects data from a user's mobile phone in order to understand what triggers their mood swings. More
Mobile technology start-up TenFarms has raised $2.7m from undisclosed angel investors, which it will use to further develop its Photopoll instant polling app. More
Sampling, data collection and analytics specialist SSI has updated its QuickTake DIY solution to include geographic selection options in European markets including Germany, the UK and France. Latin American and Asia Pacific countries will follow. More
The Audited Media Association of Australia (AMAA) has put out to tender a contract to measure a new range of metrics to be included in its Web Audit Service. The organisation's existing service has been audited by Nielsen for the past four years. More
US company MarketVision Research has appointed Frank Gutowski as Research Director, Jennifer Hall as Manager of Quant Field Operations, Scott Hanson as VP of Client Services, and Ashley Ice as a Programmer. The firm has also promoted Tom Donnelly and Renu Dalal to VP roles. More
Cambiar, the management consultancy dedicated to the MR industry, has appointed industry veteran Tim Key as an Associate in its Research Impact practice. More
Harris Interactive has reported third quarter revenue down 2% to $33.6m, and bookings down 13% to $34.4m. However, profits climbed and operating income was $1.1m, compared with a loss of $371k a year previously. More
Millward Brown has appointed Surekha Poddar as Managing Director in charge of its Mumbai operation - the firm's largest in South Asia. She replaces Muder Chiba, who is leaving 'to pursue other interests'. More
Online research community specialist Vision Critical and full service agency SKOPOS in Germany have hooked up to offer their respective services to clients. More
Boston, MA-based company SessionM has added a survey feature, 'Consumer Polls', to its mobile loyalty and monetization platform, to enable advertisers and developers to launch in-app polls across millions of mobile users. More
GfK has acquired the remainder of subsidiaries GfK Etilize in the US, media control GfK International in Germany, and GfK UK Entertainments in the UK. More
Sampling and data collection provider reInvention, having recently acquired New York-based competitor Authentic Response and software technology firm Critical Mix, has adopted the latter's name as its own. More
In Australia, Sarah Keith has left Fairfax Media after just nine months, to re-join her former employer TV broadcaster Channel Ten as Head of Research, Analytics and Inventory Management. More
Location analytics firm Placed has launched a new solution called Placed Insights which measures the geographic locations visited by more than 70,000 panelists a day. More
Alan Gould, the co-founder of IAG Research, has joined online sampling and technology company uSamp as Chief Executive Officer, while the firm's founders Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin will continue to operate the firm's core sampling business. More
London-based mobile research tech specialist Lumi Mobile has expanded to Asia with the opening of a subsidiary in Hong Kong. More
US-based research technology firm Decipher has appointed Jeffrey Bergman for the newly created role of Chief Financial Officer, based in the firm's Fresno headquarters, while Jonathan Tice joins as SVP of Client Development in New York. More
In the US, RetailNext has completed a $15m Series C round of financing, which it will use to expand its engineering team, deliver new detection and predictive analytics capabilities, and grow its operations in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. More
Havas Media Group has acquired London-based marketing insights consultancy SCB Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen is piloting a new solution, 'Nielsen Digital Program Ratings', designed to measure audiences who view TV content online. More
In London, Kate Anderson has been promoted to the position of Joint MD of Cello-owned RS Consulting Group. She replaces Phil Stubington, who will now focus on developing the group's key accounts, while leading its innovation development programme. More
Ipsos Healthcare has announced the launch of SEES, a range of disease-specific syndicated ethnographic studies, examining patients' experience and views. Initially available in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the USA, the firm says the studies will 'bring to life the day-to-day challenges of living with a chronic disease'. More
Healthcare research specialist the Research Partnership has expanded its US operations with new offices in Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco; to be led respectively by Claire Richardson and new arrivals Christine Naegle and Birgit Eschmann. More
In Liverpool, UK, MR agency Curiosity Insight and social networking site AllJoinOn.com have launched CrowdZoo, described as the country's 'first' MR solution combining 'a feature-packed, easy to use online bulletin board' and 'the research participants to use it'. More
WPP's Consumer Insight division has reported a 3.2% increase in revenue from £569m to £588m for the first quarter. Like-for-like - allowing for currency changes and the effect of acquisitions - the rise was only 1%. More
In the US, GfK is to increase the size of its KnowledgePanel by a third in 2013, in a bid to provide greater access to those populations that are often difficult to reach using traditional survey methods. More
Online insight community specialist Tuned In has opened an office in New York City, where it has relocated AD Matthew Ayers and Research Manager Katie O'Driscoll. More
Ipsos has reported a 5.3% drop in first quarter revenues to EUR 359.6m, which equates to a 2.7% drop at constant scope and exchange rates. The firm says these figures reflect a decrease in commercial activity in the final quarter of 2012. More
UK-based online specialist BrainJuicer has introduced a new methodology called 'The System 1 Pack Test', which imitates the real-time shopping experience by asking people to make a selection from the shelf while under time-pressured conditions. More
Call center network '1-800 We Answer' has acquired market research group TMR Inc., which specialises in telephone interviewing, and offers consumer, industrial and medical data collection and analysis. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based qualitative insight consultancy Sundance has opened an office in Singapore, led by Account Director Jessica Bower. More
Data collection and sampling solutions firm SSI has appointed Max Weber as Managing Director, Asia Pacific, and Satoshi Komatsuzaki as Country Manager for Japan. More
Ipsos has been awarded a further year's contract to track Italian radio audiences, using its mobile radio audience measurement system MediaCell. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has opened an office in Paris, France, where it has appointed former SSI exec Franck Pernez as Sales Director, to support its expansion in Europe. More
Kantar Media has won a multi-year contract to measure subscriber behaviour for Indian Direct to Home (DTH) TV provider Tata Sky. The service, launching later this year, is billed as the first Return Path Data audience research service in India. More
Shuttered media measurement firm Affinity LLC has brought a $20m antitrust action against GfK's magazine audience ratings arm GfK MRI, reiterating its claim that the latter used stolen trade secrets about Affinity's competing product to drive it out of business. More
Connecticut-based Civicom Marketing Research Services has launched a recruiting service, CiviSelect, which will provide respondents from all parts of the globe for research surveys using social media sites. More
UK-based insight group Creston plc has issued a trading update covering the year ended 31st March 2013, ahead of full year results which are due on 12th June. Group revenue was flat at £75m, but Creston said the recovery in its Insight division continued during the second half. More
IT network Spiceworks has introduced a service called SpicePanels, which brings together technology vendors and beta testers from its Spiceworks Community of 2.4 million IT professionals, and tasks them with testing and trialing new products, services and marketing campaigns. More
Eye tracking technology specialist Tobii has introduced a usability testing package called Tobii UX Live, which combines hardware, software, education and support. More
US data collection agency MRops has appointed former Toluna exec Bill Guerin in the newly created role of Chief Client Officer, while industry veteran Jon Harding joins as EVP, focusing on expanding partnerships into the Mid-West and Central regions. More
UK research agency ICM has launched a new polling system called 'Rapid Response', which it says will deliver same-day results on breaking national news stories. More
Web-based e-mail company Emma, Inc. has partnered with DIY research firm SurveyMonkey to help clients of both firms distribute surveys and gather feedback in an 'aesthetically pleasing way'. More
Arbitron's shareholders approved the company's acquisition by Nielsen at a special meeting held yesterday. More
In the UK, shopper and leisure sector research consultancy Touchstone Partners has appointed former Johnson & Jonson director Sarah Lacey as Head of its Shopper Consultancy division. More
In France, Denis Gaucher has been promoted to the position of Managing Director Europe for Kantar Media's recently formed Ad Intelligence arm. More
IAB Australia has extended its national online audience measurement contract with Nielsen, without going out to tender. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron has entered a settlement agreement with Gannett-owned WKYC-TV, resolving the legal action brought against the television broadcaster in January for copyright and trademark infringement. More
Online specialist BrainJuicer has appointed former PepsiCo shopper insights exec Will Leach as Vice President of its methodological unit Behavioral Labs in Texas. More
US-based consumer intelligence specialist The NPD Group is launching what it describes as 'the foodservice industry's first monthly sales tracking service with broad distributor coverage'. 'SupplyTrack' will cover all products shipped from major distributors representing 70% of the broadline market. More
Emotional response measurement specialist Forbes Consulting Group has announced a partnership with Arab research boutique iQual, to bring 'cutting-edge applied neuroscience and emotional insight to businesses throughout the Middle East'. More
Malaysia's MR association is to launch a database of qualified respondents for group discussions, to avoid 'professional respondent' syndrome and improve research quality. More
Sticky, which uses web-cam based eye tracking technology to measure ad effectiveness, has raised $3m in new funding. More
London-based business information provider Duedil has raised $5m (£3.3m) in Series A funding, which it will use to expand into new territories and develop its product offering by tapping into additional data sets. More
MESH Planning Partner Stephen Phillips has launched a new online DIY market research platform called ZappiStore, initially available in the UK, US and Australia. More
Full service online research agency mo'web has launched a new consumer panel in Turkey, while also announcing plans to expand into the country's B2B market. More
UK-based consumer insight and strategic consulting firm The Future Foundation has expanded to the US with the opening of an office in New York, where it has relocated Heather Corker in the role of VP, Consumer Trends, North America. More
Shopper marketing specialists Jim Cusson and Jared Meisel have set up a new agency called Theory House in Charlotte, North Carolina. More
In the US, Seattle-based user experience research firm Blink Interactive has acquired assets from The Gilmore Research Group, including participant recruiting services and focus group facilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Research Now Mobile has added multilingual capabilities to its research platform, allowing for surveys to be authored in more than 50 languages. A launch scheduler, a quota management system and improved location-based targeting also feature in the new upgrade. More
US online research specialist InsightExpress is adding Affectiva's Affdex facial expression analysis technology to its CreativeImpact copy testing solution, to enable brands to optimize their TV ad campaigns using quant neuromarketing techniques. More
In Canada, Ipsos Healthcare has rolled out a tumor-specific oncology monitor focusing on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), planned as the first in a series of syndicated, cancer-specific monitors. More
Online research community specialist Vision Critical has announced an agreement with Dentsu Marketing Insight Inc., a subsidiary of the Japanese advertising giant, which will develop communities in Japan. More
London-based brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners (H&P) has made two senior hires in its European healthcare team: ex-Kantar Health exec Chris McPartland and former medeConnect Research Director Lucy Ireland. More
Business information provider Dun & Bradstreet has announced a long-term strategic initiative to deliver a combination of new solutions and improved business insight for the Canadian market - the first three of which launch today. More
In the US, Arbitron's one-time critic the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) has told the FTC it is 'cautiously optimistic' about the potential for improvements in audience measurement for television and radio if the Arbitron-Nielsen merger goes ahead. More
Sydney, Aus-based Q Research Software is to open an office in New York later this month, and has appointed former Illuminas SRE Steven Kawalek to lead it. More
Healthcare research specialist WorldOne has secured $35m in funding, most of which it will use to expand its Sermo online physician community. More
In New York, GfK has appointed Dr Mansour Fahimi as Senior Vice President of Sampling Statistics, to serve as chief statistician for the firm's KnowledgePanel, leading methodological innovation and federally sponsored survey projects. More
Custom research firm TLE (formerly The Leading Edge) has appointed shopper research specialist Karen Sandrault as Director of Strategy at its Sao Paolo office. More
Ipsos has sold its theatrical research division the Motion Picture Group (MPG) to a private investment company led by former MPG President Vincent Bruzzese. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based ActiveGroup, which provides video streaming to the market research industry, is reportedly to cease operations on April 5 after fourteen years in business. The firm is part of MVL Group, which also owns companies including PhoneBase and QuickTest/Heakin. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has relocated to larger premises in central London following a year in which turnover increased by 66% and staff numbers were up 30%. More
US-based healthcare and government researcher Abt Associates has promoted Scott Royal to the new position of President and CEO of its survey research and data collection arm, Abt SRBI. More
Technology research specialist Richard Noden has returned to ORC International as Research Director in its London-based Customer Strategy and Technology department. More
Social researchers can draw fascinating insights into complex political and cultural issues - yet so often see them reduced to soundbites and two-dimensional summaries by the media. We promise not to do the same as News Editor Mel Crowther reports on this session from Tuesday last week. More
Shopper feedback specialist Shopbust has launched a mobile version of its mystery shopping platform, to enable clients to carry out 'fast turnaround' store audits and spot checks and report back to their businesses via their mobile phones. More
UK custom panel and community specialist EasyInsites has reported a 40% year-on-year increase in first quarter revenue to more than £300k. The firm has also promoted two members of staff and hired Martin Levett as Web and Survey Programmer. More
Down Under, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) and Circulations Audit Board (CAB) have merged into a unified legal entity known as the Audited Media Association of Australia. More
It's not quite real-time blogging, is it, but there's something to be said for taking time to reflect... Nick Thomas kicks off a series of carefully considered reports from the MRS Conference in London last week, and finds it not very 'shocking' or 'new', but not at all bad either. More
SPA Future Thinking Group Managing Director Richard Hepburn is to leave the company to become Divisional MD at engineering and environmental testing business ALcontrol Laboratories. More
Online research and polling firm YouGov has reported strong results for the 6 months ending January 31st, the first half of its financial year, with like-for-like revenue growth of 5% and adjusted profit before tax up by 16% to £2.6m. More
In the UK, BI and segmentation specialist CACI has unveiled what it calls 'a radical new approach to describing consumer behaviour, breaking away from the use of census data for development of its geodemographic segmentation tool Acorn. More
Millward Brown has announced changes to its AMAP (Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific) Executive Board, including changed roles for Shishir Varma and Deepender Rana, and the addition of newly promoted South Asia MD Prasun Basu. More
London-based Realeyes, which measures facial expressions and quantifies people's emotional reactions through standard video devices such as webcams and in-store cameras, has completed a $3.2m round of investment. More
Australia and UK-based digital consumer insights specialist Watch Me Think has expanded to the US, where it has appointed Kevin Gould as President. More
Canadian marcoms agency Donovan Creative has opened a focus group testing facility at its offices in Edmonton, Alberta. More
For the first time since it was founded in 2000, online specialist BrainJuicer has reported a 'poor year', citing a combination of flat sales and cost increases for a 45% drop in operating profit to £1.5m from £2.7m in 2011. Revenues increased very slightly to £20.8m. More
The Governor of Utah is ready to sign a bill designed to combat 'push polls', but which the MRA and AAPC claim will actually threaten legitimate polling. More
US customer intelligence provider Market Force Information has sold its general merchandising and in-store audit services to retail merchandising specialist The SPAR Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Juniper Consulting Group (Junicon) has appointed Michael LoPresti as Managing Director of its Tokyo-based healthcare marketing research and consulting company Junicon K.K. More
eCGlobal Solutions - which provides online communities and panels across Latin America - has partnered with social software company Ramius, owner of the online qual marketing research platform Recollective. More
UK-based telephone research specialist Facts International has expanded into the APAC region, with the opening of an office in Sydney, Australia. More
Otto Hellwig, CEO of sample and panel provider respondi, has been elected Chairman of The German Society for Online Research (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Online Forschung - DGOF), replacing Christoph Irmer who has stepped down after a two-year term in office. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has appointed former GfK exec Thomas Finkle as President and Chief Operations Officer, with a remit to help expand its domestic and global client base. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access Panels has launched an online panel in South Korea, adding to the ten it already manages in Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan and Turkey. More
GfK has launched its Brand and Customer Experience practice (BaCE) in the UK, and promoted Iain Stanfield to lead it. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has appointed former Pepsico insights exec Robert Clancy as Senior Director of Insights and Strategy. More
Panel firm Research Now has announced an international deal with Experian Marketing Services, the data giant's insight and targeting wing, combining online behavioural data with the ability to survey the same individuals. More
Facial imaging specialist nViso and US-based neuroscience firm Sands Research are to combine their software on a single platform and service offering. Terms of the partnership were not disclosed. More
MR technology company Zipinion has released a crowdsourced polling application, promising '100 objective opinions sourced from a pool of over 500,000 people' within 'just minutes' of uploading a DIY online survey. More
TNS will run the Eurobarometer Qualitative studies for the EC and European Parliament for another four years. 'Believed to be the world's largest qualitative research programme', the EUR 18m win saw TNS beat competition from Ipsos, GfK and Gallup. More
Gayle Fuguitt, formerly research chief at grocer General Mills, has emerged from a short retirement to take the post of President and CEO at US-based advertising research organisation the ARF. More
Healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research has hired eight former employees of Epocrates, following the latter's acquisition by electronic health record provider athenahealth, and the subsequently closure of its QuickRecruit service. M3 has also made ten further appointments and three promotions. More
Restaurant branding agency Bellwether Food Group has merged with sector-specific market research agency Restaurant Insights, in order to provide a 'one stop shop' for the foodservice and retail sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK broadcaster and media group Channel 4 has launched a real-time online community of 16-to-24-year-olds called 'Tribes Live', through which it will provide its ad clients with insight into what it describes as this 'elusive audience demographic'. More
US professional body the MRA (Marketing Research Association) has voiced concerns about legislation before Congress concerning the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS). The bill would make answering the survey's demographic questions voluntary. More
A new agency called Wess Digital has been set up in the UK, to offer political parties and campaign groups access to data on people's political voting preferences and their support for specific issues-driven campaigns. More
Panel and research software firm GMI has launched a consultative service called Re-Track, to enable clients to determine areas for improvement in the structure and design of their tracking surveys. More
TNS has officially opened an office in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma), claiming to be the first international consumer insights consultancy to secure a licence to officially conduct business in the country. More
Ipsos has set up a new Employee Relationship Management (ERM) practice in APAC, helping clients with talent attraction, employer branding, leadership development and staff retention strategies. More
UK-based insight and marketing group Cello has reported 'solid overall performance' in 2012, with revenues of £135.1m, up 5.8%, and headline profit before tax flat at £7.0m (2011: £7.1m). The firm's Health division outperformed Consumer, but the latter enjoyed a good second half. More
GfK has hired Chris Fabber to oversee the merger of its US panel operations business, including panels acquired with Knowledge Networks in 2011. More
Dubai-based online healthcare specialist 42 market research has launched new healthcare panels in Sweden, Norway and Finland. More
GfK has confirmed a 10.2% increase in 2012 sales to EUR 1.5 billion, exceeding its target of 9%. 'Strong' organic growth of 3.1% is cited as a key reason for beating the target. More
The Federal Trade Commission has asked Nielsen for additional information regarding its proposed $1.3 billion takeover of radio ratings giant Arbitron, postponing a possible deal still further. Meanwhile Nielsen may also be looking to offload its trade show business. More
Turkish online research and data collection specialist HoraCore has signed a deal to offer DigitalMR's eCommunities platform and social media research services to clients across its home country. More
US research provider Gongos has formed a new division, O2 Integrated, dedicated to 'fusing enterprise data and primary research to reshape customer-centric decision making for Global 1000 companies'; and has appointed Jason Raguso to lead it. More
UK-based research and consulting firm Populus has added mobile-only households to the sample for its telephone-only omnibus. More
UK research company Intersperience is launching an online research software system called FlexMR, offering mix-and-match tools 'to suit any budget'. More
With the planned acquisition by Nielsen approaching, Arbitron has set out details of remuneration packages for its senior execs including recently appointed President and CEO Sean Creamer. More
TNS has appointed former Ernst & Young Partner Richard Ingleton as its new Global Chief Executive Officer, replacing Eric Salama who previously combined the role with his leadership of Kantar. More
The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted consumer insight technology firm Lumi Mobile three patents, which the firm says will protect its core technologies. More
In the US, consumer insights group Pure Moxie has bought what it describes as a 'significant stake' in technology firm aSi Media, with the aim of enhancing its own digital insight services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Global research and analytics outsourcing firm Cross-Tab says it is planning to recruit a further 1400 staff in India, adding to its existing 600-strong headcount based in Bangalore and Mumbai. The company has also launched a new research platform called ctOS. More
Nielsen has launched a solution for measuring the 'resonance' of brand advertising within mobile apps. The tool forms part of the Brand Effect product suite. More
UK-based researcher SPA Future Thinking has appointed former TNS ops leader Sue Homeyard as Director of Operations. More
A group of US industry associations - the IAB, MMA, and MRC - have issued a draft version of their 'Mobile Application Advertising Measurement Guidelines', in a bid to address concerns about measurement and consumer transparency across apps. More
Online research software and solutions provider Confirmit has launched a mobile feedback and research app called MyMobile, allowing businesses to feed insights back to stakeholders via any type of mobile device. More
New York's Supreme Court has ruled that the $1 billion lawsuit brought by New Delhi Television (NDTV) against Nielsen and WPP should be heard in India. The broadcaster alleges that staff at the firms' TAM joint venture took bribes in exchange for overstating ratings. More
Revenue at Chime's Insight and Engagement division rose more than 50% to £13.6m in 2012. Operating income was up 53% to £7.6m and operating profit more than tripled to £2.2m from £0.7m. More
Media and ad research exec Lauren Bronchtein has been named SVP, Research and Insights at MPA - the Association of Magazine Media, replacing Wayne Eadie who is retiring after 40 years in the magazine sector. More
In the US, full service agency MDC Research has expanded to California through the acquisition of San Francisco-based qualitative research firm and focus group facility Ecker & Associates. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The Ukraine Television Industry Committee (TIC) has awarded Nielsen a new audience measurement contract, apparently cutting short an agreement with previous incumbent GfK Ukraine after unproven allegations that the latter had bribed panellists. More
Toluna has promoted Mark Simon to MD of North America, allowing previous incumbent George Terhanian to focus on his other role of Group Chief Strategy and Products Officer. Paul Twite replaces Simon as UK MD, while former Ipsos exec Julie Paul also joins the firm. More
In Australia, former GfK Blue Moon execs Claire Duffy and Craig Smith have set up a new qualitative market and social research agency called Snapcracker Research + Strategy, in Willoughby, north of Sydney. More
Ipsos Marketing has announced a strategic partnership with Bounty, the UK's largest parenting club. The deal gives Ipsos clients access to Bounty's 37,000 strong Word of Mum Panel, comprising mums-to-be, new mums and those with pre-school age children. More
DIY online survey firm SurveyMonkey has announced the launch of a developer portal and a new set of data APIs, powered by software firm Mashery, which it says will help users integrate its products into mobile and web applications. More
WPP has announced preliminary results for 2012. Group revenues rose 3.5% to around £10.4bn, and headline EBITDA rose 7% to £1.76bn; but in the Consumer Insight division, like-for-like revenues rose just 0.8%, with gross margin down 1.1%. More
...as bad as you fear, or as good as you hope *. Wise words, or at least a good starting point for a feature on threats and opportunities for the research profession, overwhelmed as we sometimes are by hype and alarmism. This is the last of our seven features celebrating job ad no.100,000. More
Ipsos has reported 2012 revenues of EUR 1.8bn, up from EUR 1.4bn in 2011, but disappointing given the addition of Synovate. Accustomed to rapid growth, the group blamed the stall on politicians, the integration process and competitor poaching of senior staff. Profits however remained solid. More
The UK's National Readership Survey (NRS) has awarded comScore the online audience measurement contract for its print and digital data product NRS PADD. More
Lauren Demar has been promoted to the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for two Ipsos Marketing divisions: InnoQuest and MarketQuest. More
UK out-of-home measurement body Postar (Poster Audience Research) has been renamed 'Route', as it launches a new audience research system costing industry investors around £19m. More
Automotive customer feedback specialist Vital Insights has opened two new regional offices near Paris and London, complementing its existing offices in Germany and the Czech Republic. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has reorganized its senior management team as part of its strategy to 'accelerate growth and innovation'. More
GfK has integrated its 'EMO Scan' facial expression measure into its existing ad testing system, to help clients understand consumers' spontaneous emotional response to advertising. More
US provider Strategy Analytics, which focuses on clients in the technology sector, has opened a new Consumer Insights Practice (CIP) led by Motorola Mobility's former Head of Consumer Insights Joy Ganvik. More
Swedish eye tracking technology firm Smart Eye has secured a SEK 25m investment (c.EUR 2.9m), which it will use for further product development and market expansion. More
US marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has integrated biometric, eye tracking, and quant online research measures into its existing AdverTest concept testing tool, to obtain insights into consumers' reactions to all forms of media. More
In New York, online ad verification service DoubleVerify has received accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC) for its suite of verification and viewability products. More
Aside from paying the kind of huge sums management consultancies pay, how do we entice bright graduates into the profession? It's a tough question - but we're used to answering tough questions, and surely we know some of the answers already, says Nick Thomas, continuing our features to celebrate job ad no.100,000. More
Online qual specialist Blauw Research has launched a new co-creation tool called 'GameChanger', designed to draw increased insights, ideas and innovations from brand advocates in a focus group setting. More
Shopper analytics specialist Euclid has closed a $17.3m round of financing, which it will use to further service its growing customer base. More
Matt Knoeck has re-joined Harris Interactive as Senior Vice President, Healthcare, responsible for increasing the company's presence in the sector and with a particular focus on stakeholder research. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical and full service agency Morpace have extended their partnership, to add insight community technology to the latter's mainland China offer. More
Chris Paxton has left the Sydney office of Australian custom researcher The Leading Edge, to return to his native UK as Managing Director of the London office. More
Central London-based qual/quant agency Vision One has opened an office in Liverpool from which it will service clients in northern England and Scotland. More
After 66 years delivering Australia's radio ratings, Nielsen Media has lost the contract to GfK, to whom national industry body Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) has awarded a three-year deal starting next January. More
Online charity fundraising site Goodsearch has partnered with social media sampling firm Peanut Labs to launch an initiative called Goodsurveys, through which participants can take short surveys while earning funds to support their favorite cause. More
Nicky Forsyth, the MD of Surrey-based sampling and panel management software firm MARSC, is to leave at the end of March, and will look for 'new opportunities' later in the year. From April, the firm's Director of Consultancy Julian Simpson will take over the position of MD. More
Intel has announced it will launch a chip-powered television product which will tailor content to the viewer, based on a facial-recognition assessment of who is watching, by the end of this year. More
Not too little, not too much, with three vital ingredients and a splash of flavouring... Continuing our celebrations of job ad no.100,000, Nick Thomas gives a simple but effective recipe for a good job ad. More
Ipsos Loyalty is to roll out its WAO! share-of-wallet tool in Poland. The service measures share of wallet dynamics within a given category, then assess which aspects of satisfaction and loyalty are driving this. More
Canadian polling firm Leger Marketing has acquired Researchology, a Toronto-based market research company which works across the pharmaceutical sector. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Here are the best set of mean salary stats for the UK MR industry you're ever likely to see. Best as in good, solid bases and careful compilation; and the average rise is not bad either. But there's one shocker, and it doesn't take a great analyst to spot it. MrWeb's Nick Thomas continues our celebrations for job no. 100,000. More
GfK is believed to be planning a move from current New York premises in Chelsea Market to a 75,000 square foot office in the World Financial Center. More
In Dubai, Yahoo! has confirmed that from 1 April, its online research business Yahoo! Maktoob Research will no longer offer external support to clients, but instead focus on providing research services to the group's own advertising clients. More
In the US, co-creation agency KL Communications has acquired communities specialist Grupthink, in a move to extend the abilities of its own CrowdWeaving collaborative platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Millward Brown has developed a model which it claims 'cracks the code' for how brands drive financial growth for their organisations. More
Is it possible to talk about the mass of new skills and techniques bombarding the profession without feeling depressed about the traditional skills of the market researcher? Most definitely, says MrWeb co-founder Nick Thomas, continuing our celebration of 100,000 MR job ads. More
UK-based Engage Research has launched an omnibus-style ethnographic study called 'ethnobus', drawing on a range of sources from blogs to cupboard audits. More
London-based online research specialist DigitalMR has launched a solution called eViewer, to enable any company with an online presence to observe how customers interact with and react to their web sites, video clips, online games, mobile apps and adverts. More
Market research was once said to be 'recession-proof', but we don't hear that quite so often these days. Are we in a 'double-dip'? And in our new, more cautious mode, who are we recruiting and how many of them? Nick Thomas looks at the stats for 2005-12 as we celebrate our 100,000th job ad this week. More
Kadence International has reported gross revenues up 48% to $14.5m for the first six months of its financial year from July to December 2012 – up from $9.8m in the previous year. UK and US offices both played a key role in the impressive performance. More
Pierre Le Manh has stepped up to the role of CEO of Ipsos in North America, replacing Jim Smith, who becomes Special Advisor to co-Presidents Jean-Marc Lech and Didier Truchot. More
Curiosity Research founder Andy Cumming and his former employee Sally Lewis have joined UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots, in Manchester, as Research Director and Senior Research Manager respectively. More
Panel and research software firm GMI has launched a service called 'Fast Track', which it says enables clients to field surveys 'faster than ever before'. More
Today we reach the milestone of 100,000 job ads on MrWeb. It's taken just over fourteen years and 1,806 different advertisers, and in that time we've seen many changes in the way researchers are recruited, and the skills in demand. Co-founder Nick Thomas starts an in-depth review today. More
UK-based BDRC Group has added a China office to its existing overseas locations in Singapore and Sydney. Based in Beijing, the new office will be led by former B2B International China Deputy GM Siew Wong. More
New York-based Radius Global Market Research has opened three new offices, in Detroit, Chicago and Princeton, NJ, focusing respectively on work in the automotive, Rx-pharma and financial services industries and led by newly appointed VPs Jeff Zboril, Kathleen Relias and Glenn Staada. More
Gallup has brought in political scientist Dr Michael Traugott to help review its polling processes, following problems with its tracking of the recent US presidential election. More
Seven managers of pharma market intelligence and insight specialist NHiS have sold the company to business information and training organisation Wilmington Group, for a possible total sum of £9.35m. More
US-based research technology firm Decipher has opened a new office in the central region of Oregon, on the back of what it describes as a 'year of record growth'. The firm says it has recruited 22 new members of staff across its network of locations. More
Harris Interactive has once again reported a drop in revenue and a rise in profit. Fourth quarter revenue fell 5% to $37.1m, but 18 months into its 'business turnaround' initiative, company profits have risen 81% to $2.9m. More
In the US, CfMC Research Software has appointed Mary McDougall as President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Danny Wong, who will remain on the leadership team as Chief Technology Officer and an active member of the Board. More
GfK has named four senior leaders for its operations in the CEE-META (Central and Eastern Europe Middle East, Turkey and Africa) and APAC (Asia and the Pacific) regions. More
Computer vision technology developer SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has introduced what it describes as the first 3D glasses with full eye tracking capabilities, for use in user experience studies and analysis of real-time gaze interaction in virtual environments. More
Nielsen and Arbitron have voluntarily agreed to provide the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with additional time to review Nielsen's proposed takeover of the radio ratings giant. More
Digital audience analyst comScore has expanded its mobile measurement offering, to include unduplicated data on more than one million smartphone users, 400,000 tablet owners, and 150,000 households with connected home devices such as games consoles and smart TVs. More
Data collection and sampling solutions specialist SSI has promoted Fieke Kreischer to the role of Managing Director, Benelux. She replaces Joost Philips, who has held the position since 2009 and is moving to a new role within the firm. More
David Thomson, the founder and Chairman of UK-based agency MMR Research Worldwide, has developed a lexicon of 'emotional terminology', which he believes could form an industry standard for use in emotional research. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has named Donna de Winter as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Gord Baizley who has moved into the role of Chief Strategy Officer after seven years with the firm. More
The Access Partnership has made key appointments on both sides of the Atlantic. Kevin Mayo joins as EVP of its US office in Philadelphia, and Pascal King as Global Director at its London HQ. Thalia Nikoglou and Ahmed Edathodu have also joined as Consultants. More
US research associations MRA, PMRG and CASRO are celebrating success over regulations implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, published late on Friday by the CMS. Following a five and a half year lobbying campaign, MR respondent payments are specifically excluded from reporting requirements. More
Eye tracking specialist Tobii Technology has unveiled a new line of low-cost and lightweight hardware, which it says will open up the potential of the technology to a much larger spectrium of the research community. More
UK-based research network the ICG has launched a video giving advice to those looking to use DIY research approaches. Chairman Arthur Fletcher states: 'we are not going to stick our heads in the sand and pretend DIY research isn't happening'. More
Technology testing firm uTest has launched a service called Applause, which it claims provides analysis of more than 50 million reviews across one million iOS and Android apps, to enable brands to measure how an app stacks up against the competition. More
US media intelligence specialist Aggregate Knowledge (AK) has acquired customer behavior analytics specialist Quantivo for an undisclosed sum. More
Millward Brown (MB) has announced plans to open a new office in Myanmar (Burma) during the first quarter of 2013, subject to the approval of the local authorities. The new office will be led by Compass Research co-founder Lyndal Pearce. More
UK-based mobile data collection specialist OnePoint Global has formed a partnership with South African firm Customer Experience Agency (CE Agency), to expand its capabilities across Africa. More
Preliminary results indicate that GfK's full-year revenue rose 10.2% in 2012, to approximately EUR 1.5bn, with organic growth of 3.1%. More
London-based video ad distribution and tracking platform Unruly has developed a tool to enable advertisers to predict the 'shareability' of their video content prior to launch. More
Northern Irish start-up Sensum has launched a consumer testing tool which uses galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors to help researchers gauge an audience's engagement levels while watching TV programmes or other forms of entertainment. More
US research body the MRA (Marketing Research Association) has appointed its magazine Editor and former Board Director Amy Shields for a newly created role, Director of Research. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron has filed a lawsuit against Gannett-owned WKYC-TV/Cleveland, claiming up to $6.3m for unauthorised use of its audience estimates and trademarks. More
GfK has 'reconfigured' its North American Brand, Customer Experience and Innovation teams, and appointed Eric Villain as Managing Director of the US Brand and Customer Experience (BaCE) division, which now incorporates Customer Loyalty and Brand & Communications. More
UK pharma researcher and communications consultancy Mash Health Limited and its US business Mash Health, Inc have been acquired by the UK's Cello Group plc, for an initial consideration of c.£0.6m. Separately, Cello has reported 'solid full year performance' for 2012. More
The UK-based Market Research Society (MRS) has chosen today - officially Data Privacy Day - to launch a new kite mark scheme, Fair Data. The mark identifies organisations which 'collect, use and retain personal data properly and ethically'. More
In the UK, Cello healthcare agency Insight Research Group has launched 'IQ', a new practice dedicated to high-end quant market research. Directors Philip Dunn and Gracie van Kemenade will head up the new business. More
Difficult environments specialist D3 Systems has added eight execs to its team, including six Assistant Research Analysts, plus Statistician David Rae and Controller Kelley Milligan. More
UK group Chime Communications has announced five appointments in its Chime Insight & Engagement Group (CIE), including three at London-based Watermelon Research. More
UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has appointed former TNS director Mark Walton and former Buzzback manager Ed Wheeler to drive new business across all areas of the company, from its newly established office in London. More
Toronto, Canada-based marketing research firm Fresh Squeezed Ideas has appointed former Cint Director Lindsay Veling as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. More
London-based book publisher HarperCollins has appointed former EMI Music SVP of Insight David Boyle, to bring consumer insight to 'every aspect of the publishing process', from acquisition and content development to sales and marketing. More
Enterprise feedback management (EFM) technology specialist QuestBack has appointed Hilarius Dressen as CEO, responsible for the company's operations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He succeeds Frank Michael, who is leaving to set up as an independent consultant. More
India's Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has issued an invitation for agencies to submit tenders for a new approach to television audience measurement. The contract is currently held by Nielsen/Kantar joint venture TAM Media Research. More
US-based ActiveGroup, which provides video streaming to the market research industry, has launched 'Capture', a tool it describes as the first mobile app built for qual researchers. More
US-based research software provider Revelation has appointed Todd McLean as Chief Operating Officer, to work alongside CEO Steve August on the firm's planning and expansion initiatives. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has acquired text analytics specialist DiscoverText. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Data collection and sampling solutions specialist SSI has introduced an iPad app called QuickThoughts, which it says offers a 'highly intuitive' interface through which to target difficult-to-reach market research participants - especially young people, IT consumers and professionals. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has extended its International Box Office Essentials service to India, through a partnership with Asian MR firm Majestic MRSS, which will collect daily theatre-level attendance and ticket sales information across the region. More
After a twenty-year partnership, USA Today and Gallup are going their separate ways, citing differences of opinion and a 'changing and evolving' relationship. The paper says it is already well advanced in talks with a replacement pollster. More
UK research veteran Cliff Holmes died on Tuesday night at the age of 76, after a short battle with cancer. More
Healthcare specialist The Research Partnership and its recently launched market access consultancy The Access Partnership are moving to a new UK headquarters in Fulham, London on Monday. More
Online specialist BrainJuicer has made 9% of its workforce redundant, saving £0.8m in costs following 'disappointing' trading in the final months of 2012. More
UK marketers may have 'slightly' increased their spend on market research in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the latest IPA Bellwether report. More
DIY research firm Survey Monkey has raised $800m in debt and additional equity funding, partly led by Google's new 'late-stage' investment arm and CEO Dave Goldberg. More
Millward Brown has announced a major expansion of its Link and Facial Coding technology, and says two of its biggest clients, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company, will use the technique for all their ad testing in 2013. More
Japan-based GMO Research has announced an ambitious Chinese JV with Internet research specialist Horizon E-lab Ltd. A new company, GMO E-Lab Marketing Research (Shanghai) is scheduled to open in April and aims to be 'number one' in the region 'within three years.' More
Finnish off-line shopper analytics company RapidBlue Solutions has announced an app providing its analytics direct to mobiles. Mobile Retail Store Analytics promises store owners and managers the ability to collect data and view analysis without the need for extra in-store hardware. More
US-based Market Strategies International has hired former Kantar Operations EVP Kevin Orians as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the company's research services, quality, analytics and research management functions. He reports to company President George Wilkerson. More
US-based fieldwork group Schlesinger Associates is to provide recruiting and management for a new qual research facility, The Insight Lab, in downtown St. Louis. More
In the US, public opinion research firm Anzalone Liszt Research (ALR) is merging with Democratic pollster Grove Insight. More
In the UK, mobile network O2 has lost its Marketing and Consumer Director Sally Cowdry to National Lottery operator Camelot, where she will take the same title, with a role including consumer insight. She joins her new employer in 'a few months' after helping O2 with the transition. More
Dubai-based researcher POINT Consultancy has launched a specialist FMCG division, Ignite, which will focus on the MENA region and offer a number of proprietary tools and approaches. More
Food, drink and consumer goods specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has announced a new NPD tool, 'Concept Lab', which it says will screen, optimise and validate product potential cost-effectively and without the need for multiple rounds of research. More
DIY survey firm Survey Monkey has signed on as the anchor tenant for a new development in its home city of Palo Alto, California, as it looks for room to grow. The move is scheduled for early 2014. More
Crowd-based pricing intelligence platform Digital Folio has announced the launch of new software it calls Universal Connector Technology, which it says will allow clients to capture real-time competitor pricing for more than 275 retailers in over 150 categories. More
Online specialist Lightspeed Research has announced new roles for three of its senior managers, following the integration of sample and research tech firm GMI. Andrew Cayton becomes Global COO, Martin Filz CEO EMEA and Efrain Ribeiro Global Chief Research Officer. More
Online panel and surveying technology company Netquest has opened a new office in Santiago de Chile, led by Enric Cid and assisted by Jordi Quirós. More
Specialized healthcare and reimbursement consulting firm DK Pierce & Associates has appointed Janet T. Serluco, formerly of ICORE Healthcare, as Senior Consultant, Managed Markets. More
Consumer insights specialists Cristina de Balanzó, Siemon Scamell-Katz and Rafal Ohme have set up a new London-based neuroscience consultancy called The Walnut Group. More
In the US, GfK has introduced a new service called Location Insights, to help retailers understand the movements and demographics of crowds around specific shopping environments. More
Miami-based sales performance agency The Retail Outsource Companies has launched a new sister company called 'The Consumer Insight' (TCI), which will offer a range of mystery shopping, customer surveys, compliance audits and competitive intelligence services. More
In Canada, panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical and research-based marketing consultancy Academica Group have teamed up to launch a new panel called StudentVu, which offers clients access to the opinions of university and college students. More
Italian and Russian MR trade bodies Assirm and OIROM are the latest to join european research federation efamro. More
UK-based market research agency ICM is relocating to parent company Creston's new Soho headquarters, along with the group's two other London-based agencies TMW and Nelson Bostock. More
Full service agency Market Strategies International (MSI) has opened an office in Singapore, led by David Ying Hon Ho, currently the company's Research Director and International Research Specialist. More
Mobile advertising network InMobi has acquired UK-based mobile analytics technology developer Overlay Media for an undisclosed sum. More
US-based InsightExpress has promoted Drew Lipner and Marc Ryan to the role of Co-Chief Executive Officer, succeeding William Lipner who is retiring from active management of the company. More
North of England-based online panel firm ResearchBods has appointed former Nunwood exec Marcus Silversides as Operations Manager, to oversee both its project delivery team and its expansion plans. More
Global customer and employee research agency ORC International has acquired Cincinnati-based consumer specialist MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc.) from market research network the MVL Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, global sampling and data collection provider reInvention has acquired New York-based competitor Authentic Response for an undisclosed sum. More
UK researchers' confidence for the year ahead has dipped, with more predicting a deterioration in the sector's financial health than an improvement, according to RSM's latest Research Professionals' survey. More
Concept testing and forecasting software specialist Affinnova has opened an office in the Willis Building (formerly the Sears Tower) in Chicago, for which it plans to hire additional personnel over the coming months. More
Retail analytics company Euclid has launched Euclid Zero, an off-line shopper analytics package which does not require users to install hardware but operates with existing wireless infrastructure. More
UK supermarket chain Morrisons has promoted Marketing and Operations Director Nick Collard to the new role of Group Marketing and Customer Director. He will join the management board in June. More
Australia's government spent a record amount on market research last year - some $AUD 35.25m (US $36.7m or £22.8m). Allowing for inflation there was a slight dip in real-terms spending, but nothing like that for other areas of expenditure. More
Helsinki, Finland-based RapidBlue Solutions has announced a new metric, 'Gross Shopping Hours' (GSH), which it says is based on the discovery of 'a significant relationship between the brick-and-mortar shopping behaviour of shoppers and retail sales.' More
Data collection group Schlesinger Associates has launched new viewing facilities at Passerelles Bastille in Paris. More
In the US, audience measurement firm Rentrak has announced a deal to provide local market mobile broadcast TV ratings to twelve major broadcast networks operating the Dyle mobile television service. More
Leeds, UK-based quant fieldwork specialist Face Facts Research has hired former Nunwood exec Joanne Hughes as Head of Data Management. More
Mobile research tech specialist Lumi Mobile has moved into new offices in London's Fleet Street, as it gears up for growth in 2013. More
US research body the MRA has filed comments with the FTC objecting to proposals from the privacy group EPIC over a settlement with data firm Compete, Inc regarding web tracking violations. MRA says the proposals could seriously impact the whole research profession. More
In the US, radio broadcaster Cumulus Media Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement for Arbitron's diary and PPM ratings services covering 450 of its stations in 100 markets. More
Portland, Oregon-based Dialsmith has promoted Eric Alzuhn and Dan Welch to new Vice President roles, and hired Brian Izenson as Marketing Manager. More
In the US SoapBoxSample, the new sampling division of Interviewing Service of America (ISA), has hired Bonnie Sherman as Director, Marketing & Community Development. More
Nielsen has begun a five-year contract to operate a new Television Audience Measurement (TAM) service in Hong Kong. More
Japanese researcher INTAGE Inc. and Cairo-based ConField MENA have announced a non-exclusive alliance agreement to provide customized research services in their respective regions. More
A new study by the Nielsen-funded Council for Research Excellence (CRE) highlights the difficulties posed for audience researchers by the growing variety of video consumption devices such as tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles. More
According to research conducted by Conversion Voodoo, Americans prefer the term 'Merry Christmas' to 'Happy Holidays' by two to one (64% v 31%). More
German TV station partnership the Arbeits-gemeinschaft Fernsehforschung (AGF), has re-commissioned GfK to monitor TV viewing in Germany, initially until 2018. GfK has been providing the service since 1985, and the new contract is valued at around EUR 130m. More
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has adopted final amendments to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), to give parents greater control over the personal information that web sites and online services collect from children aged under 13. More
Digital data collection provider Research Now has promoted Jason Bowen to the role of Vice President of Client Development for Canada. More
SPMS - an association for television audience measurement in the Czech Republic - has commissioned Nielsen to measure television viewing across the country. More
Canadian polling firm Leger Marketing has acquired a majority stake in Montreal-based software company Agility Metrics, which specializes in developing customer experience management solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Publicis-owned branding agency Digitas has teamed up with New York University's Movement Lab to open a 3D 'motion capture' unit in its Digitas Lab in NYC, through which the agency will research and develop new apps for digital marketing and advertising. More
Personalised ad solutions firm myThings has launched what it describes as a 'first-of-its-kind' pre-targeting solution, which analyses the visual attributes of a product in order to predict shopping behaviour. More
US-based sampling and data collection specialist reInvention is to acquire software technology company Critical Mix, with the aim of developing an integrated data collection, analysis and reporting solution for researchers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based TV and video ad analytics provider Ace Metrix has introduced a new metric called the 'Emotional Sentiment Index' (ESI), for use in measuring consumers' emotional engagement with ads. More
Research industry staff recruitment firm Asia Talent has opened an office in Hong Kong, where it has appointed Ying Tong-Perrett as Partner for Greater China, with a remit to further develop the company's portfolio of clients in the region. More
Nielsen has announced it is to acquire Arbitron for around $1.26 bn, or $48 per share of common stock. The transaction has been approved by both Boards and is subject to customary closing conditions. More
Nielsen and Twitter have reached a multi-year agreement to produce a new metric, the 'Nielsen Twitter TV Rating', for the US market, covering the reach on Twitter of conversation about TV programmes. The first figures will be commercially available from the fall of 2013. More
Holding group RSMG Insights is bringing its sports broadcast measurement specialists Sport+Markt AG and IFM Sports GmbH under its Repucom brand, consolidating its global businesses in the sector. Meanwhile Andrew Milnes has joined to head up Repucom's marketing in the UK and Ireland. More
Sean Creamer, currently Arbitron's EVP Chief Operating Officer, is to succeed Bill Kerr as the company's President and Chief Executive from January 1st. More
Indian TV network New Delhi Television (NDTV) has set out its reasons for wanting a US trial for its case against Nielsen and WPP, urging the Supreme Court of the State of New York to reject the two companies' recent requests to have it thrown out. More
New Jersey-based boutique ad research firm PreTesting Group has hired former Ipsos OTX SVP Audience Measurement Julanne Schiffer as EVP of Sales and Client Solutions. More
Research consultancy and STW Group subsidiary AMR Australia has promoted Oliver Freedman to the role of Managing Director, following the departure of Gary Wilkinson, who has left to set up his own agency, Bliss Point Research. More
Kadence International has opened a second office in the US, in Boston's Downtown Crossing area, complementing its existing facility in Framingham. The firm has also announced plans to increase US headcount by 100% by 2014, beginning with a 'significant graduate intake' in early 2013. More
US-based sampling and data collection firm reInvention has appointed former SSI director Ryan Hopper to lead its healthcare practice. His remit includes developing health-related sample products and building a customer services team. More
GfK NOP, ABA and Research Bods scooped three of the major categories at this year's MRS Awards ceremony held in London last night, while mobile crowdsourcing innovator Nathan Eagle received the inaugural MRS President's Medal. More
Marcoms network Publicis Groupe has acquired Mumbai-based business and marketing consulting firm MarketGate, which offers market research services through its MarketGate Dimensions subsidiary. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Global wine and spirit brand Pernod Ricard has launched an internal social network called Chatter, through which employees will be encouraged to generate and share new ideas for the business. More
Jo Winning, the co-founder of custom panel and community specialist EasyInsites, has left to join London-based Verve as Business Development Consultant. More
UK-based fieldwork agency Facts International has promoted Emily Kettle to the new position of Managing Director, adding responsibility for potential M&A activity and international expansion initiatives to her existing duties as Group Client Services Director. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has partnered with Delta Marketing Dynamics (DMD) and extended its existing collaboration with ImpactRx, in order to expand its access to the opinions of US healthcare professionals. More
UK-based user experience design specialist Foolproof has hired Jonathan Culling as UX Director, with responsibility for overseeing its 20-strong team of consultants, and helping develop new services. More
Bob Barocci, the President and CEO of the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF), is to retire at the end of the year and move to a senior advisory role after his successor is named. More
US-based Decision Resources Group has made its first overseas purchase, acquiring UK health economics consultant Abacus International. Terms were not disclosed. More
US-based research tech firm Decipher has added new features to its DIY survey platform Beacon, allowing more scope for customized survey building. They include an Alternative Question Toolkit (AQT) and an alternative question library. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has begun auditing the two main ratings services of Rentrak Corporation, TV Essentials and StationView Essentials. More
Research consultancy Double Helix has announced seven appointments in its London office. Among them, Rebecca Walker joins as an AD, while Rebecca Da Cunha is promoted to Director and Shaz Iqbal to AD. More
Canadian firm Converge Consulting Group has been awarded trademark protection for its Voice of the Employee approach, which seeks to move the industry forward from 'the flawed practice of reporting employee survey findings based on statistical significance tests'. More
Ipsos has appointed Harald Hasselmann as Country Manager of its South African operation, succeeding Jake Orpen who is leaving the company. More
UK-based researcher Neil Cary has launched a new business, Asia Opinions Ltd, offering research services to British and Asian companies, including access to consumer panels, and its own online survey tool, Surveygoo.com. More
Singapore-based consultancy Tapestry Works has launched a new branding tool based on archetypes, specifically developed for the Asian market. StoryWorks will be launched across Asia via a partnership with ABN Impact. More
London-based consumer agency Firefish has expanded its quant team with four new appointments, including Paul Harvey as a Director, plus Jen Culby, Tom Birch and Louise Dinesen. More
Multi-screen media measurement specialist Rentrak has extended its International Box Office Essentials service to Malaysia and Singapore, collecting daily theater level attendance and ticket sales information. More
Omnicom division Diversified Agency Services (DAS) has acquired London-based innovation and co-creation consultancy Promise Corporation and says it will merge it with online community specialist Communispace, which it bought last year. More
UK-based YouGov has moved its SVP & International Head of Omnibus Ray Martin from London to New York, where he will lead the launch of US Omnibus services. More
Canadian professional body the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has censured pollster Campaign Research for what it calls 'a blatant contravention' of the Professional Responsibility provisions of the MRIA code of conduct. More
India has again urged the European Union to recognise it as a 'data secure' country, improving the prospects for its outsourcing industry, and says such recognition is key to the success of bilateral trade. More
Digital TV solutions provider NAGRA is to collaborate with Kantar Media to offer clients subscriber data from in-home devices. The service will be pre-integrated with NAGRA's OpenTV 5 media convergence platform. More
UK-based agency MMR Research Worldwide, which focuses on the food, drink, personal and household care sectors, has announced seven new appointments including Client Services Director Janine Gamon and ADs Dan Hibbs, Tim Button and Tom Pile. More
Research software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies LLC has announced a strategic partnership with its client StartSampling, which will offer users end-to-end in-home product testing services. More
San Diego, CA-based custom research and mystery shopping provider TrendSource has launched a new survey app, wINput, for Apple and Android users. More
UK store group The John Lewis Partnership has announced that current Lloyds Banking Group Customer Value chief Paul de Laat will move to the retailer in January to become its first Customer Insight Director. More
In the UK, former AQR Chair Peter Lovett has announced the closure of Consumer Profile Ltd, the Oxfordshire based full-service agency he founded in 1986. He will remain in the industry via a new consultancy, Bespoke Qualitative Research. More
Former Nielsen NeuroFocus MD for Europe Thom Noble has set up as an independent consultant with the establishment of a new firm, NeuroStrata, focusing on the application of neuromarketing and biosensory techniques. More
Canadian crowdsourcing tech firm Chaordix has appointed Carey Houston as Chief Operating Officer, replacing Jim Gibson who has moved into the revenue-generating role of Executive Vice President, Global Markets. More
In India, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has formed a three-member Technical Committee (TechComm), tasked with drawing up a roadmap for the establishment of an audience metrics system. More
Newcastle, UK-based Explain Research has acquired local innovation agency Wood Holmes for an undisclosed sum; and says it is also in negotiations to buy an unnamed specialist research agency based in London, next spring. More
UK-based sampling solutions firm Sample Answers is to open an office in Colombia, South America led by current MD Mark Dent, while Business Development Director Neil Whelpton will move into Dent's former role in the UK. More
According to reports, Nielsen has bought the remainder of Romanian company Retailplus Eastern Europe from co-founder Octavian Badescu. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Seattle-based start-up AnswerTap has launched a DIY feedback-gathering tool called MagicMarkup, to enable agencies and researchers to obtain consumer feedback on their marketing collateral, logo designs and proposed ads from their social networking followers and fans. More
In London, specialist social research division TNS BMRB has opened a 'Centre for International Development Research', which will draw on methodological expertise from across the group in order to help clients bring about policy change on an international level. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has opened a new office in Tokyo, Japan, led by former MROC Japan CEO Shigeru 'Shiggy' Kishikawa. More
Independent UK public body the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has introduced a set of guidelines to help practitioners manage individuals' privacy rights and the risks associated with the use of anonymised data. More
In the US, mystery shopping app provider Mobee has launched out of private beta, with $1.1m in seed funding. More
US-based online and mobile qual research software provider Revelation has expanded its language capabilities to include Polish, Dutch and Swedish. More
Trading in the final months of 2012 is proving 'disappointing' for online specialist BrainJuicer, according to the firm's interim statement issued earlier today. Revenue during the last quarter is likely to fall 'significantly below' 2011 levels. More
UK agency Ci Research has been renamed Mustard Research as part of an overhaul of its brand identity. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) have updated their 'Mobile Web Advertising Measurement Guidelines', with a new requirement to include client-side counting for mobile web ad impressions. More
Research veteran Subramaniam (Subra) Iyer has been appointed Joint Director of two Mumbai-based sister companies, healthcare data collection specialist MedField India and full service agency FieldGlobal. More
UK consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has partnered with consumer-generated video insights firm 'Watch Me Think', which offers panellists financial rewards in exchange for submitting smartphone videos containing their feedback on specific topics. More
In the US, the Pew Research Center has promoted pollster Michael Dimock to the role of Director of its 'Center for the People & the Press', replacing founder Andrew Kohut who announced his resignation earlier in the year. More
The New York-based Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has been re-named the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM), following its recent integration with the Certified Audit of Circulations (CAC). More
Canadian research software provider Voxco has inked a deal for British survey software developer Merlinco to distribute its products in the UK and Ireland. More
Former mruk MD Jim Law has launched a new agency in Glasgow, Scotland, called Wild Heather Digital Research, which aims to combine a technological focus with sound research methods. More
GfK has reported 'a significant sales increase' of 9.8% to EUR 1,096.8m in the first nine months of 2012, with much of the rise however due to currency effects and acquisitions. Q3 revenue was up 11.3% to EUR 376.7m. EBITDA fell 18.5% to EUR 50.6m. More
WAPOR, the World Association for Public Opinion Research, has issued a statement in response to proposals by two of Mexico's political parties, regarding the regulation of pre-election polling. More
Local market specialist Scarborough Research has formally announced its entry into Puerto Rico with a new insights service combining extensive attitudinal data and consumer behavior-based measures. More
Millward Brown is boosting its support for clients in North Africa via a Cairo office, its third new location in the Africa and Middle East region this year, and led by Praveen Abraham. More
US firm Harpeth Marketing - which specialises in helping MR providers market themselves - has launched a 'Lead Nurturing Program' to help clients build relationships with those 'not quite ready to buy'. More
GfK has announced the formation of a new global Market Opportunities and Innovations practice, which will promise marketing professionals 'the critical foresight needed to successfully tap into future markets'. Marilyn Raymond will lead the new division. More
WPP has announced further details of its proposal to return its headquarters from Ireland to the UK, including a timetable which sees shares in 'New WPP' trading on the LSE at the start of 2013. More
Kristin Luck, President of research technology firm Decipher, was a double winner at last Friday's Stevie Awards for Women in Business. More
Mobile app optimisation specialist Swrve has raised $6.25m in a round of financing led by Atlantic Bridge Partners and Intel Capital, and says it will create 100 new R&D jobs in its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. More
US-based Paradigm Sample has added image capture and real-time couponing features to its proprietary IdeaShifters mobile app, which is also now available for Android. More
New Zealand company Key Research is to create fifty jobs in a new call centre, opened this week in its home city of Tauranga. More
Two and a half months after its partner WPP did the same, Nielsen has filed a motion with the New York Supreme Court for dismissal of the lawsuit brought by broadcaster New Delhi Television (NDTV) against their TAM joint venture in India. More
Five US research veterans - Lenny Murphy, Gregg Archibald, Jason Anderson, Bill Weylock and David Bernstein - have announced the launch of a new company, Gen2 Advisors, which will combine regular reports on leading edge marketing and insights areas with advisory and consulting services. More
UK agency BDRC Continental has announced four new appointments in its Financial & Business and Hotels & Hospitality divisions, including the return of Caroline Ahmed as Commercial Director in the former. More
Netherlands-based international body the Neuromarketing Science & Business Association (NMSBA) has launched a code of ethics, as part of a drive towards the adoption of international standards. More
In the UK, Lloyds Banking Group Head of Retail Strategy Alex Owens is leaving to take up the role of Head of Insight at supermarket chain Sainsbury's. He starts the new job in January. More
In the US, consumer research specialist Key Lime Interactive (KLI) and mobile app development firm Crucian Point have partnered to launch a new company called KLUE Labs, offering a tool that captures mobile user interaction with web sites. More
Data collection and sampling solutions specialist SSI has appointed former Gartner VP Tom Johnson as Senior Vice President of North American Sales and Client Services. More
Online data collection specialist Schlesinger Interactive has teamed up with usability and testing technology provider Interactive Video Productions (IVP) to launch a network of Biometric Research Labs across the US. More
Andera Gadeib, the CEO of co-creation and branding specialist Dialego, has set up a new company to offer her firm's existing SmartMunk qual and quant online tool for use in co-creation projects. More
Netherlands-based online researcher MetrixLab has opened a new office in Shanghai, China - led by former Ipsos leader Edwin Song - from where it will focus on Chinese and regional clients. More
In the US, research and branding firm Protobrand has used Research Now Mobile's platform to launch a smartphone version of its Meta4 Insight tool, which probes the unconscious mind using 'metaphor elicitation'. More
UK radio research body RAJAR has commissioned Ipsos MediaCT to extend its Radio Listener Panel for a further year, as it continues to evaluate the agency's MediaCell smartphone measurement system. More
Cambiar, the management consultancy dedicated to the MR industry, has appointed General Mills veteran Jeff Hunter as an Associate, with a focus on marketing sciences, growth strategies and emerging markets. More
Former Procter & Gamble (P&G) Brand Manager Jeff Goldstein has acquired Cincinnati-based market research agency AcuPOLL, through his company RVG Acquisition and with help from an SBA loan. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Industry association ESOMAR has elected Dan Foreman, currently Head of Business Development at Lumi Mobile, as President for the two-year period beginning January 2013. More
Sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom has appointed former Kantar Sport Head Bruno Lalande, for the newly created role of Director of Strategy, EMEA, based in Paris. More
Former Synovate Global CEO Adrian Chedore has joined Asia-focused MR consultancy ABN Impact as Chairman. More
UK research provider BDRC Continental has launched a Sports & Sponsorship division and appointed Director Mark Long to lead it. More
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission has released a consumer privacy best practices guide for companies using facial recognition. More
Harris Interactive has reported a 12% drop in revenue to $33m for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, from $37.8m in the prior year period; but has turned loss into profit as it continues its 'turnaround' and 'rightsizing' activities. More
US-based healthcare specialist MedSpan Research has appointed Michael Epstein as Director, Research Services. His duties will include opening and leading the company's second office, in Rochester, NY. More
The Merlien Institute - which runs conferences and events for market research professionals - has appointed Jens Cornelissen as Managing Director Europe and North America. More
UK out-of-home measurement body POSTAR is set to launch a new GPS-enabled 'currency' next February, covering a wide range of outdoor environments including road, tube and rail. The launch has been made possible with a £19m investment from companies in the sector. More
Ipsos ASI has launched a tool called Live|Test, combining behavioural web analytics with survey data to help marketers and advertisers decide on the best way to optimize their digital ad campaigns prior to launch. More
Survey software firm Voxco is planning a recruitment drive which will result in a 20% increase in headcount at its headquarters in Montreal, Canada - driven it says by 'record revenues' in the first quarter of its 2012-13 financial year. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access Panels has expanded its client-facing teams with the appointment of industry execs Matt Gershner in New York and Matthew Hurst in London. More
Data collection specialist Interviewing Service of America (ISA) has launched a standalone online sampling company called SoapBoxSample, offering a combination of resources such as opt-in panels, routing techniques, social media and live sample. More
Retail foot traffic counter Shopper-Trak has announced the acquisition of Silicon Valley-based ReTel Technologies Inc., which provides hybrid video auditing solutions and advanced shopper analysis. More
Former Arbitron researcher Bob Michaels has died, reportedly from a heart attack while vacationing in Key West, Florida. As the measurement giant's first ever ambassador to radio programmers, he was known for a unique combination of software skills and understanding of the ratings themselves. More
Neuro-technology specialist Emotiv has joined forces with eye tracking specialist SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) to launch a single system through which to measure and analyze consumers' visual attention along with their emotional responses to brands. More
Finnish shopper and visitor analytics specialist RapidBlue Solutions has launched a new product which converts existing location data collected and owned by cell phone networks, WiFi-operators and others into metrics on consumer movements and actions. More
WPP has reported third quarter consumer insight revenue of £591m, down from £593m in the prior year period and up just a fraction ( 0.8%) on a like-for-like basis. More
With just three days to go before elections in the country, political party 'Ukraine-Forward!' has taken out a lawsuit against two polling firms, claiming that results of a pre-election poll were deliberately distorted to reduce its share of the vote. More
European online specialist InSites Consulting has unveiled a network of more than 150 experienced qual moderators across 30 countries, to help run its market research online communities (MROCs). More
Ipsos has reported 9-month revenues of just under EUR 1.28bn, up 45.1% on a constant currency basis since gobbling up Synovate a year ago. The firm says now that the integration is complete, it will 'resume its focus on growth' and on meeting its service quality and profitability targets. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has reported an 8.3% rise in third quarter revenue to $114.3m, while net income increased to $15.8m from $15.4m. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has restructured its European management team in response to what it describes as the 'changing needs' of clients and retail partners. As part of the reshuffle, David Pritchard has been named General Manager of Commercial Activity. More
US-based video analytics firm Visible Measures has opened a research center specifically to analyze the impact of choice-based video campaigns - those where a person has to press the 'play' button to watch - against those on mainstream media such as television or online video. More
Ipsos MediaCT Jordan has launched a study to measure and analyze the media consumption habits of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. More
Ipsos MORI and King's College London are to bring together some of their researchers to develop new studies and maximise learnings from existing research. More
Aegis-owned digital creative agency Visual Jazz Isobar (VJI) has extended its NowLab innovation unit network to Melbourne. The lab will help the firm to identify, research and prototype new technologies and platforms for clients across Australia. More
Nielsen has announced third quarter revenue up 5% year-on-year, on a constant currency basis, to $1.423bn, with its Buy (4%) and Watch (5%) segments both contributing. Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% on the same basis to $424m. More
Kantar Retail is to open its first South American office, in Brazil, where it will team up with WPP sister company TNS to use the latter's primary shopper research capabilities. Former Mars and LVMH executive Eric Debarnot will head up the new office as MD. More
Fieldwork specialist Schlesinger Associates has hired two Directors of Client Development, Bridget Bachmann and Simona Kats, with a focus on online data collection and online communities, respectively. More
GfK has strengthened its Hong Kong team with the appointment of research veterans Karen Khao, as Head of Consumer Experiences, and Roland Leung as Head of Innovation Research. More
Indian television measurement body TAM is suspending publication of its viewing data from week 41 (October 7th) onwards, for 8 weeks while four of the country's biggest cities switch over from analogue to DAS. More
Product review site Influenster has announced a research offering giving brands access to its community of 'trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences'. More
Innovation and forecasting unit Ipsos InnoQuest has unveiled the Archetype IQ System, which classifies CPG innovations into twelve 'Archetype profiles' to help clients gauge the potential for their latest ideas. More
Former AGB and TNS director Dr Stephan Buck died on the 3rd October at the age of 75, after a three-year battle with cancer. More
'Holistic' web-based MR firm DigitalMR is moving into a larger London office, reflecting UK headcount more than doubled in the last twelve months. More
Two Americans have been awarded this year's Nobel prize for economics, for work on accurate matching of agents - for example students with schools or donors with needy patients - and the extension of this into the understanding of markets. More
In the US, Brain Surgery Worldwide, which specialises in what it calls describes as 'emotion based behavior insight', has made three key appointments in its senior management team. More
US-based ad personalization firm TeleNav has acquired ThinkNear - a mobile targeting firm which helps advertisers reach consumers within 100 meters of any location - for $22.5m in cash and stock. More
Panel exchange operator Cint is looking for further expansion with the help of EUR 6.9m ($9m) raised from its existing owners, Prime Technology Ventures and Nordic venture capital firm Creandum. More
GfK has introduced a 'human relationship' model, to uncover consumers' emotional and social connections with brands. More
Kantar Media TGI has launched a new initiative called 'The WHY Code', which offers to help clients understand every stage of the consumer decision-making journey, both conscious and subconscious. More
The Emirates Media Measurement Company (EMMC) has officially launched its tview television ratings and audience measurement system in the UAE, following approval by external TAM auditors and consultants Hulks & Ruud. More
In San Francisco, Adam French and Anne Lacey - who previously worked at M&C Saatchi-owned brand consultancy Clear - have joined forces with former Unilever insights leader Dr Nick Anderson to launch an innovation and insight company called Antedote. More
Nielsen has rolled out its ad measurement service Online Campaign Ratings in the UK, following a pre-launch test with consumer goods giants Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser. More
UK marcoms group Chime Communications has acquired pharma market access and data provider pH Associates (PHA) from its owners Kate Peperell and Lesley Howell, for an initial consideration of £6.92m. More
US-based online research community builder Communispace has launched a proprietary approach called 'Emotive Elicitation', which uses body language images to uncover subconscious consumer emotions and perceptions. More
Lieberman Research founder Seymour 'Sy' Lieberman, died on October 1, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. More
Central London and Wimbledon-based data collection specialist The Research House has appointed Laura Haxton-Wilde as Managing Director. She replaces Sue Maldonado, who remains with the firm's parent group Schlesinger Associates, as VP, Global Marketing. More
The US and Switzerland are the two most expensive countries in which to conduct market research, while Pakistan remains the cheapest, according to the results of the latest ESOMAR Global Prices study. More
US-based Paradigm Sample has opened an office in Gurgaon, India, from which it will provide operations, project management and panel management support to clients across the US, Europe and Asia. More
In Germany, full service agency Dr Grieger & Cie has launched online panels in Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. More
The Belgium-based Center for Body Language has developed an online system which uses webcams to analyze facial expressions, and claims thereby to be able to predict the outcome of the US presidential elections. More
London-based researcher and music aficionado Dave Beal died suddenly on Monday 27 August at the age of 60, after a long illness. More
India-based MR technology and operations company Annik has launched a project management platform called Enterprise FieldworkPlus (eFWP), designed to enable researchers to track and manage every detail of their global research projects online. More
A redefined UK MR sector is 50% larger than previously estimated and worth more than £3 billion a year, according to an independent review conducted by PwC on behalf of the country's MRS (Market Research Society). More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell and MORI founder Sir Robert Worcester have been appointed as patrons of the Market Research Society (MRS), alongside dunnhumby founder Clive Humby and social commentator Peter York. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has promoted George Llorens to the role of Executive Vice President, Global Head of Sales, tasked with further driving sales in Europe, where the firm reported growth of 104% in the past year. More
UK mobile phone retailer The Carphone Warehouse used misleading research-based claims in an ad on its web site for a child-safe network, Bemilo, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled. More
In London, Optimisa Research has moved into larger offices south of the Thames after just two years, reflecting the growth of the business. More
Ipsos has extended its specialist data and delivery business Ipsos Observer to Switzerland, to offer local clients access to the firm's global field and tab services. More
GfK has acquired South African research company GlobalEDGE Marketing Consultants, in a bid to further strengthen its Consumer Experiences offer across Africa. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Twitter has partnered with Nielsen to launch a service which will enable brands to create surveys directly within the social networking site, in order to gather data on users' purchase intent and brand awareness. More
A year after returning to TNS Jan Hofmeyr has refined his ConversionModel, to help clients identify how people feel about their brand and determine how external barriers like price and availability affect consumer spending. More
Research consultancy Kadence International has recorded 'dramatic growth' in Indonesia, where revenue rose 120% to $5m for the year 2011-12. Overall, company revenue has increased for the tenth consecutive year, with sales up 15%, and net revenue has doubled in the last four years to $20.1m. More
Paul E. Green, Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and market research specialist, died recently at the age of 86, surrounded by his family. More
Global marcoms agency Draftfcb has acquired pharmaceutical marketing company Hudson Global for an undisclosed sum. More
Nielsen-funded independent think tank the Council for Research Excellence (CRE) has initiated a study to determine how social media impacts television viewing. More
Nielsen has officially launched its Cross-Platform Campaign Ratings tool, which it says indicates 'the true reach' of video ads across multiple screens. The tool combines data from Nielsen's Online Campaign Ratings service and its proprietary national TV panel. More
DIY survey technology company SurveyMonkey has launched a new tool enabling users to select a targeted sample drawn from millions of qualified survey respondents, from the US and around the world. More
In the US, cloud and mobile testing specialist SOASTA has acquired performance measurement company LogNormal, which provides 'real user measurement' (RUM) and monitoring for mobile and web apps. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Call center technology firm Noble Systems Corporation has acquired assets from ALI Solutions Inc (formerly Austin Logistics), which provides call center analytics applications and technology. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen and the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) have formed an 'Innovation Committee' to develop and test potential new approaches to mobile television audience measurement for Nielsen's mTAM initiative. More
US-based Gongos Research is making two of its proprietary research platforms, iCommunities and ConsumerView Online Qualitative, available for licensed use by other research firms. More
Ad intelligence provider Exponential Interactive has partnered with MasterCard's analytics arm to incorporate retail-level consumer spending behavior data into its online audience targeting services. More
Crowdscoured media specialist Against All Odds Productions is to release data from a new global study, the 'Human Face of Big Data', for general consumption. Currently underway, the project aims to combine passive and contributed data from 'millions' of individuals worldwide. More
In the UK, Google has partnered with GfK's usability research specialist nurago to launch the 'Screenwise Trends Panel', to explore how people consume media and examine their attitudes towards brands and ads across different media platforms. More
The UK government's Behavioural Insights Team or 'Nudge Unit', set up by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010, is to sell its expertise in the fields of behavioural economics and psychology to governments and institutions around the world. More
Panel and research software firm GMI has launched a tool which it says enables surveys to be deployed across all platforms and devices with the same look and feel. More
The Executive Board of the European Pharmaceutical Market Research Association (EphMRA) has elected Thomas Hein as its new President from next Monday. He takes over from Rob Haynes who took the role in 2008. More
UK-based data collection agency Perspective Research Services (PRS) has opened a new call centre in St Albans, Hertfordshire, following the closure of its operations in Acton, west London. More
Research outsourcing and panels company Pulse Group says it can no longer justify the costs associated with listing the company on the loss making PLUS-quoted Market (part of the PLUS Stock Exchange), and is therefore planning to delist its ordinary shares. More
GfK has appointed seven leaders in China, Korea, Malaysia and Japan, as part of a strategy to expand its global research solutions across the Asia Pacific region. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has begun the expansion of its medical MR capabilities to Europe with the launch of a UK healthcare panel. More
The Belgian Federation of Market Research Institutes (Febelmar) and the Swiss Market and Social Research Association (vsms-asms) are the latest trade bodies to join the European Research Foundation (efamro). More
Qureshi Market Research MD Bob Qureshi has opened a new facility in London's West End, offering eye tracking, dial testing and NeuroFocus services. The five-studio facility also provides access to a bar for use in drinks research projects. More
Online specialist BrainJuicer has reported a 14% increase in revenue to £10.37m for the first half of the year, and operating profit also up 14% from £628k to £716k. More
UK-based insight and marketing group Cello has reported a 2.8% increase in revenue to £63.3m for the first half of the year, but has noted a 'marked slow-down' in qual and quant client research activity across its Consumer division. More
In London, former Kantar Worldpanel MD Michelle Carter has joined panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical as Head of Client Service. More
In the US, Harris Interactive is partnering with Google to launch a new service allowing users to compare themselves to industry benchmarks. More
Michael Berland has left WPP-owned MR and political polling specialist Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) to join PR giant Edelman as CEO of a newly-named research and analytics business, Edelman Berland, into which the group's existing research firm StrategyOne will be integrated. More
Former Ipsos Reid President Steve Mossop has launched a full service agency called Insights West, based in Vancouver and servicing private and public sector clients across Western Canada. More
Global data collection specialist Cido has opened a new operation in Shanghai, where it has appointed former Nielsen exec Linda Ho as General Manager. More
In London, consumer insight technology firm Lumi Mobile has appointed former Insight International CEO Dan Foreman as Head of Business Development, to work alongside the firm's staff at its offices in New York, and Vaasa, Finland. More
MrWeb's former Features Editor Teresa Lynch has returned to an ops role in the position of Data Services Director at ICM Research, bringing nearly three decades of operations experience to the company. More
Survey software firm Voxco has partnered with panel access provider Cint, whose OpinionHUB insight platform will give Voxco clients access to more than seven million individuals worldwide. More
Panel and research technology provider Vision Critical has appointed Jim Cravens as Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources, to help further its plans for global growth. More
US-based ActiveGroup, which provides video streaming to the market research industry, has re-branded its flagship ClientLounge product as 'The Lobby', and revamped it to better assist researchers with the analysis and reporting of their qual data. More
WPP has reported revenue up just 1.2% to £1.19bn in its consumer insight division in the first half of the year, while headline operating profit fell slightly to £84m. The group has also confirmed that following tax changes, it plans to move its HQ back to the UK from Ireland. More
Data collection and sampling solutions specialist SSI has partnered with Danish online specialist Interresearch to launch a joint venture, SSI Denmark. More
WPP has filed a petition in the New York Supreme Court for dismissal of the lawsuit brought by broadcaster New Delhi Television (NDTV), which accuses Kantar and Nielsen of violating anti-bribery laws through their TAM joint venture in India. More
In the US, video and media market analytics specialist Multimedia Research Group (MRG) has partnered with the magazine ScreenPlays Information Marketplace to offers clients of both firms additional industry and market intelligence, and thought leadership. More
In the US, ratings giant Arbitron has appointed Chief Operating Officer Sean Creamer to its Board of Directors, after seven years with the company. More
US-based Placed Inc. has expanded its location analytics service with the addition of mobile web measurement, to provide site publishers with details about the businesses people were near when interacting with site content. More
In India, the Media Research Users' Council (MRUC) has awarded the contract for its continuous readership study, the IRS (Indian Research Survey) to Nielsen, after a nine-month selection process. More
CIE, Chime's Insight and Engagement group, has reported an 18% increase in operating income in the first half of the year, up from £3.9m to £4.6m, while operating profit rose 148% from £400k to £900k during the period. More
US ratings giant Arbitron has appointed Nielsen veteran Manish Bhatia as Executive Vice President, New Product Innovation, to direct the firm's cross-platform initiatives and lead teams tasked with developing non-radio research services. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has secured a $20m investment, which it says will be used to expand its product lines and support infrastructure, and further execute its global growth plans. More
WPP-owned market research and political polling specialist Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) has opened its second Indian office, in Mumbai, following its launch in Gurgaon last year. More
Digital research agency MobileMeasure Consultancy has expanded to Singapore through a partnership with Anila Shrivastava, the founder of eye tracking and semiotics specialist idStats. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has begun the international expansion of its healthcare panel with a Canadian launch. More
India's News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has asked the government to suspend reporting of TAM data, in the light of the ongoing row between broadcaster NDTV and Nielsen and WPP's joint venture. Meanwhile Nielsen is reportedly the front-runner for the forthcoming RSCI readership measurement pitch. More
Music and media writer, researcher and analyst Jeff Green is launching a new Nashville-based firm called Stone Door Media Lab, which will provide ratings research, digital media consumption analytics, market analysis and business intelligence for the entertainment sector. More
Indian broadcaster NDTV has hit out against a statement issued by WPP yesterday, and its use of the word 'hypothetical' to describe NDTV's claims of ratings fixing at the TAM Media Research joint venture. More
Japan-based GMO Research and its subsidiary GMO Japan Market Intelligence (GMO Research/JMI) are to open the group's first operations centre in India at the end of August, led by former GMI exec Anupam Kaul. More
WPP is considering proceedings against Indian broadcaster NDTV for defamation, following the latter's claims that staff at its TAM Media Research joint venture took bribes in exchange for overstating television ratings. More
UK-based user experience consultancy Foviance has announced it is to merge with service design agency Seren Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online research software and solutions provider Confirmit has acquired the CustomerSat enterprise feedback management software business - previously owned by MarketTools - from investment house TPG Growth. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
A group of companies has launched a new service called Dominican Pulse, to gauge opinion among the residents of the Dominican Republic on subjects ranging from public affairs issues and politics, to music and culture. More
In the UK, data collection agency Peak Answers has reported sales of more than £1m during its first year of trading. More
UK-based market research recruitment specialist Hasson Associates has strengthened its London team with the appointment of Rosie Jessop as an Associate and Kate Gillen as a Resourcer. More
Omnibus and syndicated data specialist Roy Morgan Research has launched a new service called the 'Digital Universe', to provide a view of Australians' daily lives, including media consumption, shopping habits, socialisation and expectations. More
In the US, online survey software firm QuestionPro has acquired survey platform PollBob, whose community of 350,000 users complete real-time polls online and via an iPhone app. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Irish sports betting chain Paddy Power has appointed former BskyB exec Danny Russell as its first Insight Director, and former Domino's Pizza director Robin Auld as Brand Director. Both commence their new roles in mid-October. More
Consumer research agency rdsi has promoted ten members of staff, including Research Directors Emma O'Connell and Tim Gowing (pictured) who join the Senior Management team. More
London full service agency Basis Research has appointed former 2CV leader Lynsey Showman to head up its Quantitative team. More
Harris Interactive has reported an 8.2% decline in revenue to $147.5m for the full year fiscal 2012 - a majority of which the firm says was part of a 'right-sizing' plan. More
US customer loyalty and employee engagement firm Service Management Group (SMG) has acquired Locately, which specializes in helping retailers and restaurants analyze what drives consumers' shopping and dining decisions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK government social scientist Barbara Adams OBE, a pioneer of public consultation research, has died in London at the age of 89. More
US crowdsourcing software testing service uTest has acquired Polish mobile app analysis company Apphance from its parent company Polidea, in what is described as a 'seven-figure deal' made up of cash and uTest shares. More
In the UK, former Ipsos Health Research Director Mike Holland has joined schools marketing specialist the National Schools Partnership as Head of Research. More
Eric McDowell, the founder of Alaska-based research and consulting firm McDowell Group, died on Monday in hospital in Seattle, following a brief illness. He was 69 years old. More
In New York, Ipsos has moved David Lansanah to the position of Global Managing Director of its product research and development arm MarketQuest. More
New York-based consumer behavior research and consulting firm Envirosell has opened an office in Istanbul, Turkey, led by recently appointed telecoms specialists Melik Karabiyikoglu and Burc Tutanc. More
Digital agency XM Asia Pacific has opened a Consumer Experience Lab in Singapore. The facility will use Tobii eye-tracking technology, heuristic techniques and usability metrics to examine how Asian consumers absorb the information they see in digital ads and traditional media. More
New York-based speech and text analytics specialist Verint - which owns survey management software firm Vovici - is to acquire its holding firm Comverse Technology Inc (CTI), thus eliminating CTI's majority ownership of the company. More
Healthcare research specialist WorldOne has integrated data from online patient data specialist Treato into its own MedLIVE FastReponse market intelligence platform, promising clients access to aggregated real-time patient feedback. More
GfK has reported a 9.1% increase in sales to EUR 720.1m for the first half of 2012, most of which comes from currency effects and acquisitions. Organic growth of just 1.7% results from a healthy 4.2% rise in the Consumer Choices business combined with flat performance from Consumer Experiences. More
In the US, former MarketQuest CEO Mary Beth Lake and Chief Research Officer Paul Holtzman have joined Chicago-based full service marketing and sensory research firm Peryam & Kroll Research (P&K) as Senior Vice Presidents. More
India-based MR technology and operations company Annik has partnered with mobile home screen messaging specialist Mobile Posse, to provide access to the fifteen million consumers who have signed up to receive offers and content via the latter's pre-loaded software. More
London-based online qualitative agency nqual has hived off its DIY software solutions to sister research consultancy Netfluential, which specialises in helping clients connect and 'co-innovate' with customers. More
The U.S. Census Bureau has announced the appointment of Johns Hopkins University professor Thomas A. Louis as the new Associate Director for Research and Methodology and Chief Scientist, effective January 7, 2013. More
Brand and communications specialist Hall & Partners has promoted Caroline Dukes to Managing Partner in its London office, and Joann Schaumann to Managing Partner in New York. More
Full-service MR agency and panels and online tech specialist Toluna have agreed a deal which will give online community and panel solutions to CMI's clients worldwide. More
Kantar Media has bought AGB Nielsen's 50% stake in the TGI (Target Group Index) service operating in Turkey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based brand and marketing consultancy Prophet has acquired innovation agency (r)evolution, which focuses on linking consumer insights to business growth. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Following Indian broadcaster NDTV's legal action against Nielsen and Kantar Media Research over bribery claims, the Indian government has now stepped in with its own investigation. More
American public opinion pollster and author Scott Rasmussen has signed up to host a nationally syndicated TV show called 'What America Thinks', which will draw on his data on the latest political, economic, business and lifestyle issues. More
UK charitable trust The Nuffield Foundation has appointed Ministry of Justice Chief Researcher Teresa Williams as Director of Social Research and Policy. She takes up her new position on 29th October. More
UK-based mobile research platform CrowdLab has appointed former FreshMinds exec Niall Smith as Research & Technology Director; and a further five staff to support the ongoing delivery of the firm's services. More
US-based emotion measurement specialist Affectiva has raised $12m in Series C financing, which it plans to use to accelerate development of its Affdex facial expression analysis technology for use across all forms of online video content. More
In South Africa, marketer John Laurence and radiologist Dr Gary Sudwarts have set up a new agency called HeadSpace Neuromarketing, using EEG technology to provide biometric markers of consumer response to advertising. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has partnered with product placement analysis firm iTVX, to help brands and programmers understand the impact on audiences when a TV show uses a brand in a story line. More
In the UK, global marketing and technology agency LBi has appointed Michele Chang-McGrath as Head of Research. Her role includes launching a series of initiatives to understand emerging digital behaviour in mobile, eCommerce and online content. More
Technology specialist ABI Research has opened a new UK-based research and forecasting facility in Wellingborough, Northants, to house its growing team of analysts and to support local clients. More
In the UK, researcher Gemma Stokes has set up an agency called Podengo, to recruit consumers for qualitative research studies. More
French ad network Havas has increased its stake in UK-based insight and communications group Creston to more than 6%, just days after buying a 5% share of the business. More
US-based TV data collection and analytics specialist FourthWall Media has opened a new division called 'MassiveData', which combines TV viewing data with data mining technologies to deliver audience analytics. More
Nielsen has launched a cross-platform tool called 'Nielsen Online Audience Segments - TV Viewing', designed to help clients target online consumers based on their TV and web viewing behaviors. More
Online audience measurement firm comScore has launched TabLens, a monthly syndicated study of US tablet ownership and usage, based on a 3-month rolling sample of 6,000 users. More
Ipsos Healthcare has appointed Richard Clarke as Global Business Development Director for Syndicated Services, based in Kuala Lumpur. More
In the US, the ongoing Apple vs. Samsung patent lawsuit is throwing some interesting light on the business style of the iPhone and iPad giant - including the fact that it's not so averse to market research as it has sometimes claimed. More
Eye tracking software solutions firm iMotions has struck a deal with emotion measurement specialist Affectiva, to integrate the latter's wireless Q Sensor into its Attention Tool platform. More
Mobile app measurement and advertising platform Flurry has unveiled Flurry Personas, a segmentation of consumers based on their usage of apps. More
In South Africa two former employees of RI and GlobalEDGE Marketing Consultants, Andrew Johnson and Catherine Read-Fletcher, have set up a new agency, Beyond Insights. More
Dubai-based News Group International (NGI) has acquired UK-based Report International and US PR and social media research specialist KDPaine & Partners, and will add them to its measurement company, Salience Insight, while maintaining them as distinct brands. More
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission has put forward new legislation within the framework of COPPA, specifically barring online service providers from collecting personal information from children. More
In Australia, Emelia Millward has left public broadcaster SBS after eight years to take on the same title - Head of Research and Insights - at Seven. More
WPP-owned brand, media and comms research specialist Millward Brown is implementing a new 'service delivery' model across its North America operations, which involves centralizing a number of back office positions, resulting in the loss of around sixty non-research staff. More
Swedish eye tracking solutions firm EyeTrackShop has partnered with Asian research agency Majestic MRSS, to distribute its services across Asia and the Middle East. More
London-based research panel and online community specialist Verve has closed a £0.75m round of funding, which it will use for product development and recruitment purposes. More
Tokyo-based online sampling and data collection firm AIP Corporation has opened an office in Singapore, where it plans to establish a local panel management and resource development team. More
Helsinki-based RapidBlue Solutions has launched a point-of-sale (POS) integrated version of its Shopper Analytics solution, to enable retailers to analyze those shopping trips which do not lead to sales. More
Indian broadcaster NDTV is suing Nielsen and Kantar Media Research over claims that staff at the firms' joint venture TAM took bribes in exchange for overstating ratings. According to the suit, this practice has damaged NDTV's business to the tune of around $810m in the past eight years. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston has reported slow revenue growth of 1% for the second quarter of the year, impacted by a poor performance from its research agency ICM. More
Specialist innovation and forecasting business Ipsos InnoQuest has rolled out a new market potential analysis tool called Vantis*Optimize, designed specifically for clients planning to launch non-FMCG products or services. More
IAG Research founder Alan Gould has joined the Board of online sampling and technology company uSamp, along with Sean Moriaty, who is the former CEO of Ticketmaster. More
The US Census Bureau has launched an API to help developers customise access to its stats into web and mobile apps, with the aim of helping the public view details of America's changing population and economy. Coverage includes demographic, socio-economic and housing statistics. More
UK-based market research agency Firefish has reported a 23% increase in turnover to £7.7m for the past 12 months, and has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Majbritt Rijs as Head of Quantitative. More
Specialist face-to-face agency UK Fieldwork Services (UKFS) has changed its name to PeoplePeople UK, and opened a viewing studio called 'The People Place', at a new location in Leamington Spa, to cater for 'outside London' demand. More
US-based product innovation specialist InsightsNow has launched a new research approach called 'Product Spark', which it says solves the 'concept to product translation dilemma' when applied at the beginning of an R&D initiative. More
US-based research and consulting firm The Pert Group has developed a new qual/quant method called Ad Assess, for early screening of creative advertising concepts. More
Nielsen has partnered with Israeli-based venture capital fund Partam Hightech to launch a subsidiary called Nielsen Innovate, which will help develop and fund business ideas and bring them to market for its clients globally. More
Nielsen has launched an upgrade plan for its Local Audience Ratings, which includes quadrupling sample size across all local markets and doubling it in diary markets. The firm says this will provide broadcasters with 'more granular data' for both programing and ad sales. More
Sampling specialist SSI has launched a US cell phone sample methodology using a new process to identify the billing ZIP code associated with respondents' phones. More
John Gongos, the founder and CEO of Gongos Research, died yesterday at the age of 51, after having been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma last week. More
Customer loyalty specialist Maritz has set up a Business Services division, to focus on the changes being experienced by service industries as a result of the current economic climate, technological breakthroughs, and changing consumer behaviour. More
UK research and marketing solutions firm Progressive Digital Media (PDM) has reported a12.5% increase in first half revenue in its Business Intelligence division, which includes research agencies IDC and the iD Factor. More
MEC Access, WPP's events sponsorship marketing unit, has launched a research and analysis tool called 'Partnership Intelligence', to track consumer interest, media consumption and attitudes towards sponsorship of sports, music, the arts, film and TV events. More
Ipsos has reported a 53.4% increase in first half revenues to EUR 837.0m, reflecting the integration of Synovate into its financial statements. More
Nielsen has reported a 1% fall in second quarter revenue to $1.39 billion as a result of weak foreign currency exchange rates - but on a constant currency basis, revenue was up 4%. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has joined NBCUniversal's Olympics Lab research initiative, to help the media network track consumers' real-time reactions and behavior during the London 2012 Games. More
In London, specialist social research division TNS BMRB has hired former NatCen director Carli Lessof as Director of Development, and former EdComs Research Director Desiree Lopez as Head of Qualitative Research. More
In the UK, a new DIY survey platform called Usurv is to offer a similar service to Google Consumer Surveys, but without the use of cookies to infer demographic information about respondents. More
Yorkshire-based Swift Research has added four wet rooms to its Innervisions viewing and testing facility, through which clients can observe how consumers use and interact with personal care and hair care products. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has appointed former Globalpark sales leader Frank Kleinert as a Partner, with responsibility for building the business across the 'DACH' German-speaking region, which includes Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More
US-based online research community builder Communispace has opened an office in Shanghai, through a partnership with Chinese lifestyle research agency Jigsaw International. More
Las Vegas-based research firm Precision Opinion has launched a recruitment drive through which it hopes to find an additional 200 members of staff for its call center in Las Vegas. More
Canadian crowdsourcing technology firm Chaordix has secured an undisclosed amount of Series A funding, which it will use to expand its business globally and further invest in its Crowd Intelligence products. More
UK broadcasting measurement body BARB is to expand the circulation of its Web TV meter, adding another 500 homes to its core panel, currently just 100-strong. The system measures TV viewing via laptops and PCs. More
The FCC's proposed new Do Not Call registry could be 'a boon and not a burden' for US survey researchers, according to the MRA's Howard Fienberg. More
Millward Brown has announced the acquisition of Chilean research firm Cadem Advertising S.A. Cadem has operated as MB's licensee for a number of years and now becomes a wholly owned subsidiary, renamed Millward Brown Chile. More
Healthcare research specialist WorldOne has acquired US online physician community Sermo, which boasts 130,000 members, a strong client list and its own discussion and crowdsourcing platform. More
ORC International has added two new online sample options, geographical and 'generational' targeting, to its CARAVAN omnibus survey suite, offering interviews with a representative sample of US adults within any one state, top metropolitan area or age generation. More
Japan-based GMO Research has appointed Sarah Jang as a Senior Business Development Director for North America, charged with setting up the company's first office in the region. More
In the US, broadcast trade association TVB has announced the appointment of Stacey Lynn Schulman, former Turner Broadcasting research head, in the newly created position of SVP, Chief Research Officer. More
US ratings giant Arbitron has reported second quarter revenue up 9.1% to $104.4m, with a 31.4% increase in net income to $10.0m. Separately, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has accredited its ratings service in five additional markets. More
EMI Music is to release parts of its 'EMI Million Interview Dataset' to around 150 data scientists from non-profit organisation Data Science London, who will study what EMI describes as the 'most extensive collection of data on music consumers ever shared'. More
ORC International veteran Warren Frankel has taken up the post of President of specialist data and delivery business Ipsos Observer in America, responsible for overseeing domestic teams while working closely with the rest of the Ipsos network. More
US-based entertainment, media and technology specialist Interpret has enhanced its 'Advance Long Lead' (ALL) movie monitoring service with a feature which tracks movie titles up to a year prior to their release. More
GfK has acquired the remaining 40% of user experience firm SirValUse Consulting and usability research specialist nurago. More
MR association ESOMAR has launched a guide to help researchers comply with the recently introduced EU cookie law relating to the capture of online visitor information. More
As reported on DRNO yesterday, digital video recorder (DVR) solutions provider TiVo is to acquire media measurement and analytics firm TRA. The deal is valued at around $20m. More
US neuroscience specialist Sands Research Inc (SRI) is relocating its headquarters from Texas to Los Angeles to be closer to its West Coast clients. It will also seek funds from the Californian investment community to fuel future growth. More
Swedish firm EyeTrackShop has launched a new solution called realCPM, which attempts to measure the actual number of people who view an ad. More
Arbitron's mobile measurement arm has joined forces with online specialist iResearch Consulting, in China, to jointly operate a syndicated mobile media research service across the country, based on an opt-in panel of around 10,000 people. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has completed its rebrand and integration of mobile research specialist iPinion, which has been renamed 'Research Now Mobile'. More
In the US, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has partnered with Symphony Advanced Media (SAM) to test new approaches to measuring cross-platform ad effectivness, directly linking figures from passive measurement of actual ad exposure to consumer response data. More
Nielsen has announced the New Zealand launch of its Online Ratings service, which provides Internet use metrics across all sources and devices. More
In the UK, Ipsos has transferred Belinda Freeman to the new role of Head of Distribution and Merchandising Tracking, with a particular focus on emerging markets. More
Finnish shopper and visitor analytics specialist RapidBlue Solutions has been granted an EU-wide patent for profiling consumers based on their historical and current movements, gathered anonymously using radio frequency technologies. More
UK field agency Face Facts Research has re-located to larger premises in Leeds, where it has appointed former Quaestor field exec Julie Gaughan as Operations Manager. More
Ipsos has launched its Online Audience Panel Data service in Jordan, adding to its existing MENA coverage across the UAE, KSA, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Morocco. More
NBC Olympics, the unit responsible for producing and promoting NBCUniversal's coverage of London 2012, is launching two apps to provide live streaming of the games, using Adobe technologies to enable brands to measure user traffic and deliver targeted advertising to followers. More
In the US, Georgetown University has established a new Institute for Consumer Research, centred around technology-focused consumers and how to market to them. More
US-based agency Food Insights has been re-named 'Research Between the Lines' (RBTL), reflecting a shift in the company towards more integrated qual/quant methodologies. More
Schlesinger Associates co-owner Debby Schlesinger-Hellman has been elected Chair of US professional body the Marketing Research Association (MRA); and also has a new role in her own company, that of EVP, US Qualitative Solutions. More
After more than six years in its office in Charing Cross Road, London-based brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners has returned to its Soho, where it was founded more than twenty years ago. More
Argentinian full service research agency DatosClaros and mobile data collection specialist OnePoint Global have partnered to expand their mobile research capabilities across Latin America. More
In the US, WPP-owned ad agency Leo Burnett has launched a qualitative research platform called MetaphorMining, which aims to improve clients' understanding of human behavior, and specifically of how people perceive and relate to brands. More
Research group Cello has revealed that it has spent £600k in the last year on consolidating operations and reducing headcount in its Research and Consulting division; and is now splitting its business into two new divisions. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access Panels has introduced a mobile app called InstaBid, through which market researchers can access sample feasibility and cost information across a number of hard-to-reach markets. More
Nielsen has launched an initiative called the Innovation Lab, through which it will combine its existing research with external data - from clients, industry groups and academia - to develop what it describes as 'ground-breaking ad effectiveness measurement'. More
Consumer insight technology firm Lumi Mobile has launched a self-service tool called Lumi SURVEY, which it says can be deployed across all major mobile operating systems. More
US-based ratings giant Arbitron has introduced a cross-platform tool called Promo OptimiXer, to help broadcast and cable networks evaluate the return on investment of their radio and television 'tune-in' campaigns. More
Harris Interactive has closed its Princeton, New Jersey office, as part of an ongoing review of its leased office space needs. More
Millward Brown (MB) has extended the availability of its facial coding capabilities, offered as part of its LINK ad copy evaluation solution and developed in partnership with emotional measurement company Affectiva, to the emerging markets of Latin America and Asia Pacific. More
The UK-based Independent Consultants Group (ICG) has appointed Arthur Fletcher as its new Chairman, replacing Andrew Smith who held the title for the past five years. More
Research Panel Asia (RPA) has relocated its Los Angeles, US office to the Century City business center, which it says is nearer many of its clients. More
Rotterdam, Netherlands-based online researcher MetrixLab has announced the acquisition of San Francisco-based MR software and services firm MarketTools Research Solutions Inc., from current owner TPG Growth, for an undisclosed sum. More
Austrian market research company Klufamily has gone into receivership after twenty years in business. More
Two US researchers, Adam Weinstein and Nathan Lynch, have launched a new company, Synapse Research, providing global access for B2B and B2C projects using a proprietary data collection process, Smart Sourcing. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) is setting up a network called Research Aid, to provide charities with access to market researchers on a pro bono basis. More
In Canada, multi-cultural marketing specialist Monsoon Communications has opened an MR agency called Third Eye, to deliver insights into the ethnic audience it defines as 'Zero2Five New Canadians'. The firm will be led by former TNS leader Gautam Nath. More
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London-based BDRC Continental has launched a social media monitoring and sentiment analysis tool called PillowChat, to enable hotels to monitor, measure and understand the online 'chat' about their brands. More
Finnish customer feedback tech firm HappyOrNot has introduced its customer satisfaction measurement device to the UK, where the system is currently being used at London Heathrow Airport to obtain passenger views of the airport's much-discussed security measures. More
In the US, M3 Global Research has appointed healthcare research veteran David Deutsch as Head of Syndicated Products, while eRewards' former CMO and Chief Panel Officer Bill Russo has joined as President of Market Research. More
US member advisory company The Corporate Executive Board (CEB) is to acquire London-based staff assessment and benchmarking specialist SHL from its owners HgCapital and VSS, for $660m in cash. More
In the US, telephone fieldwork company Issues & Answers has acquired Eastern Research Service's (ERS) 78-seat call center in Florida, following the latter's closure earlier in the year. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. More
In the US, an ad association President has told a Senate committee web companies must be allowed to collect basic visitor data; while the FCC has proposed new Do Not Call rules affecting autodiallers; and Canada's privacy commission has clarified its support for opt-out based protection. More
US-based mobile analytics service PercentMobile is to close at the end of this month, with its founders channelling their energies into a new service, Delivr.com, which will provide campaign management, analytics and other services for smartphone marketing. More
UK-based SPA Future Thinking has launched Volumetric Choice Based Conjoint (VCBC), a new modelling methodology which it says will forecast a brand's value and volume shifts against competitors. More
A coalition of US research associations and professional bodies have called on the Obama administration to defend the use of respondent incentives in federal surveys. More
The UK government has confirmed that the temporary spending controls it imposed on public sector advertising, marketing, communications and research budgets during its first year in office, will now become a 'permanent feature', until at least the next general election. More
In the UK, Manchester-based sister agencies Acumen Fieldwork, Aspect Viewing Facilities and Research Opinion have hooked up to form a new umbrella organisation called Fuller Research Group, offering a complete range of recruitment, fieldwork and viewing facilities. More
UK-based insight agency Clarite Research has launched a tool which uses virtual 'Post-It' notes to enable respondents to provide feedback on any form of online communication. More
US brain research specialist Nielsen NeuroFocus has announced a new technique called Neuro-Compression, developed in response to a requirement from CBS TV to find out if a 30-second ad can be cut in half without losing some of its powers of persuasion. More
Behavioural research consultancy SimpleUsability has appointed four new members of staff: Emma Travis, Alex Priestley, Laura Carlton and Sharon Dale. More
Canada-based online data collection specialist itracks and rival firm Artafact have reached a 'mutually agreeable' settlement on the patent infringement lawsuit the former filed against the latter in 2008 - but have not disclosed its terms. More
US-based Mobile Posse - which provides mobile marketing, CRM and research solutions for the 'home screen' of mobile phones - has closed a $5m Series C funding round. More
In the UK, Ipsos has appointed Victoria Kaulback as Senior Brand Strategist in its research innovation centre, the Open Thinking Exchange (IOTX), where she is tasked with introducing the firm's first 'productised' solutions in Europe. More
WPP-owned ad network Grey Group Germany has bought the remaining 50% of shopper marketing and insight agency Frey G2 from its co-founder Ulrich Dirk Frey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The BSI has launched a revised version of its international standard for market and social research - BS ISO 20252 - to reflect the impact of new technologies on research methods, including online and mobile as well as the increasing use of panels. More
UK-based pharma research firm Double Helix is to be acquired by Interpublic company McCann Health. More
In the US, Democratic pollster Alan Secrest is closing his company for financial reasons. More
The Trust Alliance, the recently formed standards and guidelines partnership for online healthcare data collection has greatly expanded its membership with the signing up of three new firms, Medimix, Toluna and UniversalSurvey (SurveyHealthCare). More
Online market research specialist Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has opened an office in Dubai, where it has appointed former Maktoob Research exec Dima Hijjawi as an Account Manager. More
In Australia, data-focused marketing technology provider Potentiate has appointed former Ipsos Australia director Horst Feldhaeuser as Head of Client Services. More
Behavioural research consultancy SimpleUsability has provided UK reality TV show Big Brother with its eye tracking technology, which was used in last night's coverage as part of a challenge given to housemates. More
UK-based researcher SPA Future Thinking has introduced an ethnographic tool called See-Me, which it claims 'bridges the gap' between actual and recalled consumer behaviour. More
In Shanghai, Ipsos Healthcare has appointed IMS Health veteran David Twinberrow as Head of Syndicated Services, Asia Pacific, charged with leading the planned expansion and development of the firm's Therapy Monitor portfolio across the region. More
Online data collection firm ODC Services has launched a panel in the Czech Republic, its eleventh country to date. More
US-based Harris Interactive Service Bureau (HISB) has launched a sample-only offering called 'Get Sample!', to provide researchers with access to respondents from the parent firm's panels and real-time respondents from preferred partners. More
In the UK, media group Future Publishing has recruited former T-Mobile insights leader Simon Wainwright for the newly created role of Market Research Director, with responsibility for driving its consumer insight strategy. More
The fifty largest research firms reported a 5.1% increase in US-based aggregated revenues to $9.2 billion in 2011, according to the 39th annual report by industry authority Jack Honomichl. More
Kantar Media TGI and Nielsen have teamed up to launch a new media analysis tool in Ireland, combining Nielsen's TV data with the TGI survey of consumers' brand and product use, attitudes and media habits. More
In the US, Hispanic consumer insights agency ThinkNow Research has doubled the frequency of its Hispanic online omnibus to twelve waves per year from the previous six. More
App feedback service CatchFree has acquired micro-surveying platform KISSinsights from its developer KISSmetrics. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Panel and research technology provider Toluna has updated its mobile app to enable members of its research community to participate in in-depth 'traditional' surveys. More
TNS has opened its first office in Cambodia, through a partnership with local market and social research firm MSD, which has a network of locations across the country. More
US-based charity-focused panel specialist Op4G (Opinions For Good) has appointed Frank Nappo as President and CEO, and Chris Stearns as CTO; and hired former Toluna execs Frank Hayden - as COO - and Archie Ignacio, as North American VP of Client Services. More
In the UK, consumer specialist Leapfrog Research has closed its Windsor-based headquarters and moved into sister agency RS Consulting's offices in London. Parent company Cello says the move follows an agreement between the two agencies to form an 'alliance'. More
Nielsen has launched a 'hybrid' version of its online video measurement methodology, to track how people consume and engage with online video content from all locations, including mobile devices. More
London-based research technology firm Cobalt Sky has taken a 25% stake in Discovery Group's online qual research tool The Thinking Shed, which has now been spun off into a separate limited company. More
Research group Majestic MRSS has signed a deal to become a 'certified partner' for panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical, and will offer its suite of tools and Sparq benchmarking software to clients across Asia. More
WPP shareholders have voted against a proposed 60% increase in CEO Sir Martin Sorrell's pay package. Separately, WPP says its Consumer Insight arm has been 'stable' in the first four months of 2012, with a 3.3% revenue rise adding to the group's £3.2 billion turnover. More
The Insight division of UK-based Creston has reported a 7% drop in revenue to £13.8m for the year ended 31 March 2012, compared with £14.8m in 2011. During the period, headline pre-tax profit was almost halved from a year ago at £2.1m, down from £4.1m. More
Nielsen has revised its full year 2012 revenue guidance downwards, following what it describes as 'changes to operating conditions' in its Buy consumer purchase behavior division outside the US. The company is now expecting constant current revenue growth of 5% to 6% for the full year. More
Researcher Mark McCrindle has resigned from the AMSRS (Australian Market & Social Research Society), following an investigation into claims that his company McCrindle Research overstated sample sizes in surveys the agency conducted for its own PR purposes. More
The US Congress is considering a bill to ensure federal agencies treat paid research respondents as at most independent contractors, and not as employees of research companies. More
MR bodies AIMRO (the Association of Irish Market Research Organisations) and BAMOR (Bulgarian Association of Marketing and Opinion Researchers) are the latest to join the European Research Federation (efamro). More
Marketing technology and services firm Acxiom has appointed online media specialist Christian Peck as Vice President and Managing Director for its UK arm, with responsibility for product, sales, delivery and all operations across the country. More
UK-based researcher SPA Future Thinking is in 'final negotiations' to form a joint venture with French customer relationship specialist Groupe Acticall. The JV will be launched as Future Thinking France and be led by Stéphane Marder, previously Managing Director of French agency LH2. More
The UK's Optimisa Research has moved its Leeds team to new offices in the city centre, reflecting ongoing expansion. More
In the US, full service agency Delve Marketing Research has announced plans to expand its online data collection and panel capabilities and has recruited Wally Balden as Managing Director of the online division. He joins from CPG specialist InsightsNow. More
Police in Chesterfield, Virginia, USA have searched the car and appartment of a man connected with missing Research Director Leyla Namiranian, but not yet made an arrest. Earlier, officers found two of her cell phones on different roads nearby. More
Research consultancy Kadence India has appointed former Hansa Research General Manager Maninder Khurana as Vice President - Consumer Insights. More
Kantar has today announced the appointment of Matthias Hartl as Managing Director of Kantar Media Audiences Switzerland, based in Bern and reporting to Regional Director Eitan Kassif. More
Magazine ratings provider GfK MRI and word-of-mouth consulting firm Keller Fay Group have combined data from their syndicated research databases to form a new product called TalkTrack/GfK MRI Data Fusion. More
Ipsos MORI has transferred Rob Myers from his role as President of Marketing in the US, to the post of Managing Director for Ipsos Marketing in the UK. He replaces Susan Malcolm who is relocating to Australia for personal reasons. More
Asia Pacific-based marketing and brand research consultancy Cimigo has promoted Winnie Yeung to the role of Managing Director in Hong Kong, responsible for overseeing strategy and business development while leading the regional team. More
In the UK, Creston Group company ICM has introduced a new online methodology for predicting election results, the Wisdom Index, which it is running for the Sunday Telegraph. More
Nunwood has re-launched its UK, US, Australian and New Zealand businesses with a new model which focuses on 'insight-powered customer experience management' (CEM). More
In New York, Kantar Health has partnered with online physician community provider Sermo to offer research services to life sciences companies. More
US-based kiosk firm smartDIGITAL has raised $2.7m in Series A funding, which it plans to use to expand its presence in Chicago with the launch of a new product line. The company makes interactive display units that store and analyse consumer behavioral data. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has integrated Experian's latest Mosaic USA consumer lifestyle segmentation data - some of it drawn from the 2010 census - into its US research panels. More
In the UK, telephone research specialist Facts International has appointed former Lake Market Research execs Sharon Greenslade and Adam Wyles as Project Directors in its Client Services team, with a remit to further develop digital fieldwork capability. More
Britain's market researchers are forecasting higher revenues for the next 12 months, according to the latest RSM 'State of the Industry' survey. More
The South Africa Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) has elected media veteran Clare O'Neil as its new Chair, replacing Sarel du Plessis who has held the title since 2007. She is the first woman to hold the position. More
Former ICM Group Chairman Justin Sampson has been appointed as CEO of UK television measurement body BARB, succeeding Bjarne Thelin who announced his resignation in February after nine years in the role. More
US-based Federated Sample has appointed former Greenfield Online MD Andy Ellis as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development. More
Janet Harkness, Director of the Gallup Research Center and a leading figure in the development of cross-cultural research methods, died on Monday in Germany at the age of 63. More
US-based data collection firm Focus Pointe Global (FPG) has received an undisclosed amount of funding, while appointing Noel Sitzmann as its new CEO, guiding future expansion. More
Digital audience specialist Effective Measure is launching a service in the MENA region (Middle East North Africa), combining online polls and data from tagged web sites to provide insights on mobile consumption and purchase activities. More
Researchers Dorothy and Ray Parker have set up a new marketing research and competitor intelligence company called 4insight in St Helier, Jersey, which offers what they claim to be the Channel Islands' first professional viewing studios. More
In the US, the Missouri School of Journalism has partnered with HCD Research to conduct studies combining biometric and eye tracking measures to further understanding of consumer choices. More
Israeli measurement technology firm Mobile Research Labs Ltd. (MRL) has acquired US-based media monitoring firm Mediaguide, Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, leading edge research firm BrainJuicer has announced that Simon Godfrey intends to retire from the company's board of directors at the end of September this year. He will be replaced by Graham Blashill, who joins from a career with Imperial Tobacco. More
In the UK, MR veterans Hashim Emadi and Steve Elliott have launched a new company, RSVP Research, which will use a 'virtual office' setup to offer clients fast turnaround and low cost work. More
Kantar Worldpanel ComTech is launching what it bills as 'the first continuous panel to gather representative mobile phone data in China'. More
Facebook has bought out San Francisco-based user experience research and design firm Bolt Peters (BP). Survey intercept provider Ethnio will step out from under the BP wing as an independent company, while some or all the remaining BP staff will join the social media giant's own design team. More
In the UK, JRA Research has acquired an online panel of chefs and catering managers, numbering around 1,200 individuals across a range of food service sectors. More
The UK-based Independent Consultants Group (ICG) has launched a new guide to Commissioning Qualitative Research. More
In the US, The Census Bureau has launched two new products which provide detailed data on 'Race, Tribal, Hispanic and Ancestry Groups.' The data sets contain social and economic data and housing characteristics for hundreds of groups at numerous geographic levels. More
GfK has announced two senior marketing science appointments which it says 'sharpen its focus on rigorous yet innovative analytics'. Knowledge Networks' Ellen Veccia become Chief Marketing Science Officer while Mike Conklin has rejoined from MarketTools as EVP of Marketing Science. More
UK not-for-profit body NatCen Social Research has appointed Nick Shanahan as Director of Finance and Business Planning, starting in July. Shanahan is currently Deputy Director of Finance and Operations at the Natural Environment Research Council. More
In the US, location-based data specialist Sense Networks has launched two new predictive location products, AdMatch and AudienceSense, for use in mobile advertising awareness studies including profiling, analysis and targeting. More
GfK is integrating elements of its brand, communication, satisfaction and loyalty research into a new global practice, Brand and Customer Experience, and has appointed Helen Zeitoun to head it up. More
In the US, cable TV and Internet provider Comcast has partnered with Nielsen to test ratings measurement on portable devices such as iPads, tablets and mobile phones - currently a gap in the research giant's 3-day playback ratings offer (C3). More
In Surrey, UK, sampling and panel management software provider MARSC Ltd has announced an online community solution, which combines a panellist interface with a fully featured content management system. More
In the US, design-driven research and strategy firm Bovitz has acquired Resolve Market Research, a specialist in assessing the impact of digital media on consumers and audiences. More
UK Yellow Pages owner Yell has announced it is to rebrand as 'hibu'. Also this week, the company has reported a significant decline in revenues and the departure of Group Chief Marketing Officer Jenny Ashmore after just seven months. More
South Africa's professional research body SAMRA has appointed a new CEO, Leonie Vorster. In addition to serving as MD of Evolutions Research Solutions, she is a former SAMRA chair and council member. More
Recent formed standards and guidelines partnership The Trust Alliance has been joined by online US physician network Epocrates. More
State-run business development agency Enterprise Ireland has opened a new Market Research Centre to support Irish companies in developing their export plans. More
In the UK, BDRC Group has acquired retail specialist ESA Market Research Ltd, for an undisclosed sum. More
Polish MR association OFBOR and Lithuanian body LRSTA have joined European research federation efamro. More
US-based Decipher has enhanced its DIY survey software Beacon with a mobile field reporting function, allowing users customized access to their data while they are on the move. More
GRBN, the recently launched international community of research federations, has apportioned its activities for 2012-13 between member regions, following meetings in London and Miami attended by representatives of national associations in 17 countries. More
Radio ratings provider Arbitron has expanded its operations in Kochi, India, with the opening of a new 20,000 sq ft facility. More
UK-based River Research has appointed Tom Skilbeck as Head of Online Communities, and promoted Zoe Best to Research Director, heading up its Brand Strategy and Innovation offer. Spencer Gray also joins as Head of Audio Visual, bringing high-end video production in-house. More
Valient Market Research has opened a new regional office in Williamsville, New York to support a growing client base in the Buffalo-Niagara region. More
Mumbai, India-based pharmaceutical product manufacturer Piramal Healthcare is to acquire US-based pharma research firm Decision Resources Group (DRG) for around $635m. More
Kees de Jong, the CEO of data collection and sampling solutions specialist SSI, has moved to the role of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has been replaced by Chris Fanning, who joined the firm in February as President and COO. More
In Australia, marketer Jonah Cacioppe and software engineer Mike Kruger have launched a DIY survey app called Floq, which enables users to gather feedback from web-based surveys and benchmark results against companies in similar sectors. More
US-based Qualtrics, which provides software for DIY data collection and analysis, has received a $70m investment from venture capital firms Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital. The funds will be used to expand its SaaS products 'beyond market research'. More
In the US, full service agency CMI has appointed former Ipsos marketing sciences leader Ryan Kocher as Vice President of Analytics, in charge of its analytical sciences team and overseeing all analytic services. More
Swedish firm EyeTrackShop has closed a $3m funding round, which it will use to accelerate its international expansion plans. More
GfK has reported an 11.3% increase in sales to EUR 345.1m for the first three months of 2012, with organic growth of 4.9%. Adjusted operating income rose 10.2% to EUR 33.5m. The firm says its new 'Own the Future' corporate strategy has contributed to the healthy figures. More
GfK MRI has launched a syndicated solution called the 'Audience Risk Manager', to enable US magazine publishers to offer performance guarantees based on a publication's total readership as opposed to its paid circulation. More
US-based sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom has hooked up with Grupo IBOPE and Kantar Media joint venture IBOPE Media, to launch a sports research business in Latin America, excluding Brazil. More
US-based online community provider Passenger has entered the Japanese market through a partnership with online survey and panel provider Rakuten Research, which is headquartered in Tokyo. More
North of England-based Dipsticks Research has promoted Andreas Thorslund to the post of Head of Brand and Communications Research. Three other members of staff have also been promoted. More
In the US, WPP-owned insights and innovation consultancy Added Value Cheskin has adapted its online qual platform AV-id to widen its coverage of the US Hispanic market. More
US-based MarketVision Research has appointed health care veteran Kendall Gay as Vice President of Qualitative Research, leading its qual health care team. More
UK-based insight agency Nunwood has announced the acquisition of California-based training and change management consultancy Retention Specialists Inc. Nunwood already has US offices in Los Angeles and New York. More
Nielsen has written to inform clients it is developing a range of new audience meters and digital tracking codes, for possible deployment in or after 2004. More
In Mumbai, consumer goods giant Unilever has set up its first Indian Customer Insight and Innovation Centre to study how consumers shop for FMCG products. More
In the UK Alki Manias, a veteran of firms including GfK Roper and YouGov, has launched a new consultancy, Alkman. The firm will partner with research software provider Gamma Associates to launch a new automated reporting tool called mTABView. More
Zodiak Kids, the children's division at Zodiak Media, has created an international research department, 'The Research Lab', and promoted François Vallerian, Research Manager at Marathon Media, to lead it. More
In the US, commercial information company Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) has announced enhancements to its sales, marketing and research database D&B360. The new functionality will both increase overall data content and assist with systematic maintenance. More
New Zealand's research and media communities have begun discussions over the way election polls are conducted and the influence they exert over voting, with a public forum held at the country's Parliament this evening. More
Online research software provider Confirmit has reported a buoyant first quarter for the year with more than $15m in revenues, and strong growth in mobile solutions following its acquisition of Techneos. More
In Sweden, shopper and consumer specialist NORM has launched 'Scandinavia's first quantitative research panel of pregnant women.' At least 4,000 women will join the panel evenly over the next twelve months. More
Nielsen funded client think tank the Council for Research Excellence (CRE) is to conduct a three-market study of response bias in address-based audience samples, with the aim of improving diary-based TV-audience measurement. More
Online healthcare specialist WorldOne has announced the appointment of Eva Laparra as MD Southern Europe. She joins from Vision Critical in Spain. More
Research Now owner e-Rewards, Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire mobile research specialist iPinion, LLC, which will be rebranded as 'Research Now Mobile'. More
In the UK, Discovery Group has promoted Alan Hathaway, who joined the firm as its first graduate trainee, to the newly created position of Managing Director of its research division. More
In Singapore, Nielsen has launched an Asian 'innovation hub' incorporating divisions for neuroscience (NeuroLAB), virtual, mobile and eye-tracking technologies (ShopperLAB) and market measurement and consumer information (MSciLAB). More
Guildford, UK-based custom panel provider EasyInsites has teamed up with Mom365, the US sister company of the UK's Bounty Ltd, to launch a panel of new and expectant mothers. More
Sampling and data collection provider SSI has launched a specialist automotive sample, offering researchers access to car owners and buyers in the world's largest car markets. More
Harris Interactive CEO Al Angrisani has reiterated his confidence in the firm's turnaround program, after reporting a drop in net loss to $300k for the three months ending 31st March, from $2.3m a year earlier. However, during the period, revenue fell 8% to $34.1m from $37.0m last year. More
In the US, full service food testing company Northland Laboratories has launched a sensory insights division, to offer sensory research services to manufacturers, developers and marketers of food and beverage products. More
Unilever-owned ice cream manufacturer Streets has launched what it claims is Australia's first facial recognition billboard, which it is using to promote its Magnum Infinity product. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has added tablet measurement to its new UK Mobile Trends Panel service, a meter-based measure of how consumers use their phones to surf the web, engage with social media and act on mobile advertising. More
Canadian digital marketing agency BAM Strategy has opened its own UX (user experience) Lab in Montreal, through which it will monitor and analyze users' reactions, expressions and behaviors while visiting web sites on a computer or mobile device. More
US research agency Phoenix Marketing has introduced the AdPi (Advertising Performance Indicator) Express scorecard, a tool to enable insurance companies to measure the effectiveness of their print and TV ads. More
Canadian sources are suggesting that almost half the c.5,000 people working at the country's national information office, Statistics Canada, may be at risk of redundancy. More
In London, market research consultancy Incite has appointed ex-2CV senior Strategic Director Tom Marriage as a Principal, and Emily Taylor and Jenny Hall as Associates. More
US event-based research firm Healthcare Research & Analytics (HRA) has appointed healthcare consulting and client-side specialist G. Matthias Prinz to lead its consultative custom research business. More
Data collection agency SWAT Research Field Force has launched a new omnibus survey among consumers in the UAE. More
UK-based group Creston plc has issued a trading update for the year ended 31 March 2012. Like-for-like revenue increase is only 'marginal', although the reported figure is up 11% to £75m and the group says it has completed its programme of reducing operating costs. More
WPP has reported first quarter revenues up 7.4% at constant currencies, to £2.39 bn. Organic revenue growth was 4.0%. However the consumer insight division once again lagged behind with revenues up 3.3% on a constant currency basis, or 1.3% excluding acquisitions. More
Kantar Health has launched its self-reported patient database, National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), in Russia, where it will collect information representative of the adult urban population. More
In the UK, behavioural research and usability consultancy SimpleUsability has announced the addition of a new laboratory and observation room to its Leeds office, and the appointment of Steven Lilley as Head of Technology. More
Las Vegas-based Precision Opinion has announced the addition of a hundred new CATI stations - its fourth expansion in four years. More
In the UK, market intelligence consultancy PFA Research has relocated within Cornwall from its original offices in Bodmin to the Tremough Innovation Centre (TIC) in Penryn. The company cites advances in technology which allow a more decentralized business model. More
Ipsos has reported a 46% increase in first quarter revenues to EUR 379.9m, reflecting the addition of Synovate's business. However, it admits the need to integrate the two businesses has slowed expansion: volume of sales was down slightly on Q1 2011, and organic growth of just 2% is expected this year. More
National Research Group (NRG) co-founder Catherine Paura has set up a new firm called Capstone Global Marketing and Research Group, with the aim of 'interpreting the tastes and behaviors of the 21st century entertainment consumer'. She is joined by her sister Angela, former NRG COO, in the new venture. More
In Belgium, the Centre for Information on the Media (CIM) has awarded Kantar Media-owned TNS its new National Internet Measurement contract, with traffic from mobile devices and online TV viewing figures included for the first time. More
Stakeholder and employee engagement specialist Dawn Smith has been appointed Research Director at Bristol-based customer insight and brand strategy consultancy 100%Cotton. More
Entertainment Works (eworks) - a US firm which offers touch screen kiosk-based consumer research - has launched in the UK with the installation of a manned booth in Kingston's Odeon Theatre, through which it will gather cinema goers' opinions. More
US agency House of Marketing Research has introduced an online focus group service through which participants can share opinions, images, text, chat and video from both computers and mobile devices. More
Nielsen has reported a 3% rise in revenue to $1.3 billion for the first quarter ended March 31. Growth was fairly even in its Buy consumer purchase behavior segment (up 2.7% to $800m)and its Watch media research division (up 2.6% to $480m). More
A pollster from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) has been credited with saving the life of a New York City woman, who was slipping into a diabetic coma when he called to interview her one night last week. More
Web-based consumer researcher BuzzBack has partnered with Swedish eye tracking solutions firm MRC international, to offer new ways for marketers to evaluate their packaging and communications. More
Ad giant Publicis has acquired India-based digital marketing and technology agency Indigo Consulting, which offers a variety of services such as usability research and testing, search engine optimization, and social media marketing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has appointed Ipsos ASI's former Global President Anne Hedde as Managing Director of its online data collection arm, Schlesinger Interactive. More
Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has agreed to acquire a majority stake in European online data collection firm ODC Services. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Steve Henke, the President of online qual specialist 20|20 Research, has resigned to set up a consulting firm called Harpeth Marketing, which will help MR companies to market themselves effectively. More
In the US, mobile app management firm Apperian has added crowdsourcing and gamification features to its EASE app development platform, to help developers gather user feedback and ideas. More
North of England MR agency DJS Research has reported a 26% increase in turnover to £1.9m for the year 2011, compared with £1.5m in the previous year. The company is also moving to larger offices at the end of April, to accommodate its short and long-term growth plans. More
In the UK, book publisher Harper Collins has appointed the BBC's Head of Digital Insight Rufus Weston as Customer Insight Director. More
In the US, web and mobile app development firm Incepta has launched a new platform called AskYourUsers.com, through which businesses can obtain feedback from those LinkedIn professionals prepared to act as anonymous online consultants. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron has reported a 5.5% increase in revenue to $106.4m for the first quarter. Operating income rose 7.4%, to $31.2m, and net income 9.6% to $17.8m. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron has introduced a mobile measurement service called the Arbitron Mobile Trends Panel, with a meter using proprietary software to examine how consumers use their phones to surf the web, engage with social media and act on mobile advertising. More
WPP-owned market research and political polling specialist Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) has acquired UK-based First Movies International, which provides online and face-to-face services to the international film industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, app developer Iconicast has launched the Smurk, described as a human-like emoticon through which companies can gauge the collective mood of a crowd. More
India's Hansa Research has partnered with Ipsos to make a joint bid for the new Indian Readership Survey (IRS) contract, which will start in 2013. More
UK agency Holden Pearmain has launched a new service called OTC Intelligence, for which it will interview more than 30,000 individuals each year about their purchase and use of OTC products in the flu and cold, analgesics and skin sectors. More
DIY research firm SurveyMonkey has opened a new operation in Brazil, where it has appointed Monster's former Director of Sales Rodolfo Ohl as Country Manager. More
Kantar Retail is to acquire a minority interest in Dubai-based retail consultancy GME, its franchise partner in the emirate since being formed in 2007. More
The Indian government is taking advantage of current trade talks with the EU to press for 'data secure' status for the country. Officials said India had made significant changes in its data protection laws and that restrictions - which limit the inflow of outsourcing work - should be lifted. More
Martin Filz has been appointed as Managing Director for the EMEA Region at panel and research software company GMI, recently acquired by Lightspeed Research. He was previously MD for EMEA and APAC at Research Now. More
Access panel provider Cint has announced partnerships with Chinese panel Tudou, and News Corporation subsidiary STAR TV of India. The new panels will be available on Cint's OpinionHUB and the alliances are in collaboration with Swedish online tracking specialist Nepa. More
In the US, Triton Digital has announced the launch of an updated advertising platform which will allow advertisers to forecast, target and analyse mobile video and audio campaigns in real time. More
Online panel and survey technology provider Toluna has unveiled a new web site with an upgraded social media voting community. The firm aims to improve community engagement and further promote participation in its surveys. More
US firm Wayin has launched a data collection tool based on Twitter, allowing users to poll their followers and receive tallied results in a specified time frame. More
In New York, global media agency McCann has appointed Lynn Teo to the new position of Chief Experience Officer (CXO), to build the firm's first Experience Design department. More
Publicis Groupe company VivaKi has named Kurt Unkel as President of its digital media and marketing solutions division Nerve Center, replacing the departing Curt Hecht. More
UK television broadcaster ITV has commissioned custom panels specialist EasyInsites to expand its 'Viewback' panel to cover all its daytime shows, including Daybreak, Lorraine, Loose Women and This Morning. More
Richard Surratt, the Chief Financial Officer of radio ratings giant Arbitron, is leaving the company for 'personal reasons' after just 14 months in the post. When he leaves on May 11, Surratt's duties will be assumed by COO Sean Creamer until a replacement is found. More
In Canada, research firm Hotspex has partnered with strategy specialist LEVEL5 to design BrandMap, an online tool that quantifies and links the emotional and rational drivers of brand usage. More
Asia Pacific-based marketing and brand research consultancy Cimigo has opened new offices in Jakarta and Singapore, to enhance local support for its clients. More
IBOPE Zogby (formerly Zogby International) has been re-named IBOPE Inteligência, a name which the firm says better reflects its parent company IBOPE Group's geographic reach in the Americas and globally. More
Dr Robert Groves, the 23rd Director of the US Census Bureau, has resigned his position in order to take up the position of Provost of Georgetown University in late August. More
London-based YouthSight has introduced a new co-creation tool called 'Bright Young Minds', which segments the 'best and brightest' students and young people from its OpinionPanel Community for projects including new product development and innovation. More
Following the acquisition of Synovate, Frank Guo has been promoted to the position of Director, Healthcare China for Ipsos Healthcare, in charge of the division's business across the country. More
US healthcare marketing research firm Roger Green and Associates (RG+A) has launched the Health Payer Council (HPC), an online research and co-creation community through which clients can access medical and pharmacy directors from US medical insurers. More
In the UK, online healthcare data collection firm WorldOne has appointed Harris Interactive veteran Neil Phillips as Vice President of Quality. The firm says that in addition to enhancing its own procedures, Phillips will contribute to improving quality standards across the industry. More
Business networking site LinkedIn has launched two tools to enable the more than two million firms with LinkedIn Company Pages to target specific individuals and groups. More
Marcoms giant WPP has acquired US-based user experience (UX) agency EffectiveUI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
WPP has acquired a 35% stake in retail marketing specialist Barrows, which offers a diverse range of services for FMCG clients, including shopper insights, retail strategy and product design. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, broadcaster Channel 4 has appointed former Red Bee Media exec Clare Phillips for the new role of Head of Audience Research and Insight, leading a team which provides support to the programming, marketing and strategy teams. More
Ipsos has expanded in the Middle East through a joint venture with family-owned business group Darwish Holding, which is headquartered in Qatar. The new Doha-based initiative is led by Ipsos Qatar Managing Director Elie Nawar. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has appointed former Synovate North America CEO Scott Miller as President and COO of International Business. More
US-based usability testing specialist Userlytics has launched what it calls a 'neuro-experience' (NX) testing platform, providing real-time heat maps of the mental pathways that are stimulated as participants interact with web sites, online ads and video content. More
In London, CIE - the insight and engagement division of Chime Communications PLC - has announced the appointment of eight new team members. The new roles include Research, Field Support and Marketing Managers as well as Graduate Recruits. More
GfK has announced the launch of ConX (Consumer Experience Measurement and Tracking), a holistic, customizable tool for measuring, evaluating and optimizing the consumer experience. More
The MENA division of Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has launched its panel in the United Arab Emirates, continuing its roll-out throughout the region. More
New Jersey-based Bowker, which provides information for the publishing industry, has merged its US-based PubTrack Consumer and UK-based Book Marketing Limited (BML) under a new global brand, named Bowker Market Research. More
In London, Creston Group company ICM has finalised a series of senior appointments and a major re-organization with the promotion of Operations Director Neil Sykes to the Board and the appointment of David Reeves as Production Director. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron has reached a $7m legal settlement with a shareholder, regarding claims that the company misled investors about the rollout of its Portable People Meter service (PPM). More
Harris Interactive has been told it can continue trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange, after achieving the necessary share price of $1+ for more than ten consecutive days. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has appointed Mike Leahy President in Canada, overseeing all aspects of its technology, home, fashion, food and custom market research business in the country. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access Panels has unveiled its tenth online panel, this time in Taiwan. More
Market research recruitment specialist Resources Group has promoted Rowan Haylett to the position of Managing Director - Australia and APAC, with responsibility for the firm's business across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has opened an office in Hong Kong, which will form its Asian headquarters. The new office - the firm's eleventh in all worldwide - will be led by Bruce Wells, who joined earlier in the month from Synovate. More
Recently established online physician research body The Trust Alliance has produced guidelines for post-field reporting by healthcare data collection firms. More
US-based agency Forbes Consulting Group has introduced a new tool called MindSight Mobile, promising access to consumers' emotions in real time as they use their smart phones and tablet devices. More
In the US, MR technology and operations company Annik has promoted former Greenfield Online CEO Rudy Nadilo to the position of Senior Partner, in charge of its Global Research Practice. John Bird is also promoted to the role of Partner in the practice. More
In the US, custom market research agency MarketVibes has partnered with broadcaster WFYI Public Media to open a research facility in the latter's HQ in Indianapolis, aiming to help local firms. More
In the US, ratings giant Arbitron has agreed to pay $400k to settle a lawsuit in California in which it was alleged to have under represented black and Hispanic listeners in California, Los Angeles and San Francisco. More
Bob Chua, the CEO and founder of research outsourcing and panels company Pulse Group, has been appointed Chairman of Malaysia-based comms group GO Communications, with a remit to spearhead the company's Asia Pacific expansion. More
US-based online sampling and technology company uSamp has introduced a proprietary Hispanic panel with more than 100,000 members, adding to its existing global panel of around 7.5 million respondents. More
Chip maker Intel has invested $21m in technology firm Tobii, to help the company move its eye tracking and gaze interaction solutions to 'mass-market' applications such as mainstream computers, cars, games and other consumer products. More
European MR industry body efamro has elected TNS-Gallup EVP Andrew Cannon as the new President of its Executive Board, for the period 2012 to 2015. More
London-based insight consultancy Truth has celebrated its fifth birthday with annual revenues of £9m, up 25% from the previous year. More
UK field agency Face Facts Research has reported a 370% increase in sales for the past six months, compared with the six months following its launch in September 2010. As a result, the firm has hired new staff for its project management, telephone operations and marketing teams. More
Media and communications research provider Ipsos MediaCT has rolled out its passive radio audience measurement tool MediaCell across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), to measure which radio stations respondents are listing to in the region. More
In the US, ImpactRx has acquired San Mateo, California-based pharma and biotech competitor AlphaDetail. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based research and consulting firm The Pert Group has promoted Doug Guion to the position of President, responsible for the firm's day-to-day operations. He takes on these duties from CEO Dale Lersch, who will continue in her current role with a specific focus on international development. More
In the US, Hispanic telephone fieldwork company Eastern Research Services (ERS) has been closed down by parent firm Hispania Capital Partners (HCP), leaving an undisclosed number of staff out of work. More
In New York, Ipsos MediaCT and biometric measurement specialist Innerscope Research have designed a new methodology, emoTV, which measures both the conscious and unconscious responses of audiences to TV shows. More
At this year's MRS Conference, a final session and a Keynote speaker left Features Editor Teresa Lynch scratching her head and (therefore?) thinking of L'Oreal. More
In the UK, TNS has promoted Joseph Webb - who joined the company as a graduate trainee as recently as 2007 - to the position of Head of Digital. More
UK consultancy Brand Potential has introduced a panel of 'opinion leaders' called The Fringe, with members ranging from TV presenters and DJs to a previous Masterchef winner. More
Online healthcare data collection firm WorldOne has expanded its network in Asia with the opening of a new office in Shanghai, China, adding to its existing presence in Hong Kong and Tokyo. More
Database giant and former ORC parent Infogroup has dropped its legal case against founder and former CEO Vin Gupta, who in return has dropped his countersuit. Neither party has admitted to doing anything 'improper'. More
The Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of Hong Kong (HK4As) has awarded Nielsen a five-year Television Audience Measurement (TAM) contract for the period 2013 to 2017, incorporating measurement across multiple platforms. More
Online specialist BrainJuicer has reported results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2011, confirming 27% revenue growth to £20.71m and profit after tax up 25% to £1.85m. More
Following yesterday's FTC clearance for its acquisition of two former SDI Health subsidiaries, inVentiv Health's MR and analytics division Campbell Alliance has announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Encuity Research, and the appointment of Michael Turner as its General Manager. More
... and 'the Oompa Loompa of Ethnography'? Features Editor Teresa Lynch on a strange and wonderful Tuesday afternoon at the MRS Conference in London. More
Online sampling and panel exchange firm Cint has announced a new partnership with UK online parenting community Netmums Ltd, giving its clients access to an 'unrivalled' number of individuals in the 'Mothers of Babies' category in the UK. More
US media group NBCUniversal has promoted Ari Perler to a new role steering distribution research and insights for its cable and new media, and domestic TV divisions. More
In the US, client side research veteran Steve Babcock has turned provider with the launch of INSIGHTS Market Research, a full service firm with an emphasis on helping clients to succeed through innovation. More
Predicting the future was very much the order of the first day of the MRS Conference in London. The Keynote address, the workshops and the papers teemed with it and with new words describing it. Who better to navigate its infinite delta streams than our Features Editor Teresa Lynch? More
Entertainment giant Twentieth Century Fox has boosted its marketing and research team with the appointments of former Warner Bros and CBS Films exec Debbie Miller, and former MarketCast MD Kevin Yoder. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has appointed former Synovate exec Bruce Wells as Managing Director and President of its operations in Asia, based in Hong Kong. More
WPP's GroupM is working with Nielsen to develop a new cross-platform measurement service, integrating media planning and measurement across television and the Internet. More
Ipsos has announced the appointment of Synovate veteran Jenny Broughton as a Global Talent Management Partner, and separately has given more details of the structure of its new InnoQuest Practice. More
Location analytics firm Placed, Inc., formerly known as Sewichi, has completed a $3.4m Series A round of funding, and announced beta availability for its forthcoming 'Placed for Developers' solution. It has also recruited Andrea Eatherly as Director of Marketing and Operations. More
In the UK Paul Roberts, a former MD at BrainJuicer, has joined SPA Future Thinking as Group Digital Director. More
In the US, Audience Insights founder Kevin O'Neill and creative veteran Christopher Korody have announced the formation of a new partnership, Audience Metrix LLC, dedicated to measuring and analysing marketers' ROI from customer events. More
Nielsen has announced the launch of its NeuroFocus testing laboratories in China, citing 'huge opportunities for businesses to tap into the unmet demands' of consumers as the economy shifts its focus towards them. More
MRSS India, the newly announced venture backed by Asian firm Majestic MRSS, has announced three key hires to build its senior team. Seetha Sethuraman, Deepak Mathur and Bhumika Bhuptani will take lead roles developing the firm's client servicing and mystery shopping services. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has announced that former GfK NOP Head Phyllis Macfarlane will become its new Chairman in April, following the completion of Vanella Jackson's two-year term. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical has announced revenue growth of 17% to $CAN 72m in 2011. More
UK firm Progressive Digital Media (PDM) has reported 'disappointing' 2011 results in its B2C division, revenues falling to £6.2m from £8.5m and contribution from £2.3m to £1.4m. However, the group said research agencies The iD Factor and ICD Research, which sit within the division, stood up well. More
German eye tracking technology provider SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has launched a portable version of its system called SMI RED-m, which it says makes it easy to conduct market research studies from public sites. More
US company Survey Analytics has added a gamification platform called BadgeFarm to its IdeaScale crowdsourcing application, in a bid to increase user engagement in its clients' communities. More
A suit filed in the US by Tom Robinson and Marianne Grogan, the founders of recently closed media measurement specialist Affinity, claims GfK Mediamark Research & Intelligence (GfK MRI) stole trade secrets while in the midst of acquisition talks, and proceeded to drive their firm out of business. More
For the year 2011, UK-based research group Cello has reported 'continuing strong performance' with revenue up 7.2% to £133m and a 6.6% increase in gross profit to £64.3m, driven by its Research and Consulting division. More
In the US, research software and services firm MarketTools has partnered with new product forecasting specialist Top Box Associates, to provide a 'one-stop approach' to forecasting for new product launches, line extensions and re-launched products. More
In the US, research publisher Gale has set up an online business and residential reference tool providing demographic data on more than 23 million businesses and 206 million consumers. More
Ipsos, continuing its integration of Synovate, has reorganised its largest global business line, Ipsos Marketing - which accounted for nearly half the group's revenues in 2011 - forming four distinct practices. More
In the UK, user experience (UX) design specialist Foolproof has appointed Leslie Fountain to the post of Managing Director. Fountain has served as Experience Design Director with the company since last year. More
Online sampling and data collection specialist Research Now has enhanced its D-U-N-S Number-based b2b screening tool with data on B2B respondents in Canada, France, Germany and the UK, available to North American clients. More
Search engine Ask.com has launched a new mobile app, Pollroll, combining instant polling with a Q&A service. More
In the US, a federal judge has decided that online measurement firm comScore does not yet have to disclose confidential information - such as the names of its clients - to web users who are suing the company over privacy violation claims. More
In Canada, mobile marketing platform Sitomic.com has launched a new solution called QR Code Manager, which will gather visitor statistics resulting from printed ad campaigns and analyze them across multiple publications. More
Marketing services group Omnicom has acquired a majority stake in Japanese online research agency Medical Collective Intelligence (MCI), which works with clients in the pharma and medical device industries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, panel and research technology provider Toluna has launched a new methodology called SmartSelect, to enable researchers to pick potential survey respondents according to specific demographic, attitudinal and behavioral characteristics. More
US-based customer intelligence firm Market Force Information has launched two cinema monitoring services to help Hollywood studios measure the success of their movie trailers. More
London-based OpinionPanel - which specialises in the youth, student and young professionals sectors - has been re-named YouthSight, which it says reflects a broadening of its range of services from its original student panel focus. More
US consumer privacy organization TRUSTe has unveiled a solution to help businesses prepare for compliance with the 'EU Cookie Directive', which requires web publishers to obtain prior consent before they store or access consumer information via cookies and similar technologies. More
UK-based mobile data collection specialist OnePoint Global has appointed former Synovate Global CEO Robert Philpott as Global Managing Director, based in the US with a remit to position the company for 'aggressive growth and scale'. More
UK-based group Chime PLC has partnered with two current leaders of its Insight and Engagement Division (CIE), Chairman Nick Lamb and CEO Crispin Beale, and its former Group Operations Director Mark Squires to launch a new digital MR agency, Watermelon Research. More
Kantar Media has expanded its Global Target Group Index (TGI) network of syndicated marketing and media studies through the addition of TNS Media Belgium's Brand Media Monitor (BMM) study. More
UK Group Chime Communications has reported a 17% revenue hike for its Insight and Engagement division (CIE), to £12.1m for the year 2011. Operating income rose 8% to £7.9m. More
Dialsmith, the developer of focus group testing device Perception Analyzer, has launched a new online survey platform which tracks real-time, second-by-second response to video content. More
New York-based sports research firm RSMG has acquired competitor agency IFM Group in a deal which includes German-based IFM Sports and UK-based IFM Sports Marketing Surveys. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. More
Risk analysis company IHS Inc. has completed the acquisition of three companies, for a total of about $45 million. They include flat panel display market research specialist Displaybank. More
Four German associations are backing a new radio ad campaign to promote the public's participation in market and social research surveys. More
In the UK, Out of Home media specialist Kinetic and Outdoor media owner JCDecaux are launching the country's first Near Field Communication (NFC) initiative. The project will test the public's reaction to interactive posters in Reading, using QR codes and promising rapid data on response. More
US-based online survey and analysis tool provider SurveyGizmo has partnered with customer experience analytics specialist ClickTale to add survey heatmaps, mouse tracking and respondent recordings to its solutions. More
In the US, virtual shopping research specialist Decision Insight has launched a suite of solutions called ShopperIQ, to test and measure what consumers do while in an actual store environment. More
US-based social media sampling firm Peanut Labs has launched a new DIY research product to provide users with access to a 'ready-to-poll' group of respondents. More
Viggle - the company behind a tool which automatically identifies which TV shows users are watching - has acquired San Francisco-based Loyalize, whose technology allows brands to conduct real-time polls among viewers of live TV shows. Terms were not disclosed. More
Nielsen and its partners TV ad sales firm Atmedia and cable operator UPC Polska have been awarded a contract to launch what is described as the largest TV audience measurement panel in Poland. More
The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), a coalition of US media and marketing trade associations, has launched a public education campaign called 'Your AdChoices', designed to inform consumers about online behavioural advertising and how to take control of their online privacy. More
UK-based online specialist BrainJuicer has appointed former Microsoft Market Research Manager Ralph Komen as Client Director in the Netherlands. More
Manchester, UK-based B2B International is gearing up for the April launch of a new consumer-focused agency called 'deep see', which aims to 'get to the bottom of what customers really think'. More
Cara Longo, VP of Operations at MR outsourcing firm Ugam Research Solutions, has died after a two-year battle with cancer. She died on Monday 6 February at her home in Fairport, NY, surrounded by members of her family. More
In the UK, Dipsticks Research's data collection arm Field and Fab has expanded its in-house CATI unit from 20 to 50 seats, in response to what it describes as increasing demand from its national and international client base. More
Ad and brand research specialist Hall & Partners has appointed former Synovate leader Andy Waller as Global Chief Operating Officer. More
US ratings giant Arbitron has reported full-year 2011 revenue up 6.8% to $422.3m, and operating income up 29.6% to $85.1m. For the quarter, ended December 31, revenue was up 7.6% to $120.1m and operating income up 8.8% to $20.7m. More
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has fallen foul of Nielsen after tweeting a request to its panelists on Sunday, urging them to watch her cable network OWN instead of the televised Grammy awards. More
US media network NBCUniversal (NBCU) has partnered with Google and comScore to explore new ways to measure single source consumption of video content on TV, PCs and mobiles / tablets during the 2012 London Olympics. More
In the US, neuro-insight specialist Buyology has hired former EmSense exec Mark Mallardi as Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing. More
WPP agencies tenthavenue and GroupM have linked up in China to acquire full service mobile marketing agency Wisereach, and launch a new company, MJoule, providing a 'holistic view' of mobile consumer behavior. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access Panels has announced launches in Indonesia and Turkey. More
In France, market and opinion research company BVA has announced a partnership with the University of Rennes to develop neuromarketing tools. The academic team will be lead by Olivier Droulers, doctor of medicine and Professor of Neuromarketing. More
According to reports in the press, the BBC's Director of Marketing & Audiences Helen Normoyle is leaving the broadcaster in May, to become Chief Marketing Officer at furniture retailer DFS. More
Nielsen Media Australia MD Peter Cornelius has left the company, following a restructure which has resulted in the firm integrating its Watch (media) and Buy (consumer purchase behavior) divisions under the leadership of former MD, Pacific, Chris Percy. More
Arbitron's Julian Davis is retiring, after twenty-two years in various roles including Director of Urban Radio and Director of Urban Media Services. More
In the UK, global research and analytics outsourcing firm Cross-Tab has appointed former ICM Direct MD Gareth Nicol as Associate Vice President, European Client Services, to further expand its presence across the region. More
The co-founder and President of Asian agency Majestic MRSS Raj Sharma has partnered with former Nielsen MD Sarang Panchal to launch a new full service agency called MRSS India. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has reported a 20% revenue increase to $9.9m for its Advanced Media and Information (AMI) division during the quarter ended December 31 - but due to continued decline in its Home Entertainment wing lost $1.9m overall in the period. More
Schlesinger Associates' fieldwork services agency ConsuMed Research has launched a consumer and B2B panel to provide feedback to a wide range of clients across France. More
In the US, Greenfield Online veterans Hugh Davis and Keith Price have officially launched reInvention, a global sampling and data collection services firm founded last summer and promising 'a more human-to-human' approach to sample acquisition. A London office is planned soon. More
Nielsen has reported good growth and profit with full year 2011 revenues up 8% (6% at constant currencies) to $5.53bn and adjusted EBITDA up 10% (8%) to $1.546 bn. More
Retail and mall foot-traffic counting specialist ShopperTrak Corporation has boosted its planned expansion in Europe with the appointment of a European CEO. Former company COO Todd Starcevich moves from the Chicago headquarters. More
Ad and brand research specialist Hall & Partners has appointed Kevin Ford as Global Head of Research Solutions, based in London and reporting to Global CEO Vanella Jackson. More
Ipsos MENA has launched an online panel in Egypt, and will follow up with one in the UAE later this month. More
Troubled agency Harris Interactive has announced second quarter results, with net income rising to $1.6m from $0.3m in the prior year period; but revenues falling 13% to $39.1m from $44.9m. More
WPP's global retail practice The Store has launched a new resource offering clients access to a range of services covering shopper insights, store design, customer relationship management, in-store communications, packaging and e-commerce. More
In the US, retail performance consultancy Claris Solutions has joined forces with data analytics start-up Euclid Elements, to offer a solution that uses mobile sensors to map shopper traffic patterns in retail spaces. More
North of England-based Dipsticks Research has opened two new divisions - travel and tourism specialist 'explore research', and bespoke consumer solutions unit 'fmcg insights'; and appointed Katie Bryan-Brown and John Vincent to lead them. More
In New Zealand, online specialist Horizon Research has acquired the ShapeNZ public polling service from the Sustainable Business Council (SBC). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The Dutch radio association NLO (Nationaal LuisterOnderzoek) has extended Intomart GfK's contract for national radio audience measurement for another four years. More
Following its acquisition of Synovate, Ipsos has appointed a new management team in Poland, led by Kurt Thompson, Synovate's former CEO for Central/Eastern Europe & the Middle East. More
In the UK, online privacy and compliance specialist Evidon has launched a tool to help publishers keep tabs on the cookies and tracking tools used on their web sites, so as to comply with the disclosure requirements of the ePrivacy Directive. More
In the UK, BDRC Continental's Director of Technology Greg Berry has transferred to the firm's operations arm Perspective Research Services (PRS), where he joins the Board of Directors with a remit to centralise the group's technology resources. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council has withdrawn accreditation for Arbitron's monthly PPM-based AQH radio ratings data in five markets. The reverse means Arbitron now has just nine local markets accredited out of a total of 48. More
Manchester, UK-based B2B International is to open an office in Chicago, adding to its New York business opened in 2008 and helping the business research specialist service clients in the mid-west and beyond. More
GfK has announced revenue up 6.2% to EUR 1.374 billion in 2011, in preliminary figures released today. Almost all (5.8%) was organic growth. Operating income grew relatively little due to specific items including write-downs and recruitment of a new CEO. More
US research provider D3 Systems has acquired 'a significant share' of Nairobi, Kenya-based Infinite Insight, which operates 'throughout Africa'. More
Washington, D.C.-based full-service firm Shugoll Research has announced the acquisition of Virginia-based Metro Research Services, which offers data collection and runs focus group facilities. More
Crowdsourced market intelligence specialists Chaordix and crowdsourcing platform providers Genius Crowds have today announced the launch of a new service which allows consumers, product experts and marketers to collaborate on new product ideas. More
Belgian agency InSites Consulting has announced revenue growth of around 28% to more than 16 million Euros; office openings in Timisoara, Romania and in New York; expansion to 120 employees; and a number of senior appointments. More
In separate developments today, two companies - digital advertising firm CPX Interactive and device identification tech specialists BlueCava - have announced new tools for circumnavigating the Euro Cookie Directive, to be enforced from May 25th this year. More
Millward Brown has partnered with emotional measurement company Affectiva to offer clients deeper insight into the emotional impact of their TV advertising. Affectiva's facial expression analysis technology Affdex will be integrated with MB's LINK copy testing and optimization solution. More
In Australia, Clarity Strategic Research has launched a qual business omnibus called Business Clarity, giving subscribers access to owners and managers of small businesses across the country. More
Japanese research and online panel provider GMO Research/JMI has today announced the opening of its first UK office, and the appointment of veteran researcher Jonathan Sheldrake as European Sales Director. More
In Stockholm and Washington, eye tracking and interactive gaze specialist Tobii Technology has announced a new compact and portable field device, the Tobii X1 Light Eye Tracker. More
The European Commission (EC) has dropped its legal action against the UK Government, over the latter's decision not to prosecute behavioural ad technology firm Phorm for breach of EU data protection and privacy rules. More
Creston has reported 'good' third quarter revenue growth in its Insight division, following the addition of new clients in the first half of the year. However, the Board says it anticipates a decline in Q4 and will make changes to reduce operating costs accordingly. More
US customer analytics specialist Mattersight has launched a service, 'Predictive Customer Satisfaction Analytics', which it says will automatically predict the rating score a customer will give following an interaction, without the need for a survey. More
In the US, BrainJuicer has appointed planning specialist Rene Huey-Lipton as Senior Vice President, in charge of the firm's 'Juice Generation' team, which helps clients generate insights and ideas at the early stages of development. More
US firms HealthLink Dimensions and Billian's HealthDATA have formed a strategic alliance, which will combine the former's hospital-affiliated physician information with the latter's data on the inpatient, outpatient and long-term-care markets. More
In Germany, Bernd Wachter has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of qual specialist The Psyma Group, succeeding Fargel Matthias who is retiring after ten years in the role. More
Media and entertainment giant Time Warner has opened a media lab in New York, aiming to provide a 360 degree view of consumer behavior. The Lab features biometric monitoring and eye tracking, a 50-seat screening room, in-home living room simulation, and a live broadcast capability. More
British polling and research specialist ComRes has hired former KRC director Pru Shelton to manage its quant research team. The firm has also made two senior promotions and is increasing the size of its London-based office to accommodate its plans for growth over the next few years. More
Retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI has partnered with UK independent grocery comparison web site mySupermarket, to provide what the firms describe as 'the first' multi-channel view of shoppers' behaviour in the UK - both online and in-store. More
WPP-owned international communications consultancy Hill+Knowlton Strategies has launched a new unit called Research+Data Insights (R+D Insights), offering both data analytics and primary research. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has acquired Bangalore-based PharmARC, which specializes in analytics and other services for the life sciences industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US consumer privacy organization TRUSTe has secured a $15m Series C financing round, earmarked for expansion of its product suite, which helps companies handle customer data from online ads, cloud services, mobile apps and web sites. More
German research software firm Globalpark has promoted its MD Frank Michael to the position of Chief Executive Officer, replacing founder Lorenz Gräf who has stepped down following the acquisition by survey software firm QuestBack. More
UK supermarket Sainsbury's has finally filled the vacant role of Marketing Director, appointing Heineken's UK Marketing Director and former Innovation Director Sarah Warby. More
In the US, online sampling and data collection company Research Now has made changes to its senior team with three promotions: Craig Stevens to CRO for the Americas; Martin Filz to MD for EMEA and APAC; and Konstanze Just to SVP of Global Marketing. More
In an interim trading statement, research group Cello has announced a 'solid' full year performance for 2011 and says its growing focus on the resilient pharmaceuticals sector is 'paying off'. More
In the US, communications and networking company Mvix has announced the launch of an end-to-end proximity system MvixAir. The new tool allows communication of information, special offers, product discounts or research stimuli via mobile phones at any relevant location. More
US-based software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has announced 2011 organic revenue growth of more than thirty percent, along with the relocation both its Austin, Texas headquarters and its European HQ in London. More
US mobile survey software provider iPinion has launched a passive data collection platform capturing up to twenty-four data types - including web site visits and camera use - from devices. Relevant surveys are then triggered automatically based on the consumer's behavior. More
In the US, Experian Simmons has launched a new cross-platform media analysis service that links consumers' online and mobile activities to brand preferences, attitudes, lifestyles and behaviors. More
Digital measurement specialist comScore has introduced a new metric called 'Validated Campaign Essentials' (vCE), which measures whether online ads have been delivered and whether they have reached their target audience. More
WPP-owned healthcare panel and data collection agency All Global has appointed Hilary Fischer as Chief Operating Officer, US, and Kerry Haynes as Director of Operations, Europe. More
In the US, former NielsenConnect President Jon Mandel has joined TV ad targeting and measurement firm PrecisionDemand as its new CEO, replacing Tyson Roberts who assumes the role of Chief Revenue Officer. More
UK marketing budgets were revised up for the second successive quarter, according to the Q4 IPA Bellwether survey - despite a fall in business optimism to levels not seen since 2008. More
IMS Health has found a home for two of SDI's product lines, after the Federal Trade Commission determined they must be sold for competition reasons following IMS' acquisition of SDI. US healthcare consultancy inVentiv has acquired the businesses for an undisclosed sum. More
International online specialist BrainJuicer has reported a 26% increase in full year revenue to £20m, for the 12 months ended 31 December 2011. In a trading update, the firm says this increase was primarily fuelled by continued growth in the US. More
Market data specialist Deutsche Börse has acquired the 'China Consumer Sentiment Survey' (CCSS) from Intage Hyperlink Market Consulting (Shanghai), a subsidiary of Japanese market research firm Intage. The deal closed in December for an undisclosed amount reported to be less than $1m. More
US professionals have launched a new body, the Mobile Marketing Research Association (MMRA), to help the industry develop standards and ethics for the use of mobile devices for marketing research purposes. More
In the US, social media platform Pollbob has acquired DIY online polling site Mister Poll, and plans to merge the latter's online community of 270,000+ registered poll creators and takers, with its own growing mobile community. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Cint has re-branded its product names to reflect its twin focus on sample access and panel management solutions - and also has a new logo. Separately, the firm has appointed former SSI exec Anita Haddu as Director of Panel Development, Europe. More
Global information services giant Experian has partnered with IT firm Hitachi Consulting to add a cloud-based solution called Site Analytics to its Experian FootFall visitor analytics solution. The combination will deliver site and store-network performance measurement. More
US healthcare consultancy Quintiles has launched a business process outsourcing (BPO) and project management center in Dalain in the northeast of China, with a multilingual workforce to serve clients in the Japanese, Chinese and South Korean biopharmaceutical markets. More
Multimedia entertainment group Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has promoted Christian Kurz to the post of Vice President of Research, Insights & Reporting, expanding his current management of Nickelodeon's international research to cover all VIMN brands. More
UK-based custom panel solutions specialist EasyInsites has reported a 37% increase in annual revenue to £750,000 for 2011. The firm has also moved into new office space and doubled the size of its team with the appointment of four new members of staff. More
In the UK, full service consultancy FreshMinds Research has expanded its senior management team with the appointment of Rosaleen Goldrick as head of its Consumer Goods and Gaming team, and Ross Antrobus as head of the Retail and Automotive team. More
Panel and research technology provider Toluna has introduced a new version of its iPad and iPhone app, to enable panellists to participate in its DIY QuickSurveys directly through their mobile devices. More
Online sampling and data collection specialist Research Now has opened a new office in Rotterdam, where it has appointed former Sample Answers exec Kerem Köksal as Client Development Manager, Benelux, responsible for driving growth in the region. More
US-based word-of-mouth specialist Bazaarvoice has relocated Chief Client Officer Mark Riggs to London, where he has taken up the post of General Manager for Europe, tasked with raising the profile of the company's solutions across the continent. More
In the UK, former JRA Research Associate Director Stuart Green has launched a new consultancy, fresh research. The company will specialize in integrated qual-quant projects. More
UK-based Research Runner - the MR support agency set up by former Opinion Health sales specialist Julian Haste - is expanding to new premises today, after just a year in business. More
In the US, online survey and analysis tool provider SurveyGizmo has reported a 54% increase in revenues to $5.2m in 2011. More
UK-based market research agency Firefish is planning to expand to Amsterdam next month, with the opening of its first international office headed by former Synovate Qual Insights Director Kees Van Duyn. More
Publicis comms division MSLGROUP has launched a global crowdsourcing platform called 'The People's Lab', through which members can share ideas and help clients with co-creation. More
DIY research firm SurveyMonkey has introduced an online repository called 'Question Bank' containing thousands of commonly asked questions across the most popularly surveyed topics - a move it says will ensure that the best methodologically sound questions are used. More
US-based video research solutions provider Qualvu has closed a $1.85m Series B round of funding, which it plans to use to support and expand its European client base, as well as its global operations and processes. More
US-based firm InCrowd - which offers market research to the life sciences sector - has secured an undisclosed amount of Series A seed funding, which it will use to expand its real-time research platform for the healthcare sector. More
In London, GfK Healthcare has appointed Ben Walton as Head of its UK operations, responsible for the support and development of business across the country, in addition to managing and expanding the executive team. More
In the UK, consumer behaviour specialist Shoppercentric has appointed former Sainsbury's Senior Insight Manager Claire Pearson as a Director. More
Database101 - the firm set up by sacked Infogroup founder Vinod Gupta in 2010 - has opened ResearchUSA, a business dedicated to managing its parent's proprietary business database. As part of the launch, the firm plans to hire 60 researchers for its new call center. More
Hong Kong-based Radar Global has extended its reach into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with the launch of an Arabic language division. The firm is also planning to launch a Spanish language operation in the middle of the year. More
Consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research is expanding into Asia, with the opening of an office in Singapore, where it has appointed former TNS sector CEO Clive Little to lead the operation; and a Sensory Science Centre in Shanghai. More
WPP-owned Kantar is buying a majority stake in Oasis Insights - a full service market research consultancy based in Karachi, Pakistan. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based qual and quant data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has acquired Schmiedl Marktforschung GmbH, a fieldwork services agency and provider of focus group facilities in Germany. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online healthcare data collection firm WorldOne has partnered with Physicians Interactive (PI) to provide clients with access to what it describes as the 'largest' panel of physicians in the US. More
European industry body efamro has appointed former Millward Brown CEO Jan Oostveen as Director General, replacing Lex Olivier who stepped down in 2011 after six years in the role. More
DIY research tech firm SurveyMonkey is selling stock to the value of $65m, according to a filing lodged with the SEC yesterday. More
Ipsos has launched its first online panel for the Middle East, in Saudi Arabia. The move coincides with the opening of Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) MENA, lead by Director Nader Kobeissi, in the region. More
Every month Daily Research News publishes over 150 stories from the market research industry and 2011's grand total of items was 1,886. So which of them grabbed you? Features Editor Teresa Lynch looks at the most read stories. More
In Chicago, web based 3-D virtual store research specialist InContext Solutions has received $1.5m in venture capital investment from a consortium co-led by newly launched Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP) and Hyde Park Angels, and including graphics and computing company AMD. More
Business customer solutions specialist Swiss Post Solutions (SPS) had acquired Irish customer insights and analytics firm FMC Insights, which operates under the name 20-20 Insights and specialises in customer retention. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based CETRA Language Solutions - which specialises in providing translation and interpretation services to the market research sector - has opened a new European Service Centre in Limerick, Ireland with plans to hire a staff of 20 linguists. More
French agency Adriant has launched a new methodology using picture boards for measuring consumers' emotional reactions to brands and products, and analysing the key drivers of their purchasing decisions. More
Healthcare market research solutions provider Medimix Europe has moved its London operation to new offices in the City, close to St Paul's Cathedral and the Museum of London. More
UK privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch has called for foot traffic monitoring firm Path Intelligence to give consumers the chance to opt out of its system, which tracks their mobile phone signals as they move around shopping centres. More
In the US, insurance and investment management business Lincoln Financial Group has set up a new Consumer Insights division, with a team of six qual and quant researchers headed by Emily Pachuta. More
Market research sample providers Epocrates and M3 Inc have partnered to create what they describe as 'the world's largest physician and healthcare provider panel' comprising 1.7 million panellists. Separately, M3 owned network Doctors.net.uk has promoted Dr Tim Ringrose to the post of CEO. More
In the US, research veterans Sanjay Vrudhula, Lyle Durbin and Tod Higginbotham have set up a new firm, Reconnaissance Market Research (ReconMR), targeting Texas-based companies with $1 billion or more in revenue. More
UK-based market research recruitment specialist Hasson Associates has continued its expansion with the appointment of former Major Players insight team leader Joel Naftal as Senior Associate. More
Former Warner Bros researcher Karen Barcheski has joined Latino-targeted English-language cable television network nuvoTV in the newly created position of Vice President of Research. More
Social statistician and NatCen co-founder Professor Sir Roger Jowell died on Christmas Day after a heart attack, at the age of 69. More
The team at MrWeb would like to wish all our readers and friends around the world a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. More
In Canada, communities specialist Cambridge Healthtech Associates (CHA) has appointed Dawn Van Dam, former CEO of market research consultancy Health Connexions, as its General Manager, in charge of day-to-day operations. More
CIM, the Belgian Joint Industry Committee responsible for the country's audience measurement, has awarded Nielsen a four-year contract to supply its 'TV Events' measurement system, from 1 January 2013. More
China-based auto specialist Sinotrust has developed a system to identify a speaker on the basis of the specific characteristics of their voice, which it is integrating into its customer satisfaction studies. More
Moscow-based online survey solutions developer Imposant has released a new DIY survey tool, specifically designed for people who are new to the business of running their own surveys. More
In the US, Nielsen and comScore have settled patent infringement lawsuits relating to both firms' online measurement copyrights, and as part of the deal, Nielsen has acquired $19m of comScore common stock. More
Reports in the Turkish press claim that the country's Television Audience Research Committee (TÃAK) has severed its agreement with AGB Nielsen, following claims that staff at the firm leaked a list of panel members to TV producers who then bribed them in order to manipulate TV ratings. More
Company acquisitions in the online survey software market will continue apace, according to a new report produced by industry analysis publisher IBISWorld. More
Paul Walton, the co-founder and CEO of Cello-owned brand development consultancy The Value Engineers (TVE), is to retire at the end of the year. More
Harris Interactive is to request a hearing to avoid delisting from the Nasdaq Stock Market, after its shares failed to repass the market's $1 threshold in 180 days since its last warning. More
In the US, EmSense's Chief Analytics Officer Elissa Moses has left the company to join Ipsos as EVP for Neuroscience and Emotion. She starts her new job on January 3rd. More
Dr Alex Gofman, VP and CTO of US brand research and consulting firm Moskowitz Jacobs, has died at the age of 54, after a long battle with cancer. More
The UK advertising and market research sectors are expected to see spending growth of 11.6% between 2011 and 2016, according to economic forecasting specialist the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). More
TNS Global Chairman Jamie Hall is to retire next week, after nearly 30 years in the market research industry. More
In the UK, broadcaster Sky has appointed Which? Magazine's Head of Insight Harry Mirpuri as Research Director in its marketing strategy team. He takes up his new role in January. More
Waltham, Massachusetts-based engagement marketing specialist Constant Contact has opened an office in London through which it will provide UK support for its suite of e-mail, social media and event marketing tools, and its online survey solutions. More
Canada's professional association the MRIA is looking into a number of complaints about the conduct of Campaign Research Inc., a Conservative pollster accused of carrying out biased and misleading surveys regarding voting intentions. More
In the US, Nielsen has announced the appointment of Rick Kash as Vice Chair and Mitchell Habib as Chief Operating Officer. Both appointments are effective from January 1st 2012. More
In the US, data and analytics company InsightExpress has followed up last week's deal with SymphonyIRI by announcing a partnership with Kantar Shopcom, further expanding its Ignite CPG product. More
In the UK, Creston-owned ICM Group has strengthened its data collection and field services with the promotion of Neil Sykes to Operations Director in the UK, and Rebekah Joseph as Field Director at subsidiary Fieldwork UK. More
Emirates firm SWAT Research Field Force is opening a branch in Abu Dhabi, and has appointed Ghassan Ayan as General Manager for Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Northern Emirates. More
Italy's competition watchdog the Antitrust Authority has fined TV ratings agency Auditel EUR 1.8 million ($2.3m) for abusing its 'monopoly position' and using 'anticompetitive' practices, following a complaint made by Rupert Murdoch-owned broadcaster Sky Italia. More
Ipsos has set up a new operation in Pakistan, led by former MEMRB Country Head Abdul Sattar Babar, who is supported by a team of 30 full-time marketing and media researchers based in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. More
In the US, VerticalResponse - which provides DIY solutions for e-mail marketing, online surveys and event marketing - has acquired social media marketing technology firm Roost. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, TNS has appointed Rebecca Wynberg as CEO of its qualitative business. She returns to Kantar to take up her new role in January. More
SPA Future Thinking's Research & Innovations Director Chris Handford has left to set up a digital research consultancy called Resound Digital. More
Marcoms giant WPP has increased its stake in Chime Communications to 17.17%, with the acquisition of around 13.9m shares at £0.25 each, or nearly £3.5m. More
Hot on the heels of its acquisition of China Clipping on Tuesday, Media Monitors Group has acquired South East Asia-based media intelligence and quant analysis company MediaBanc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Emerging market specialist Borderless Access Panels has launched a proprietary panel in Argentina, adding to existing services in the four BRIC countries, Mexico and South Africa. More
Market research software provider Confirmit has added new features to its Survey On-Demand Application (SODA), which is used for creating, deploying and managing multi-lingual wireless and off-line surveys on mobile devices. More
DIY survey technology firm SurveyMonkey has partnered with equity investment firm TPG Growth to acquire research software and services firm MarketTools. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources say that it values SurveyMonkey at roughly $1 billion. More
UK-based user experience and behavioural research consultancy Bunnyfoot has sold its Scottish arm to former MD Sarah Ronald, who has renamed the operation 'Nile'. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, digital specialist Specific Media has partnered with ad performance specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions to launch 'Shopper Access', a service which combines off-line purchase behavior with online ad data to provide insights into how advertising influences consumer purchases. More
In London, consumer insight and brand strategy consultancy Sparkler has been named 'Best Agency' at the annual MRS Research Awards ceremony, held at the Lancaster Hotel last night in London and attended by around 600 guests. More
Panel and research technology provider Toluna has named Harris Interactive veteran Jim Fredrickson as Group Chief Operations Officer. More
Jeremy Philips has resigned as CEO of the Photon Group, the parent company of insight firms The Leading Edge and Jigsaw Research. Philips was brought in to save the debt-laden group 18 months ago, and 'though challenges remain, leaves with a sense of 'mission accomplished'. More
In Switzerland, joint industry committee Mediapulse has awarded Kantar Media the country's Television Audience Measurement contract for a period of six years, starting in 2013. More
Nielsen has postponed the launch of its radio ratings service in Tasmania, Australia - reportedly less than 24 hours before results were due - citing problems with sample. More
In the UK, field and tab specialist Facts International has partnered with survey software and services provider SNAP, to offer clients an instant and 'unique' update service on tablets and smartphones. More
GfK has acquired US-based consumer specialist Knowledge Networks. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Joseph Farrell, the co-founder and Chairman of movie industry research specialist NRG (National Research Group), has died at the age of 76. More
Healthcare panel and data collection agency All Global has partnered with patient community host Inspire.com, to provide its clients with access to 'difficult to reach patients' across a number of therapeutic areas. More
In the US, The Poynter Institute - which provides journalists with online and multimedia training - is to launch a study of reader engagement with news and advertising on mobiles and tablets. Data will be collected by a variety of means including eye tracking, surveys, media diaries and observations. More
YouGov has appointed former TNS Digital manager Dan Brilot as Media Consulting Director, based in London, with a remit to introduce new methodologies and products to the team's international client base. More
Canadian polling firm Leger Marketing has become a majority shareholder of Gallup Switzerland subsidiary ISOPUBLIC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Swedish market research technology provider Dapresy is expanding its team across Europe, after winning a global partnership agreement to supply GfK with its Dapresy Pro online dashboard and reporting solution. More
US usability and eyetracking technology specialist Grinbath has updated its EyeGuide software to enable researchers to stream live data and observe tests from remote locations. More
Consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has hired former Conquest Research director Judith Henderson to lead its new London office, where it has also appointed Elina Halonen, Katja Lips and Adrian Martindale, and re-located Mark Sismey. More
GfK has won a series of contracts to provide countrywide audience measurement across Romania, the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. More
Ipsos has extended its presence in South East Asia with the acquisition of analysis specialist Consumer Behavior & Insight (CBI) in Vietnam. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
WPP Chief Exec Sir Martin Sorrrell has told the UK government that its proposed tax reforms do not go far enough to lure his business back from Ireland to its original UK headquarters. More
Ipsos ASIIdigital - a global practice within the group's ad research division ASI - has created a new platform for ad effectiveness testing on mobile devices. More
In the US, Prosper Technologies has launched the Automotive InsightCenter, a service offering feedback on how consumers' automotive purchase plans are changing, which brands are taking market share, and if vehicle owners are planning to switch brands. More
In the US, full service agency IDG Research Services has partnered with behavioral consultancy The Motivation Factor to launch a program which adds personal engagement and motivation measurement to its employee surveys. More
Ipsos has announced its new senior leadership line-up for the UK, following the Synovate acquisition. Former Synovate senior execs Dave Hannay, Hilary Worton, Paul Stamper, Deborah McCrudden and Yusuf Ramadan are all included in CEO Ben Page's team. More
Online specialist YouGov has rolled out its weekly brand and product polling tool Launch Monitor in the UK, following its recent introduction in Scandinavia. More
In London, pharmaceutical specialist Insight Research Group has appointed Dave Bostock as Research Operations Director and promoted Natasha Barretto and Jenny Service to roles in its online community for health professionals, eVillage. More
In the US, brand community technology firm Passenger has released an app for iOS mobiles, allowing members access to research communities from a mobile phone. More
Following its acquisition of Synovate, Ipsos has promoted Grant Bertoli to the position of CEO for South East Asia (SEA), and confirmed the appointment of Synovate's Singapore MD Miranda Cheung as MD of Ipsos in Singapore and SEA. Senior European and US roles have also been finalised. More
In the US, health information tech firm Remedy Health Media has acquired HealthCentral, a provider of online clinical and patient community resources and tools. Terms were not disclosed. More
US congressman Ed Markey has questioned Amazon.com about data it could potentially collect from a combination of the new Kindle Fire tablet and Amazon's own Silk browser, which he believes could send information on every site user's visits back to the online retailer. More
IBM veteran Matthias Hartmann has officially taken up the post of Chief Executive Officer of GfK, replacing Professor Dr. Klaus L. Wübbenhorst who has stepped down. More
In the US, multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak has introduced 'Exact Commercial Ratings' - a new system which it says measures exactly how many viewers were exposed to specific commercials in a campaign. More
Robin Shuker, one of the founders of UK-based online qual research tools provider ChatCloud has resigned as MD to 'pursue other interests', just a year after co-founding the company. More
In New York, WPP-owned sister firms Millward Brown and data integration / analytics specialist Kantar Shopcom have partnered to create a single-source panel combining consumer attitudes with actual purchase behaviors. More
Emerging market specialist Borderless Access Panels has launched a proprietary panel in South Africa, which it describes as a 'gateway' to other African markets. More
In Canada, In-Touch Insight Systems has reported a 63% increase in revenue to $2.76m in the third quarter, up from $1.69m a year previously. More
In the Netherlands, a consortium of outdoor specialists made up of advertisers and media agencies has rolled out a system which calculates the number of people who actually look at outdoor adverts, as opposed to measuring all those who walk past them. More
GfK has announced a global partnership with online and mobile research software provider Revelation, to power and roll out an online qual research solution it calls GfK SocioLog.dx. More
In London, Kantar has announced a deal with app software firm Lumi Mobile, whose mobile phone-based consumer insight technology it will help to commercialise. Kantar also takes a minority equity stake in the business. More
Atlanta, US-based Polaris Marketing Research claims to have been 'victimized' by a firm using its identity to recruit consumers as mystery shoppers and then taking their money. More
Research outsourcing and panels company Pulse Group has hired former Gartner executive Carmen Endrina to lead its client development offering in the US, with a particular focus on the firm's West Coast technology clients. More
In the UK, full service consultancy FreshMinds Research has expanded in London with ten new staff appointments. More
In the UK, international specialist River Research has appointed former ICM Qualitative Head Marcus Boyland as a Director. More
Six former employees of Harris Interactive in Hong Kong have set up Anovation Asia, a new full service agency which is majority owned by data specialist Anovation. More
US-based mobile phone intelligence firm Carrier IQ has withdrawn its threat of legal action against security researcher Trevor Eckhart, who claimed last week that the firm's software logs actions taking place on a phone without users' intervention or control. More
North of England-based online research supplier Panelbase has officially opened its new office in London, where it has appointed former Lightspeed Research exec Andrew Pringle as Client Development Manager. More
London-based BDRC Group has expanded its presence in Asia Pacific by acquiring a stake in Sydney-based Jones Donald Strategy Partners (JDSP), which focuses on financial, retail and telecoms research and consulting. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based OpinionPanel has launched two new omnibus services in the UK - the first covering young professionals in their first five years after leaving university and the second covering those aged between 16 and 24. More
In the UK, brand and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has appointed pharma researcher Lee Gazey as a Partner in its health business, to spearhead the division's growth in quant research while focusing on the use of digital and social media. More
In the UK, user experience (UX) design agency Flow has appointed Rob Varney as Director of Design. Varney will lead the firm's brand refocus exercise following its merger with competitor Foolproof at the beginning of the year. More
George Gallup Jr, who helped lead the public opinion polling firm founded by his father until his retirement in 2004, has died of cancer at the age of 81. More
Synovate Retail Performance (SRP) has partnered with Norwegian shopper tracking specialist Track & Trace, to provide retailers and brand owners with a behavioural solution for monitoring customer experience and satisfaction. More
UK polling firm Populus has appointed another two former ICM directors, Gary Muncaster and Chris Menzies, just two months after ICM founder Nick Sparrow joined the firm as a Special Advisor. More
In the US, Ipsos Loyalty has partnered with research software specialist Survey Analytics, to offer clients mobile panel capabilities. More
In the UK, full service agency SPA Future Thinking has made five top level appointments, including Kimberley-Clark's Shelley Watson as Research Director, plus heads of business development, field operations, HR and finance. More
Online healthcare fieldwork firms All Global, M3 USA and Medefield have partnered to launch 'The Trust Alliance', which will promote trust in online physician research through advanced industry standards and the development of best practices. More
In New York, trade organization the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (CAB) has partnered with BigInsight parent firm Prosper Business Development, to launch a new resource to provide advertisers and publishers with insights on African-American consumers. More
Vin Gupta's Database LLC has filed its expected countersuit against his former company Infogroup, alleging sabotage, interference and promotion of 'false rumors' by a company it says is 'not competitive in the marketplace'. More
In the US, out-of-home media buying giant Kinetic - a part of WPP - has announced it will no longer deal with suppliers who don't subscribe to the industry's 'Eyes On' measurement system. More
In the Netherlands, the JIC STIR joint industry body has awarded comScore and Intomart GfK a three-year contract to provide the country's Internet audience measurement currency. The first results are expected in 2012 and the deal runs to 2014. More
US-based Mindshare Technologies has added QR (quick response) codes to its feedback management platform, to enable consumers to provide immediate feedback to a mobile-optimized survey through their smartphones and mobile devices. More
London-based insight agency Matt & John has been re-named - or renumbered - 7bn, reflecting the recently passed global population milestone. More
Millward Brown has opened a new office in Munich, Germany, adding to its existing presence in Frankfurt and Hamburg. More
In the US, the Center for Economic Studies at the US Census Bureau has opened a research data center (RDC) in Atlanta, where researchers can go to conduct statistical analysis using unpublished Census files. More
In the US, retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI has launched a new segmentation model called EconoLink, which groups shoppers into specific profiles based on their attitudes and behavior with regard to the economic downturn / recession. More
US media and entertainment company NBCUniversal has appointed former Nielsen exec Jonathan Gibs for the new position of Head of Digital Research, within its Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media division (E&DN/IM). More
Synovate CEO Robert Philpott has left his job as part of a management restructure, following Ipsos' recent acquisition of the firm. It is not yet known what his next career move will be. More
In Poland, opinion and social research specialist TNS OBOP is to merge with ad hoc research provider TNS Pentor in early 2012. More
In Australia, online panel firms Quality Online Research (QOR) and Researchpanel have merged their operations to create what they describe as Western Australia's 'largest and most robust' consumer panel, with around 60,000 online members. More
In the US, online community provider Passenger has appointed former TNS Global Innovation Director Gaurav Bhalla as Chief Innovation Officer, leading the firm's development of new approaches to customer collaboration, co-creation and market research. More
GfK has reported a good performance for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011. Q3 organic sales growth was 5.2% and the adjusted margin was up slightly on Q3 the previous year to 15.7%. Sales in the first 9 months of the year totalled EUR 999m - up 7.1% (7.0% organic). More
TNS has announced that Maureen Duffy, until this month CEO of the Newspaper Marketing Agency, will take over from Andrew Czarnowski as UK CEO from January next year. More
In Australia, the government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard has increased its spend on MR, with £33m laid out in 2010/11. More
Nunwood has announced details of four recent promotions and four appointments in its offices in London and Leeds, continuing its rapid growth. More
In London, digital product placement specialist MirriAd has announced enhanced functionality for its placement and analysis platform, intended to decrease an advertiser's financial exposure before and during campaigns. More
Sensory and consumer specialist product perceptions has announced a partnership with qual brand developer Deep Blue Research, promising clients richer concept insights and FMCG brand development. More
Qual research and technology company Quester has added Simplified Chinese to the language capabilities of its 'virtual moderator' package, Socrates - already available in English, French, German and Spanish versions. More
Research software and services firm MarketTools has introduced 'Pop-up Communities', which it claims provides all the benefits of MROCs (market research online communities), but without the associated long timelines. More
Eyetracking technology firm Tobii has launched a plug-in which combines eye-gaze data with the metrics measured by TechSmith's Morae usability testing platform, to provide psychological analysis of user behavior during usability testing. More
In Australia, global healthcare group Cegedim Strategic Data (CSD) has launched a Nurse Practitioner online omnibus called NPReach. More
In the UK, consumer research specialist Firefish has appointed radio industry exec MJ Olaore as its new Chief Operating Officer. Samantha Siva also joins as Qualitative Director and Karen Harwood as Field Project Manager. More
Panel and research technology specialist Vision Critical and its Russian Partner CreaMetrix have signed a deal to create what the firms describe as the country's first community panel. More
GfK Healthcare is rolling out its syndicated TCD physician studies, until now focused on the US and Europe, to Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). The studies will offer local market treatment perspectives across cardiovascular, psychiatry, respiratory and rheumatology/pain specialisms. More
In the US, Interpublic's media innovation arm IPG Mediabrands has opened an 'immersion and exploration center', where clients and IPG staff can collaborate on technology-enabled marketing programs and data systems. More
In the US, Patient Recruiters International (PRI) has launched an online patient community called GoHealthPanel, which can be used either for market research or to assist with clinical trials. More
In the UK, online sampling and data collection specialist Research Now has launched a Youth version of its OmniTaxi service, designed to offer a fast turnaround of short online surveys aimed at the 16 to 24-year-old market. More
In the US, full service agency MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc.) has introduced a new Hispanic 'acculturation' model, which it says provides better insights on the Hispanic consumer, their perceptions, and their shopping behavior. More
In New York, Harris Interactive has introduced 'word-of-network' (WON); a new panel-based approach to social media measurement, designed to monitor the sentiment of a given target market. More
GfK Custom Research North America has appointed former GfK Brazil researcher Rogerio Monteiro as Managing Director of its Business & Technology division, based in New York. More
In the US, Federated Sample has raised $2.8m in Series A funding, which will be used to accelerate the roll out of features in its sample management platform, Fulcrum. The investment will also be used to hire new sales, service and technology staff. More
In the UK, marcoms group Chime Communications has reported continuing recovery in its Research & Engagement division, which includes Opinion Leader Research, Facts International, acefieldwork, CaucusWorld, Naked Eye, Brand Democracy and Tree. More
In Los Angeles, US a new social media analytics firm, StatFly, has officially launched with the introduction of a DIY platform for live monitoring and reporting of social media strategies. More
In the UK, Ipsos MediaCT has launched a suite of research tools under the umbrella name of Mobi-Vision, to enable clients to capture insights in real-time via their smartphones. More
In the US, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) is evaluating software giant Adobe's digital audience measurement tool AudienceResearch, which it says can help its newspaper and magazine publishers to report web site, mobile app and digital publication data. More
WPP firms Kantar Media and media operations unit GroupM have announced a partnership aimed at uncovering the links between exposure to TV ads and purchase decisions. Viewers of Hispanic programming will be the first group studied. More
US-based Market Probe has announced the acquisition of Richard Day Research Inc. (RDR), a specialist in financial services and pharmaceutical research based in Evanston, IL. More
Philip Gould, Baron Gould of Brookwood, the pollster who reshaped the image of the Labour party with the aid of focus groups, has died of cancer aged 61. More
TNS has acquired the remainder of Polish firm OÅ“rodek Badania Opinii Publicznej sp.z.o.o. (OBOP) from Telewizja Polska S.A. (TVP), Poland's public broadcasting corporation. The research giant already owned 60% of the company. More
Asian agency Majestic MRSS has launched 'Ethnostream' - a tool combining ethnography with video-streaming technology - in India and 13 other countries. More
In the US, IVR and survey utility specialist Plum Voice has announced a new version of its multi-modal data collection platform Plum Survey. More
In the US, multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak has reported a 17% rise in revenue for its AMI (advanced media information) division to $9.3m for the three months to the end of September. Group revenue dropped 9% to $21.9m during the period. More
In the US, a team including Google Analytics co-founder Scott Crosby has launched a new analytics platform called Euclid Elements, with a $5.8m Series A round of financing. More
Canadian crowdsourcing technology firm Chaordix has launched a solution called Crowd Intelligence, combining qual and quant market research and brand insight. More
Following its recent acquisition of Synovate and in line with plans to withdraw the Synovate brand in January, Ipsos has restructured its team in China. Five 'Combined Country Managers' will ready the businesses for integration while ensuring they run separately until the end of the year. More
San Francisco-based social media sampling firm Peanut Labs has developed its own DIY platform SurveyTool.com, offering access to a sample pool of respondents sourced from its network of social media and gaming sites worldwide. More
Former Harris Interactive managers Amrita Banta and Asha Choksi have opened their own full service agency, Agility Research & Strategy, in Singapore. The firm will focus on research across Asia using online and digital data collection tools. More
Australian research and marcoms group Photon - which owns MR agencies The Leading Edge and Jigsaw Research - has cleared its debts through the sale of its field marketing and retail agencies to equity firm Navis Capital Partners for the sum of $AUD 146.5m. More
Brand and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has opened a mobile market research lab in the back of a London taxi cab. More
London-based full service agency Opinium Research has launched a new division focusing on the healthcare sector. More
US-based agency Forbes Consulting Group has rolled out a new research model called MindSight, which aims to identify and explain the subconscious emotions that motivate consumers and professionals to buy. More
Brand specialist Oracle Added Value has named ex-Illuminas MD Matthew Carr Deputy Managing Director of its Hong Kong office; and promoted Arthur Tam to the new role of Head of Talent Development, Greater China. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released a 'Data Segments & Techniques Lexicon', to provide media planners with standard terminology for data segments and collection techniques. More
In the US, retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI has partnered with online ad marketplace Legolas Media to enable marketers to buy online ads based on user-level in-store purchase behavior, and then use actual product sales data for ongoing ROI measurement. More
WPP-owned PR giant Burson-Marsteller has launched the 'Fan Experience' - a research-based service to understand how consumers respond to and interact with sponsorships and endorsements in the fields of sports, arts, culture and entertainment. More
In the US, pharma market research firm ImpactRx has appointed former IMS Health VP David Gascoigne, to lead the development of its Consulting and Analytics practice as EVP Consulting Analytics, Innovation and Alliances. More
In the US, Qessential Medical Market Research has acquired an 1890's farmhouse in the historic town of Exeter, New Hampshire, where it has re-located its growing team. More
Harris Interactive has reported a 3.5% increase in first-quarter revenue to $38.3m. Bookings however were down 11% for the quarter and CEO Al Angrisani says the firm is still facing 'major challenges' with sales. More
US-based MR association CASRO has finalized its Social Media Research Guidelines, which aim to provide an 'ethical framework' for research conducted in the social media space and for associated privacy expectations. More
JD Power and Associates and Kantar Media have partnered to integrate auto buyer data with stats on television viewing behavior, promising clients the ability to identify the most-watched shows among buyers of particular vehicle types. More
Online sampling and data collection specialist Research Now has launched a new screening tool incorporating Dun & Bradstreet's D-U-N-S numbers, to provide additional information about B2B respondents. More
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission says the parent company of IMS Health must sell two product lines if it is to proceed with its acquisition of rival data provider SDI. More
Kantar Media has won a six-year contract, beginning in August 2012, for the provision of a new electronic radio measurement service in Sweden, using PPM technology licensed from Arbitron. More
Vision Critical has announced a partnership agreement with fieldwork firm Tiburon Research, establishing the 'Springboard Russia and Ukraine panel', which gives it direct access to over 300,000 new panellists in those countries. More
Canadian firm Mirametrix has launched what it claims to be the 'world's most portable desktop eye tracker'. More
In the UK, SPA Future Thinking has appointed Associate Director Jan Worsley to lead Quantum Lab, a newly launched in-house product development and brand insight think tank. More
WPP has reported third quarter revenue of £2.46bn, representing like-for-like growth of 4.7%, but says its insight division grew much slower than any other, revenues rising less than 1%. More
Enforcement bodies from twelve countries have announced the launch of an International Do Not Call Network, meeting annually to discuss best practices and 'encourage the development of robust telemarketing laws' worldwide. More
MPs on the UK Parliament's Justice Committee have argued for tougher action on breaches of the Data Protection Act, including custodial sentences. More
In the US, gamification company BunchBall has announced substantial growth in Q3, and has appointed Lori Macias as VP of Market Solutions and Barry Kirk as VP of Channel Management. More
In the US, readership specialist Affinity is moving its American Magazine Study to a quarterly basis from twice-yearly. The survey combines measurement of print and digital magazine audiences. More
Nielsen has announced good results for the quarter ended September 30th, including revenues up 10% (6% at constant currencies) to $1,413m, and adjusted EBITDA up 7% in real terms, at $408m. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has appointed client side marketer Jane Frost, CBE in the new role of Chief Executive. She joins from HM Revenue & Customs where she spent five years. More
In the US, data collection and analysis platform specialist Survey Analytics has hired social media veteran and blogger Dana Stanley for a business development role. More
Ipsos - now the world's third largest market research company - has reported organic growth of 6.0% for the first nine months of the year, with revenue rising to EUR 845.8m. Growth slowed slightly in the third quarter and the firm is hunkering down for tough economic times ahead. More
In the US, online sampling and technology company uSamp has launched a free self-serve platform offering unlimited authoring and data collection with optional use of the company's 6.5m panellists. More
In London, strategic consultancy Incite has expanded its team with the appointment of a new Principal, Beth Williams and two new Associates, Jenni Welling and Jon Watts. All three will be working with the company's growing list of qualitative clients. More
California-based web analytics and online research specialist Crowd Science is moving to larger offices in San Jose, as it continues to expand its team. More
Radio ratings firm Arbitron has reported third quarter results, with year-on-year revenue up 6.1% to $105.6 million and EBITDA of $33.6m, up from $25.4m the previous year. More
Online measurement firm comScore has failed in a bid to dismiss a privacy case against it, or to have it moved to a court on its home turf of Virginia. A federal judge said the case should go ahead and should remain in an Illinois court local to one of the plaintiffs. More
LA-based casino research specialist Meczka Marketing/Research/Consulting, Inc. (MM/R/C) has launched Players Pulse, a new bi-annual syndicated research program delivering statistical analysis of casino player behavior and gaming markets. More
Boutique MR firm Axen Research has appointed Giovanni Riggioni - previously Executive Director of Global Research at Warner Home Entertainment - as Managing Director. More
In the USA, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering revisions to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which would require parental consent for the collection of 'persistent identifiers' used to build data on online behavior or for targeting ads. More
The Australian Market & Social Research Society (AMSRS) is conducting an investigation into the methods and claims of member company McCrindle Research after a critical report on last Monday night's Media Watch television programme. More
Panel and research technology provider Toluna has announced a proprietary, web-based data reporting and analysis tool, TolunaAnalytics, which will be offered as standard to users of its PanelPortal product and of data collection services. More
Research and technology firm Vision Critical has enhanced its Sparq community software with Mobile Survey and Facebook features. More
Online specialist YouGov has today announced the launch of YouGov France, based in Paris, and appointed Julien Chevignon to lead it. More
In New York, Ipsos Loyalty Research has introduced the 'Wallet Allocation Rule' (WAR); a new research model to help businesses track their share of consumer spending. More
US-based innovation giant 3M has enhanced its Visual Attention Service (VAS), which determines how people are most likely to visually interact with any scene or setting. Previously catering only for still images, the service now analyses video. More
Former Toluna exec Ashish Nijhon has opened Annette Research, a new firm based in Gurgaon, India and offering data collection and analysis, survey programming, panel aggregation and translation services to both corporate clients and MR agencies. More
In the UK, telephone research specialist Facts International has expanded the capacity of its Ashford, Kent-based CATI call centre, increasing the number of seats to around 200 and introducing round-the-clock operations for large-scale international projects. More
In the UK, analyst firm Planet Retail has appointed former Ipsos MORI shopper expert Lindsay Cowan as Chief Knowledge Officer. More
In the US, media research veteran Stacey Schulman is leaving her role as SVP, Entertainment, Animation, Sports & Digital Ad Sales Research at Turner Broadcasting, where she has worked for the past four years. More
Mumbai-based online feedback and survey tools provider Webklipper Technologies has raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding, which will be used for product development, hiring sales and marketing teams, and for expanding its operations beyond India. More
UK-based user experience consultancy Foviance has partnered with German eye tracking specialist SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) to launch a new web site, through which clients can find out if they have engaged with their online customers on an emotional level. More
Synovate Retail Performance (SRP) has partnered with face recognition specialist Firs Technology in Greater China, to provide retailers and brand owners in the region with access to technology and data reporting for stores. More
Canadian Voice-of-Customer (VoC) analytics specialist iPerceptions has introduced a sampling solution for mobile visitors to web sites, issuing random survey invites on arrival at the site and gathering feedback immediately after the visit. More
US eye tracking specialist Grinbath has rolled out EyeGuide, a system including hardware and software developed by usability researchers at Texas Tech University. More
German product, pricing and marketing strategy specialist Simon-Kucher has seen a 19% increase in revenue for the first three quarters of 2011, to EUR 86.5m. More
In the UK, consumer insight specialist Engage Research has reported a 13% increase in sales for the year ended 31 March 2011, with turnover up to £2.7m. More
TNS has today announced the appointment of Kristin Sharp as global COO of its qualitative business, starting immediately. She joins from Ipsos' US qual division Understanding UnLtd, of which she was CEO and President. More
Aegis Media has launched its communications insight and evaluation company aevolve in Malaysia and appointed Mark Chaves to lead it as Chief Insight Officer. More
David Primrose has returned to Paisley's RFM Research as Director of Market Research, following the recent closure of Edinburgh-based George Street Research. More
Damon Thomas is the latest to join fast-growing UK-based specialist MR recruiter Hasson Associates. More
The Australian wing of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has today announced the establishment of a Mobile Advertising Council (MAC), its fourth working group. More
Maritz Research has moved into its new offices in High Wycombe, UK, making room as it continues rapid European growth. More
UK-based media and marketing analytics firm Ebiquity has acquired Australian media analytics consultancy Falkner Media Management (FMM) for an initial consideration of $AUD 4m (£2.5m). An additional $AUD 1.9m will be paid if the firm meets certain performance criteria by 2014. More
US-based retail store analysis specialist ShopperTrak has established a presence in Europe through the purchase of RCT Analytics, which develops a range of solutions to count consumers at shopping centres and retailers across the UK. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based IFF Research has promoted five of its team members, including Ben Davies who takes up the role of Director. More
In the US, Experian Simmons has completed tests of a 'pioneering' research initiative, which aims to link smartphone behavior with insights on consumer brand preferences, multi-platform media consumption, demographics and attitudes. More
UK book market specialist BML Bowker has launched a new service to track the purchasing habits of e-book consumers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. More
Kantar Health has added five new tumor types to its CancerMPact Treatment Architecture China platform, to provide analysis of the current clinical management of cancer across the country. More
US-based research technology firm MarketTools has integrated its Zoomerang DIY online survey and polling tools into its flagship CustomerSat tool. More
Ipsos has completed its acquisition of Synovate for £528.8m - up £3.8m from the previously agreed figure of £525m - to form the third largest market research company in the world. More
The Czech Association for Internet Advertising (SPIR) has withdrawn its three-year online audience measurement contract with comScore, and given the project back to former provider Gemius and partner Mediaresearch. More
US-based BIGinsight has launched the 'Hispanic InsightCenter' platform, tracking how Hispanics feel about the economy, where they are shopping, their spending patterns and how they are using media such as smartphones and tablet devices. More
In the UK, consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has launched an approach to packaging research which uses psychology and sensory science to extract the non-conscious elements of the consumer decision-making process. More
US-based Internet and mobile monitoring specialist Keynote Systems has bought DeviceAnywhere, which offers testing and monitoring of mobile web sites and apps via a cloud-based platform. The deal is valued at c.$60m in cash, plus up to $30m based on future earnings. More
In Australia, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has officially launched its online audience measurement methodology and service, after what it describes as 'an exhaustive process and review'. September data will be available next week. More
Full service agency SPA Future Thinking has launched two new packaging development tools, 'PackPotential' and 'PackPerfect', which integrate behavioural and emotional techniques into its traditional methodologies. More
Full service agency and fieldwork provider Focus-Suites Asia (FSPL Asia) has opened a new operation in Sri Lanka, offering one-way-mirrors, usability testing labs, online panels, eye tracking services and mystery shopping. More
Fast-growing UK-based consultancy Truth and its start-up investor The College Group have announced a 'major new investment' - thought to be between £20m and £25m - from venture capital fund Vitruvian Partners LLP. More
In the UK, YouGov has announced preliminary results for the year ended 31 July 2011, with revenue growing 26.9% to 56.1m and adjusted operating profit 39.5% to £5.3m. The results reflect organic revenue growth of 9% as well as US acquisitions. More
In Sao Paulo, Brazil, former senior execs of Ipsos and Synovate have launched a new research consultancy, Animux, along with an immediate strategic alliance with consumer behaviour and emotion assessment specialist Hotspex. More
Sun Microsystems co-founder Scott McNealy has formally launched his new company WayIn, which he describes as 'a little bit of Facebook, a little bit of Twitter, and a big chunk of SurveyMonkey.' More
In India, Radio Audience Measurement (RAM), a division of TAM Media Research has announced plans to expand its coverage of listening habits by nine cities, bringing the total to thirteen. The company has also released data on the new locations collected from May to August this year. More
In the UK, mobile data collection specialist OnePoint Global has announced the launch of the TellMe App, which allows respondents to upload pictures, barcodes, video and voice as well as sending geo-location information to researchers. More
WPP's consumer insight group Kantar has acquired the remaining shares in Lanka Market Research Bureau (LMRB), in which it already had a 49% stake. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Global translation company Lingo24 has appointed former Survey Sampling International (SSI) EU Operations Director Mark Slobbe as Director of Americas and a member of its Board, with a remit to build the firm's strategy for the market research industry across North America. More
Customer feedback platform provider Opinionmeter International has updated its research survey app for the iOS, to simplify the process of capturing respondent location data. More
Industry initiative the Co-Creation Forum has launched a moderated network through which industry professionals can discuss issues and collaborate online. More
Danish toy manufacturer LEGO has rolled out an online 'open innovation' and crowd sourcing platform, through which consumers can submit and vote for their favourite new product ideas. Consumers who have their ideas chosen will earn 1% of the total net sales of the product. More
UK television measurement body BARB has called for those involved in the industry to join a new working group, with the aim of co-ordinating the use of data and further developing the potential for TV measurement. More
In the US, the Board of call center outsourcing giant Convergys has approved a program to repurchase up to $200m worth of stock, using cash generated from the business and proceeds from asset sales. More
Arthur C. Nielsen Jr. - the son of the research company's founder Arthur C. Nielsen, and former Chairman of the business - died in Winnetka, IL on Monday, at the age of 92. More
GfK has acquired the remaining 26% stake in GfK Egypt; and has strengthened its presence in Japan, buying out one of the partners in its joint venture and acquiring a mystery shopping business. More
Three professional associations from the US and UK have formed a coalition with the aim of defining, developing and promoting global industry standards for social media measurement. More
US-based customer feedback specialist Mindshare Technologies has closed a $20m investment deal, supporting its strategy of 'rapid growth through innovation and new product development'. More
Global pharma data collection specialist WorldOne has appointed former Medefield MD Gerald Wackert as MD for its recently opened German operation. More
London-based BDRC Group - which in the UK includes BDRC Continental and Perspective Research Services - has opened an office in Singapore, headed by former employee Piers Lee who recently left his role as MD of Kadence Asia Pacific. More
TNS has appointed Research International veteran Mark Kingsbury as Global Head of Marketing Sciences, based in the UK and responsible for building the firm's existing technical capabilities and developing new solutions. More
UK agencies Ci Research and Brand Vista have launched the Brand Alignment Monitor (BAM), a tool promising a 360 degree analysis of how well a brand measures up to its vision and values. More
US-based UpSellit - which focuses on reducing 'site abandonment' - has released the Dynamic Exit Survey; a tool to gather insight about why consumers abandon their online shopping carts. More
Japanese consulting services specialist Nomura Research Institute (NRI) has acquired a 25.1% stake in New Delhi-based Market Xcel Data Matrix, through which it plans to expand its research and consulting business activities to India. More
California-based Democrat pollster André Pineda died last Tuesday at the age of 46, reportedly jumping to his death from Pasadena's Colorado Street Bridge. More
Despite a New York court's rejection of TRA's attempt to block the roll-out of Kantar's RapidView solution on the grounds of patent infringement, TRA has asked the courts to consider a further claim that WPP/Kantar 'improperly used' its trade secrets during development of the tool. More
Research outsourcing and panels company Pulse Group has reported a drop in operating profit from $271k to just $50k for the financial year ended 31 May 2011, on a reduced revenue of $1.6m (down from $1.7m). More
In the US, multi-screen measurement company Rentrak has announced an agreement to integrate its StationView Essentials TV ratings data into the media software solutions of communications and IT specialist Harris Corporation. More
Research agency BrainJuicer has moved its Dutch office from Rotterdam to Amsterdam in order to be closer to existing clients. More
Harris Interactive's results for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2011 show a further decline in revenues in real terms, and a significant rise in operating loss. Recently appointed Interim CEO Al Angrisani says there is 'not going to be a quick or easy fix' for the company's problems. More
Ipsos has successfully completed the EUR 200 million rights issue it announced three weeks ago, reporting strong demand for the shares. The money will be used to part-fund the company's acquisition of Synovate, alongside existing cash and credit, and a EUR 250m loan. More
Media agency Starcom USA has announced the appointment of Chad Maxwell to the new position of SVP Research Intelligence Director. He worked previously at the agency's sister company Razorfish. More
Research software provider Voxco has announced three senior appointments strengthening its presence in France and Germany. More
In the US, ORC International has enhanced its suite of CARAVAN omnibus surveys with the addition of a youth service targeting teens and younger adults, and a parent omnibus. The firm has also expanded its Online CARAVAN International service into 12 new countries. More
Canadian newspaper research body NADbank has partnered with Nielsen to launch an 'Integrated Newspaper Planning Tool', which combines analysis of a newspaper's print and web site reach to assess overall impact. More
US-based customer feedback specialist Mindshare Technologies has reported 33% revenue growth to $1.6m for the year 2010, and claims to be on target for 40% growth in 2011. More
In New York, pharma data collection specialist WorldOne has appointed Mergemarket co-founder Richard Hall as Chief Operating Officer, focused on managing and expanding the firm's operations. More
European agency SKOPOS Market Insight has rolled out its NEKXT mystery shopping service in the UK. More
A New York federal judge has rejected TRA's attempt to block the roll-out of Kantar Media's RapidView media planning tool, which TRA claimed was a direct 'rip-off' of its own Media TRAnalytics tool. More
P\S\L Group company Instar has rolled out its online pharma quant research service Instar OnDemand in Europe and Asia, and appointed former Synovate Healthcare exec Jean-Olivier Marty to spearhead the launch. More
Former Nielsen exec Christine Earl has been granted a federal appeals court ruling to press ahead with her discrimination case against her former employer, who she claims sacked her because of her age and health problems. More
Respondent 'twilight', ghost stories, echoing halls, strange languages and geeky folk gathered in the chapel... Not the next fantasy blockbuster but the annual conference of the Association for Survey Computing, an alternative to ESOMAR thoroughly enjoyed by Features Editor Teresa Lynch. More
Social media management firm Spredfast has raised a further $12m, which it will use to expand its social media management, monitoring and analysis platform. More
GfK has launched a new panel of Turkish consumers, billed as the first to use in-home scanning technology to provide insights based on actual purchase data. More
US-based customer intelligence firm Market Force Information has raised $15m, which it plans to use to grow both organically and through acquisitions. This follows last week's acquisition of UK-based mystery shopping specialist Retail Eyes. More
In the US, Kurt Knapton has returned to e-Rewards as President and CEO, following the recent resignation of Chris Havemann. More
Research consultancy Kadence International has promoted Greg Clayton to MD for Singapore, replacing the departing Piers Lee; and is gearing up to expand in the region with the relocation of Phil Steggals from the UK, the hiring of Natalie Sew Hoy and a major office refurbishment. More
US-based data collection agency MRops has appointed former RONIN General Manager Rafal Gajdamowicz as Director of its European business, based in London. More
Family, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to former Millward Brown MD Tony Copeland, who died recently aged 66 after a short illness. Copeland is credited with leading the development of the agency's international network of offices in the late 1980s and 1990s. More
Nielsen has moved to reassure clients and investors that an error in the set-up of its NPower data processing system will have no impact on its commercial data, ratings and projections, after potential problems were apparently overplayed on Wednesday. More
York, UK-based agency Qa Research is opening a new office in Glasgow, to enhance its service for potential new clients in Scotland More
In the UK, marketing services and print group St. Ives Plc has acquired Twickenham-based retail and consumer consultancy Pragma for an initial £3.3m, rising to a maximum of £6m with payments based on current-year performance. More
Kantar Media has announced the promotion of Antonio Carvalho to Chief Research Officer, heading up a new London-based Audiences Central Research Unit. He reports to Global Head of Products and Services, John Gill. More
Kathy Pilhuj, SVP of Data Collection at Scarborough Research, has died aged 61. She spent 23 years at the firm, recently managing its two telephone interviewing centers where she was responsible for a number of innovations. More
In the US, Thinkspeed, a crowd sourcing platform for the IT industry, has announced its receipt of seed funding from private equity firm Virgo Capital. More
Customer experience specialist Maritz Research has announced a new measurement technique examining 'Make or Break' factors in customer relationships. More
Fast-growing innovation technology firm Affinnova has announced three senior promotions. Lang Leonard adds the title of COO to that of CFO; Amit Dhand becomes EVP heading the Global Client Services team; and Kevin Karty becomes VP of Analytics. More
In the UK, yearling agency SPA Future Thinking has acquired full-service media and technology specialist Essential Research for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, six shopper research specialists have formed an alliance to offer marketers an integrated resource for shopper insights. The new organization will be called Mindtap Insight Network. More
US-based neuromarketing firm Innerscope Research has closed the final tranche of a $9.4million round of Series A funding. More
India's Media Research Users Council (MRUC) has elected Hormusji N Cama, Director of Gujarati daily paper Bombay Samachar, as its new Chairman. He replaces Lloyd Mathias. More
Vision Critical has today launched a Customer Experience Management (CEM) platform, which automates the collection of data from multiple sources and analyzes it in real time. More
Neuromarketing specialist EmSense may be sold and/or broken up, according to reports in the press and comments by one of its senior execs. The firm is said not to be taking any new project work, pending the results of sales negotiations. More
Gloucestershire-based medical data collection specialist Gillian Kenny Associates (GKA) has branched into consumer and b2b research with the launch of a new company, Angelfish. More
In the US, research software provider GutCheck has launched a mobile version of its instant online qual solution for fast turnaround targeted respondents. More
UK-based real-time voice of the customer software specialist Fizzback has been bought by NICE, provider of cross-channel analytics-based solutions - for $80 million in cash. The deal is expected to close next month. More
Database giant and former ORC parent Infogroup is suing its founder and former CEO Vin Gupta for illegal practices including the alleged theft of its database. More
TNS Gallup, part of the Kantar Media network, has won a continuation of its contract to provide the currency for measurement of TV audiences in Denmark, taking it up to the end of 2015. More
Voxco has announced a new online survey software platform, Acuity4Survey, which it says combines faster creation and deployment of surveys with an emphasis on engaging and visually-rich content, thereby boosting response rates. More
Surrey, UK-based MARSC Ltd has upgraded its sampling and panel management software. New features include options for alternative sampling methods and the import of external list files so as to target or exclude certain groups. More
US-based customer intelligence firm Market Force Information has bought into Europe with the acquisition of UK-based customer experience and mystery shopping provider Retail Eyes. Terms were not disclosed. More
Mike Moran, EVP of Audit Services at the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), is about to retire after more than 30 years with the organization. He will be replaced by colleague Scott Hanson, who currently serves as SVP, Electronic and Centralized Auditing. More
Online sample provider uSamp has hired eight new members of staff to support the growth of its recently opened London office. More
In South Africa, Ipsos Markinor has introduced a new omnibus serviced called Omni-Express, to help clients measure consumer opinion and attitudes across the country. More
Northumberland, UK-based online research supplier Panelbase has appointed former Ugam Research Solutions manager Joerg Schymczyk as Sales Director, responsible for setting up a London office and developing international business. More
UK agency Ci Research has launched Ci Nation, an online tool which offers clients a rapid means of communicating with their customers for continuous and ad hoc research, including online polls, discussion groups and live online chats. More
US-based data collection agency Metro Research Services has moved its focus group facility across town in Alexandria, VA, to larger premises. More
Full service agency InsightAsia has launched in Europe as Insight International, and appointed former ActiveGroup European MD Dan Foreman as Chief Executive Officer, based in London. More
In Australia, STW Group's research consultancy AMR has opened a new office in Brisbane, and expanded its teams in Sydney and Melbourne with a number of new appointments. More
Online panel and survey technology firm Toluna has launched PanelPortal Connect, which integrates its community management platform PanelPortal with Facebook. More
Kantar Health has rolled out its international self-reported patient database - the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) - in Brazil. More
Online sample provider uSamp has enhanced its self-service panel access platform SampleMarket, to enable users to add multiple suppliers of survey respondents to their projects. More
UK-based online specialist Tpoll has appointed former Harris Interactive youth research leader Stephen Mellor as Qualitative Director, with a remit to develop the agency's qual offering. More
UK polling firm Populus has appointed ICM founder Nick Sparrow as a Special Advisor, providing guidance on business growth and methodological innovation. More
Private investor Fieldstone Equity is backing US-based Paradigm Sample with an undisclosed sum, for use in accelerating growth in the mobile data collection and sample re-sale sectors. More
US-based research technology firm Decipher has integrated new mobile capabilities into its Beacon DIY research software suite. More
In the US, pharma market research firm ImpactRx has acquired 100% of TargetRx, which helps pharmaceutical companies understand the drivers of physician behavior. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The market research industry has returned to growth following two 'very challenging years', according to ESOMAR's Global Market Research 2011 report. Global turnover rose to US $31.2 billion in 2010, representing a total year-on-year growth of 5.2%, or 2.8% allowing for inflation. More
International online specialist BrainJuicer has reported a 26% increase in revenue to £9.09m for the six months ended 30 June 2011 (H1 2010 £7.21m), driven by 'strong growth' in the US, which accounted for 33% of total revenues. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has opened a new office in Japan, where it has partnered with technology-based market research firm Borders, to offer access to more than 500,000 panellists across the country. More
The Research & Consulting division at UK insight and marketing group Cello has seen a 6.0% increase in gross profit to £19.6m and a 16% rise in headline operating profit to £3.7m for the first six months of the year, despite a 1.3% drop in revenue to £31m. More
Survey reporting and distribution company Dapresy has formed a new global support operation, headed by former Kantar exec Raymond van Loon as Senior After Sales Manager. More
Edinburgh-based George Street Research has entered liquidation after more than two decades as a significant player in Scottish MR. More
In London, Ipsos MediaCT has established a test panel of just over 350 respondents for its mobile phone-based radio measurement system, MediaCell. The move follows successful initial trials of the device. More
Tokyo-based firms AIP Corporation and M3, Inc. have announced an alliance - including a share transfer - to deliver global healthcare research centred in rapidly growing Southeast Asian countries. More
Nielsen has formed a strategic alliance with India-based Informate Mobile Intelligence, which uses on-device metering technology installed on panellists' handsets. More
The son of movie director Oliver Stone has co-founded a new firm which provides TV and film producers with access to a database of 60 million moviegoers willing to participate in pre-launch film and TV test research. More
In the US, online community provider CrowdGather has acquired community-building platform Yuku.com for a reported $750k, thereby adding a wide range of popular forums to its network. More
In the UK, online pollster YouGov has teamed up with Cambridge University to launch a not-for-profit thinktank, through which 'world-class thinkers' can connect with public opinion research. More
Brazilian mobile software developer Tapps has launched Formz - an app that transforms an iPad into a tool for conducting surveys. More
Ipsos is planning to issue around EUR 200m worth of new shares, to part-fund its acquisition of Synovate. More
Healthcare data collection agency WorldOne has secured a $25m investment, which it plans to use to accelerate global expansion and fund development of new business lines. More
In a move bound to raise a few eyebrows, the Cabinet Office has commissioned The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to study the motives behind those involved in the recent UK riots. More
ADM Processing has opened a new 72-seat CATI telephone centre in Tananarive, Madagascar, staffed by a team of French-speaking interviewers and supervisors. More
Bielefeld, Germany-based online research specialist Interrogare has opened a new office in Berlin, from which to focus on expanding its dedicated mobile research services. More
US-based ethnography specialist Luth Research has introduced ZQ Digital Tribe - an online tool used to track the 'digital lives' of a panel of 200 individuals over a period of up to three months. More
WPP-owned ad agency network Grey Group has partnered with Eastern Advertising in Taiwan, to offer full service capabilities including market research, strategic planning, PR and a range of advertising and marketing options across the country. More
Panel and research technology firm Vision Critical has partnered with panel provider Nine Rewards, gaining access to more than a million new panellists in Australia and New Zealand. More
In the UK, TNS Omnibus has launched ChatterBus, which offers access in short time segments to general or targeted groups via an online community format. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has accredited the Nielsen Online Campaign Ratings measurement system, launched recently to provide overnight audience reach, frequency, and Gross Rating Points (GRPs) for Internet display and video advertising. More
Online survey and reporting software company Confirmit has acquired mobile survey technology provider Techneos Systems, and will add its solutions to the Horizons reporting tool. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kantar has acquired research technology and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite), which it will combine with own online panel specialist Lightspeed Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Maritz Research has acquired Wiesbaden, Germany-based MR consultancy Imagin AG, a specialist in stakeholder and customer feedback management; along with subsidiary call centre company Customer Care International GmbH (CCI). More
In the UK, b2b media group Emap International has appointed Duncan Painter as its new CEO, replacing David Gilbertson, who stepped down in May. Painter is currently MD of customer intelligence provider Sky IQ and previously led consulting group ClarityBlue. More
Indian sources are suggesting that the long-awaited merger of the country's two key print readership surveys, the National Readership Survey (NRS) and the Indian Readership Survey (IRS), could be about to happen. More
YouGov has significantly strengthened its senior team with the hiring of Phil Rance and Andreas Sperling, formerly in leadership roles at Research Now and Millward Brown respectively; and the promotion of Tim Britton from CEO, UK to CEO, EMEA. More
Privately-owned MR agency Kadence International has reported a 37% year-on-year increase in its global revenues to $US 17.5 million for the year ending June 2011, from $12.8m in 2010. More
In the UK, a request to the University of Stirling by tobacco firm Philip Morris International for raw survey data, under the Freedom of Information Act, has drawn angry responses from the University and other quarters. More
Former Major Players insight team leader Joel Naftal is helping to build a new London-based staff recruitment consultancy, Trace, whose specialist areas including marketing, branding and insight. More
Stockholm-based brand tracking researcher Nepa AB says it has made its first senior hiring in the UK, a year after opening the new office. Olly Watts, formerly of Opinium and TNS, joins as an Account Manager. More
In the UK, Community Secretary Eric Pickles today removed the requirement for councils to gather sensitive demographics when conducting surveys about council services. More
German sample and panel provider respondi AG has today announced the opening of a UK subsidiary: respondi Ltd. Christopher Morasch, Chief Sales Officer at respondi AG will take on the role of UK Managing Director. More
In the US, the Associated Press (AP) and the National Opinion Research Centre (NORC) at the University of Chicago have joined forces to launch The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. More
Branding and retail specialist Razor Research has promoted Elle Atton to the role of Director and appointed Matt Arnold, formerly Head of Qual at Quadrangle, also as a Director. More
Pursuing her 'passion for innovation research', former TNS Regional Head Lee Ryan has moved from Singapore to join Melbourne-based Raspberry Innovation Research + Strategy. More
In the UK, specialist research consultancy B2B International has expanded its London presence by moving to new offices on the Euston Road. More
In London, independent consumer insight specialist Engage Research has appointed ex Harris Interactive man Colin Deller as a Director, focusing on new product development and behavioural economics. More
In the US, Target Research Group has announced the launch of Real Time Insights - a tool giving researchers desktop control over the data collection and analysis process. More
In the US, Ipsos' digital and media specialist arm, OTX MediaCT has appointed ex-GfK man Mark McLaren as Vice President of the Syndicated Services Team. More
In the US, online qual specialist 20|20 Technology, a division of 20|20 Research Inc., has announced the launch of QualLaborate 2.0, a software platform built specifically for concept evaluation and image mark-up. More
US-based packaging research and eye-tracking specialist Perception Research Services International (PRS) has announced a strategic partnership with Latin American firm Provokers, which has offices in Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Mexico City. More
UK-based agency Tpoll has unveiled an online focus group tool, Tqual Live, integrated with the company's Tqual Bulletin Board and community. More
Tokyo-based full service MR company Research Panel Asia (RPA) has formed an alliance with Beijing-based Data100 Market Research to produce an online panel of 1.6 million respondents China. RPA already has 1.5m respondents in Japan and 150,000 in Korea. More
Vision Critical has announced the launch of Quick Reports, a dynamic reporting module for its online community panel platform, Sparq. More
Research services provider Cross-Tab has expanded its US team with the appointment of former Research Now VP Terry Sweeney as Vice President Operations and Client Services, in charge of its global data collection operations. More
Synovate has reported an 8.4% rise in revenue to £269.7m for the first half of the year, ahead of its forthcoming sale to Ipsos for an agreed £525m. Organic gross revenue growth was 6.6% and operating profit rose 14.9% to £5.4m despite a ten percent rise in headcount. More
In London, full-service consultancy Simpson Carpenter has strengthened its Major Studies, Retail and Healthcare & Pharmaceutical teams, with four new appointments. More
Brand and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has entered the South African market through a partnership with Cape Town and Johannesburg-based marketing consultancy Yellowwood. More
Jan Hofmeyr, formerly Synovate's International Director of Innovation, has joined TNS in a 'global thought leadership role', responsible for building the firm's approach to behaviour change and embedding this across the group. More
Huntington, NY-based AMS Market Research has appointed Added Value veteran David Saul as President. More
Nielsen has received Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its Puerto Rico TV audience measurement service, which was launched in April 2010. More
WPP's Consumer Insight division has reported a meagre 2.3% rise in like-for-like revenue (1.3% actual) for the first half of the year, following slower growth in the US, the UK and Japan in the second quarter. However, pre-tax profits rose 37% to £334.3m. More
Technology media firm Ziff Davis has acquired some of the assets of online agency Focus Research, while the agency's CEO Scott Albro and a number of employees have remained with Focus.com to spin it off as a separate business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, former Vivid Interface data and customer research execs Lisa Holt, Jo Walther and Paul Kemp have formed a new quant and qual agency called Zing Insights. More
Canada-based online data collection specialist itracks has set up a digital insights consultancy headed by Jim Longo and offering new full-service options, including an ad and logo design feedback tool and in-depth social media capabilities. More
In the US, Research Rockstar - which delivers training to buyers and users of market research - has launched SurveyGrader, a self-diagnosis tool to help users assess the strengths and weaknesses of their market research questionnaires. More
In the US, usability testing specialist Userlytics has added a new suite of demographic targeting capabilities to its interactive platform, to help clients pitch their marketing campaigns at relevant audiences. More
UK marcoms group Chime Communications has reported a 20% rise in revenue for the first six months of the year, but has warned that while its quant business maintained a 'good performance', its qual business is unlikely to return to profit until the fourth quarter. More
Stockport, UK-based market research consultancy B2B International has launched a brand measurement tool called the Net Value Score (NVS). The tool gauges the strength of a company's brand relative to competitors, and identifies where more work is required to improve its perceived value. More
In New York, The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed former Campbell Soup insights leader Bob Woodard as EVP, Advertising Effectiveness, in its Research Subject Matter Expert (SME) team. Woodward takes up his new role next month. More
Synovate-owned Marketing Management Analytics (MMA) has opened an operation in Bangalore, India from which it plans to develop advanced predictive and optimization techniques for use with behavioural and attitudinal data. More
South Africa's Digital Media and Marketing Association (DMMA) is set to launch what it claims will be the country's first online audience measurement panel - part of an initiative to ensure accurate traffic reporting for all the country's digital media platforms. More
In the US, social media monitoring specialist General Sentiment has launched 'TV Brand Match' - a solution matching the brands and topics people discuss online with the TV programs or networks they watch. More
Online survey and reporting software company Confirmit has appointed client retention specialist Claire Sporton for the newly created role of Director, Customer Experience Management, based in its London office. More
In the UK, full service research agency Crowd DNA has launched a new campaign and brand measurement tool called Impact DNA, drawing on its experience from testing more than 75 campaigns. More
In the US, ratings giant Arbitron and Spanish-language media firm Entravision Communications Corporation have partnered to test the impact of cross-platform ad campaigns running simultaneously on radio and television. More
US-based ethnography specialist Luth Research has partnered with biomedical engineering firm Exmovere, to understand respondents' emotions when they participate in research studies. More
The world's 25 largest research firms had revenues of $18.8 billion in 2010, up 4.9% on the previous 'dismal' year - a 'very healthy turnaround' according to industry authority Jack Honomichl. However, 'real' revenues were not quite back to their 2008 levels, and some companies continued to shrink. More
David Nelems, the founder of market research video streaming specialist ActiveGroup Ventures, has returned to the company as Chief Executive Officer. He left the firm in 2007 following its sale to the MVL Group. More
In the UK, Robin Hilton and Jonathan Clough - who previously worked at youth research and marketing strategist Dubit - have formed a new online panel firm. ResearchBods offers specialist panels for consumer; online qual; and research among youth, kids and families. More
Software provider Connectiva Systems has launched suite of apps analysing data, content and app consumption across mobile portals and channels. More
Customer feedback solutions provider Opinionmeter has launched a new survey app for the iOS platform, which automatically detects if no Internet connection is available and stores data locally on the device, and then uploads that data when connectivity resumes. More
Specialist research firm eyetracker has announced a deal with Royal Mail's Mail Media Centre to create what it calls 'Europe's first omnibus eye tracking research service for the Direct Mail industry'. More
UK success story FreshMinds has appointed Annette Müller as its new Managing Director, following the departure of Alistair Leathwood, announced last month. More
GfK has reported sales of EUR 660.1m in sales for the first half of 2011, reflecting 8.0% organic growth year-on-year. Adjusted operating income rose 16.8% (organic 18.0%) to EUR 83.9m. The Group has also announced the acquisition of a 25% stake in US firm MBI. More
WPP agency MediaCom Worldwide has launched a new division focused on global sports sponsorship, MediaCom Sport, and appointed former IMG Consulting exec Marcus John to lead it. More
Concept testing and forecasting software specialist Affinnova, Inc. has announced sales growth of 44% for the twelve months ending June 2011. More
US firm Kurani Interactive has secured another $4.3m in Series A funding for its Opinionaided iPhone market research app and Q&A community; and has released version 3.1 of the iOS app. More
In the US, expert network Nuuko has partnered with business evaluation specialist CSI Diagnostics to roll out the 'Nuuko Enterprise Optimizer' (NEO), a suite of tools designed to enable internal and external stakeholders to offer feedback on an organization's strengths and weaknesses. More
Sister agencies Millward Brown and Kantar Media Cymfony have launched a suite of online listening tools, which merge the former's brand and communications research with the latter's analysis of social media and online discussion. More
Echo Research has been appointed as the lead contractor for the provision of EU-related media analysis for the European Commission (EC). The four year contract is valued between EUR 4 million and EUR 7 million. More
In the US, in-store monitoring specialist BVI Networks has closed an $8m funding round, which it will use to support further development of its analytics technology. More
In the US, radio ratings giant Arbitron has expanded Sean Creamer's role to include that of Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the company's day-to-day operations and growth strategy. More
UK-based survey software and research solutions firm Snap Surveys has integrated Cint's Direct Sample (CDS) into its offering, giving its clients access to six million panellists worldwide. More
US-based MR association CASRO has issued draft Social Media Research Guidelines, providing an 'ethical framework' for studies. The guidelines were written in consultation with ESOMAR, with the aim of ensuring uniformity of definitions and practices. More
In the UK, Viewpoint Field Services and Rosslyn Research have merged and been re-branded as Viewpoint Field & Studios under the leadership of Gale Blears, following the departure of former Rosslyn CEO Julian Green. More
In New York, specialist data and delivery business Ipsos Observer is launching 'Social Observer', which integrates its survey management, data collection and delivery services with online social media 'listening'. More
In the UK, mobile business and marketing solutions firm 2ergo has launched a campaign tool called mobileDNA, which provides access to a database of 10 million opt-in mobile phone users. More
Panel and research technology firm Vision Critical has appointed industry veteran Ray Poynter as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of its London office, responsible for development of the UK business. More
In the UK, Hampshire-based product development specialist Marketing Sciences has appointed former Nunwood exec Guy Maxwell as Qualitative Director, to help further develop its 'Inspired' division. More
In the US, The NPD Group has launched a new tracker for the consumer electronics industry, drawing its respondents from NPD's online panel of nearly two million participants. More
In the US, online community platform Get Satisfaction has raised $10m in Series B funding, which it plans to invest in product innovation, distribution partnerships and the expansion of its service for global use. More
In the UK, Welsh language television broadcaster S4C has launched a new viewer feedback panel, to be managed by Beaufort Research and used to help develop future schedules. More
Following lobbying by US MR association CASRO, the District of Columbia's Board of Pharmacy has agreed to revise its regulations, which previously demanded the disclosure of payments made to physicians in exchange for participating in market research. More
Norwegian online media intelligence firm Meltwater has acquired US social search engine IceRocket, in a bid to extend its online conversation monitoring and analysis tools. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Tokyo-based online specialist Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched a China-focused smartphone app, in a move to build a 'strong access channel' to smartphone users across the country. More
Nielsen is planning to launch a service which uses gross ratings points (GRP) for ad campaigns on Facebook and other online platforms, allowing comparison with measures of audience reach for television, print and outdoor advertising. More
The three missing fieldworkers from Mexican polling firm Parametria have been released fit and well following their disappearance on Monday, just hours after six from research firm Consulta Mitofsky also turned up unharmed. More
In New York, brand influencer network Crowdtap has partnered with former Millward Brown Optimor CEO Joanna Seddon, to introduce a new metric for measuring the impact of marketing programs. More
Six field workers from Mexican polling firm Consulta Mitofsky have been found safe, after vanishing on Saturday in the violent state of Michoacan. However, three employees from research firm Parametria are still missing. More
A US judge has ordered media measurement firm TRA and WPP to settle their differences through mediation, following their row over alleged patent infringement. More
The co-founders of North of England-based Dipsticks Research, John and Fiona Raglan, have announced they are stepping back from the day-to-day management of the business, which will now be run by their former Operations Director Ivor Knox. More
In India, the MRSI (Market Research Society of India) has elected Ashok Das, the MD of Hansa Research, as its President for the next two-year term. More
Norwegian online survey technology firm QuestBack has acquired and will merge with German panel and survey software firm Globalpark. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is expected that the joint company will exceed turnover of EUR 40 million within its first year of operation. More
In the US, following last year's imprisonment of Youth Research President Karen Forcade for falsifying data in connection with child safety tests on cigarette lighters, her colleague Joyce Serventi and two of the firm's former contractors have also been convicted. More
Indian MR technology and operations company Annik is opening a new office in London, led by former Globalpark manager Alex Happe, and an office in Sydney, Australia headed by former employee Meena Kumari. More
Online survey and reporting software company Confirmit has opened its first German office in Cologne, to be led by Business Development Director Dan Starkey. More
London-based BDRC Group has strengthened the Boards of both its agency and consulting business BDRC Continental and its operations business Perspectives Research Services (PRS) with a number of promotions and appointments. More
GfK has named a successor for Professor Dr. Klaus L. Wübbenhorst, who announced his decision to step down as CEO earlier in the year. Matthias Hartmann, 45, is currently Global Head of Strategy and Industries in the consulting division of IBM Global Business Services. More
Police in Mumbai, India have reportedly arrested the COO of Singapore-based online survey company Speak Asia, along with three other employees, on charges of defrauding investors of $US 294m. More
Healthcare communications agency OPEN Health, a subsidiary of UK-based Chime Communications, has announced the opening of a new market research and brand planning arm, OPEN Plan. Cory Inglis will lead the new division as MD. More
US-based multi-screen specialist Rentrak has signed its first European client for video-on-demand measurement, Spanish digital television operator Digital+. The firm's burgeoning Advanced Media and Information (AMI) division signed the data tracking agreement last week. More
Insight and communications group Creston has reported year-on-year revenue growth in the quarter ending 30th June of over 12%: however like-for-like revenue growth was just 2%. Creston made positive noises about the progress of its Insight division but did not release figures. More
US neuroscience specialist Sands Research Inc (SRI) has partnered with Chinese neuromarketing firm Brain Intelligence Neuro-Consultancy (BI) to provide their services to businesses in China and on a global basis. More
In the US, qual specialist Gongos Research has promoted Michael Francesco Alioto to the newly created post of Vice President, Global Methodologies, and appointed former Ford Motor researcher Lynn Siluk to replace him as Vice President, Marketing Sciences. More
In the US, physician panel specialist ImpactRX has upgraded its POP (point-of-promotion/point-of-prescribing) survey tool, to provide 'more streamlined' processing, faster client turnaround and more granular data capture. More
US-based ratings giant Arbitron has acquired Finnish mobile measurement firm Zokem for an initial c.$11.7m in cash, plus up to $12m in future payments depending on performance. More
Nielsen has reported a 10% rise in revenue to $1.4 billion for the second quarter, the result of a 14% increase in its Buy consumer purchase behavior segment and a 4% increase in its Watch media research arm. More
Fresh from announcing its deal to buy Synovate, Ipsos has achieved organic growth of 6.3% in the first half of the year, reporting a 5.6% increase in revenues to EUR 558.2m. More
In the US, online marketing agency Adperio - which recruits online panelists for a number of international market research agencies - has been acquired by digital ad specialist Matomy Media Group. While terms were not disclosed, the deal could be worth up to $30m. More
In New York, brand influencer network Crowdtap has secured $7m in Series A funding, which will be used to expand its sales force, scale the engineering team, and fill several other operational and product positions. More
In the US, marketing technology and services giant Acxiom has appointed former Microsoft advertising exec Scott Howe as CEO and President, replacing John Meyer who resigned earlier in the year. Separately, the firm has reported a 6.9% revenue increase to $288.9m. More
Chris Havemann, President and CEO of e-Rewards, is leaving the business to 'pursue new opportunities', but will remain in his current role until a replacement is selected. It is not yet known what his next career move will be. More
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has approved a new service, designed to simplify the audit process for Canadian newspapers with circulations below 30,000. More
Ipsos has agreed to acquire Synovate for £525m (EUR 595m), creating the world's third largest market research company. The deal is to be funded with cash, new debt financing, and a rights offering to Ipsos shareholders. More
According to reports in the UK press, Publicis and WPP are both planning to make bids for the remainder of marcoms group Aegis, once it has completed the sale of its market research arm Synovate. More
In New York, Jeff Cail has returned to Ipsos to head US operations as President and Chief Executive Officer. More
Retail market intelligence provider SymphonyIRI Group is to work with Wal-Mart to introduce an online shopper insights and collaborative planning platform called 'Customer Advantage'. More
In the US, Nielsen has signed a multi-year agreement with Kantar Media to access set-top box (STB) data from the latter's DIRECTView audience measurement panel, for use in its local TV audience measures. More
Opinium Research has partnered with technology firm Roundpoint, to launch a new mobile research platform, giving access to a panel of respondents. More
Technology consultancy Forrester Research has announced three new and enhanced data products - Community Speaks, Russian Technographics and Data Explorer - geared towards helping insights professionals to 'operate as strategic business advisors'. More
US tech-based qual researcher Quester and mobile survey software provider iPinion have integrated their systems to enhance their mobile research offering. More
TNS has been awarded the Flash Eurobarometer contract by the European Commission and European Parliament, beating four rival bidders. The four-year contract could be worth up to EUR 60 million. More
Arbitron has today announced second quarter results ahead of many analysts' expectations, with revenue up 8.4% year-on-year to $95.7m. With costs up just 1.1%, profits jumped: EBITDA was up 52.5% to $19.7m. More
MR associations CASRO and ESOMAR are to join forces to develop and implement a standard promoting consistency and transparency in the online sampling process. More
Customer feedback solutions provider Opinionmeter International has upgraded its TouchPoint Mobile survey app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, adding features for incentives, multiple languages and resuming surveys after interruption, among others. More
In London, ad giant M&C Saatchi has taken a 25% stake in a new data and insight-based marketing consultancy, formed by two former Ogilvy strategists. More
In the US, web-based software developer Cvent has raised $136m, which will be used for 'substantial technology developments', including enhancements to its cloud-based web survey products. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) is seeking input for a new white paper, 'Online Data Collection and Privacy', which aims to set out legal and ethical parameters in this area and clarify the market research sector's standpoint. More
US market research firm Olson Zaltman Associates (OZA) has patented a new methodology that combines associative techniques with biometrics such as eye tracking and heart rate monitoring, to uncover the hidden motivations that drive human behavior. More
UK-based custom panel solutions specialist EasyInsites has enhanced its EasyPanel product with the aim of making its panel web sites 'more engaging and community oriented'. To support this effort, the firm has hired web developer Charlie Fairclough. More
In London, GfK NOP has appointed former YouGov director Neil Thorington as Deputy MD, GfK Financial, with a particular focus on implementing new digital research tools and techniques. More
Munich-based online fieldwork specialist ODC Services has opened an office in London, as part of its European expansion plans. The firm has appointed Felix Schindler as Project Manager and Maxine Ellison as Sales Manager for the new operation. More
Research consultancy Kadence International has opened 55 fieldwork offices across India, staffed by 225 new permanent members of staff supported by more than 700 telephone and face-to-face interviewers and supervisors. More
Ad research specialist Ipsos ASI has launched a New York-based global practice to help marketers and advertisers better understand the future of digital advertising. The new 'Ipsos ASI Digital' division will be led by former Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange SVP Jim Forrest. More
In Germany, opinion research agency dimap has upped its stake in polling specialist Infratest dimap from 26% to 49%. Infratest dimap is a joint venture formed by dimap and TNS Infratest, which holds the remaining 51% share. More
In London, Synovate has brought together a team of methodologists to investigate the value of non-verbal response techniques, and apply their findings to custom research projects. More
In the Middle East, GfK has promoted Praveen Madawala to the post of CEO, leading the Custom Research business across the region. More
TNS has appointed ad agency veteran and former Lowe and Partners Chief Strategy Officer Abhijeet Dutta Ray as Managing Director of Thailand. More
German user and brand research specialist Eye Square has opened a Social Media Unit (SMU) at its headquarters in Berlin, from which it will conduct and further develop behaviour-based social media user research platforms. More
In Sri Lanka, Kantar-owned LMRB (Lanka Market Research Bureau) has promoted Himalee Madurasinghe to the post of Chief Executive Officer, after 14 years with the firm. More
In the United Arab Emirates, Tamara Deprez is to leave her post as Head of online agency Yahoo! Maktoob Research at the end of July. She has not yet decided what her next career move will be. More
In the UK, former Nebu exec Betty Adamou has launched a new consultancy called Research Through Gaming (R.T.G.), which converts surveys into computer research games through which to collect 'Playspondent' feedback and boost response rates. More
Google has partnered with Kantar to establish a 3,000-strong opt-in panel which will measure TV and online media consumption in the UK. More
In the UK, it has been revealed that Doughty Hanson - which owns the Vue cinema chain - is the mystery company interested in buying Aegis' market research arm Synovate. More
Harris Interactive is planning to sub-let excess space in its US premises in Norwalk, Connecticut and Portland, Oregon, as well as in its UK offices in Brentford, Middlesex, in order to reduce costs. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) and Opinionology have received regulatory approval to merge under the SSI brand. The firm will be led by SSI's Kees de Jong, who will continue his role as CEO, while Opinionology's CEO David Haynes will serve as President and COO. More
Research Now, which owns the Valued Opinions panel, has rolled out its 'Valued Opinions Mobile' app in Australia, which it claims is the first smartphone app with full survey functionality. More
UK insight and marketing group Cello has reported that its research and consulting division has continued to 'show good like-for-like revenue growth' despite the loss of two significant retail research contracts, but has meanwhile made a number of staff redundancies. More
Userlytics has launched an enterprise version of its video-based remote usability testing platform, promising agencies the ability to test their campaigns, applications and online properties with audiences around the world. More
Database giant Infogroup has sold off its global market research arm ORC International to a group of the firm's senior managers, backed by Chicago-based private equity firm Lake Capital Management. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, media measurement and analytics firm TRA has filed a counterclaim to WPP's recent lawsuit, started over claims that Kantar Media Audiences' RapidView product 'rips off' TRA's Media TRAnalytics solution. More
US-based consumer specialist Knowledge Networks has acquired Garcia Research Associates (GRA), a firm which focuses on measuring the growing influence of Latinos on commerce and society in the US. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Jennifer (Jenny) Bowen, co-founder of the MRBA (Market Research Benevolent Association) and a former Chair of the MRS, died suddenly earlier this year at the age of 78. More
In London, Asif Mirza has set up his own firm, Mobile Fieldwork, to offer mobile research and data collection services to market research, marketing, media and PR agencies, as well as end clients. More
In the UK, data collection and processing business Populus Data Solutions (PDS) has acquired control of a Newcastle-based 85-seat call centre from SPA Future Thinking. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based insight and research consultancy The Behavioural Architects has appointed behavioural economics specialist Elizabeth Barker as Global Head of BE Intelligence & Networks, less than a month after launching. More
India's Star TV has added its 75,000-member panel - managed by Indian online research firm Nepa - to Cint's Panel Exchange (CPX). More
Oxfordshire-based consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide is planning to open a new office in London in September. More
In Switzerland, facial imaging specialist nViso has partnered with Gordon & McCallum - a consultancy offering specialist services to the market research industry - to accelerate the industry's take-up of its emotional response assessment technology. More
Research and content outsourcing firm Netscribes has opened a 100-seat centre in Gurgaon, India, which will act as a hub for the company's global clients, primarily in the areas of research, analytics and content solutions. More
Lightspeed Research has promoted Frank Kelly to the post of Senior Vice President, Operations, in charge of client and panel operations in the company's Americas region. More
UK-based media, entertainment and leisure research specialist Brand Driver has expanded its management and research teams with four new appointments. More
Aegis may be offered up to £600m for Synovate by an as-yet unidentified bidder, according to reports: considerably more than the rumoured value of the current 'exclusive' Ipsos bid, c.£520m. More
TNS has hired Martin Lambie-Nairn as Creative Director, a new position with a remit to improve the look and feel of the company's deliverables and work with local and global management to develop their creative capabilities. More
European physician community Networks in Health has announced an alliance with Australian counterpart e-healthspace.com.au , expanding its medical research resource by 9,000 doctors. More
Panel exchange operator Cint has announced new partnerships with operators of student panels, the UK's National Union of Students (NUS) and Student Beans, and Irish student panel W5. More
AURA, the UK association of research clients, presented its first ever awards this week, at its Summer Party at London's Hurlingham Club. More
GfK is to restructure its business following a major review, and from next January will operate through two new divisions, 'Consumer Choices' and 'Customer Experiences', under the new tagline: 'Own the Future'. More
In Melbourne, Australia, insight strategist BrandHook and full service online agency Melon Research have joined forces and will now trade under the BrandHook name. More
GfK has strengthened its worldwide presence, buying Thai MR firm MarketWise and completing the buying of GfK-MEMRB Marketing Services in Cyprus. It has also upped its stake in US company Etilize and launched a retail panel in Belarus. More
In the US, the Obama administration has shelved controversial plans to mystery shop the offices of more than 4,000 doctors to report on the difficulty of getting appointments. More
Yan Xuan has been appointed as President of Nielsen Greater China, reporting to CEO David Calhoun and with a seat on the Nielsen Executive Council (NEC). More
Online panel specialist Lightspeed Research has expanded its Hong Kong presence with the appointment of Paul Wong as SVP, Business Development and a move to new offices in the city's Quarry Bay area. More
The Board of Aegis Group has confirmed that its talks with Ipsos about the possible sale of Synovate are 'exclusive', following a report in the UK press that it had received an expression of interest from private equity group Cinven. More
Online sample provider uSamp has opened an office in London, to be led by former Greenfield/Ciao director Gaelle Normand. More
Kantar is to roll out MarketTools' TrueSample quality solution across its network, following the breakdown of the Promedius Group, the not-for-profit quality consortium it launched with GfK and Ipsos less than a year ago. More
UKOM, the cross-industry organisation set up to oversee the measurement of online audiences, is to begin a major review of its main audience contract next month, allowing time to consider 'major changes' before the end of the contract - currently with Nielsen - in December 2012. More
Global research association ESOMAR has issued a warning to its members about an online research firm called The Research Express, following complaints about the firm's sub-standard levels of service and its refusal to return deposits. More
In the US, Millward Brown has appointed Susan Steele as Global Chief Human Resources Officer, responsible for leading the firm's human resources and talent strategy worldwide. More
In Hong Kong, former Synovate directors Brendan Shair and Ivy Cheung have launched ShairViews Research, an agency promising clear thinking and 'daring brevity'. More
Language Connect - a specialist in market research language services - and online qual platform provider VisionsLive have partnered to provide a simultaneous interpreting and moderating service for international online qual groups. More
In the US, online customer satisfaction survey software provider Allegiance has closed a $12m round of Series B funding, which it will use to accelerate the development of new products and services and to expand its sales and marketing efforts. More
In the UK, Ipsos MediaCT has partnered with Finnish mobile measurement firm Zokem to launch the M3 solution; a new app that combines the collection of smartphone and tablet usage data combined with event-based survey polls. More
Stockholm-based information exchange platform Mancx.com has completed a Series B funding round, bringing the total amount received since its launch in April to $1.1m. The new funds will be used to further develop the platform and drive an 'aggressive marketing push'. More
Research firm Kadence International has increased the size of the CATI facility at its London HQ from 50 to 75 stations. More
In the US, the Supreme Court has overturned a Vermont law which banned the use of physician prescription information for marketing purposes. The reform had been driven by IMS Health, SDI, Source Healthcare Analytics and a US pharma research association. More
In New York, a group of executives has formed The Co-Creation Forum, an industry initiative to promote best practice among co-creation practitioners and communities. More
RAJAR, the UK's radio audience research body, has extended its audience measurement contract with Ipsos MORI through to 2014. The agency has conducted the programme since RAJAR was founded in 1992. More
According to a report in the UK press, marcoms group Aegis has received an expression of interest in its market research arm Synovate from private equity group Cinven. More
Amsterdam-based online usability testing firm Usabilla has closed a $1m (EUR 750k) funding round. In addition to international expansion, the firm will use the money to scale its technology and ensure compatibility with platforms such as mobile, tablets and television. More
In New York, media measurement specialist Affinity has expanded its 'American Magazine Study' (AMS) to include those viewing via a host of digital platforms including web sites and mobile apps. More
In the UK, the government has confirmed it will scrap the 65-year-old Central Office of Information (COI), and in the meantime has cut its annual marketing and advertising budget by nearly 70% to £170m. More
Nielsen has launched a new approach to helping companies with their product innovation strategies, which it claims will increase the likelihood of new products succeeding to 75%. More
Millward Brown has moved Patty Currie into the role of Global Brand Director for Tracking, based in the firm's Lisle, Illinois office. This is the last appointment in the series of five new senior branding roles announced in January. More
UK-based Creston has reported a 7.5% decline in its Insight Division revenue to £14.8m for the year ended 31 March 2011 from £16m last year, while headline profit before interest and tax dropped from £4.9m to £4.1m. However, other divisions helped the group as a whole to grow. More
Consumer agency NORM Market Research has launched the 'TalkToParents' panel, comprising more than 2,300 Swedish parents of children between the ages of nought and six. More
In the UK, three former leaders of The Futures Company (TFC) - Crawford Hollingworth, Sian Davies and Sarah Davies - have launched a global insight and research consultancy called The Behavioural Architects. The trio are also planning to open a second office in China later this year. More
Healthcare data collection agency WorldOne has opened an office in Bern, Switzerland - its twelfth location worldwide. The firm has also promoted Corinne Dulles to lead the new operation as Managing Director. More
Marketing services network McCann Worldgroup has hired Marc Schwartz as Global Director of Performance Analytics and moved Laura Simpson from London to become Global IQ Director, heading up a new NYC-based Marketing Sciences practice. More
IBM has announced an expansion of its social media business services including 'Connections', which it claims is 'the industry's first social networking platform that provides organisations with the ability to track and monitor social data in real-time'. More
In the UK, media research agency Other Lines of Enquiry has announced the launch of otherlines.tv, a division dedicated to television research - and appointed sector specialist Penny Browell (nee Rudd) to head it up. More
Dubai-based YouGov Siraj has announced the launch of a proprietary, research-only online panel in Pakistan. More
In the US, Nielsen has formed an alliance with grocery media network and software firm MyWebGrocer, to develop what it says is the 'First Comprehensive View of US Online Supermarket Purchases.' More
Kadence International has opened a full service office in Mumbai, headed up by Executive Director Rohit Churamani - and plans another shortly for Chennai. More
Marcoms giant WPP has filed a lawsuit against media measurement and analytics firm TRA, reportedly over claims by the latter that its Media TRAnalytics tool has been 'ripped off' by WPP subsidiary Kantar Media Audiences. More
In New York, the MMA (Mobile Marketing Association) has formed a Mobile Analytics Committee, tasked with defining standards and measurement methodologies that govern the practice of mobile analytics. More
Panel and sample specialist Cint has promoted Terence McCarron to the role of Managing Director of North America, following the departure of Michael McCrary after just a year in the post. McCarron was previously SVP of North American Sales. More
Online measurement specialist comScore and magazine ratings provider GfK MRI have partnered to develop a new product linking Americans' online media habits with print readership and other media consumption data. More
UK-based co-creation and planning agency Face is opening an office in New York later this month, and has relocated its most senior Research Director Philip McNaughton to lead and develop US operations. More
The UK market research industry all but halted the decline in its revenues in 2010, according to research carried out by the MRS (Market Research Society). Following a fall of 4.7% the previous year, revenues eased off just 0.2% in 2010 to £2.06 billion. More
In the US, the Nasdaq Stock Market has given Harris Interactive another notice of a possible delisting, following a drop in its share price below $1. This news follows last week's shake-up in the firm's leadership, and the departure of Chief Finance Officer Pavan Bhalla. More
US-based product innovation technology firm Affinnova is opening offices in France and Germany, adding to its existing European presence in the UK and Switzerland. In addition, it has hired former Nielsen and Ipsos exec Jerome Simulin to lead its extended European operations. More
US full service agency R/GA has expanded in Europe with the opening of an office in Stockholm. Former Digitas Sweden execs Anders Erlandsson and Kay Höök have been appointed to lead the new business, as MD and Executive Creative Director respectively. More
Former Yahoo! Europe VP Stephen Taylor has become Chairman of Manchester, UK-based call tracking and web analytics firm AdInsight. More
After two years of revenue declines, income from the purchase of marketing, advertising and public opinion research services in the US was up 4.7% from 2009 to 2010, according to industry authority Jack Honomichl's 38th annual report. More
Marketing and customer intelligence software provider smartFOCUS has been acquired by online campaign manager Emailvision, in a deal reported to be valued at £25.3m in cash. More
In Amsterdam, user experience specialist Harald Lamberts has founded an innovation agency called Essense, which aims to help clients use consumer insights to design products aligned with their business strategy and brand identity. More
UK-based SPA Future Thinking has introduced three tools to help brands and broadcasters measure the impact of sponsorship, product placement and multimedia campaigns. More
Synovate has opened an office in Vietnam, where it has appointed Rodolphe Jounot as Managing Director. More
London-based co-creation agency Promise Group has appointed former FreshMinds Head of Consumer Research Phil Burgess as Consultancy Director for its Promise Communities division. More
Publicis-owned agency MediaVest has opened a 'Human Experience' practice in New York, through which it will aim to explore the drivers of human behavior to create 'greater consumer experiences' for clients' brands. More
WPP Chief Exec Sir Martin Sorrell has suggested that the group may double the amount available for acquisitions this year, as it looks to invest in new media and emerging markets and take advantage of better conditions in the ad industry. More
US professional body the MRA will relocate its headquarters from Connecticut to Washington, DC from December 1st this year. The move is expected to strengthen its advocacy of the industry, consolidate staff and give it access to better resources. More
French-based ad group Publicis has dismissed speculation that it might be considering a bid for Synovate, and reports suggest that WPP is also an unlikely rival for front-runner Ipsos. More
US-based online research community builder Communispace has appointed Sally O'Rourke as Managing Director of Europe. More
London-based consumer research agency Firefish has appointed ten new members of staff - including three execs from Rosenblatt Research - bringing the total number of employees to 48. More
In the UK, employee research specialist ORC International has launched a new product called 'engage', which provides small and mid-sized organizations with access to a range of customisable tools for employee engagement studies, including surveys of leavers and joiners. More
After ten years in Shoreditch, research agency Illuminas is to move its London team to larger premises close to Mornington Crescent tube station. More
In the US, entertainment news provider Variety Group has acquired research firm TVtracker. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More
Neuromarketing firm EmSense has partnered with store-based shopper research specialist Fifth Dimension, to measure shoppers' emotional and cognitive engagement when making buying decisions. More
Raydar Research - which was recently founded by former Pulse Group COO Kym Wong - has launched new mobile panels in Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. More
In the US, PinPoint Research Corporation has launched an employee engagement tool to provide credit union managers with a standardized approach to conducting staff satisfaction surveys and gauging branch performance. More
UK-based online research specialist BrainJuicer has appointed Matte Wicklin to oversee its activities in the American south and southeast regions. More
Physician-patient feedback firm InfoMedics has expanded with the opening of an office in Paris and appointments to boost its European, Latin America and Asia Pacific regions. More
In the UK, Creston-owned ICM Direct has appointed former Research Now panel specialist Pat McCarthy as Head of its online research division. More
Healthcare data collection firm WorldOne has opened an office in Hamburg; and announced the appointment of Rhona Himmelmann as Business Development Manager in Germany. More
UK measurement body RAJAR has added an online self-completion diary and Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) to its range of data collection methods for radio audience rating. The new approaches will be rolled out from next month. More
Webcam-enabled focus group provider FocusVision has released a new version of its InterVu software, which includes a new project management portal and a marking feature allowing clients to time-stamp key moments in a group. More
Port Washington, NY-based Paradigm Sample has introduced a smartphone app through which panelists can be sent tailored surveys and information based on their current location. More
Lightspeed Research has unveiled a new custom panels and communities offering, Lightspeed Engage, which promises to give clients 'access to relevant consumer insights wherever, whenever and however they need them.' More
The Board of Aegis Group has confirmed that it is in talks with Ipsos about the possible sale of its market research arm Synovate. Analysts suggest a price of around £500m and the combination would create the world's fourth largest research agency. More
Perfume and cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has opened an Innovation Center in Shanghai, China, from which it plans to develop products tailored to the specific needs of Chinese and Asian consumers. More
Harris Interactive has integrated its permission-based access to Facebook users into its qual research methods to launch a product called QualLife, designed to validate clients' marketing or product development efforts. More
In the US, Hispanic full-service agency Offerwise has launched QueOpinas.com, a web-based panel and survey sampling service with panellists recruited through Spanish language TV commercials. More
The BIG Conference Committee is not known for its lack of confidence, and it didn't shy away from the challenge of organizing a stimulating morning after the night before on Friday 13th of May. Teresa Lynch, Features Editor was in her seat when many were not. More
Online survey and reporting software company Confirmit is to open a subsidiary in Frankfurt, Germany in August, from which it will serve local businesses. More
In Canada, marketing services firm BigReach Learning has launched a solution combining panel surveys and one-on-one video interviews to deliver consumer insights, under the brand of FACESofCHANGE. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) and US-based data collection specialist Opinionology are to merge to create a new company which will operate under the SSI brand. More
In the US, mobile advertising and data company Millennial Media has acquired Condaptive, a start-up technology firm which helps developers build mobile audiences by analyzing location and other data. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US polling firm Research 2000 is to pay 'several thousand dollars' to political weblog The Daily Kos to settle a lawsuit in which it was claimed that some or all of the research the agency conducted for the site was 'fabricated or manipulated beyond recognition'. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has relocated Emel Mohammadally from London to Sydney to lead its Client Development team in Australia, while appointing James Burrows as Senior Vice President of Client Development in New York. More
In Canada, Mirametrix Research has launched a new eye tracker, which it says is a more portable, lightweight version of its previous model. More
London-based online research software and services provider Dub has opened its first US office in Los Angeles, to support existing clients in the North and South American markets. More
In the UK, foods giant Nestlé has opened a £1m extension to its Insight and Learning Centre in York, featuring an Imax cinema, replica living room and working kitchen, full size convenience store, and digital media area. More
London-based qual agency Firefish has launched a specialist children and families research consultancy, 'The Pineapple Lounge'. The service will be led by Emma Worrollo, who specialises in kids, teens and mother-and-baby research. More
US tech specialist ABI Research has acquired Market Eye 1, an agency which offers 'teardown' analysis of mobile handsets segmented by manufacturer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, international healthcare data collection agency Adept Field Solutions has moved to larger offices in Kingston-upon-Thames, where it has appointed former QUIT and Synovate Healthcare exec Andrew Stripp as Senior Project Manager. More
US-based research technology firm Decipher has appointed former Maritz exec Mitch Danklef as Senior Vice President of Client Development, charged with generating domestic business. More
Synovate has announced the global launch of mobile research capabilities including SMS / text and mobile online surveys, as well as app development. Thomas Edwards has been promoted to lead the initiative. More
In Germany, Heiko Leipold and Peter Mahn have set up a new agency called mafowerk, based in Nuremberg, which will offer on-demand market research services, trend studies and consumer behavioural analysis. Both men have worked for GfK and for Information Resources (IRI). More
In the US, qual and innovation specialist Ipsos Understanding UnLtd (IUU) has launched QualTV, a new report filmed in the style of a documentary reality show. More
UK agency ETHNOS - which conducts research with people from minority ethnic communities - has rolled out a new panel with more than 20,000 members. More
Brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners Health has launched a brand engagement measurement model called Engager Rx, to measure physician engagement with prescription brands. More
In Canada, fieldwork firm Delvinia Data Collection has changed its name to AskingCanadians. It remains part of the Delvinia Group, which also includes customer experience design firm Delvinia Interactive. More
The Research & Engagement Division of UK-based marcoms group Chime has announced the launch of the Trust Accelerator, a new tool which allows businesses to identify their trust ratings. The division is also rebranding as CIE. More
After a week of silence from all the involved parties, Nielsen announced yesterday that it had acquired 100% of brain research specialist NeuroFocus Inc., and confirmed that founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. A.K. Pradeep will continue to lead it. More
Speak Asia, a company recruiting respondents for paid participation in market research projects, has defended itself today against allegations in the online press that its bank accounts have been frozen and that it is under investigation by the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs. More
GfK has partnered with its part-owned usability research specialist nurago to launch 'Connected Life.dx', a tool tying in browsing and consumer purchasing behaviour across fixed and mobile platforms. More
Nielsen has won IAB Australia's contract to supply the country's online audience measurement currency, following an eight-month tender process. More
Millward Brown's digital insights division Dynamic Logic has announced the launch of AdRadar, a platform pulling in data from clients' own systems and a range of third party panels and databases to create new ways of measuring digital ad exposure. More
GfK Media has today announced the appointment of Jude De Souza, formerly of the BBC, as Research Manager for its ITV Panel. More
In the US, Point-of-Purchase Advertising International (POPAI), a not-for-profit trade association for retail marketers, has launched a multi-mode Shopper Engagement Study which will use neuroscience, eye-tracking and shopper interviews to investigate the power and speed of action of in-store marketing. More
UK-based supermarket giant Tesco has acquired BzzAgent, a US-based social media marketing and analysis company, in a deal thought to be in the region of $60m. The new company will become part of Tesco's subsidiary dunnhumby. More
In the north of England, MR agency DJS Research Ltd has reported annual turnover of around £1.5m, another rapid rise after exceptional results the previous year. The company has added eight new members of staff so far in 2011 and recently announced two promotions. More
medeConnect Healthcare Insight, the MR division of doctors.net.uk, is the leading force in a new alliance, Networks in Health, billed as the largest alliance of professional physician communities in Europe. The firm has also hired Nicola Miles in a senior Business Development role. More
Research Now has hired Kevin Murphy in the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He brings nearly 30 years of experience in the IT industry, most recently from ecommerce and payment solutions provider First Data Corporation where he was SVP of Retail and Alliance Services Product Delivery. More
The European branch of The Mystery Shopper Providers Association (MSPA Europe) has appointed Nigel Cover of Grass Roots as its President for the next two years. More
In London, co-creation agency Promise has appointed two new Executive Directors, Richard Bowden-Doyle and Ed Herten, to work with the company both in the UK and the US. More
Nielsen has agreed to acquire the remainder of neuromarketing firm NeuroFocus, to fend off a bid from marcoms giant WPP, according to a report in MediaDailyNews. More
In the US, Harris Interactive has partnered with mobile commerce services firm Sybase to launch mobile research capabilities which work across each of the three primary mobile platforms. More
In the UK, consumer specialist Perception Research Services International (PRS) has appointed former Harris Interactive director Alki Manias as Vice President, Account Manager in its London office. More
Online ad bodies the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Europe and the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) have merged to form a single European trade association combining their membership, research efforts and expertise. More
From November, Nielsen will produce all US local ratings for Hispanic TV programming using the same ratings panels used for English language stations. More
Online sampling and panels specialist Research Now has introduced a new smartphone app, billed as the first in a series of mobile data collection capabilities to be launched this year. More
Eye tracking specialist Tobii Technology has launched a new testing solution, which it claims is the first to be specifically designed for usability studies on mobile devices and mobile applications. More
US-based full-service marketing consultancy Egg Strategy has introduced a tool offering what it calls 'digital ethnography' - analysing real-time consumer behaviour, emotions and opinion from data gathered from their iPhones and Android devices. More
US panel and technology provider The Sample Network has launched the HonestInsite.com, a proprietary technology platform to help researchers convert their offline panels and databases into online communities. More
In the US, radio ratings giant Arbitron has revealed further details of its 'Project Leapfrog' approach, which will replace its existing seven-day paper-based diary service with a web and mobile-based data collection system. More
Ipsos has moved its New York HQ from Broadway to the Time-Life Building in Avenue of the Americas, occupying the entire 15th floor of the 48-story building. More
Speech technology specialist VoxGen has been awarded a grant from Germany's Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, to develop tools and processes to help clients design and manage cross-channel customer service strategies. More
Panel and survey software firm Globalpark has released the latest version of its Enterprise Feedback Suite (EFS), which enables market researchers to recruit and gather customer feedback directly in Facebook. More
In Austria, semantic web technology firm uma has closed a EUR 800,000 ($1.1m) funding round, which it says will help it move 'more aggressively' into the digital signage and display market. More
GfK has reported a strong first quarter in its 2011 financial year, with consolidated sales up 10.4% to EUR 310.2 million and organic growth of 8.0%. More
Kantar has today announced a partnership with online facilities company ActiveGroup Ventures, giving the research giant worldwide access to facility based research via video streaming. More
In London, market research agency BrainJuicer has appointed Federico Trovato, former Head of Consumer and Market Intelligence at Philips - as Chief Client Satisfaction Officer. He will also join the Executive Management Team and will start in August. More
Brand and marketing insight consultancy Added Value has announced four senior promotions, consisting of two newly created Offer Development roles and two moves from Europe to the US. More
Consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has opened a new facility in Athlone, Ireland, for development as a Global IT/Operations Centre. Over the next three years, the firm plans to add another 80 employees to the twenty already based there. More
Research services provider Cross-Tab has announced the launch of a new 300 seat office in Goregaon, in the western suburbs of Mumbai. More
Lisabeth Couturier has rejoined Las Vegas-based research services firm Precision Opinion as a Vice President, and will lead the re-opening of a major focus group facility in the city, complete with gaming laboratory. More
Synovate has reported 'strong growth' in North America and other regions during quarter one, but says 'difficult market conditions' continue to impact the businesses in Southern Europe while the UK market remains 'challenging'. More
Nielsen has promoted former Microsoft exec Celia Fan to lead its 'Watch' media research division in Hong Kong. More
European market research software firm Askia has opened a new office in Mannheim, Germany, where it has appointed former Voxco director Dietmar Dzierzawa as Managing Director. More
London-based online qualitative agency nqual has launched Rich Focus, a tool which provides real-time translation of focus group discussions. More
US-based survey and panel management software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has expanded its London office with the addition of customer and technical support functions for clients based in Europe; and appointed Paolo Marini to head them up. More
e-Rewards, the parent of online panel firm Research Now, has acquired social media market research agency Conversition Strategies, just two years after its launch by former Ipsos and NPD executives Jean Davis and Tessie Ting. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, full service agency FreshMinds has made nine new appointments on the back of what it describes as 'record results' with turnover growing by more than 20% in the past six months. More
Australian research and marcoms group Photon - which owns agencies The Leading Edge and Jigsaw Strategic Research - has reported a 6% decline in revenue to $AUD 289.4m for the 10 months to April 2011, compared with last year's 4% drop. More
Asia Pacific-based marketing and brand research consultancy Cimigo has opened an office in Shanghai, where it has appointed former Synovate executives Daisy Sam as General Manager and Marcos Leung as Director. More
US customer intelligence firm Market Force Information has recruited 300,000 consumers for the launch of its AnswerForce research panel, developed to tap respondent attitudes and brand awareness as well as identify industry trends. More
In the UK, media measurement standards body the ABC has launched a new set of metrics to measure and evaluate online app activity. More
US technology firm Affectiva has converted its Q Sensor wearable biosensor into a wristwatch, which measures the physical components of emotions including excitement, stress, fear, engagement, boredom and relaxation. More
Healthcare specialist M3 Global Research has relocated its UK focus group facility to Hammersmith, London, and opened an office in Princeton, New Jersey. More
Ugam Research Solutions will this week launch EnRAPTURE, a tool for creating 'visually stimulating and engaging online surveys' within Confirmit. More
WorldOne, the international specialist in healthcare data collection, has announced the opening of an office in Mexico City, and appointed Roberto Varillas, co-founder of Acertiva, as MD for the country. More
Mark Stevens, formerly Research Director at Australian agency SensoMetrics, has set up his own sensory research agency, Sensory Insights, based in New South Wales. More
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has called off its three-year investigation into Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) device, and claims that it undercounted minority listeners. More
BrainJuicer CEO John Kearon has sold 700,000 company shares and CFO James Geddes 75,000, in response to 'institutional demand' from investors wanting to take a stake in the company. More
India's Market Research Society (MRSI) has partnered with the country's MRUC (Media Research Users Council) to launch a new socio-economic classification system, reflecting changes in consumer attitudes and economic outlook over the past three decades. More
TV ratings body TAM Ireland has brought in RSMB TV Research to carry out an independent audit on recent audience figures, following complaints about those supplied by Nielsen. More
US joint venture company Nielsen Catalina Solutions has partnered with mobile advertising network 4INFO, to help CPG brands measure the impact of ad campaigns aired on mobile devices. More
In the UK, Leatherhead Food Research has launched SenseReach, a consumer feedback tool that can be used to test new product concepts or existing products and services, and compare how they perform against those of the competition. More
Investment firm Robaco International has launched an online sample marketplace called ex-sample.com, through which panel providers can bid to win projects from market research agencies. More
FocusVision - which provides online video transmission and analysis for qual market research - has appointed former Research Now Client Development Manager Baxter Tan to spearhead its growing Asia Pacific business. More
In the US, Harris Interactive has brought back its former Chief Operating Officer Al Angrisani to advise it on turnaround strategy, following a 9% revenue drop in quarterly revenue. More
MR outsourcing firm Ugam is planning to increase its workforce in India by 30% in the next year, with the majority of new hires at its operation at Saravanampatty, in Coimbatore in Southern India. More
US-based word-of-mouth (WOM) research and consulting firm Keller Fay has opened a UK office in London, and appointed GfK NOP veteran Steve Thomson to spearhead its introduction to Europe. More
In Canada, Ipsos has appointed Mike Rodenburgh as Vice President of Product Development for its research innovation center, the Open Thinking Exchange. More
Consumer insight revenues at WPP have risen 3.4% on a constant currency basis, to £552.8m in the first quarter of 2011, compared with £542.5m in the prior year period. More
US iPhone and iPad users Vikram Ajjampur and William Devito are suing Apple, following allegations which broke last week stating that the firm tracks users' locations through their mobile devices. More
Nielsen has seen an 8.9% increase in revenue to $1.3bn for the first quarter of 2011. Net income rose from $16m to $64m but the firm reported a $181m loss in Q1 due to $206m costs relating to its recent initial public offering (IPO). More
In the US, former Forrester Research exec Bruce Temkin and loyalty specialist Jeanne Bliss have formed the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA); a non-profit body promoting understanding of the discipline. More
In Australia, Survey Sampling International (SSI) has appointed former Research Now MD Jason Buchanan as Managing Director of its Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. He replaces Rene Bos who has decided to return to Europe. More
Ipsos has reported first quarter 2011 revenues up 9.8% to EUR 260.1m, from EUR 236.9m in the prior year period - equivalent to 6.2% organic growth. More
FocusVision - which provides online video transmission and analysis for qual market research - has launched a new service which delivers live video streaming to mobile devices such as iPads and iPhones. More
US-based research technology firm Decipher has moved to new headquarters in an 18,000 square foot building in Northeast Fresno, which once housed the HQ of Gottschalks department store. More
Netherlands-based online market research agency MetrixLab has appointed former Kantar Worldpanel director Chris Kingsland to lead its NPD & Innovations division in the UK. More
Radio ratings giant Arbitron has seen first quarter 2011 net revenue rise 5.2% to $100.9m, from $95.9m in the prior year period, while net income rose 18.2% to $16.2m. More
DIY survey tool developer SurveyMonkey has acquired Infinity Box, the makers of the Wufoo web application, which is used for creating online forms. Sources value the cash and stock deal at $35m. More
The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) is building an online hub to encourage direct feedback from consumers about their perception of online advertising; an approach it suggests will provide more effective insight by cutting out the middle man, traditional market research. More
Indian data collection firm Advaith has opened an office in the UK, where it has appointed former Pulse Group exec Jonathan Sheldrake as Sales Director for Europe. More
UK-based full service agency SPA Future Thinking has acquired the Munro Group, the parent of research agencies FDS International, Maven Research, M-Lab, and 3000ft Strategic Insight. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has granted accreditation to Arbitron's TAPSCAN Web, which provides radio ad buyers and sellers with an 'all-in-one' solution with audience data alongside electronic ordering, invoicing and scheduling. More
Moscow-based Online Market Intelligence (OMI), which provides online fieldwork in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and the Baltic states, has opened offices in Finland and Canada, with expansion in mind. More
Darren Smith has been promoted to the newly created post of Operations Director for Synovate Pan-Africa, based in Kenya. More
Unilever has sold its remaining 13.5% stake in online research specialist BrainJuicer, offloading c.1.68m BrainJuicer shares for £2.35 each, and raising around £3.9m in the process. More
Swedish eye tracking solutions firm MRC international has appointed former Neurofocus SVP Jeff Bander as SVP of Client Services, to head the firm's newly opened New York City office. More
The number of researchers who feel that research is less valued than it was five years ago has risen sharply, according to the latest wave of the GreenBook Research Industry Trends Report. More
In the UK, insight and marketing group Cello has promoted Insight Research Joint MD Jane Shirley and John Rowley, the CEO of its comms division, to the posts of Joint Group Managing Directors, reporting to the main Board. More
Australian market research and polling company Roy Morgan Research is to open an operation in India, following the roll out of its Single Source survey across the country. More
In the UK, herb and spice firm McCormick has invested £1.5m in a new Technical Innovation Centre (TIC), which will feature a sensory lab for product evaluation. More
Cincinnati-based MarketVision Research has launched a monthly video feedback tool, through which it will engage with people from all regions of the US about current events and topics. More
In the US, private equity firm Symphony Technology Group (STG) - the parent of retail market intelligence giant SymphonyIRI - has acquired a majority interest in physician panel provider ImpactRx. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More
TNS has opened an office in Miami to serve regional clients across Latin America. The operation will be led by industry veteran Gustavo Alvarez, who joins as Regional Accounts Director, Latin America. More
In the UK, Infogroup-owned ORC International has launched a new Data Solutions group, which will help clients handle large amounts of complex research and administrative data. More
French-based global healthcare group Cegedim has reported results for the full year ending December 31, 2010, with revenue up 6% like-for-like to EUR 926.7m and operating income of EUR 107.2m, down 3.9%. More
Today sees the launch of a new syndicated study of the impact of cultural diversity on UK consumer attitudes. 'Culture Watch' will be led by senior brand strategist Kate Wilson and conducted by ICM Research. More
Online panel and survey tech firm Toluna has announced two senior hires: John Bremer joins as Chief Research Officer (CRO) and Peter Shafer as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Solutions. More
Survey software provider Novi Systems has released an off-line data collection module for its flagship Novi Survey software package. More
In the UK, consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser has promoted SVP of Category Development Rakesh Kapoor to Chief Executive Officer, following the retirement of Bart Becht. The firm's Board of Directors described Kapoor as its 'unanimous choice'. More
US neuromarketing firm EmSense has launched what it describes as the world's first 'in-home' research panel employing neuroscience technology, using its EmBand headset device to measure positive/negative emotional response and cognitive engagement. More
In the UK, advertising body ISBA has launched a series of best practice guides for procurement personnel working across various industries, to help them with the commissioning of market research agencies. More
In France, research agency CSA has acquired Paris-based Directpanel, which provides access to 50,000 online respondents through its online panel management and survey platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, the firm behind patient management platform MyMedLeads.com has launched a mystery shopping service called MysteryShopperMD, to uncover how medical practices field online and telephone patient enquiries. More
Synovate has appointed former TNS researcher Matthew Chang as Executive Director, serving as head of its operations in Taiwan. More
In the US, food and beverage product innovation specialist The National Food Lab (NFL) has extended its 'Rapid Design Process' co-creation offer to marketers of consumer packaged goods. More
In the US, eCGlobalPanel - the technology and panel arm of social media agency eCMetrics - has launched a new social media research platform that allows consumers to set their profiles and connect with other users according to their consumption experiences and areas of interest. More
In New York, B2B comms agency Penton Media has launched Penton Marketing Services; a division which will use the company's proprietary database of more than five million businesspeople to access an audience willing to participate in market research studies. More
Online sample provider uSamp and DIY online research firm Ask Your Target Market (AYTM) have partnered to make uSamp's panel of more than 1.7 million US survey respondents available to AYTM clients. More
The High Court of Justice in England and Wales has today approved the sale of online panel and research technology provider Toluna to ITWP, a firm set up by Belgian investor Verlinvest to oversee and manage the deal. More
US marketing and product development agency LEVEL has appointed former Yahoo! user experience specialist Michelle Haag as Vice President, Customer Experience, to oversee a unit focused on content strategy, business strategy and usability. More
Mobile research technology firm OnePoint has introduced a new interface that embeds feedback tools into existing mobile apps, without the need for rewrites or programming. More
Media research specialist Vivien Marles has joined global research-based consultancy InterMedia as Managing Director of its new Kenya office, which will open at the beginning of May. Her previous roles include Head of Research and Planning at the BBC. More
US-based online measurement firm comScore has received Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its 'comScore Direct' service, which provides filtered census-level data. More
In the UK, broadcaster ITV has hired Channel 4 marketer Rufus Radcliffe for the newly created role of Group Marketing and Research Director, with overall responsibility for marketing strategy, brand development, research and customer insight. More
European online research specialist InSites Consulting has announced plans to open an office in the US next year, adding to its existing presence in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the UK and Romania. More
UK-based insight and consulting company Cello Group plc has announced the acquisition of pharmaceutical specialist Red Kite Consulting Group Limited, which will be merged with Cello's existing pharma consulting business, MSI. More
UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) Chairman Sir Michael Scholar has urged Government Minister Eric Pickles to re-consider plans to scrap the 'Citizenship Survey', describing it as 'too valuable to be lost'. More
In the US, Scarborough Research has appointed Gerardo Guzman as Vice President of Product Management, with a focus on providing solutions for clients to enhance their ROI. More
UK-based global agency Kadence International has launched what it describes as the first Hong Kong viewing facility located within easy reach of the central business district (CBD). More
In the US, Clear Channel Radio has appointed Arbitron veteran Gary Marince in the newly-created position of SVP for Research and Development, working on analytics and audience understanding. More
In the US, Triton Digital Media (formerly known as Ando Media) - which provides digital services to the traditional and online radio sector - has received Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its Webcast Metrics digital audience measurement platform. More
In the US, Alan Gould, the co-founder of ad effectiveness measurement firm IAG Research, has joined Harris Interactive's Board of Directors, to chair the firm's newly established Board Committee on Product Innovation. More
MR technology firm Imperium has upgraded its Verity product, to provide an improved understanding of the impact that belonging to multiple panels has on respondent data quality. More
Panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has appointed former Research Now director Brad Wilson as its Business Development Director for Australia and New Zealand. More
Panel and survey technology provider Toluna has launched an iPhone app to facilitate survey response from its four million panellists. More
Margaret Feit, who as Margaret Hicks owned and ran US fieldwork firm Jackson Associates, died peacefully on Monday at the age of 66. More
In the US, crowdsourcing specialist txteagle has raised $8.5m in Series A funding, which it will use to roll out a market research and advertising platform designed to reach consumers in less developed countries via text message. More
In the UK, Facts International Chairman Nick Lamb is selling his 25% stake in the business to the firm's parent company Chime Communications for £1.7m. More
In the US, online research community builder Communispace has partnered with media network Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) to launch a joint consumer insight community focusing on the Hispanic market. More
Ipsos has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of the Custom Research division of 'TMG - The Marketing Group', which is based in Central America. Terms were not disclosed. More
Two social media specialists - ad network Adknowledge and Experian-owned technology firm Techlightenment - have paired up to launch a platform to help brands research what users are doing on Facebook. More
In the UK, medical market research agency Purdie Pascoe has re-located its office within London SW11, and appointed Debbie Higham as Research Director. More
Panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has promoted Kris Hartvigsen to the post of Senior Vice President of Business Development, Direct Sales for Europe. He will be based in London. More
UK-based pollster and online MR firm YouGov plc has agreed to acquire Portland, Oregon-based Definitive Insights (DI), for an initial consideration of $1m and further performance-related payments adding to an anticipated $4.8m. YouGov also announced half-year revenue up 26.8% with an improved profit margin of 8.1%. More
In the US, physician panel provider ImpactRx has appointed former Merck exec Mark Degatano as Senior Vice President, Client Services Operations; and has expanded its range of specialist iPhone panels with the addition of pulmonologists. More
At last week's MRS conference, News Editor Mel Crowther sat in on a session dubbed 'the Holy Trinity of Love: TV, Telecoms and Toilet Tissue'. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has accredited the monthly average-quarter-hour radio ratings data produced by Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) in 11 more markets. More
For the financial year 2010, GfK has reported an 11.1% rise in income to a record EUR 1.29 billion. Adjusted operating income climbed from EUR 147.2m to EUR 185.0m with operating margin also at a historical high, 14.3%. More
In the US, John Meyer has resigned his post as CEO of marketing technology and services giant Acxiom, and been replaced by director Jerry Gramaglia on an interim basis until a new recruit can be found. CFO Christopher Wolf has also resigned 'for personal reasons'. More
In France, panel and sample specialist Cint has appointed former Research Now director Ouiza Rebahi as Managing Director of its recently opened office in Paris, where she joins Associate Director Arnaud Papillaud. More
Shareholders of Toluna have agreed to sell the online panel and research technology provider to ITWP, a firm set up by Belgian investor Verlinvest to oversee and manage the deal. More
In the UK, Holden Pearmain co-founder David Pearmain has returned to agency life after a year as a consultant, joining Impact Research, a company started by two of his former employees. More
TNS has appointed Ivan Browne as Head of its Retail & Shopper Sector, based in London. He leaves GfK NOP, where he served as Business Development Director for the consumer products and retail division. More
Market Force Information, a provider of customer experience and intelligence data, has acquired Winnipeg, Canada-based Tell Us About Us (TUAU) which specializes in customer experience measurement. More
Starch Research Services Ltd and GfK MRI have announced the launch of a new syndicated service, GfK MRI StarchMetrix, which gives ROI metrics for ads appearing in Canadian consumer magazines. More
Online survey and reporting software firm Confirmit has announced the appointment of Michael Wooh as Chief Marketing Officer. More
French financier Vincent Bolloré has indicated that he may be willing to sell his 26.5% stake in Synovate's parent firm Aegis, according to a report in the UK's Guardian newspaper. More
In the US, polling software firm CivicScience has raised $1.2m in funding, which it plans to use to expand its online polling platform iQpoll and hire additional team members. More
In the US, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has modified its requirements for qualifying US and Canadian consumer magazines as replica digital editions, to account for publications produced on software for tablet devices like the iPad. More
In the UK, consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has promoted Mark Sismey to the newly created role of Innovation Director, tasked with identifying, evaluating and delivering the latest technology and data collection tools. More
Research provider Kadence International has appointed Barbara Gourley as Insights Director and a member of its UK Board, responsible for building, leading and mentoring the UK quant research team. More
Global online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has moved Martin Filz from Sydney, Australia to the position of Managing Director in the UK. He is replaced in his previous role as Managing Director for Asia Pacific by James Burge. More
US-based DIY survey firm SurveyMonkey has partnered with online loyalty program specialist ePrize, to enable survey creators to provide their respondents with a variety of incentives such as coupons and sweepstakes in exchange for participating in studies. More
Online research firms Gemius and the Market Watch Institute, together with media marketer Erez Bahat, have signed a four-year contract with the Joint Industry Committee (JIC) of the Israeli Association for Internet Rating Measurement, to provide an online media currency for the country. More
In Hong Kong, Nielsen has added mobile Internet audience measurement to its Market Intelligence (MI) service. More
Digital out-of-home specialist Zoom Media and Marketing has hired media research exec Dan Rosenfeld for the newly created role of Director of Research & Insights, to lead all US audience measurement and campaign effectiveness studies. More
Three advertising technology companies have combined to found the Council for Accountable Advertising, aimed at setting standards and 'making it easier for marketers and publishers to manage and measure their resources'. More
Not to be outdone by the ARF Conference taking place across The Pond, London's researchers also discussed the hot topic of neuroscience today - but, as Teresa Lynch reports, they did so without the aid of electrodes or fMRI. More
Research provider Majestic MRSS has announced the expansion of its presence in greater China, where it commenced operations in 2008. More
Tuesday afternoon kicked off with a session on researching children's buying behaviour, with speakers mapping out some of the minefield it represents, before a highly-informed audience. Teresa Lynch reports. More
Online marketing software start-up Motista has received a $4.5m Series A investment from El Dorado Ventures. The firm is also relocating its corporate headquarters from Rockville, MD to San Mateo, CA. More
Tuesday's afternoon sessions at the MRS Conference included a fascinating one - says our Features Editor, Teresa Lynch - on the subject of 'Behavioural Economics - enough talk. Where's the payback?' More
Research technology and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) has rolled out Ad Tracker, a fully integrated online advertising assessment solution including behavioral and attitudinal data. More
Survey research will decline dramatically in importance by 2020, with social media listening replacing much of it and adding new dimensions, according to Procter & Gamble research head Joan Lewis, speaking at the ARF conference today. More
Another year, another venue for the MRS Conference: this time The Grange St Paul's Hotel, London. Features Editor Teresa Lynch gives you a rapid roundup of everything you need to know (honest) about the first morning of Research 2011. More
In the US, the ARF (Advertising Research Foundation) has unveiled the first results from its review of current neuromarketing methods. The study finds it to be 'a valuable tool' but gives many reasons for caution. More
Neurofocus has announced Mynd, a new wireless and dry contact headset for measuring the brainwaves of consumers in product stimulation and purchasing environments. More
Panel and sample specialist Cint has announced two new partnerships centred around its newly acquired DIY mobile relationship marketing platform, Thumbspeak. More
Healthcare data collection specialist WorldOne has completed the expansion of its London office. More
Australian consumer insights specialist Edentify has opened a new office in Auckland, New Zealand to work with existing clients based in the country. More
Australian app developer Julian Dunham has launched PollMate: a free quant research tool which promises anyone with a question the chance to obtain answers, opinion, or feedback from iPhone users. More
In the US, eye tracking software developer Applied Science Laboratories (ASL) has released 'ASL Results', a new solution said to make the measurement of consumer response, human behavior and physiology 'faster and easier' than ever. More
Richard Bitner Wirthlin, President Ronald Reagan's former Chief Strategist and Pollster, died at his home in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, a day after his 80th birthday. More
Aegis has reported a return to full year growth in its research arm Synovate, where takings rose 9.8% to £572.6m and operating profit (at constant currencies) increased 19.4% to £45.6m. More
In the US, Ipsos and biometric measurement specialist Innerscope Research have partnered to integrate measures of unconscious emotional engagement into Ipsos' products. More
Sample exchange operator Cint has increased the size of its Irish sample to more than 20,000 through the addition of RED C Research/ICM Newvista Live, Delve Research, and SensorPro consumer panels, as well as the student-focused W5 panel. More
In the US, client-side researchers have reported a 13% increase in the number of suppliers they worked with in the last quarter of 2010, according to the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII). This, says the MRA, is perhaps an indication of 'good things to come' for suppliers in 2011. More
In the US, ad agency trade body the 4As has partnered with TV ad solutions firm BlackArrow and a large number of media firms to launch a research initiative that will measure the impact of ads within free video on demand (VOD) TV programs. More
In Germany, former K & A Brand Research execs Manfred Zerzer and Karen Döring have set up PsychoLogik, a full-service market research agency which applies the science of psychology to the analysis and logical understanding of consumer behaviour. More
In New York, youth specialist The Sound Research has opened a new Diversity Unit to provide research and consultancy on diversity and the 'Millennial generation'. The Unit will be led by qual/quant researcher Dr Vanessa Anderson. More
UK-based insight and marketing group Cello has reported flat revenue for the year 2010 (£59.9m), but also a return to operating profit of £5.5m from a 2009 loss of £1.5m. Cello has also announced it will buy US healthcare communications company MedErgy HealthGroup from its owner DVC Worldwide. More
In the US, Survey Sampling International (SSI) has launched a new healthcare sampling business to support health-related market research projects. Company veteran Chris DeAngelis has been appointed to head the new division. More
In the US, radio ratings giant Arbitron has unveiled plans to roll out a new 'experimental approach' that features a web and mobile-based system as the main means for collecting data, instead of its existing seven-day paper-based diary service. More
In New York, WPP-owned youth marketing agency Geppetto Group has launched G-Nome Research, a full service quant division which the firm claims offers a 'different approach to decoding the consumer opportunity'. More
In Australia, The Newspaper Works, the print media industry body, has appointed Greg Hywood of Fairfax Media as Chairman. He replaces Brendan Hopkins, former CEO of APN News & Media who retired last year. More
Research technology firm Vision Critical has reported continuing rapid organic growth in 2010: total revenues rose 36% from 2009 levels, on a constant currency basis. The year also saw the launch of three new web-based products and the hiring of 185 new employees. More
Panel and survey technology provider Toluna is planning the launch of a Tunisian site, 'in support of the country's nascent democracy'. More
Omniture-owner Adobe has launched SocialAnalytics, a new product within its Online Marketing Suite which it says will enable marketers to monitor, measure and monetize social media via a single application. Separately, the firm's SiteCatalyst analytics solution has won MRC accreditation for four of its key metrics. More
Sample exchange operator Cint has announced two partnerships this week, integrating its CPX exchange with DIY online tool SurveyGizmo and with the advanced questionnaire design and data collection services of Action Dialog Partner (ADP). More
Online panel firm Research Now has hired Corinne Villalba as Client Development Director based in Paris. More
London-based online co-creation platform The Sense Network is relaunching after a decade, with a new site architecture facilitating collaboration with other agencies and allowing its 2,000 members to take a more active role, launching and managing their own collaborative projects. More
US-based survey and panel management software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has added a new 'Diary Campaign' feature to its panel management solution, to enable users to track panellist participation metrics. More
Brazilian research agency IBOPE Group has rebranded public opinion polling and market research firm Zogby International in preparation for entering the US market, following its acquisition of 51% of the company from pollster John Zogby last year. More
Newspaper publishers in Australia have agreed to start reporting daily circulation data through industry body The Newspaper Works. Daily figures have previously only been released for Saturday and Sunday editions. More
UK-based Verve has appointed two former Vision Critical execs - Steevan Glover as Director of Commercial Development and Andrew Reid as Managing Director. Reid replaces Jeannie Arthur who is leaving to set up a new business. More
UK marcoms group Chime has reported that its research arm is back in profit and growing again, with 2010 revenue up 18% to £10.3m and operating income climbing 26% to £7.3m in the past 12 months. More
Plans to take online panel and research technology firm Toluna private have taken another step forward with the approval of the boards of Toluna itself and of ITWP, the firm created to carry through the transaction. More
Simon Glanville, former MD for Europe of Ugam, has joined London-based full service agency RSM as Director of Business Development, to support expansion of the firm's existing UK and international online and CATI data collection services. More
The Council for the Association of German Market and Social Research has reprimanded Leipzig-based Omniphon for what it describes as a lack of distinction between the firm's market research and interactive marketing operations. More
In the US, Kantar Media has launched a new planning tool called RapidView, combining consumer purchase data with return path data from set-top boxes (STBs), to enable media buyers and sellers to create and analyze TV audience profiles. More
Online panel firm Toluna has reported 2010 group revenues of £73.6m, up from £49.5m in 2009 - but on a pro forma basis allowing for the Greenfield ISS acquisition, the rise was just 2%. Profit after tax, however, jumped to £6.6m from £1.6m in 2009. More
US-based Omnicom has integrated its Whybin TBWA Tequila ad agency into its shopper marketing agency brand Integer, which it has launched in Australia with branches in both Sydney and Melbourne. More
In India Bharat Kapadia, who is a Director of Lokmat Newspapers, has stepped down as Vice Chairman of the MRUC (Media Research Users Council), citing 'personal reasons'. He has been replaced by Mumbai Samachar newspaper proprietor Hormusji Cama. More
In Dubai, Kantar-owned AMRB has opened a Stakeholder Research Practice, which will provide a range of consulting products and services to help clients manage their customer and employee loyalty programs. More
London-based firm Qriously has broken cover with the introduction of a survey app, which provides a measure of real-time, location-based public opinion. More
UK-based medical professionals' network doctors.net.uk has partnered with coliquio, a firm which runs online physician communities for the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More
In London, Progressive Digital Media (PDM) - the parent of online research firms The iD Factor and ICD Research - has reported a 29.4% rise in group revenue to £48.0m for 2010 (2009: £37.1m). More
In the US, Abrams Capital Management has sold 250,000 shares in radio ratings giant Arbitron, and raised $10.01m in the process. More
US-based Treliant Risk Advisors - a strategic advisory firm focused on the financial services sector - has appointed customer satisfaction research specialist Paul Lubin to its Compliance team to lead both its mystery shopping and self-testing divisions. More
Marcoms giant WPP has recorded a 4.4% increase in 2010 revenues to £2.43 billion in its Consumer Insight division. Meanwhile operating margins improved by 1.1 points to 9.7%. More
US-based facial recognition technology firm Affectiva has been awarded a grant to develop an online version of its software, which enables computers to recognize human expressions and deduce emotional and cognitive states. More
In the US, Crowdtap has officially launched a 'consumer participation network', enabling marketers to access targeted crowds of influential consumers for real-time market research and ideation on a self-service, pay-per-action basis. More
Online sample exchange Cint has moved to bigger premises in Farringdon, London, having outgrown its previous offices in Oxford Circus where it moved just two years ago. The firm has also relocated its Southern Europe team to new space in Barcelona. More
In the US, cross-platform ad measurement agency Adometry has been acquired by click fraud detection firm Click Forensics. The group - now renamed Adometry - has also launched an analytics suite to help online advertisers measure campaigns across different networks. More
According to reports, the MRUC (Media Research Users Council) - which conducts the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) - has terminated its agreement with Australian firm Roy Morgan Research to launch a single source survey in India. More
In Malaysia, Sun Media Corporation (SMC) is taking legal action against Nielsen for publishing what it describes as 'false and misleading readership estimates' for its newspaper theSun. More
In the US, market research consultancy Jerry Henry & Associates and theme park corporation Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) have partnered to launch a new agency called H2R Market Research, which will focus on the travel, tourism and leisure sectors. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has introduced time-shifted DVR ratings data into its StationView Essentials service, which provides viewing information from more than 17 million televisions across the US. More
US-based GutCheck has introduced a do-it-yourself online qualitative market research platform, to enable companies or individuals to test their ideas, services and campaigns in real-time. More
In the US, technology firm Kurani Interactive - developer of the Opinionaided iPhone market research app and Q&A community - has secured a further $1m in funding for expansion of its mobile real-time feedback service. More
Paris-based marketing and sales consultancy SalesLab has opened a customer and market research division called SalesLab Insights, which will offer in-depth data based on the work of a network of 2,500 analysts worldwide. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has launched a permanent forum for its members to address topics relating to the collection and use of interactive advertising data. More
Nielsen has reported 2010 revenue of $5.13 billion, a 6.1% increase on a constant currency basis. Net income of $132m for the year compares well with a loss of $489m in 2009. More
In the US, three advertising trade groups have launched the 'Making Measurement Make Sense' initiative, with a remit to develop digital metrics and cross-platform measurement solutions as currency for the media buying sector. More
In London, former Hall & Partners researcher Richard Owen has founded CrowdLab, which offers a mobile sampling and research platform as well as full qual/quant agency services. More
In Malaysia Kym Wong, former Pulse Group COO, has set up Raydar Research, a new company offering data collection through mobile and online platforms. More
In the UK, qual specialist Firefly Millward Brown has appointed Meredith Bourgery as its first Global Qualitative Account Director, to develop and execute initiatives that support brand development strategy for the firm's largest European clients. More
Pharma services group P\S\L has appointed former Synovate M&A leader Peter Chopra to a newly created position, Chief Strategy Officer. Research companies are likely to be among its initial acquisition targets. More
San Diego-based data collection, analysis and ethnography firm Luth Research has announced a 50% increase in revenues in 2010 and, in the same period, an additional 47 full time staff. More
Research software company Confirmit has announced record revenues for 2010, with double-digit organic growth leading to fourth quarter revenue of US$16m. More
Opinionology, the Utah-based data collection company formerly known as Western Wats, has launched Real Customers, a new service to build and manage verified customer panels. More
In the UK Jonathan Francis, the founder of forecasting specialist Market Dynamics, has set up a new consultancy called Tresell, focused on improving clients' return on marketing investment. More
Manhattan-based quant market research specialist Eric Marder Associates (EMA) is to close after more than 50 years in business. Founder Eric Marder, who is now in his 80s, has decided it's time to 'pursue other interests'. More
In New York, digital ad platform MediaMind Technologies has gained accreditation from the Media Rating Council (MRC) for its 'Unique Impressions and Average Frequency' metrics, which statistically adjust for cookie deletion to project the actual number of users who see an ad. More
In the UK, media research veteran Roger Gane is to retire from his post as Research Director at RSMB in March, after a 40-year career in the market and media research sectors. More
iPinion, the smartphone survey solutions provider set up last year by market research firm Dexterity, has released a new platform for Android users. More
In the UK, market information specialist CACI is to hold a service on Thursday 10 March to remember the life of Gordon Cousland, a consultant with the firm who was killed in the Domodedovo Airport suicide bomb attack in Moscow in January. More
MR outsourcing firm Ugam Research Solutions has partnered with mobile survey technology provider Techneos, to deliver access to new audiences and behavioural data through mobile phones. More
UK agency HPI Research has launched a new division called Mobilocity, to conduct market research via mobile phones. More
In the UK, The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has partnered with the Market Research Society (MRS) and Royal Statistical Society to launch a best practice guide for using statistics in communications and in the reporting of research results. More
Ipsos has announced the UK roll-out of its GamePlan Insights tool, which examines behavioural and attitudinal trends in the videogame market. More
Ipsos has opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which will be led by Country Manager Steve Murphy. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now has relocated its office in Auckland, New Zealand to a bigger facility, to support anticipated growth in the Asia Pacific region. More
US retail giant Wal-Mart Stores has promoted Cindy Davis to the position of Executive Vice President of Global Consumer Insights, leading a newly created team which will analyze broad consumer trends and provide insight into customer needs. More
Media ratings giant Arbitron has extended CEO William Kerr's employment agreement for a further year to January 2013, in recognition of the leadership role he has played during a year of 'extraordinary events'. More
Online panel and research technology firm Toluna is to be taken private, in a deal valuing the company at £161m ($259m). Toluna's third-largest shareholder, family-owned Belgian company Verlinvest will fund the acquisition from its own assets and has formed a company called ITWP to complete it. More
Harris Interactive, which is in the process of restructuring its UK business following a major contract loss, today announced the appointment of Steve Reiman, an expert in managing online communities and usability trials, as Head of Qualitative Research. More
Net Promoter consultancy Satmetrix has appointed Robert Salvoni - formerly President, International of Harris Interactive - as its Managing Director, International. More
In the US, eCGlobalPanel has announced the re-launch of its U.S. Hispanic Panel after a two and a half year gap. More
In the US, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has announced two independent 'proof-of-concept' tests to measure content and advertising across television, Internet and mobile. The tests will tap the skills and panels of Arbitron and comScore. More
Market Probe has announced a major push into key developing countries with the launch of strategic partnerships around the globe; a new office in Hong Kong; senior hires for brand equity and customer research; and development of a new customer advocacy model. More
US-based Kinesis Survey Technologies has added embedded barcode scanning technology to its latest multi-function mobile research app. More
UK-based Ipsos MORI has appointed Dr. Denise Fairhurst as Head of Employee Relationship Management, while parent company Ipsos has appointed Sonia Pall as its new Country Manager and CEO in India. More
The South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) has called for tenders for the country's outdoor measurement currency, the Out of Home Media Survey (OHMS), for a five-year period beginning 1st January 2012. More
Property sales and marketing consultancy The Marketing Group of New England (TMG) has branched out with the launch of a focus group product for residential developers. The service aims to help them design and build the right product for the current market. More
GfK CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) has expanded its use of shopper specific technology by investing in Tobii Technology's entire range of eye tracking tools to perform projection, on-screen and real world studies in lab and shopping environments. More
Cyprus-based MEMRB (The Middle East Market Research Bureau) has been bought by Nielsen for an undisclosed sum, thought to be around 60m Euros. More
US-based 20|20 Research has unveiled a new version of its bulletin board platform QualBoard, which now allows respondents to be seen and heard via webcams, activated by a single click. More
In the UK, citizen engagement specialists Jonathan MacDonald and Tayo Medupin have set up a marketing platform called Human Dialogue, which offers panellist feedback and consultancy advice to help companies optimize their mobile marketing campaigns. More
US neuromarketing firm EmSense has appointed industry veterans Meinhard Hausleitner, Andrew Kennelly, Lynn Sarnoff and Valerie Gauthier to its market research team, which is led by Chief Analytics Officer Elissa Moses. The firm has also outlined a number of new product initiatives. More
CASRO's Institute for Research Quality (CIRQ) has awarded its first certification for the ISO 26362:2009 panel quality standard, to online physician community specialist M3 USA. More
Online sample exchange Cint has acquired DIY mobile measurement agency Thumbspeak, just seven months after it was set up by Vovici's former Chairman and CEO Dean Wiltse. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US online survey management software firm Vovici has established a European presence with the opening of an office in Kingston-upon-Thames in the UK. More
Online research specialist YouGov has hooked up with digital marketing agency Adform to offer a service which tests how one or more banner ads are received by a target group prior to a campaign being launched. More
In the UK, game industry specialist Chris Wright has launched a company helping online game publishers with data mining and monetisation. Services include real-time behavioural analytics, predictive modelling and individual targeted in-game marketing. More
In the state of Hesse, members of Germany's far right-wing National Democratic Party have been banned from collecting census data following its call on members to volunteer for census-taking duties. More
Kent-based MRDC has sold its data management operation in the UK and its data entry centre in Thailand to London-based research technology firm Cobalt Sky. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kantar Media has launched an Irish sponsorship division, complementing existing offerings in the UK, France, Spain and China. More
GfK Ukraine has extended its agreement with the country's Television Industry Committee (TIC) and will provide TV audience measurement currency for two more years, to the end of 2014. More
Ad agency subsidiary Lowe Philippines (LP) has launched Crowdder, billed as 'the country's first web-based real-time insight crowd sourcing application'. More
In Australia, non-profit body The Readership Works has appointed media specialist Mal Dale for the newly created position of General Manager, responsible for developing, launching, and managing the country's new print readership metric. More
In the US, GfK has added cell phone sampling to its Super OmniTel telephone omnibus. More
In the US, Internet services giant Yahoo! has launched AdLabs - a group focused on accelerating innovation in digital advertising products, and tapping into the services offered by its existing Yahoo! Labs research unit. More
In New York, Kantar Health has appointed Susan Suponcic as Senior Vice President of Global Market Access. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston has reported like-for-like revenue growth of more than 6% for the nine months to 31 December 2010. More
French co-creation agency eYeka is expanding to the States, where it has already appointed full teams covering both the West and East coasts, based in New York and San Francisco. More
US-based customer feedback firm Mindshare Technologies and Munich-based mystery shopping specialist International Service Check have partnered to launch a new venture called 'Fast Insight', which they plan to roll out across Europe and the Middle East. More
In the US, research technology specialist Decipher has partnered with public opinion consulting firm DHM Research to develop custom online panels to help public sector organizations, nonprofits, foundations and universities engage with their communities. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has appointed nine new recruits for its UK and US operations, since the start of the year. More
In London, Language Connect - a specialist in language services for market research - is relocating its head office from Borough to larger premises near Bermondsey Square, in preparation for the expansion of its UK team to 50 staff by the end of the year. More
Out-of-home specialist 1-2-1VIEW has launched the InterFace audience measurement tool, which houses a web camera to detect viewers of digital signage displays, and count footfall at each point-of-display. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has elected IDG Communications CEO Bob Carrigan as its new Chairman. More
In the UK, London Underground Ltd (LUL) has been criticised for spending nearly £1m on the recruitment of 'fake' passengers by GfK to mystery shop its service. More
The US office of market research and insight agency Kadence International has reported a 98% increase in insight-driven revenues to $1.4m for the last six months of 2010, compared with the same period in 2009. More
In the UK, TNS has appointed former Microsoft marketer Tim Isaac as Global Marketing Director, based in the firm's London headquarters. More
In the UK, former BBC digital strategist James Micklethwait has been hired by commercial broadcaster ITV for the newly created role of Director of Product Strategy, overseeing product development, audience research, and web analytics. He starts in April. More
Millward Brown has announced the appointment of Ronald D. Markham as Chief Information Officer; and the setting up of a Client Advisory Board to keep the company truly customer-focused. More
In Sydney, the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Australia (IAB) have whittled down the original twenty-one companies bidding for their online audience measurement contract to a shortlist of five. More
Tokyo-based online specialist Research Panel Asia (RPA) has added a Japanese consumer behavior database to its 'LifeStyle Index' ASP service, previously focused on China. More
In Denmark, Gallup has called time on its new analysis product 'Webprofil', after a documentary suggested that opt-in participants had not fully understood their obligations in terms of cookie installation. More
Dulles, VA-based software firm Vovici has signed a lease for a new headquarters building at Presidents Plaza I in Herndon, and plans to move its 100 plus employees there in March this year. More
Harris Interactive has announced revenue up 2% at constant currencies to $44.9m, along with a small profit, for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2011. More
Harris Interactive has appointed Nathalie Perrio-Combeaux and Patrick Van Bloeme as co-CEOs of its UK operations, replacing Robert Salvoni whose position as President, International has been eliminated as part of a 'shake-up' of the UK business. More
In Germany, Kantar Media has acquired Internet audience measurement firm Spring Wirtz und Pischke, which was founded as a spin-off of the German Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) in 1995. More
In the US, fast food giant McDonald's has promoted Kevin Newell to the new position of Executive Vice President - Global Chief Brand Officer, responsible for marketing, consumer insights, menu innovation and restaurant design. More
Washington, DC-based APCO Insight - the research consultancy arm of comms agency APCO Worldwide - has launched a specialized healthcare research division, led by Chrystine Zacherau who has re-joined the firm as Vice President. More
In the US, product innovation consultancy gravitytank has launched a mobile research app and web platform called dScout, that connects researchers with consumers in real-time. More
US-based operations specialist Gazelle Global Research has opened a qualitative viewing facility in its Manhattan, NY headquarters. More
Manufacturing giant Kraft Foods has partnered with chip maker Intel to develop a self-service kiosk housing digital signage, which scans shoppers' faces and then (wait for it...) recommends what they should cook for dinner. More
Chicago-based C&R Research has launched a shared online community called ParentSpeak, which engages parents of children up to 18 years old, drawing insights from their interaction for client-sponsored research. More
London-based pharma specialist Strata Research has hired Kantar Health's former Group Director Louise Tamblin as Head of Research, a role spanning customer relationships, research delivery and overseeing the development of new techniques. More
In the US, panel specialist Research Now has relocated its Seattle staff - comprising sales, operations, and external PR teams - to the offices of social media sampling firm Peanut Labs, which it acquired last October. More
Nielsen has priced its forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) at around $1.64bn or $23.00 per share. The shares will trade from today on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'NLSN'. More
US firm SurveyAnalytics rolled out a new method of surveying public opinion in real-time during President Obama's State of the Union address last night - combining smartphone-based feedback with comment from social media sites. More
Marcoms giant WPP is to increase its stake in media network Mindshare South Africa to 70%. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, Sunbeam Television has dropped two charges against Nielsen that claimed the research giant had engaged in unfair trade practices and breach of contract. More
UK research association the ICG (Independent Consultants Group) has introduced a new training guide to help non-researchers working in UK organisations conduct their own online surveys. More
In the UK, market research and insight agency Kadence International has appointed Marcus Boyland as Insight Director and Board Member. More
CACI Managing Consultant Gordon Cousland has been named as one of the victims of yesterday's suicide bombing which took place in Moscow's Domodedovo airport. He is one of two Britons and at least 35 people in total killed in the attack. More
After joining the Millward Brown Group last year, Athens-based Research International Greece is to rebrand as Millward Brown RI - offering consultancy and advice in branding and communications research. More
Kantar-owned global trend research consultancy The Futures Company (TFC) has partnered with sister firm TNS to serve multinational and local clients in India. More
US-based Triton Digital Media - which provides technology to the radio industry - has opened a research center for broadcasters looking to study the key factors driving on-air and online audience engagement. More
Synovate has opened an office in Geneva, Switzerland to house a team of twelve. They include existing sales and account management staff based in the city, as well as staff who have relocated from the firm's offices in France and the Netherlands. More
Social monitoring and research company Attentio has finalised the acquisition of 365Research - both are based in Brussels. 365 founder Colin Sanders becomes Chief Product Officer at Attentio, which is planning a new version of its 'Brand Dashboard' in the spring. More
UK-based independent IFF Research has launched an SME Omnibus which it claims is the fastest turnaround telephone business omnibus in the UK. More
Retail behaviour research specialist Shoppercentric has appointed former Marks & Spencer Head of Customer Insight Susie Spencer as a Director. More
In the US, InsightExpress has launched LiveInsights, a real-time campaign measurement and optimization tool for brand marketers. More
In the US Adenyo, a global mobile marketing and analytics technology company, has launched Adenyo Insights, a new Software-as-a-Service tool for real time profiling, targeting and predictive analytics. More
In California, uSamp has teamed up with online qual researcher GutCheck to provide automated delivery of screened and qualified participants for moderated, online qualitative research studies. More
Andrew Jeavons, former MD of Nebu USA, has joined online survey and analytical tools provider Survey Analytics as Executive Vice President. More
US-based full service agency The Dieringer Research Group (DRG) has opened a new 4,000+ square foot 'Focus Center' in its headquarters in the Milwaukee suburbs. More
JD Power and Associates has formed a dedicated digital research team, which will develop a global strategy for integrating digital research - including social media, clickstream, panel, mobile and online media measurement - into the firm's products and services. More
A strategic alliance has been announced between UK-based medical professionals' network doctors.net.uk, and Global Média Santé, owner of Egora, a similar community comprising physicians and other health professionals in France. More
In the US, Ipsos' Omnibus Division has added cell phone dialling to its telephone omnibus, in an attempt to offer clients improved respondent representation. More
In the UK, Chime Communications' Research & Engagement Division has hired Rosy Goodrick, Winston Chesterfield and Laurence Palfreyman for Opinion Leader in London, and Caroline Holman and David Winstone at Facts International in Kent. More
Kantar Media has been awarded a four year TV audience measurement contract by ARMA, Romania's TV joint industry committee, from January 2012. The current service has been operated by GfK Romania since 2008. More
MR technology and online sample firm uSamp is to build a custom online market research panel for publisher Kiplinger, comprising business decision makers, investors and financial advisors. The new panel will be available to uSamp clients for their own surveys. More
UK-based insight consultancy Truth has promoted Senior Partners Neil Coburn to the position of Head of Global and Leanne Tomasevic to Head of UK, in advance of further overseas expansion planned for later in the year. More
UK-based media and marketing insights specialist Ebiquity has reported a 122% climb in total group revenues to £20.5m (2009: £9.3m) for the six months ended 31 October 2010, partly driven by its acquisition of ad and media intelligence firm Xtreme Information last April. More
In the US, Toluna's Global Chief Strategy Officer Dr George Terhanian has taken on the additional position of President, Toluna North America, following the departure of Jeff Scott who has left the firm after just five months in the role. More
GfK Custom Research North America has appointed Angelina Villarreal as Vice President, Multicultural Research, working on strategies for the Hispanic, Asian-American and African-American consumer segments. More
In its 2010 pre-close update, UK-based Cello Group has recorded a 'strong second half' for its market research and consulting business, and says it expects to report a 20% plus like-for-like rise in operating profits. More
Ahead of the official release of its financial results for calendar year 2010, Nielsen has reported an expected revenue increase of between 6.3% and 6.7% to between $5,110m and $5,130m (2009 = $4,808m), equivalent to 5.8% to 6.2% on a constant currency basis. More
In the UK, branding specialists Simon Coker and Nick Burrows have launched Brand Spirit - a new agency which will connect internal and external brand building, while profiling customers' attitudes, motivations and behaviours. More
UK TV broadcaster Channel 4 has promoted Gill Pritchard to the new post of Director of Audience Technologies and Insight, to lead all activities relating to research, data capture, database management and analytics, and their dissemination and use. More
Online sample exchange Cint has launched a new service to enable smaller business to access its Cint Panel Exchange (CPX) through plug-ins and third party software. The new 'Cint Direct' offering will be led by Stefan Hök, who joins as Senior Vice President. More
In the UK, custom healthcare specialist Insight Research Group has launched an online pharmaceutical MR community called 'eVillage', to help brands engage with a wide array of healthcare professionals ('HCPs'). More
In the UK, Ipsos Health has appointed Mike Holland as Research Director, to focus on the continued development of key metrics for the pharmaceutical sector. More
Panel and survey software firm Globalpark has launched 'Social Insight Connect' - an integrated Facebook app that collects feedback within the social networking site through a private feedback channel. More
In the US, antitrust charges brought by Sunbeam Television against Nielsen have been dismissed by a Florida federal judge. More
The US market research industry continued its recovery in the third quarter of 2010, according to the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII), based on reports of business levels from more than two hundred senior execs in the sector. More
FocusVision, a live video transmission, analysis and archive company based in Connecticut, USA, has announced significant enhancements to its video editing tool. More
In Warsaw, Poland, public broadcaster Telewizja Polska (TVP) has given Nielsen a four-year contract to provide television audience measurement services, beginning this month. More
InsightExpress has announced the launch of the Ignite Network, which integrates access to sample from a series of online panel provider partners. The firm says it will also improve data integration and methodological rigor in online ad effectiveness and cross media research. More
Synovate has appointed Paul Stamper, formerly Deputy Managing Director of TNS Opinion in Brussels, as Head of Qualitative Research based in London. More
Cincinnati, OH-based MR provider StrataMark Dynamic Solutions has launched a customizable research tool which it says offers quick turnaround at a lower price than a typical online Omnibus survey. More
Innerscope Research has launched a dedicated biometrics and neuroscience media lab in Boston, New England, USA. More
In the UK, user experience design agencies Foolproof and Flow Interactive have merged, to create what they describe as 'Europe's largest specialist UX agency' with 70 staff and initial turnover in excess of £5.5m. More
Paul Krasinski, the former COO of online audience measurement and analytics specialist Ando Media, has joined ratings giant Arbitron in the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Digital Media and Analytics. More
In the UK, the government has formed a roundtable of experts - including YouGov's CEO Stephan Shakespeare - to advise on its review of the future of the COI (Central Office of Information). More
US confectionery giant Hershey's is joining forces with the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology to develop a sensory science and consumer research program including a consumer taste test laboratory. More
In the US comScore, dunnhumbyUSA and Accenture have partnered to study the link between consumers' usage of brand web sites and their in-store brand buying behavior. More
In the US, PluggedIN, which specializes in building online research communities, has reported 43% revenue growth in 2010, while profitability was 'up substantially' year-on-year. More
In the UK, sponsorship research specialist IFM Sports Marketing Surveys has sold its sports goods business to one of its directors - John Bushell - and the firm's original founder Stephen Proctor. Terms were not disclosed. More
US-based DIY survey firm SurveyMonkey has acquired a 49.9% stake in the UK's Clicktools, which develops on-demand software tools for gathering customer feedback. Terms were not disclosed. More
US-based data collection specialist Opinionology - formerly known as Western Wats - has opened a new service bureau in London, to meet an increase in demand for its European research panels. More
US-based survey and panel management software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has opened a European office in London, and appointed former NEBU and Intellex exec Tariq Mirza as Managing Director of European Operations. More
UK polling firm Populus has officially launched its new data collection and processing business, Populus Data Solutions; and named Patrick Diamond, who previously led the CATI and online field and tab agency ICM Direct/newvista, to lead it. More
Ipsos has appointed David Richardson as Managing Director of Asia Pacific, to help lead businesses across the India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Japan, Korea and Greater China regions. More
Little more than a year after joining insights agency Nunwood as Chief Strategy and Development Officer, James Walker has left to take up the post of Managing Director with video crowdsourcing agency MOFILM. More
Youth research and marketing strategist Dubit is launching what it describes as the UK's first 'direct to youth' online omnibus survey, offering companies regular access to its research panel. More
Sampling solutions firm SSI has appointed former Google exec Christian Michael as Managing Director, Germany, to focus on strengthening its position in the German, Swiss and Austrian markets. More
Ipsos has named a new management team in Asia Pacific, led by Lifeng Liu who was formerly CEO of Greater China. More
In the UK, a group of CEOs led by Paul Lindley, the founder of ethical children's food firm Ella's Kitchen, has called for tax relief on investment in consumer insight aimed at developing new products and services. More
US-based qual specialist Gongos Research has promoted Camille Nicita to the position of Chief Operating Officer, after a year when the company reported a 40% growth in revenue and a 35% increase in headcount. More
In the US, sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom has acquired Image Impact, which measures brand placement in mass media programming. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Japan, online research firm Macromill has partnered with ad and marketing services agencies Hakuhodo and Tokyu to form a new subsidiary which will collect and sell data on consumer commodity buying in Tokyo. More
In the US, technology benchmarking firm Gleanster has secured a second round of funding, which will be used to scale its operations, make several strategic hires, and carry out various marketing and brand-building activities. More
In the UK, former Opinion Health sales specialist Julian Haste has launched Research Runner - a business development consultancy for MR firms. More
US-based data collection specialist Opinionology, formerly known as Western Wats, has launched new panels in Italy and Spain, adding to its existing European panel inventory in the UK, France and Germany. More
US translation and transcription tech firm Language Logic is to establish a presence in the European market, to focus on sales of its Ascribe products and services and its soon-to-be-launched text analytics solution. More
Consumer specialist Knowledge Networks (KN) is to more than double the number of young adults (ages 18 to 24) on its online KnowledgePanel, and increase its representation of Hispanics by more than 40% during the year. More
US firm 20|20 Research has launched QuickQual, a bundled solution built on its QualBoard bulletin board focus group platform. More
TNS has kicked off the new year with a new 'global positioning' known as DISCOVER, which it says reflects its commitment to 'leading the way in research into new frontiers and making discoveries that help clients to develop opportunities'. More
In the UK, medeConnect Healthcare Insight, the market research division of Doctors.net.uk, has appointed Anna Garofalo as Managing Director. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed former NBC Universal veteran Horst Stipp for the newly created position of EVP, Global Business Strategy. More
In the US, Synovate has partnered with Duke University to create the 'Duke/Synovate Shopper Insights Center for Leadership and Innovation', which will focus on advancing research into shopper insights and marketing. More
Panels and MR technology firm Toluna has launched SafeView, a system to ensure the confidentiality of client concepts tested with online survey respondents. More
TNS has acquired a majority stake in the Research and Marketing Services (RMS) group of companies in West and Central Africa. More
Nielsen's Chief Human Resources Officer Roberto (Bob) Llamas is to leave the firm at the end of the first quarter 2011. The firm plans to name a successor during the transition period. More
In Germany, GfK has upped its stake in user experience specialist SirValUse Consulting and usability research firm nurago to 60%. More
Online research specialist YouGov's German arm YouGovPsychonomics has disposed of its subsidiary 'Great Place to Work Deutschland' (GPW Germany) through a management cash buy-out of shares valued at c.£800k. More
Nielsen will provide clients early in 2011 with preview reports for its 'Extended Screen' initiative. The approach adds Internet viewing of TV programs into Nielsen's National People Meter (NPM) television ratings, to demonstrate the impact of online viewing on program measurement. More
The first set of results from the 2010 US Census are just in, showing the total population up 9.7% to 308m since 2000, with the Western and Southern states growing relative to the NE and Mid-West. A strong response rate meant the Census came in under budget by $1.7bn. More
In the US, Sam Decker, the former CMO of word-of-mouth agency Bazaarvoice, has co-founded a firm that helps consumer brands use real-time conversations, commentary and insights culled from millions of social media activities taking place around the globe. More
Around a quarter (24.9%) of Americans no longer have home telephones, according to a report published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which warns that the potential for bias due to undercoverage remains a 'real and growing threat' to surveys. More
In the US, Mirrus - developer of the 'Mirror Image' digital advertising mirror - has partnered with media research specialist Millward Brown Optimor to study the effectiveness of this technology as an ad medium in airport restrooms. More
US-based survey and panel management software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has added built-in Google Analytics support to its flagship platform. More
In Brazil, software experience tester DeskMetrics has closed a $200k initial round of funding from an unnamed group of regional angel investors. More
In the US, media strategy and measurement agency Geomentum has appointed former Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) leader Sean Finnegan as CEO, and Tony Bombacino as President/Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). More
In the UK Graham Farrant, formerly Operations Director at NatCen, has set up Your Site Check, a firm which applies cognitive methodologies to test and evaluate web sites. More
In India, marketing research solutions provider Rightrack has launched 'Easy Research Pro', an online DIY business research tool which uses 'dialogue methodologies' to interact with respondents across geographies and time zones. More
In the US, healthcare information specialist HIMSS Analytics has appointed Marc Holland as Vice President, Market Research, a role encompassing product management and management of data collection and quality. More
The MRUC (Media Research Users Council) has partnered with Australian market research firm Roy Morgan Research to launch a single source survey in India. More
In the US, biometrics and emotion measurement specialist Innerscope Research claims to have conducted the first ever biometric monitoring of an audience at an industry conference in real-time, at last week's ANA Creativity Conference. More
Most large US companies are not currently using social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter to gather customer feedback, according to the findings of a study conducted by research technology firm MarketTools. Some of them aren't using any other medium either... More
In Germany, online sample exchange Cint has moved its existing Berlin-based team to new premises, and opened a new office in Augsburg. More
In the UK, the National Magazine Company (NatMag) has recruited Asos exec Aida Muirhead for its newly created role of Research and Insight Director, responsible for creating, developing and managing its centralised insight team. More
In the US, publishing giant Forbes has partnered with MediaVest and comScore to launch what it describes as 'first of its kind' research to measure print advertising effectiveness using digital tracking methodology. More
The Audit Bureau of Circulation's interactive unit ABCi has teamed with Polar Mobile, to provide audited results for publications in the US and Canada which are read on mobile platforms. More
Rentrak and Paris-based Cine Chiffres have announced the formation of a joint venture which will monitor cinema box office figures throughout France, from 1st January 2011. More
TNS has acquired Belgian shopper research specialist Retail Insights, and appointed its CEO Kristien Laureys to head up the Retail Insights division within TNS Belgium. More
Last week's 'Festival of NewMR' broke new ground in various ways. DRNO Features Editor and virtual conference-goer Teresa Lynch looks back at 24 hours of leading edge thought and trailing edge fashion... More
The U.S. Census Bureau has for the first time released 5-year estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS), making available social, economic, housing and demographic statistics for every community in the country. More
Nielsen has formed a joint venture with China Cable Union Data Services (CCData) to pioneer the delivery of new and more detailed insight on China's growing digital TV market. More
In New York, social engagement company SAY Media and Knowledge Networks' ad effectiveness subsidiary KN Dimestore have announced a new research approach designed to measure the impact of user engagement on brand metrics. More
Software firm Dub has enhanced its IdeaStream online qual research platform with support for Dutch, Czech and Cantonese, bringing its total to fifteen languages. More
Nielsen has announced that it is shutting down its diary-based radio ratings service in the US, from the Fall 2010 period. The firm said in a statement that the decision will not impact its international radio measurement services. More
TNS has restructured its operations in Asia Pacific (APAC) to reflect the differing needs of the region's diverse markets, and named its Singapore office as its new APAC regional headquarters. More
Canada-based online data collection specialist Itracks has partnered with a number of panel operators to provide access to a group of more than 1.7 million US and Canadian panelists. More
Andy Dexter's agency Truth scooped the blue riband Best Agency award at last night's annual MRS bash in London. A noisy crowd at the capital's Lancaster London Hotel saw Verve take the Best Newcomer, while innovative agencies Firefish and BrainJuicer took three and two awards respectively. More
Two Assistant Professors, based in the US and Japan, have developed an app which collects information anonymously from Android users using a daily pop-up survey. More
In the UK, MR and usability testing specialist SimpleUsability has introduced an 'Emotion Response Analysis' service, which uses a new form of EEG brainwave monitoring headset combined with eye tracking technology. More
Arbitron's week has had its ups and downs but its leaders will enjoy their weekend in the knowledge that its biggest client Clear Channel Radio has signed up for PPM and diary ratings for another five years for a reported $538m. The ratings firm's share price has leapt accordingly. More
CASRO has issued a statement responding to the 'Rush Bill', the federal privacy legislation currently under review in the US. The 'sorely needed' framework holds no nightmares for researchers, the association believes, but has room for improvement and clarification. More
Following its admission last month of a flaw in the measurement of web traffic due to pages with 'very long URLs', Nielsen has now notified clients that it will 'restate' ratings for nine TV stations in four of its metered markets due to problems with 'software logic'. More
An independent study of Arbitron's PPM (Portable People Meter) panellists has uncovered how some try to 'beat the system' in order to earn more monthly payments. More
In the US, consumer specialist Knowledge Networks (KN) has partnered with mobile survey technology provider Techneos to roll out a solution that uses smartphones both for traditional information gathering and for 'on the go' and 'in the moment' research. More
Vision Critical has hired Mike Stevens, formerly a divisional head at Simpson Carpenter, as Senior Vice President of UK Research. More
Ipsos has unveiled what it describes as the 'largest research-based call centre in Africa'. The firm's decision to invest in building up the English-speaking call centre in Randburg, South Africa was taken in late 2008. More
UK research agency FreshMinds has hired former JRA exec Niall Smith as Head of Research Expertise and Development, responsible for providing methodological expertise to its 40 researchers and working across its diverse client portfolio. More
In Australia, shopper activation agencies Evocatif and iCRE8 have joined forces to expand parent firm STW Group's retail capabilities. More
US-based qual and quant data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has acquired fieldwork services agency ConsuMed Research and focus group facilities provider Passerelles, both based in Paris. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Australia, market research firm DBM Consultants has launched the Business Financial Services Monitor (BFSM), a syndicated survey providing market and performance monitoring of the country's financial institutions. More
Web metrics company Quantcast and software firm Clearspring have agreed to pay $2.4 million to settle class-action lawsuits claiming they used Flash cookies to track web users without their permission. Separately, online privacy faces a new threat, 'history sniffing'. More
US-based research technology specialist Decipher has released a new DIY research software suite, which allows users to build their own online surveys and disseminate them to target audiences. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has withdrawn its accreditation for Arbitron's RADAR and Nationwide network and national radio audience services, because they incorporate data from PPM markets that are not accredited by the MRC. More
In the UK, David Barr has announced his intention to step down as Director General of the Market Research Society (MRS) from next September. Recruitment for his successor will begin shortly. More
In the US, the IAB has responded to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) recent call for a 'Do Not Track' mechanism to be included in web browsers, with a warning that the solution would require 'reengineering' of the Internet's architecture. More
GfK Custom Research North America has promoted Thomas Finkle and David Krajicek to the role of Co-President, responsible for providing strategic leadership and day-to-day management. More
Canada-based mobile survey software firm Techneos has released a new edition of its SODA (Survey On Demand Application) solution, for iPhone and iPod Touch platforms. More
Ipsos Nigeria has partnered with local news provider THISDAY to conduct political polling in advance of the April 2011 elections. Ipsos says this is the first time a research agency has conducted political polling in the country on such a large scale. More
In China, US citizen Dr Xue Feng has appealed against an eight year prison sentence imposed on him by the Beijing High People's Court, for obtaining market research data about China's oil industry that it says contains state secrets. More
US firm Creative Research Systems has released a new Web CATI module that enables interviewers to work from home or other remote locations. More
WPP-owned Millward Brown has partnered with semantic web service OpenAmplify to provide clients with a deeper understanding of what respondents actually mean in their answers to surveys. More
Aegis-owned Synovate is to further expand its presence in Russia by acquiring a majority stake in media research specialist COMCON. Terms were not disclosed, but Synovate will have the option to buy 100% of COMCON in 2015. More
Word-of-mouth research and consulting firm Keller Fay is to roll out its proprietary TalkTrack panel in the UK, following its launch in the US in 2006. More
In the UK, semiotics expert Ginny Valentine died yesterday, following a lengthy illness. More
Infogroup|UK - which was established in 2007 with the aim of compiling a database of more than 2.5 million businesses and over 3 million business contacts in the UK - has been acquired by B2B data provider Market Location. Terms were not disclosed. More
Research and MR technology firm Vision Critical has appointed former TNS researcher Gina Lagos as Senior Research Director in the UK. More
US-based online and mobile qual research software provider Revelation has expanded its language capabilities to include Russian and Turkish. More
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a group of industry bodies have given Kantar Media a five-year contract to develop and implement the country's first PeopleMeter television audience measurement service. More
WPP has raised its 2011 growth forecast, with Martin Sorrell suggesting the group will also be able to raise its dividend. Separately, the group has reportedly invested in a new consultancy venture launched by former Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. More
Pharma and healthcare insight firms SDI and Cegedim Strategic Data (CSD) have announced the joint launch of a tracker for sales activity in the oncology therapies market. More
In the UK, the BBC is introducing its own 'Live Plus 7' system, which supplements traditional 'overnight' audience figures with numbers viewing the same programmes on any of a number of platforms up to seven days later. More
Kantar has increased the size of its Worldpanel in the UK by 20%, to include data from 30,000 households by the end of 2011. The firm has also announced other enhancements to the overall Worldpanel service. More
Online customer behaviour analysis firm Site Intelligence has received an unknown amount of equity funding from Oxford Capital Partners, while appointing Peter Ryan as Chief Executive Officer. More
In the US, technology firm Kurani Interactive - developer of the Opinionaided iPhone market research app - has secured another $275k in funding. More
In Canada, Destiny Media-owned Clipstream Survey has moved with its parent company to new headquarters in downtown Vancouver. More
In the UK, online market research specialist BrainJuicer's Chief Operating Officer Alex Batchelor has been elected to the company's Board as an Executive Director. More
In the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron has launched a £2m consultation to develop a new measure of people's social and environmental wellbeing, as opposed to just their wealth. More
OzTAM - Australia's official source of television audience measurement - has appointed Doug Peiffer as its new CEO, succeeding Kate Inglis-Clark who leaves after seven years in post. At this point, the details of Inglis-Clark's next career move are unknown. More
Synovate has launched a dedicated Mystery Shopping business unit in South Africa, led by its former Operations Director Samantha Lloyd. More
Offshore business process outsourcing (BPO) firm WNS has opened a European HQ in London, to support its expansion in the region. More
Online media agency MediaCorp has extended its TV audience measurement contract with Kantar Media to include VirtualMeter technology, which will enable it to view consolidated data across multiple platforms including linear TV and IPTV. More
In the US, research firm Heart+Mind Strategies has opened 'The Richard B. Wirthlin Center for Applied Values-Research in Marketing and Communications' - in honor of President Reagan's former pollster Dr Richard Wirthlin, who is a member of its Advisory Board. More
In Australia, the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has added a new 'Plan by Format' functionality to its MOVE audience measurement system; enabling users to view and cross-analyse the reach and frequency of different out-of-home (OoH) formats. More
Marketing content and comms services specialist STW Group has strengthened its insights division with the launch of a specialist market research data collection agency called Touchpoint Research Australia. More
Harris Interactive has launched 'Flash Poll' - a service which provides representative research data on up to 1,000 respondents in 36 hours. Each research project commissioned using the service is treated as a unique piece of custom research. More
In the US, Management Science Associates (MSA) and Paradigm Sample have launched the Convenience Consumer Insights Panel (cci Panel), which gathers consumer information from convenience store (C-store) shoppers. More
Arbitron has announced that Spanish-language broadcasting group Univision Radio has signed multi-year contracts for its PPM (Portable People Meter) ratings services in twelve markets. More
London-based EMS Research is to be acquired by M3 USA, the parent company of medical panel specialist MDLinx. M3 says the deal will create 'the largest verified provider of physicians and other healthcare professionals in the world'. More
Custom panel and community specialist Verve has added survey scripting and data analysis functionality to its VERVE Engine platform by integrating it with Askia software. More
Wi-fi data accidentally collected by Google's Street View cars will be deleted 'as soon as possible', according to the office of the UK's Information Commissioner. Separately, US and UK privacy policy unfolds and is criticised; and Tim Berners-Lee expresses fatherly concern. More
Online sample exchange Cint has announced growth in the Netherlands with the appointment of Maurice Wassen as a Senior Account Manager based in its new Amsterdam office; and the addition of the Motivaction panel. More
US-based chip manufacturing giant Intel has acquired Canadian out-of-home (OoH) audience measurement technology developer CognoVision for an undisclosed amount. More
In the US, Arbitron's Custom Sports Services arm has created the Event Retention Index (ERI); a new metric for its Portable People Meter (PPM) radio ratings service which provides information on the extent to which audiences 'stay tuned' to sports broadcasts. More
In the US, ethnic and multicultural specialist Ebony Marketing Research (EMR) has partnered with ethnic data supplier List Service Direct (LSDI) to enable it to tap into targeted lists for telephone studies. More
US ad industry ratings watchdog the Media Rating Council (MRC) has withdrawn its accreditation for local television ratings in Nielsen's 154 diary-only markets, backdating the withdrawal to 2009. More
In Australia, global brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners | Open Mind has appointed former TNS exec Adrianto Reksodipoetro as Associate Director, focusing on developing the agency's ethnography and online qual research capabilities. More
Social network marketing company LiveWorld has introduced an opinion analysis service, which combines technology with human moderators who review customer posts in context. More
In the US, industry researchers Tracy Downing, Mike Lokowich and Lisa Myers have launched Infrared Partners, a new consultancy offering marketing, research and customer experience solutions. More
In the UK, co-creation specialist Face has launched an online community called X-crowd, which promises to connect 'tech lovers' with global technology brands. More
In the UK, YouGovStone has launched a service to conduct online research with Members of Parliament in Westminster, providing omnibus and bespoke survey options for research buyers. More
In Leeds, UK, three former Nunwood Board directors have founded full service agency Boxclever. More
US qual and quant data collection agency Quick Test/Heakin has relocated its West Oaks Mall facility in Houston to new premises, where it has appointed Denise Bryant as Manager. The firm has also announced a number of promotions and appointments. More
WPP is merging its business advisory and public opinion research firm Public Strategies with its international communications agency Hill and Knowlton (H&K), to offer joint capabilities in public affairs, research, digital and financial services. More
In Sri Lanka, consulting firm MTI has spun off its research practice as a separate entity called MTI Market Research. More
In the UK, Chime's Research and Engagement division - which includes Facts International, Opinion Leader Research, CaucusWorld, acefieldwork, Naked Eye and Brand Democracy - says it is expecting increased profit in the second half year. More
In the US, online research community builder Communispace is relocating its headquarters from the current 40,000 square foot location in Watertown, Massachusetts, to an office twice the size, based across two floors of the Atlantic Wharf Building in Boston. More
US-based video research solutions provider Qualvu has rolled out a DIY web-based platform that enables businesses to engage with consumer groups and then review and analyze their feedback. More
Lightspeed Research has moved its global headquarters from Basking Ridge to Warren, also in New Jersey. More
In the UK, Engage Research has announced a new approach to the development of creative ads, bringing consumers into the research process at an earlier stage where they are more likely to inspire 'better, braver brand advertising'. More
A new Netherlands-based research firm is targeting the 'hard to reach' consumers of the GCC region. VNDLGY (pronounced 'Vondology') uses a network of carefully recruited 'TrendSpotters' to provide qual feedback on trends and innovations in the region. More
GfK has announced third quarter organic sales growth of 9.2%, up from an already strong 8.0% in the second quarter and 5.3% in the first quarter; and adjusted operating income up 27% to EUR 48.5m. More
Synovate parent Aegis Group has reported organic revenue growth of 9.7% in the third quarter, and 5.2% for the nine month period, but has warned of slower growth in the fourth quarter. Synovate outperformed the media division with revenue up 11.5% for the quarter and 5.7% over 9 months. More
Australian-based custom research firm The Leading Edge has opened its first in North American office, in New York, and hired former Interbrand and McCann exec Daniel Binns as CEO and Founding Partner. More
Stockholm-based Tobii Technology has launched a new product which will allow its clients to run eye-tracking experiments directly from MATLAB, the widely used MathWorks research software. Separately, neuroengineer Emotiv has announced a new headset with potential research uses. More
Asian-focused panels and MR outsourcing company Pulse Group is said to be looking for M&A opportunities. More
Synovate has launched a global analytics consulting practice, Synovate Management Analytics (SMA), promising clients the ability to make holistic, strategic decisions by integrating research, analytics and data sources for each project. More
Two US-based bodies, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) have released guidelines aimed at standardizing key metrics for mobile audience measurement. More
Online sampling and data collection company Research Now has relocated its headquarters from Dallas to a larger site in Plano, Texas, with future growth in mind. More
The BBC has announced it will re-tender its market research framework contract, compiling a roster of providers for use over a term of two years beginning with the third quarter of 2011. More
Nineteen prominent US pollsters have published an open letter expressing concern about the proliferation of dubious polls and their 'sometimes uncritical' coverage by the media. More
In the UK, experienced social and market researchers Jon Batterham and Tom Levesley have launched a new agency - Chrysalis Research - specialising in education, employment and skills, and health. More
In California, events company Patrician has branched out with a real time data capture product called iHAVE5Qs. More
In the UK a subsidiary of courier company TNT has been accused of potentially providing burglars and identity thieves with a goldmine of personal information about survey respondents. The BBC's Watchdog programme says Doordrop Media's approach runs counter to data protection laws which demand such information is handled securely. More
India's Federal Government has been asked by the Kerala regional government to 'investigate' a door-to-door survey asking Muslims for their views on sensitive questions concerning religion and politics. Interviews were by TNS for Washington-based Princeton Survey Research Associates (PSRAI). More
UK-based Illuminas has appointed George Musi as Vice President in its New York office, charged with managing strategic quant and qual projects and running the client service and new business teams. More
MR technology and online sample firm uSamp has launched a new version of its SampleMarket panel access platform, offering enhanced real-time self-service access to its US proprietary panel. More
Nielsen has apologised to clients for a 'flaw' in its web traffic methodology which has led to under-counting of web traffic in products including its NetView service. More
In the US, online DIY survey tools firm SurveyMonkey has secured $100m in debt financing from a group of banks. The firm plans to use the funds to reduce debt in preparation for making future acquisitions. More
Healthcare data collection specialist WorldOne has appointed former marketRX executive Nina Hogan as Manager US Panel Strategy and Development. More
In France, GfK has partnered with global news agency AFP (Agence France-Presse) to launch the 'Reference E-Content' (REC) monitor, which measures and analyses users' online consumption of books, music, videos, games and software. More
The Audit Bureau of Circulations' interactive unit ABCi has teamed up with mobile publishing technology firm Spreed, to provide independently audited mobile usage data generated from smart phones, e-readers and mobile browsers in the US and Canada. More
Online panel and technology firm uSamp has appointed a new Chief Financial Officer, promoted two execs, and doubled the number of sales directors employed in its US offices. More
In New York, product innovation specialist Ipsos Vantis has launched 'Vantis Files', a syndicated research offering that monitors competitive products and services across multiple industry sectors. More
Ahead of its official financial report which will be published on 15th November, GfK has announced a 10.8% revenue increase to EUR 931m for the first nine months of 2010 (prior year: EUR 840.2m), of which 7.4% is attributable to organic sales growth. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has brought all its New York-based staff together under one roof, at 58 West 40th Street. Overlooking Bryant Park, the new office is more than double the size of its previous space. More
In the US, custom market research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey and media agency Brand Networks have developed a solution to help businesses better understand their Facebook fans. More
In the US, GfK has acquired marketing consultancy Interscope, which helps manufacturers and retailers understand the shopper landscape through a mix of analytics and creative ideas. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In India, Kantar-owned IMRB has launched the 'Web Audience Measurement' (WAM) system, which uses a panel of people issued with a new custom-built metering device. More
Global research association ESOMAR has appointed Dieter Korczak as President and Mike Cooke as Vice President for the 2011/2012 period, following a recent vote among its 4,800 members in 120 countries. More
US media measurement firm TRA has introduced a daily service which details the impact of TV campaigns on actual consumer purchase behavior. More
In the UK, Creston-owned ICM Research has launched a financial services panel, made up of participants who are IFAs, financial advisors and 'paraplanners'. More
In the US, research platform provider Survey Analytics has launched the MicroPanel network, a fully automated service offering clients point and click access to millions of consumers and business professionals across numerous vertical sectors. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has appointed Marc-Antoine Jacoud as Managing Director of Southern Europe, responsible for leading client development in France, Italy and Spain. More
Asia Pacific-based market research consultancy Cimigo has appointed former Synovate director Scott Lee as Director in its Hong Kong team. More
DIY market research solution GutCheck has closed a $2m Series A round of funding. The money will be used to launch its platform, support its sales and marketing strategy, and grow the number of participants in its online panel. More
In the US, JD Power and Associates has partnered with online sample firm uSamp to develop an online panel expanding its existing survey-based customer satisfaction and product quality research. More
Software and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has introduced a new sampling methodology which scientifically 'calibrates, mixes, stabilizes and monitors' multiple or single respondent sources. More
The BBC has axed the role of Director of Marketing, Communications and Audiences (MC&A) held by Sharon Baylay, and integrated her team into an expanded division led by COO Caroline Thompson. More
Millward Brown is to offer Australian clients the neuroscience research services it launched in the UK in March, extending the offering of its existing advertising and brand research unit. More
GfK MRI's print ad effectiveness division Starch Advertising Research is to track consumer readership of ads that appear in US Spanish-language publications from next January. More
In New York, Ipsos Loyalty has promoted Ken Peterson to the position of Chief Operating Officer, where he will focus on maximising efficiency and optimising client service. More
Panel provider and research outsourcing firm Pulse Group has made a profit for the first time, for the year ending May 31 2010. More
Three Australian research and technology businesses have pooled their skills to launch a new company, Potentiate, with offices in Australia and Japan. The three are software firm Infotools Australia, panel management and survey deployment specialist Plenari and online sample firm Sampleworx. More
Research Now has opened an office in Milan to provide its 'greatly expanded' base of Italian clients with skilled local account management. Client Development Manager Robinson Leoni will head up the office. More
Japanese electronics giant Panasonic is planning a massive expansion of its R&D centre in Gurgaon, India, as part of its ongoing heavy investment in growing its Indian operation. More
Panel specialist e-Rewards has completed its acquisition of San Francisco-based social media sampling firm Peanut Labs, the company confirmed on Friday. More
A total of 21 companies have registered an interest in bidding for the Australian IAB's recently announced online audience measurement tender. More
In the UK, online marketing research specialist OnePoll has appointed consumer trend authority William Higham as Managing Director. More
Research and business intelligence firm Majestic MRSS (MMRSS) has opened a qualitative research centre in Singapore, and appointed Fatima Binti Abdul Hakim as its Facilities Manager. More
Web-based consumer researcher BuzzBack has rolled out an online concept analysis tool, through which respondents can highlight those areas of a product idea, advert, package or web site that are meaningful to them, rather than selecting from a list of predefined options. More
Online data collection specialist Itracks has released a new qualitative research solution that simulates in-person focus groups, using streaming video technology. More
In the US, GfK MRI is implementing a change in its in-person, in-home consumer surveys to augment its data on readership of printed magazines with readership on every type of digital platform. More
Research Panel Asia (RPA) has opened its first office in the US in Los Angeles, to support clients based in North America. More
Nunwood has opened an office in Sydney, Australia, headed by former BBC researcher Anna Thomas who joins the company as Joint Managing Director, APAC. Meanwhile Ann Thompson is promoted to Joint MD based in Auckland, NZ. More
Canadian-based mobile testing and market research community Mob4Hire has launched a rating system for 'mobile usability excellence' - focused on identifying and creating high quality mobile apps, web sites and other media. More
Insight firm RONIN has expanded its medical panel offering to Latin America, through the recruitment of medical professionals in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico and Venezuela. More
MR outsourcing firm Ugam Research Solutions has partnered with medical information provider Physicians Interactive Holdings (PIH), combining its own data collection services with PIH's panel of 170,000 US physicians. More
Online measurement specialist comScore has introduced a system for tagging mobile web and app assets, to enhance the measurement of mobile audiences worldwide. To promote the initiative, the firm has partnered with mobile analytics firm Bango. More
Ipsos Vantis, the global group's product innovation division, has appointed Randy Giusto as Senior Vice President in its technology business. More
In the US, a group of 33 crowdsourcing companies has joined forces to create a trade organization to serve as a resource for practitioners, customers, researchers and - eventually - the 'crowd'. More
Norwegian online survey technology firm QuestBack has acquired Finnish data collection software specialist Digium Oy. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition is expected to create a business with a combined turnover of 22m Euros. More
TNS has re-organised its operations in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (APMEA) into two separate regions - TNS Africa and Middle East (AME) led by Kim Macilwaine and TNS Asia Pacific (APAC) headed by Chris Riquier. More
US-based social community software provider Passenger has secured a $7.5m investment, which will be used to support new product development, marketing efforts and sales. More
In the US, Harris Interactive has named Pavan Bhalla as its new Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, replacing Robert Cox who left the firm last year. More
US-based online video research solutions provider Qualvu has opened an office in Dublin, from which to serve its European clients. The new operation is led by former ad agency account planner and research consultant Anne-Marie O'Sullivan. More
In Mexico, full-service research firm Pearson Marketing & Opinion Intelligence has developed a methodology to evaluate educational institutions including private and independent schools. More
TNS has formed a new central division called Corporate Development, incorporating a number of current areas of marketing and strategy expertise. Matthew Froggatt, until now Technology Sector Head, has been appointed to lead the new unit as Chief Development Officer. More
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has published its response to a recent consultation on silent calls, which includes rule changes and clarifications. More
Two of Nielsen's subsidiaries are planning to sell $750m of senior notes which are due in 2018, in order to pay off a proportion of the research giant's debt. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed former Procter & Gamble senior exec Ted McConnell in the new role of Executive VP - Digital. More
In the UK, healthcare fieldwork agency WorldOne has acquired data collection agency Field Facts UK. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based Virtual Surveys has appointed former eBay user experience specialist James Lang as Web Research Director. More
In the US, GfK MRI has released 'Granularity' - a system for inputting weekly, local magazine readership data into marketing mix models to determine the impact that individual advertising media has on sales. More
In the UK, CSA Recruitment - which specialises in market and social research staff recruitment - has appointed former Aquent consultant Bridget Barry as an Associate Partner. More
In the UK, The Advertising Association and Turner Media Innovations have set up a web site to help practitioners from the wider marketing community understand the ethical rules which apply to conducting research with children. More
Former Synovate Healthcare CEO Michael Spedding has returned to the company with the title of 'CEO, Geographies'. More
In the US, digital video recorder (DVR) solutions provider TiVo has begun a recruitment drive to increase the size of its Power||Watch consumer panel from 25,000 to 100,000 households. More
Panels and MR technology firm Toluna has hired former Harris Interactive leader Dr. George Terhanian as its Group Chief Strategy and Products Officer. More
US-based NeuroFocus is to publish 'NeuroStandards', a set of principles for conducting EEG-based, full-brain measurements as part of market research studies. More
TNS veteran Klaus Paur has been appointed as Managing Director of Synovate Automotive in Korea and Greater China. He will take up his new post next January. More
In India, healthcare panels specialist Krea has rolled out The India Field Network (IFN) - a quality control system designed to ensure selection of the most appropriate interviewer, respondent and data for each project. More
Broadcasting association The Norwegian Radio Industry has awarded TNS Gallup a three-year contract extension to measure electronic radio listening in the country. The contract will now run until late 2013. More
In the US, Ipsos is consolidating its Cincinnati operations into one large office, based in the city's historic Columbia-Tusculum neighborhood. More
NetBase - which creates tools to measure consumer opinion and behavior in social media - has joined forces with netnographer Professor Robert Kozinets to develop an online community through which market researchers can discuss and share best practices around measuring online buzz. More
GfK is restructuring its healthcare management team under a single brand with the appointment of Stephen Hearn to the newly created post of Global Head of GfK HealthCare, and the transition of Richard Vanderveer from CEO of the division to a consulting role. More
Sample marketplace firm Cint has opened offices in Los Angeles, Princeton and San Francisco and is moving to larger premises in Atlanta and Toronto to accommodate its expanding sales and operations teams in North America. More
e-Rewards, the parent company of online panel specialist Research Now is to acquire US-based social media sample provider Peanut Labs in a deal expected to complete next month. Terms were not disclosed. More
Kantar has linked its Worldpanel scanned FMCG household purchase data with data from Kantar Media's TGI consumer insight survey. The resulting service, TGI Worldpanel, promises clients a detailed understanding of the link between media consumption, consumer attitudes and UK purchasing. More
Internet ad body IAB Australia is inviting online audience measurement (OAM) vendors to submit their services for tender evaluation, with the aim of selecting one as the sole and exclusive preferred supplier for the planning, buying and reporting of OAM in the country for a three-year term. More
Chime company Facts International has announced the acquisition of London-based acefieldwork, part of Munro Global, for an undisclosed sum. The companies will continue to trade separately under their existing brand names until next year when they will merge. More
US-based qual specialist Gongos Research has launched a mobile app for its iCommunities services, available for the iPhone and iPod touch, with other platforms scheduled for coverage soon. More
In the US, technology and media company Active Network has launched a panel of consumers with an active lifestyle, via an alliance with research firm Survey.com. More
Panel firm e-Rewards, Inc. has announced that it is adopting the name of its recent acquisition, Research Now, on a worldwide basis with immediate effect; and is introducing a new corporate identity. More
In New York, the ARF has announced an 'unprecedented' project examining biometric and neurological research methods, which it says will 'provide much-needed transparency' in the emerging area. More
UK-based supermarket Tesco is Thailand's biggest grocery chain and is now one of four companies bidding for the Thai assets of Carrefour, after the French giant took the tough decision to pull out of a number of Asian markets. In part, Tesco's success is a victory for market research. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) today launched two separate sets of draft guidelines: one on research with children and young people and one on online research. More
Nielsen has this week told clients it may widen the definition of its new Extended Screen ratings, dropping the absolute requirement that online TV programs must carry the same ads as their original broadcast. Separately, the research giant is said to be piloting a new 'GRP'-style online audience measure. More
Austin, Texas-based Kinesis Survey Technologies has launched version 3.0 of its scalable, multi-platform survey and panel management software Kinesis Panelâ„¢. More
UK-based data collection agency Perspective is to merge with Continental Direct, a subsidiary of the former Continental Research, creating a new firm, Perspective Research Services, which will launch officially on 1st October 2010. More
Indian research and risk advisory firm CRISIL has agreed to purchase KPO company Pipal Research Corporation, for $US 12.75m. More
UK-based agency BrainJuicer has formally announced 49% revenue growth to £7.2m for the first half of 2010. Operating profit was up 119%, and profit before tax 108%. More
A US judge has sentenced a woman who falsified child safety tests on cigarette lighters to eight months in prison. More
Biometrics and emotion measurement specialist Innerscope Research has opened a West Coast office in Los Angeles in response to increasing demand, and announced three appointments in support of the opening. More
comScore has launched its syndicated mobile measurement service MobiLens in Japan. This is the first Asian launch for the service, which currently serves the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. More
Ipsos MediaCT has been chosen by Australian non-profit body The Newspaper Works to develop and run a new readership measurement system for the country's newspapers and magazines. More
comScore has launched a social media intelligence service, Social Analytix, giving clients analysis of what is being said about their brands; and announced a collaboration with Equifax company IXI to integrate financial segmentation data into products including Audience Advantage and AdEffx. More
Electronics publications and events firm EE Times Group, a subsidiary of UBM, has partnered with semiconductor MR specialist Merrill Research & Associates to launch EE Intelligence, a robust online research panel focused on electronics research. More
US-based Optimum Solutions Corporation has released FACTSâ„¢, a new version of its data capture technology solution adding features including multi-level question definition, foreign language data entry, audio coding and dynamic survey processing. More
London-based online agency Opinium Research has announced four appointments. The arrival of Jeremy Marshall, Paul Crooke, Gregory Absalom and Ross Leibbrandt will help the firm to expand following strong results in the summer. More
Vision Critical has promoted Monique Morden to the role of President of its Global Partner Program and Chief Operating Officer for National Panels, and says it aims to expand the Program rapidly. More
In the US, local market consumer specialist Scarborough Research has released findings from its first phase of cell phone-only (CPO) survey data collection, which began in selected local markets one year ago. The data shows the extent to which CPO respondents 'tend to be disproportionately young and minority'. More
In the US, the dispute between Sunbeam Television and Nielsen appears to be coming to a conclusion: the parties informed a judge in Miami last week that they are close to resolving the suit. More
US firm Echometrix has paid $100,000 to settle a case with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo over accusations of 'deceptive' selling of information about children's online activity to third parties for market intelligence purposes. Separately, this week another US firm was also accused of mobile tracking without permission. More
George Terhanian, Harris Interactive's long-time European chief and more recently in charge of its US Centers of Excellence, is to leave the firm at the end of the month 'to pursue another career opportunity'. More
UK companies making silent calls - which can result from automated diallers in call centres getting more answered calls than staff are available to handle - now face fines of up to £2m following a vote by MPs this week. More
The ARF has appointed long-time IBM exec Todd M. Powers, Ph.D. as its Chief Research Officer, starting at the end of the month. More
US-based research technology specialist Decipher has reported 55% year-over-year revenue growth for the first six months of 2010. The firm is about to move to a new office in Los Angeles, and is planning to open facilities in Manhattan and London in the coming months. More
Online panel and technology firm Toluna has reported a 164% increase in revenues to £36.2m for the six months ended 30 June 2010, which it says reflects the successful integration of Greenfield Online ISS into the group. More
US-based data collection specialist Western Wats has opened a new service bureau in Toronto, to provide local access to the firm's research panels. More
London-based qualitative specialist Firefish has launched a quantitative practice led by former RS Consulting MD, Neil Swan. The agency has also reported sales growth of 69% to £3.3m for the first half of the year. More
In the UK, global data collection agency Field Facts Worldwide has been put up for sale by administrator and business recovery specialist Leonard Curtis. Sources suggest that overseas facilities belonging to the firm have closed. More
AbsolutData Research & Analytics has expanded in the US, with the appointment of Dana Hayman in Dallas, Laura DeYonker in New York, and Carol Franczek in Chicago, while Heather Kluter joins the firm's existing operation in Los Angeles. More
In the UK, Kantar Media has rolled out a new approach to regional readership data collection, which it says offers a 'considerable cost saving' for publishers conducting regular readership research. More
Research Panel Asia (RPA) has opened a 24-hour operations centre in the Philippines, to help accelerate project turnaround. More
Sample marketplace firm Cint has secured a $13m investment, earmarked for expanding the business in both new and existing markets, extending its product portfolio and strengthening its team. More
Out-of-home (OoH) media agency Kinetic has formed a data consultancy division called Meta, to help clients 'unlock' and maximize the value of existing consumer information by linking data from a variety of locations and transaction types. More
Market research and consulting group Cello has reported good overall growth, but says a slowdown in public sector work for its Research and Consulting division will mean redundancies there. More
Media executives Jeffrey Erb and Harold Hambrose have set up Clarity Labs, to provide eye tracking and other usability research services from facilities on both sides of the Atlantic, in Philadelphia and London. More
In New York, global brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners has launched a Shopper Insights and Shopper Engager division, headed by industry specialist Vanessa Hartnoll. More
Harris Interactive has introduced the Body Mass Index (BMI) Speciality Panel, to provide clients with information about underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese US adults. More
MR technology and operations company Annik has extended its SurveyFlashTools (SFT) solution to enable interactive Flash elements to be added to questions in any online survey, regardless of the platform. More
WPP-owned Millward Brown has brought all its global qualitative agencies together under a single brand, Firefly Millward Brown. More
UK-based user experience consultancy User Vision has opened an office in Dubai, to service clients in the Middle East and North Africa. More
In the US, Arbitron veteran Pierre Bouvard is to leave his role of EVP of Cross-Platform Services at the end of September, after 23 years with the firm. More
Three former TNS execs - Evette Cordy, Penny Darbyshire and James Redden - have teamed up to launch a new firm based in Melbourne, Australia and rejoicing in the name of Raspberry Innovation Research + Strategy. More
US-based Peanut Labs has launched Social Media Asia Sample, which provides access to an online population of social media users in China, Japan and South Korea. More
Online panel and technology firm uSamp has reported a 167% rise in revenue for the past year, which it says was driven by an increase in use of global consumer panels and river sampling, along with growth in tracking studies following its recent acquisition of DMS Insights. More
UK-based consultancy Nunwood has hired former Asda consumer specialist Craig Ryder as Global Head of Shopper Insight, Analytics and Activation. More
US-based data collection firm Western Wats has launched online research panels in Germany and France. More
In the US, MarketSight - a provider of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market research solutions - has posted a 49% increase in revenue for the first half of 2010. More
In the US, Sagient Research Systems has added the Thought Leader Opinions (TLO) service to its pharma and biotech analytics tool BioMedTracker, to provide subscribers with direct access to expert opinion on specific disease areas. More
New York-based GfK Roper Consulting has added a visual component to its US consumer trends service GfK Roper Reports, promising an enhanced understanding of consumers' motivations and behaviors. More
US branding consultancy Siegel+Gale has partnered with neuroscience specialist NeuroCompass to pilot the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging technology (fMRI), to uncover consumer feelings about brands. More
In India, full service research agency Market Xcel has launched an omnibus, providing access to respondents in 12 cities across the country. More
US-based online research agency Infosurv has promoted Carl Fusco to the post of Managing Director, responsible for P&L, managing all company operations and leading growth. The firm has also promoted Kyle Burnam, and hired John Barrett and Chet Bertolli. More
US-based HCD Research has partnered with the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO) to measure voter sentiment in the run up to the forthcoming fall elections. More
In the UK, full service agency SPA has been acquired by private equity firm Next Wave Partners as part of a plan to merge it with Future Thinking, in which Next Wave holds a 60% stake. More
WPP-owned Kantar Media - which specializes in providing TV, Internet and radio audience measurement services - has hired veteran media analyst Jeffrey Boehme to drive the development of new products and applications for set-top box (STB) data. More
UK-based specialist recruiter Resources Group has hired Rowan Haylett to lead and expand its Market Research & Insight offering in Australia and Asia, working from new offices in George Street, Sydney. More
Austrian online research agency Marketagent.com has opened an office in Maribor, Slovenia, its fourth country to date. More
German user and brand research specialist Eye Square has opened a new office in Tokyo, Japan, as a base from which to support its Asian clients. More
ESOMAR has released its annual report on the global market research industry, painting a sobering picture of the first decline in MR turnover since it began measuring in 1988, but also striking a positive note. More
Dubai-based research firm YouGov Siraj and pan-Arab broadcaster Al Aan will work together to develop a groundbreaking survey examining the socio-economic outlook of Arab consumers via weekly and monthly polls. More
Advertising division Ipsos ASI has launched its 'Big Idea' service in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). More
Online marketing services firm Marvist Consulting has added social media optimization services to its existing package, which includes Internet MR. More
The world's Top 25 research organizations had a 'dismal' year for revenue in 2009, according to market research industry authority Jack Honomichl. During the year, total revenues for the 25 firms who made this year's list were down by 3.1% to $17.4bn. More
Interactive research and technology firm Vision Critical has appointed former Synovate CEO Adrian Chedore to its Board of Directors. More
Research veteran Barbara Cooke has come out of retirement to take up the post of interim Executive Director of Out of Home Media South Africa (OHMSA); tasked with overseeing research designed to drive a change in the perception of OOH across the country. More
London-based MR recruiter Sinead Hasson has expanded her consultancy Hasson Associates with a move to larger premises in the West End. More
Former Ipsos MORI director Maggie Little has joined Language Connect, a specialist in language services for market research, in the newly created role of Business Development Director. More
Synovate has promoted Enrique Domingo to the position of CEO for Iberia and Latin America: he was previously MD for Iberia. He replaces Ignacio Galceran, who is leaving the firm at the end of this month. More
US-based online and mobile qual software provider Revelation has reported a 300% year-on-year increase in sales for the twelve-month period ending June 30 2010. More
In the US, TV ad analytics specialist Ace Metrix has hired Jeffrey Stewart as Vice President of Operations, responsible for all research-related operations. More
In the UK, TV audience measurement body BARB (Broadcasters' Audience Research Board), has appointed former GfK NOP Media AD Joe Lewis as Research Manager. More
In the UK, Chime's Research & Engagement Division has hired Patrick Meakin to head up its automotive practice. More
US-based direct marketing giant Harte-Hanks has acquired British data-driven marketing insight business Information Arts. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Marketing scientist and consumer behaviour specialist Andrew Ehrenberg died last week at the age of 84. More
US-based online measurement giant comScore has acquired Dutch web analytics and video measurement firm Nedstat for around $36.7m. More
Credit and purchasing information giant D&B has acquired Dun & Bradstreet Australia Holdings for $205m in cash, from investment firm Lazard Carnegie Wylie Private Equity. More
US market research association CASRO has established a task force to address the ethical and methodological issues which have arisen since the emergence of social media research. More
In the UK, Discovery Group has reported a 28% increase in half year profit to £175k, and a 6.5% rise in turnover; taking the group's revenues to £1.46m in the first half of 2010. More
Healthcare data collection specialist WorldOne has opened an office in Tokyo, to be led by Katsuhiko Niga and Takahito Asano. More
IFF Research founder and former Market Research Society Chairman Lord McIntosh of Haringey died on Friday at the age of 77, after a battle with cancer. More
In the US, full service agency The Dieringer Research Group (DRG) has acquired the customer base of neighbouring field research firm Lein/Spiegelhoff, which is closing after 38 years in business. More
Dubai-based online healthcare specialist 42 market research has expanded its services into Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela, as part of its strategy to provide access to healthcare decision-makers worldwide. More
In India, Sunil Saxena has rejoined Synovate as Director of Field Operations, overseeing 14 fieldwork centres across the country. More
In the US, start-up technology firm Yottaa has completed a $4m investment deal, while also unveiling a suite of free web performance analytics tools. More
Ipsos Observer has restructured its US team into three geographical regions, and promoted Allison Gunn, John Ward and Dennis Barbelet to lead each of the teams. More
Online sampling and data collection firm Research Now has moved to new larger premises in Sydney, Australia, to accommodate its recently expanded team and in anticipation of future growth. More
Aegis Group plc has announced a significant improvement in its 2010 interim results. Total revenue rose 4.2% to £663.3m, representing organic growth of 3.2%. The upturn in large part reflects a rebound at MR arm Synovate. More
US-based online qual specialist Invoke Solutions Inc. has closed a $1.75m mixed-securities offering, with six investors subscribing, according to an SEC filing. More
Vancouver-based InSite Information Systems Corporation has announced a new release of its on-demand, multi-channel customer data management suite, including support for mobile surveys. More
In Florida, USA, data collection firm Echo Stats has announced a new service, the Annual Benchmark Performance Framework Study. More
US-based research technology firm MarketTools has appointed Internet entrepreneur Alex Terry as Executive Vice President and General Manager of its DIY survey brand Zoomerang. More
In the Netherlands, the Rotterdam branch of online research firm InSites Consulting is moving to larger premises next month, to provide space for an increase in staff numbers, and room for hosting industry events. More
In the UK, market research consultancy Touchstone Partners has reported 47% organic growth in the last financial year, with pre-tax profit rising by 55%. To support this growth, the firm is moving to new offices in central Oxford. More
Software and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has partnered with mobile engagement specialist TXT4CRM to develop a new mobile market research solution. More
LatAm and Iberia online panel specialist Netquest has launched panels in 17 Latin American countries, bringing its total number of panellists in the region to more than 300,000. More
Online panel and technology company uSamp is testing a mobile survey platform providing researchers with access to millions of users of smart phones and mobile devices, and exploiting the rise of 'check-in' location sharing for precise geographical targeting. More
In the UK, brand research specialist Millward Brown has hired former Yahoo! HR leader Kerstin von der Brelie for its newly created post of Chief Talent Officer - Europe. More
In the UK, marcoms group Chime has reported a 10.9% increase in its Research and Engagement Division's half year adjusted operating profit to £379k. Operating income rose to £3.5m from £3m in the prior year period. More
Kantar Media is planning to add qualitative research to its futurePROOF quantitative study, to provide an understanding of how media behaviour changes among early adopters of the iPad. More
London-based online qualitative agency nqual has made its portfolio of research tools available to agencies on a DIY basis. More
In the US, self-service market research platform AskYourTargetMarket.com (AYTM) has added psychographic targeting to enable users to automatically pre-screen for preferred respondent characteristics, and video response surveys featuring webcam replies. More
Revenue and profits in WPP's Consumer Insight division rose in the first six months of 2010: the former slowly, up 2.4% on a like-for-like basis from a low comparative, but the latter more rapidly with headline profit before interest and tax (PBIT) up 22% to £83.7m. More
Fast food giant McDonald's has promoted UK President and CEO Steve Easterbrook to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President and Global Chief Brand Officer, responsible for marketing, menu innovation, consumer insights and other global brand assets. More
WPP's insight division Kantar has appointed panel specialist Renee Smith as Chief Research Officer in the US, and has moved Tim Kelsall to the role of SVP, Client Strategy, Innovation and Delivery at its brand research division Millward Brown, in the UK. More
In the US, digital video recorder solutions provider TiVo has announced plans to begin tracking how much time consumers spend watching web content through its TV sets. More
In the UK, Kantar Worldpanel has enhanced its syndicated mobile study, ComTech, adding information on usage, supplier and billing cross-referenced against the four channels of mobile, broadband, landline and pay TV. More
In New York, media giant Hearst Magazines is planning to open a mobile media development center called The App Lab, where staff will examine consumer usage of mobile devices and related platforms and applications. More
UK-based Verve, specialist in customer advisory panels and online brand communities, has expanded its Sydney-based team with the appointment of Betty Mai as Partner, Australia and New Zealand; and Chantal Brady as Online Community Manager. More
Market Insight Corporation - which captures real-time shopper preferences through its consumer web site MyProductAdvisor.com - has formed an Asian-based company, Market Insight (Asia) Limited, through which it plans to extend its services in the region. More
Dutch market research agency SKIM is planning to open a new focus group facility in Rotterdam called Triggerpoint. More
Harris Interactive has announced fourth quarter and full-year fiscal 2010 results. In the latter, revenue fell fully nine per cent, showing the scale of problems, but operating loss of $56.4m in fiscal 2009 was all but wiped out following moves to restructure and stabilize the business. More
Mobile phone giant Nokia has agreed to acquire privately-held US-based data collection and analytics firm Motally Inc. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, Sunbeam Television's lawsuit against Nielsen is back in the news, with mandatory mediation due to start on Monday in Boston. Sunbeam has submitted a long list of individuals it may cite or call upon for evidence, including network execs and current and past Nielsen competitors. More
UK-based online MR firm Tpoll has launched a new qualitative software tool called Tqual, developed in-house. The tool can be integrated with the company's existing survey and community platform Tquant, or used as a standalone. More
B2B International is about to open an office in Regent's Place, London, from where it will focus on sales and project delivery in the South East of the UK and mainland Europe. More
The South African Marketing Research Association (SAMRA) has launched an initiative to attract a wide range of newcomers to the industry. More
New York-based SourceMedia - which publishes The American Banker magazine - has opened a syndicated research and data unit, to operate in tandem with its existing news and analysis, events and custom media operations. More
A new iPhone app has been launched by two LSE researchers, to track how happy users are and understand how their feelings are affected by their immediate environment. More
Communispace - which creates online customer insight communities - has reported a 29% increase in revenue for the first half of 2010, with sales up to $22.5m from $17.4m in the prior year period. The company has also added several new tools to its product portfolio. More
In the UK, Opinium Research has partnered with video production firm Fovea to enable clients to test responses to corporate videos. More
In the US, web usability specialists Brian Krausz and Joe Gershenson have launched GazeHawk, a new technology firm which aims to make eye-tracking 'affordable for everyone'. More
US data collection firm Western Wats has rolled out a new sampling methodology combining its managed panel with samples from mobile phone users, phone to web recruits, social media communities and 'River' respondents. More
In South Africa, mall advertising firm Primedia Unlimited has launched an add assessment tool called 'The Dream Catcher', described as an interactive spider diagram plotting noticeability, familiarity and trust indices against various forms of media. More
In the US, MarketTools has added five firms to its TrueSample Quality Council, which it set up in 2008 to improve its online quality technology. More
The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has urged its members to boycott the United States Postal Service (USPS) 'Voice of the Employee' surveys, to prevent management from 'manipulating the results' during forthcoming contract negotiations. More
Nielsen has increased the amount it wants to raise by selling stock to $2.01bn, in its initial public offering (IPO) filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm has also added two new categories for measuring TV viewing. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has appointed Ari Bousbib as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing David Carlucci who will continue to serve in his other role as Chairman for a transition period. More
Data collection provider Datascension has reported a 49.6% drop in revenues to $1.9m in Q2 2010, from $3.8m for the three months ended June 2009. The firm also recorded a net loss of $840k, compared with a net profit of $210k for the same period in 2009. More
Market research services firm Majestic MRSS has announced plans to expand its footprint in Japan and South Korea in the next two years. More
Australian market research consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed semiotics specialist Dr Rob Engels as a Qualitative Consultant, to help shape the firm's qual offer using semiotics, cultural trends and ethnography. More
In the US, market research technology start-up Jackson Square Group (JSG) has launched a sampling subsidiary called Federated Sample, which aims to connect buyers and sellers in an integrated platform. More
In the US, Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has appointed former Procter & Gamble exec Dr Nancy Brigham as Vice President of Global Operations, North America Sample Access & Engagement. More
The US Census Bureau has saved $1.6 billion on the cost of the US population count, because of what it describes as a 'strong public response' and no major problems. More
In the UK, TNS Omnibus has launched a service to enable PRs to field questions to a nationally representative panel, along with a 'sign-posting' service to help them interpret the findings. More
Tim Hughes, the founder of Australian marcoms and research group Photon, has left the company as it continues its attempts to recapitalise. More
In India, market research and consumer insight firm Dexterity has launched iPinion; a new app which enables panelists to participate in surveys, in-store and ethnography studies, and mystery shopps from their iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC), marketing agency NCC Media and a group of cable, satellite and subscription TV providers are planning to develop guidelines for using set-top-box (STB) data to measure TV audiences. More
Interactive research and technology firm Vision Critical has developed a virtual retail bank environment in which to test layout concepts, the position of greeters and tellers, and to determine where best to place visual branding such as posters, signage and video screens. More
New Scientist is a publication full of scientific scepticism and not particularly renowned for its love of marketing or market research. So if it says, 'I'm convinced this time there's something in it', we should perhaps listen. MrWeb's Nick Thomas interviews the magazine's Deputy Editor, Graham Lawton. More
Online panel and survey technology firm Toluna has expanded in Europe with a new office in Madrid, Spain, headed by former Nielsen executive Carlos Hidalgo de Morillo Jiménez. More
In the US, Brian Monahan has been appointed EVP, Managing Partner of IPG's Emerging Media Lab; a research facility which offers focus groups, product evaluations and surveys to uncover how consumers use new media technologies. More
UK-based online research specialist YouGov has expanded its presence in the US with the acquisition of marketing and research consulting firm the Harrison Group. More
Online panel and survey technology firm Toluna has rolled out its UPS (Unified Panelist System) globally. Separately, in the US, the firm has hired Jeff Scott as President and promoted Ron Franscella to the post of Chief Revenue Officer. More
Marcoms giant Ogilvy & Mather China has appointed Dr Michael Griffiths for the newly created role of Director of Ethnography in its consumer insights and trends unit Discovery. More
Strategic research firm Hotspex has appointed former Millward Brown Canada President James Conrad as Executive Vice President, to lead sales and drive growth. More
CIMM, the coalition of US firms formed last September to promote innovation in TV and cross-platform video audience measurement, is to fund the rollout of the IPA's UK TouchPoints study in the US. It will be fielded by the Media Behavior Institute (MBI) in partnership with GfK MRI. More
Interactive research and technology firm Vision Critical has announced results for the first half of 2010. On a constant currency basis, total revenues rose 43% versus a year earlier and CEO Angus Reid says the company is 'on track to earn approximately $70 million in revenue in 2010'. More
US professional body the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has announced the full-time return of Bill Cook as EVP - Research and Standards. The organisation also announced it will undertake new research-on-research. More
Recent Australian research start-up Fiftyfive5 has appointed former TLE Chief Executive Mark Sundquist as a Partner. He joins his erstwhile colleagues, company founders Karen Phillips and Darren Kemp. More
In the US, leading online firms including AOL, Yahoo!, MySpace and MSN are under pressure from two senior politicians to reveal details of their privacy practices, including installation of cookies on visitors' computers, and other tracking activity. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released a damning report on the methodology used for online site intercept studies for ad effectiveness. The study found major problems including 'extremely low response rates', the use of 'quasi-experimental research designs' and dubious weighting adjustments. More
Caroline Osborne has been appointed Director of GfK NOP Consumer Products & Retail, with a particular remit to enhance the company's shopper insight, customer satisfaction, segmentation and U&A offers. More
Arbitron has revealed the cost of its various legal battles of the past two years, in a 10-Q filing for the SEC. In all, two securities law civil actions commencing in 2008, and various 'interactions' with government over the commercialization of the PPM, have cost it around $9.1m to date. More
Marketing services provider Archway has hired 50 full-time employees for a call center in Detroit, MI, USA, citing recent growth among its blue chip clients in call center services. More
Professional research bodies across South America, Canada and the US have come together to establish a new pan-American research alliance, with the aim of supporting and improving the 'business and integrity' of market, opinion and social research. More
In the UK, Kantar-owned TNS-BMRB, which offers insight for government and not-for-profit clients, has launched a mixed mode research programme to prompt new thinking and best practice for tracking social trends across multiple modes of research. More
A new report produced by Eric Peterson, founder and Senior Partner at Web Analytics Demystified, addresses the issues surrounding mobile measurement, and sets out a framework to better convert qualitative feedback into improved measurement of mobile initiatives. More
Research and Business Intelligence firm Majestic MRSS (MMRSS) has announced the opening of new full service offices in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. More
UK-based firm The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has changed its name to Future Thinking and opened its first office in the US under the leadership of George Ciardi, who becomes US President and Global Head of Volumetric Forecasting. More
French-based online loyalty and rewards specialist Maximiles has agreed to acquire Panelbiz Gmbh, one of the major players in the German online panels market, with the biggest access panel in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. More
In Hong Kong, smart card payment systems provider Octopus Cards stands accused of breaching the privacy of millions of its customers. The charges include sale of personal data without permission to research companies including Asia Pacific agency Cimigo. More
Open Mind Research Group has teamed up with Hall & Partners to form a new boutique consultancy, which CEO Dr Vicki Arbes says will 'compete at a different level' in the Australian market. More
Online sampling and data collection specialist Research Now has opened its first office in India, to provide clients with local support and online fieldwork expertise. More
Kadence International has reported a ten percent increase in revenue to $12.8m for the financial year 2009-10, which it says has been fuelled by a rise in demand for its services across all seven offices. More
Indian-based KPO group Annik Technology Services has announced the opening of a Middle East office located at Abu Dhabi, UAE, and the appointment of key personnel in Japan and North America. More
Nielsen has announced results for the quarter and six months ended June 30. Reported quarterly revenues rose to $1,270m, up 7% year-on-year and reported operating income rose 6% from $172m to $182m - a rise of 10% after adjusting for one-off costs and currency changes. More
comScore has announced record revenues of $42m for the second quarter of 2010, up 34% year-on-year. Adjusted earnings also rose by around 28.5%. More
Australian MR pioneer Roy Morgan Research and South East Asian online audience specialist Effective Measure International have announced a strategic partnership to develop a 'totally new' Internet measurement methodology and system. More
Nielsen has appointed Gai Le Roy to the role of Vice President Research - Audience Measurement, in its Asia Pacific online division. More
Joel Rubinson is stepping down from his role as Chief Research Officer of US body the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF), from September 2010. Rubinson will establish his own consulting practice, but will continue to consult for the ARF on its Research Transformation and Shopper Insights initiatives. More
Two of the research industry's top four firms, Kantar and GfK, have announced an initiative aimed at promoting and assuring online data quality. The firms will seek 'broad industry participation' in their not-for-profit consortium, the Promedius Group. More
Global research group Ipsos has reported a very strong performance for the first six months of 2010, with revenue up 18.1% to EUR 528.8m (organic growth 7.7%) and adjusted net profit up 33.7% to EUR 32.0m. More
In the USA, the FTC appears once again to be pondering the idea of an online 'Do Not Track' option for consumers, along the lines of existing Do Not Call legislation. More
MD Andrew Reid has left Australian music and events firm Peer Group Media after two years to head up ViziSense, the web site metrics platform being rolled out in Australia by Indian firm Komli. More
In the UK, the Central Office of Information (COI) has reported a fall in spending on advertising, marketing and research in the past year, and has warned of more substantial cuts to come. More
Online measurement firm comScore has owned up to understating Yahoo!'s June audience figures by a mere billion page views. The search and content giant issued a press release today after comScore notified it of the error. More
UK group Chime Communications plc has appointed Toluna exec Mark Squires as Group Operations Director for its Research & Engagement Division. Meanwhile the Division's former bosses Viki Cooke and Deborah Mattinson are to launch a new consultancy called Britain Thinks. More
'Push Polls', which often masquerade as impartial research but are in fact geared to influencing voters close to election time, are again in the spotlight in the US, after accusations by the New Hampshire Republican Party. More
Dollars continue to chase firms launching software to measure social media and facilitate advertising on it, while MR firms in growing sectors are also targets for investment. More
New York-based Affinity, which specialises in syndicated print measurement and accountability tracking, has announced a partnership with Latin American research firm Grupo IBOPE. More
CIMM, the coalition of major US firms formed last September to investigate new ways of researching audiences in the multimedia age, is discussing the use of iPhones to collect diary-style media consumption data from a panel of around 1,000 US consumers. More
YouGov has taken a minority stake in SMG Insight, a sports marketing consultancy, and announced an alliance aimed at delivering higher value added services for the global sports marketing industry. More
Shell company Fieldbury has agreed a reverse takeover of MobileWave for £1.07m. MobileWave's PlanetOi' combines a social networking platform, mobile phone app, sales promotion and market research tool and a rewards scheme. More
Synovate has appointed Mamapudi Nkgadima to lead its South African subsidiary African Response - she becomes Managing Director next week. Current MD Beatrice Kubheka moves to the position of Chairperson and will remain closely involved with the business. More
Consumer Packaged Goods specialist MMR Research Worldwide has developed 'SURF', a new range optimisation tool to help clients optimise the size and structure of their product ranges. More
Qual research video specialist FocusVision has announced the opening of FocusVision Asia, located in Singapore, and the appointment of Patricia Poo as Regional Director, Asia. More
PR research specialist Surge Research, Inc. has announced that its omnibus survey will now run daily. More
Munir Sheikh has resigned as Chief Statistician of Statistics Canada over the Government's plans to scrap the mandatory long-form census questionnaire. The old system will be replaced by a shorter version which opponents claim will exclude hard-to-reach respondents. More
Panels and research technology firm Vision Critical and its public affairs practice Angus Reid Public Opinion have launched a new diagnostic approach to providing clients with a comparative view of their corporate reputation. More
UK-based healthcare research specialist Adelphi Group and German healthcare comms consultancy 'face to face GmbH' have partnered to launch a new qual and quant agency - Adelphi Germany - offering healthcare and pharma research from its base in Cologne. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has expanded its IMS Oncology Analyzer market measurement tool to provide anonymized patient-level information across several additional cities in China. More
In the UK, Cello's Research and Consulting division has returned like-for-like income growth for the first half of the year, driven by 'continued robustness' in client activity levels, most notably in pharma and health-related sectors, as well as international work. More
Online sampling and data collection specialist Research Now has expanded its team in Munich, Germany, and moved to new office in Hallbergmoos, near the city's airport. More
US-based online qual specialist Invoke Solutions has launched 'groketeer', a new DIY survey tool which enables users to quickly generate graphs, reports and insights from raw survey data. More
In Australia, Survey Sampling International has relocated its Sydney offices to accommodate its expanding service team, which now includes more than 20 account and project managers. More
US pharma marketing and sales group PDI is to cease conducting market research through its TVG Marketing Research & Consulting arm, citing a decrease in the demand for marketing research. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has reported a 'better-than-expected' second quarter, with a 1.8% increase in revenue to $88.3m compared with $86.8m in the prior year period, and an 8.7% rise in profits to $3.8m, from $3.5m. More
Ipsos MORI has restructured its operations team. Rowland Lloyd is promoted to the post of Regional Director, Western Europe and South Africa Operations, while Jane A'Court and Sarah Michell become Joint MDs of Operations in the UK. More
In the US, GfK MRI is set to roll out an enhanced Internet-based magazine optimizer, to enable media planners to calculate the potential reach of print schedules based on readership of print ads, as opposed to overall readership of magazine titles. More
In the US, ad media software and services specialist Telmar is the first firm to integrate Eyes-On Data from the Traffic Audit Bureau (TAB) into its suite of media planning tools. More
In the UK, media and communications research provider Ipsos MediaCT has partnered with qualitative media specialist Work Research to launch a qual joint venture called 'Work with Ipsos'. More
In the US, The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) has launched a market research panel of HR professionals, dedicated to uncovering data about 'high-performance organizations'. More
GfK has promoted Julia Beaver to the position of Head of GfK NOP Research Panels, which specialises in continuous or longitudinal consumer panels. Most recently, Beaver was Deputy MD at GfK Financial. More
The US Congress has today approved sweeping reforms of the country's financial system, but rejected a provision giving the government extensive regulatory control of industries including market research via the FTC. The MRA had argued the clause could have 'threatened the entire research profession'. More
BrainJuicer has appointed Orlando Wood as Managing Director of its methodological unit BrainJuicer Labs, and appointed him to the Company's Management Team. More
Debate over the Canadian government's scrapping of the long form of the census is intensifying, with opponents pointing to an almost complete lack of complaints about the supposedly 'intrusive' survey, while supporters claim opposition comes from 'vested interests'. More
In the US, data collection firm Western Wats has launched a research solution which combines its mobile survey platform with its panel of mobile users. More
Online healthcare and pharma market research specialist OmniPanel has expanded its operations in Latin America, with the opening of an office in São Paulo, Brazil. More
In the US, ABCi, the digital wing of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, has entered a partnership with mobile media solutions provider Handmark to provide detailed, audited mobile usage statistics for publishers and advertisers. More
ESOMAR has revoked Tom Anderson's status as its US representative, following his public criticisms of the introduction of ISO quality standards to the US. The body is now urging its global representatives to sign a charter agreeing they adhere to its 'mission and values'. More
In the US, former OTX Research executive Patrick Comer has launched a market research technology firm, Jackson Square Group (JSG). Seed financing from investment company Voodoo Ventures will be used to support growth and add new personnel. More
In India, a team of entrepreneurs have launched High Beam Global - a market research data collection and marketing consulting firm specialising in the healthcare, FMCG and technology sectors. More
Infegy - the developer of social web analytics platform Social Radar - has opened a European sales and support office in Birmingham, UK, and appoined Gray Dudek as European Managing Director. More
In the US, the Media Rating Council (MRC) has given approval to all 25 of Nielsen's Local People Meter (LPM) markets - ten of which had their accreditation renewed, while the remaining fifteen markets were granted accreditation for the first time. More
Australian marcoms and research group Photon is struggling to raise the necessary finance to recapitalise, and faces going out of business if it fails to renegotiate $AUD 176m worth of earn-out payments due to owners of some of its 50 agencies. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has appointed former Greenfield-Ciao director Chris Watson as Managing Director of its UK business. More
In the US, Vovici's former Chairman and CEO Dean Wiltse has set up a mobile measurement agency called Thumbspeak, to enable businesses to reach mobile audiences and gain insights from hard-to-reach consumers. More
London-based marcoms agency Engine has launched a new insight and research unit to provide clients with an analysis of why and how consumers make choices. More
TNS has promoted Margit Huber to the position of Global HR, Talent Manager & Culture Director, with a remit to create an 'inspirational culture' across the group. More
Online market research specialist BrainJuicer has reported growth of 48% for the first half of 2010, primarily driven by its business in the UK and US. More
Digital trade body the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), has launched a framework to guide social media measurement in the UK. More
In Canada, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has lobbied the federal Government to reverse its decision to eliminate the mandatory long-form census questionnaire and replace it with a shorter version which the MRIA claims will exclude hard-to-reach respondents. More
In the US, data giant Infogroup has appointed Marc Litvinoff as President of its research division, Opinion Research Corporation (ORC). More
Online physician community Sermo has unveiled a new platform to provide enhanced navigation, mining and monitoring of physician dialogue. More
In the UK, the radio audience measurement body RAJAR has appointed Jerry Hill as Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of Sally de la Bedoyere in May. More
Millward Brown has added five team members to its Neuroscience Research Practice, formed in March to extend the services offered by its existing advertising and brand research unit. More
US-based panel company e-Rewards has issued $6.75m worth of stock options and incentives to a number of its directors and executive officers. More
In the UK, Creston-owned ICM Direct has launched a new B2B and B2C tele-depth interviewing service, to complement its existing CATI quant work, its newvista online panel, and its online random sampling capabilities. More
In the UK, online custom panels specialist EasyInsites is to build and maintain a research panel consisting of members of retailer WHSmith's 'Privilege Club'. More
US-based Paradigm Precision Sample has completed its integration of the main panel assets of sister firm Data Innovation. More
One of the world's oldest surveys, the UK's national Census, may be axed according to comments by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude. The March 2011 survey, for which preparations are far advanced, will still take place at an estimated cost of £482m. More
In London, former Synovate Healthcare Directors Peter Boyle and Sarah Flinn have launched a new qual and quant international healthcare data collection agency, Adept Field Solutions. More
India's plans to set up independent nationwide audience research along the lines of the UK's BARB have taken another small step forward with the formal registration of the new Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). More
US-based data collection agency Universal Survey and its partner Survey Healthcare have established physician and healthcare professional panels across the major European, Asian, and Russian markets, in addition to their existing US and Canadian panels. More
In New York, media measurement firm TRA has appointed three media and technology executives to help expand its client relationships. The firm has also added media economist Jack Myers to its Advisory Board. More
Global non-profit trade body the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has commissioned Internet audience measurement group OWA to measure mobile web site traffic in Austria. More
Panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has introduced a tool to enable researchers to measure reaction to audio and video content and create a view of which feelings are being triggered throughout the programming. More
In the US, research and market intelligence agency the Aberdeen Group has established a research partnership with the American Marketing Association (AMA) to offer members access to its twelve practices and research library 'The Vault'. More
In the US, kids TV network Disney Channels Worldwide has appointed Jimmy Blackburn as Vice President of Programming Research, responsible for directing a team of TV and digital media researchers. More
In Australia, online media analytics firm BuzzNumbers has upgraded its Buzz platform, to help businesses track what is being said about their brand and where conversations are taking place. More
GfK has become the first foreign market research company to be granted a license to open a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. The firm has also opened a branch in Kenya, acquired the outstanding shares of GfK Mode in India and GfK Kynetec in the UK, and increased its stake in Shopping Brasil. More
Media Monitors Australia has been acquired by Quadrant Private Equity in a deal reported to be worth up to $AUD 160m. More
Ipsos and mobile data collection technology firm Techneos have partnered to develop new mobile research techniques, technologies and applications. More
Market research software provider Confirmit has launched a new SMS Survey extension, to enable users to reach more people with tailored text-based cell phone surveys. More
In the US, Manish Bhatia, Nielsen's President of Advanced Digital Services, has left the company, resulting in a re-structure which will see the firm integrate set-top-box (STB) data into its current audience measurement services. More
London-based firm The Network has acquired Trinity Field Marketing, which offers a complete range of field marketing, sales support and data application services. Both companies have mystery shopping offerings. More
In the US, knowledge marketplace Maven Research has completed a $1m seed financing round, which it will use to expand its 'real time' research and micro-consulting platform. More
In the US, social media monitoring specialist beRelevant has introduced a market research service to extract and prioritize the collective knowledge of large numbers of people. More
Marketing group STW Communications has formed a joint venture with field marketing specialist Smollan Group to conduct mystery shopping and customer auditing activities in Australia and New Zealand. More
In the UK, full-service marketing and management consultancy Realia has opened a dedicated research business to provide marketers with evidence-based decision support. The unit is headed by former IFF Director Sue Burden. More
In South Africa, Ipsos Markinor has brought together its field and tab work into a specialist business unit called Observer. In addition to omnibus and international research teams, the unit includes a team conducting client projects for which only data is required as a deliverable. More
Nielsen has told clients it will bring back its 'live-only' television ratings, dropped in April in favour of a measurement combining live and time-shifted viewing. The company says it has not changed its view that live/same day is a better measure, but can now offer both due to increased data capacity. More
In the UK, Eventus Software Directors Cathrene Rowell and Kevin Simpson have set up a new company, CaKe Research, to offer both platform-only and full-service online qualitative research services. More
In the UK, the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) has partnered with Opinionpanel Research to provide a new research resource, 'The Learner Panel', offering cost effective high quality access to those in various forms of Further Education. More
Online audience specialist comScore has opened an office in Madrid, from which it will service the Spanish and Portuguese market. The new operation will be led by media specialist Jaime Agulló as General Manager for Iberia. More
MR and Enterprise Feedback Management firm MarketTools, Inc. has announced the integration of its Zoomerang online survey tool with Facebook and Twitter. More
Vodafone Romania has added a quant research capability to its mobile advertising service AdPlus. More
In the UK, financial services research consultancy NMG has acquired CATI specialist Dataquest Research Consultants. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, Creston-owned ICM Direct has appointed operations specialist Gareth Nicol as Managing Director, replacing Patrick Diamond who is leaving the firm after 11 years. More
In the US, Ipsos has launched the Open Thinking Exchange - a new organization dedicated to 'opening the exchange of ideas and information between marketers and their consumers'. More
Panel, community and survey software firm Globalpark has acquired Internet application and business portal design specialist WP-Experts. Terms were not disclosed. More
Global teleservices and BPO (business processing outsourcing) specialist iPacesetters has acquired the assets of US-based contact center The Charlton Group, which primarily supports the cable industry. Terms were not disclosed. More
Markos Moulitsas, founder of US political weblog The Daily Kos, is to sue polling firm Research 2000, claiming that some or all of the research it conducted for his web site was 'fabricated or manipulated beyond recognition'. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has launched a new approach to analysing the way people make purchase decisions across a wide range of products and service categories. More
UK-based B2B International has expanded its China operations with the opening of a new office in Shanghai, to meet its growing requirement for market research among Chinese and international companies with headquarters in the city. More
Healthcare data collection specialist WorldOne has opened an office in São Paulo, Brazil, to further expand its capabilities in the region. More
UK-based digital MR specialist eDigitalResearch has rolled out eConceptTest - a suite of research methodologies designed to help marketers test their latest idea, service or product on the general public. More
Kantar-owner WPP has reported improved results for the first five months of the year. Both Group revenues and those for the Insight division rose around 2% worldwide on a like-for-like basis while growth in May was well over 5%. More
Nielsen has been reappointed as New Zealand's supplier of television audience measurement (TAM) services, winning an eight-year contract from SKY, TVNZ and TVWorks. More
UK audience measurement body BARB (The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board) has announced it will test a new meter which promises measurement of television viewed via a PC or laptop. More
In the US, Qmarkets.net, a provider of prediction markets software, has received government funding for the development of its second generation collective forecasting platform, due for release in August. More
Horsham, PA-based Verilogue has announced an upbeat start to 2010. The healthcare insights and analysis firm now employs more than 35 specialists. More
Kantar Video has announced a number of senior hires in preparation for the global rollout of its Videolytics online and mobile video syndication, tracking and optimization platform. More
Mediabrands, part of marketing services giant Interpublic Group, is launching a specialist shopper marketing agency, ShelfLife, to be headed by John Ross, currently President of the IPG Emerging Media Lab. More
Las Vegas-based polling firm Precision Opinion has announced its third major expansion in the past three years, with the addition of 135 jobs. More
UK-based mobile research technology firm OnePoint Surveys has introduced a voice messaging option. More
Buenos Aires, Argentina-based Livra Panels has launched an iPhone application which gives respondents another way to participate in its online community. More
Social media sampling provider Peanut Labs has announced two new online panels, for Italy and Spain. Each will profile an extensive online population of social media users. More
Are mobile surveys more intrusive? Will ICE change the face of online panels? Why don't we entirely trust Neuroscience? And should we now be a bit less worried about Google? From today, join the debate on the big issues in our MRT section. More
Just as you thought the World Cup was 'so last week' here we go again with (among other things) call centre productivity; social media match predictions; and the disturbing prospect of Diego Maradona running round Buenos Aires naked. More
Derbyshire, UK-based agency DJS Research has bucked the downturn with an exceptional year of growth in 2009-10. Turnover is close to the £1m mark and four new permanent staff in two months bring the total to sixteen. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has hired Jessica Sullivan as Director, Access & Engagement, Asia Pacific. More
Mobile survey technology provider Techneos Systems has announced a new release of its SODA mobile survey platform, offering expanded data capture, editing and engagement features. More
Online panel and technology company uSamp has acquired online research specialist DMS Insights from AOL, just two days after closing a $10m funding deal. Financial details were not disclosed. More
In New York, media measurement firm TRA has signed an agreement to license technology from marketing ROI specialist Media Trust, in order to enhance its Media TRAnalytics system, which matches household TV consumption and purchase data. More
In Hamburg, Germany, researchers Dr Felix Eggers and Björn Goerke have set up QLT insights, which will use technology to standardize research processes, while also offering configurable DIY survey tools. More
In South Africa, satellite television operator MultiChoice is launching a TV audience measurement device, to complement the TAMS data collected by the peoplemeter system of the South Africa Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF). More
US multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak is working towards Media Rating Council (MRC) approval for its TV Essentials audience measurement service. If it succeeds, the firm claims it will be the first to gain accreditation for a product based on set-top-box (STB) data. More
Global brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners has rolled outs its Engager tool in the US. The service measures how people think and feel about brands, and how they engage with them. More
UK FMCG and customer experience researcher The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has moved to larger premises in the city, while appointing former Ipsos MORI AD Emma Baret and promoting three of its team to the UK Board. More
Market research software provider Confirmit has partnered with technology specialist Annik to embed Flash components into its survey software. More
Online panel and technology company uSamp has closed a $10 million Series C round of financing, led by OpenView Venture Partners of Boston. More
Arbitron has acquired the technology portfolio, patents, and trade name of audience data firm Integrated Media Measurement, Inc. (IMMI), including its cellular phone-based technology, used to capture consumer cross-platform media usage. More
Eyetracking pioneer Tobii Technology has announced the launch of Tobii Glassesâ„¢, which the firm says look and feel like modern eyewear, allowing subjects to walk around freely collect eyetracking data in 'mobile, natural settings'. More
Arbitron has announced the PPM 360, which extends the technology of its Portable People Meter onto a wireless platform, heralding 'a new generation of audience measurement'. More
US investment firm Cardinal Value Equity Partners has sold nearly 2 million Infogroup shares, in advance of a shareholder vote at the end of this month which will determine whether the firm should be sold to CCMP Capital Advisors. More
US video ad network BrightRoll has unveiled a new reporting suite that offers a means to measure the ROI on their online video campaigns, using measurement and analytics tools from research partners including comScore, Nielsen, Vizu and InsightExpress. More
WPP Digital has made a 'strategic investment' in TV ad analytics specialist Ace Metrix in order to provide marketers with in-market TV ad performance metrics and insights. Terms were not disclosed. More
According to a study conducted in the US by Forbes Insight and marketing agency George P Johnson (GPJ), just 59% of Chief Marketing Officers are measuring customer engagement, despite it being regarded as an essential metric for brand marketers. More
In the US, a team of consumer marketers and market researchers have launched skuuber.com; a DIY online tool to aid consumer product market analysis. More
In the UK, Cranfield University and communications research agency MESH are to collaborate on the development of a suite of analytics tools, assisted by a government 'Knowledge Transfer Partnership' (KTP) grant. More
Florida-based market research consultancy Echo Stats has created a new product development division, led by Elizabeth Wallings who has been promoted to the position of Director of New Product Development. More
America's top 50 research firms saw domestic revenues fall 3.5% to $8.61bn in 2009, according to the latest annual report compiled by Jack Honomichl. This compares with a 1.6% increase to $8.98bn in 2008. More
Online research specialist Macromill is to take over Yahoo Japan's market research business Yahoo Japan Value Insight (YVI). The deal is to be concluded on 1 August, and will be funded by the issue of Macromill stock. More
GfK has appointed Colm Mallon as Territory Manager Ireland in its Retail and Technology division, responsible for servicing manufacturer clients and retailers and developing panels in the Irish market. More
In London, survey software firm Merlinco has launched 'MORE', an online tool for analyzing and distributing market research survey findings. More
Creston-owned ICM Group has appointed Justin Sampson as Chairman, replacing ICM founder Nick Sparrow who resigned in February after 21 years with the firm. More
In the UK, WPP-owned Kantar Media has developed a predictive tool to provide insights into how consumers will react to newspapers introducing paywalls on their web sites. More
Forrester Research has extended its Latin American Consumer Technographics survey, to offer insights into how technology affects the way consumers select, purchase, use and communicate about products in Brazil and Mexico. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has secured an amendment to the Colorado Pharmaceutical Transparency Act exempting incentive payments for health care practitioners who participate in MR projects from a more general ban. More
US survey software and panel management specialist Kinesis Survey Technologies has launched an application to enable market researchers to monitor projects through touchscreen mobile phones. More
In the US, 20|20 Technology - a division of 20|20 Research - has introduced a solution that allows researchers to conduct in-depth qual research on selected quant survey participants. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has filed official comments objecting to new proposed regulations which would add restrictions to market research calls made to cell phones. More
A modest 38% of England fans will throw World Cup 'sickies' this month, costing the UK c.£1bn in lost work - but not in vain, as it can be scientifically proven that England are going to win. Yes, predictably, we are inundated with stats, and our Features Editor Teresa Lynch will bottle only the finest for you. More
In the US, Louis Pappalardo - the founder and President of consumer market research agency Trendata - has died at the age of 78, following a battle with cancer. More
In the US, Twitter has acquired analytics firm Smallthought Systems, to offer commercial organizations additional insight into the data collected from its site. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, online medical network Doctors.net.uk - parent company of medeConnect Healthcare Insight - has hired Gareth Thomas for its newly created role of International Development Director. More
A number of leading panel firms have joined with MR technology firm Imperium, to launch an industry-wide user group focused on driving optimal sample quality. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has appointed David Almy as its new Chief Executive Officer, following the departure in January of Larry Brownell who returned to his Los Angeles home. More
A new study suggests that brain scans can identify whether a consumer intends to buy a product, even when they are not consciously considering their choices. More
In France, panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has appointed Magali Musarella and Yaël Bensoussan as Director of Research and Client Services Director in its health and pharma division, while Anthony Malka joins as Business Development Manager. More
In the US, Advanced Ecommerce Research Systems (Advanced) has expanded its eBay market research solution Terapeak to encompass analysis of activity taking place through PayPal. More
In Russia, FMCG research specialist Business Analytica is discontinuing its retail audit subscription-based service, which has provided consumer marketers and business analysts with data for more than 15 years. The firm is refocusing on more economical alternatives. More
US consumers demonstrate 'significant interest' in taking a more proactive role in developing new products, according to a survey conducted by Gongos Research among some of its 'Consumer Village' online community members. More
Custom panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has opened a new office in Barcelona, Spain, and appointed Eva Laparra to run it as Senior Vice President, European Operations and Managing Director. More
US research technology specialist Nimbus has added brainwave measurement to its virtual shopping and eye-tracking tool, to capture consumers' responses at the subconscious level. More
US-based neuromarketing research specialist EmSense has opened a European headquarters in central London, where it has recruited Sue Nosworthy as SVP, European Research Director and Maria Domoslawska as VP, Digital and Media Research. More
The German Society for Online Research (DGOF) has partnered with IT security organisation TeleTrusT to develop scientifically accepted standards for conducting online research using secure anonymised processes. More
Millward Brown has moved Tim Wragg into the new position of CEO - Europe, following last year's integration of its UK and Ireland business with mainland European operations, and the formation of a pan-European Board. More
In the UK, marcoms group Chime has appointed Gill Rumbold as Research Director, to head up the Research and Analysis team at its Kent-based full service and field & tab agency Facts International. More
US MR and consultancy agency Bellomy Research Inc (BRI) has released an iPhone app which enables members of its private market research online communities (MROCs) to browse and immediately respond to the most recent forum topics. More
US social network marketing agency LiveWorld has rolled out a survey application to enable brands to crowdsource ideas on Facebook. More
Sony Computer Science Laboratories (Sony CSL) has developed a prototype eye tracking and recording device which can capture everything a user sees. More
In the UK, the MRS has revealed a positive outlook for the sector, with lower-than-expected decline during 2009. Meanwhile, in the US, the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII) has reported the highest index score since the fourth quarter of 2007. More
In the US and UK, Aegis Media has launched a sports sponsorship and lifestyle marketing agency called Team Epic, which combines its Velocity Sports & Entertainment and Vivid Marketing agencies, with the research capabilities of Sponsorship Research International (SRi). More
NeuroFocus has introduced what it describes as 'breakthrough 3D virtual store technology', to enable companies to test product designs, packaging and entire store layouts in three dimensions. More
In Sri Lanka, market research off-shoring firm Lasir has launched a conjoint analysis package that allows researchers to design experiments with a 'virtually unlimited' number of factors and levels. More
TV ratings body TAM Ireland is to expand the size of its television audience measurement panel, while introducing the ability to track time shifted viewing (TSV) - a move which it says makes Ireland among the earliest countries to measure such trends in viewing behaviour. More
In the US, SymphonyIRI has integrated EmSense's neuromeasurement headsets with its BehaviorScan service, to quantify shoppers' emotional and cognitive responses to new products and ad campaigns. More
Harris Interactive has gone live with its 'Research Lifestreaming' platform, which aims to provide a 360-degree view of panellists by linking the information they post online with survey responses and behavioral data. More
Nielsen is to track South African consumers' lifestyle habits and engagement during the imminent World Cup, using BlackBerry devices. Participants will compile mobile diaries including photos and captions, giving a detailed picture of their movements and interaction with the tournament. More
In the US, Copernicus Marketing Consulting and Research has introduced a 'digitally enhanced' approach to market segmentation that it claims will help marketers understand and react to the digital behaviors of buyers in their category or industry. More
Pharma specialist The Research Partnership has appointed Philippe Pouliot as Associate Director in its Philadelphia office and Kah Huey Loh as Research Director for its Singapore operation. More
Nielsen has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to raise up to $1.75bn in an initial public offering (IPO), which it will use to pay down debt and for 'general corporate purposes'. More
Sample marketplace firm Cint has expanded its business in the US with the appointment of former Greenfield Online executives Michael McCrary - as Managing Director to head up the US team - and Terence McCarron as SVP Sales. More
Industry association IAB Europe has partnered with Google to launch a new tool which provides agencies and advertisers with consumer information across 27 countries and 36 product categories. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has launched a new online consumer panel in New Zealand. The panel is expected to grow to 50,000 members in its first 6 months. More
Market research networking group The Research Club is to host its inaugural US event in New York on Thursday 17 June; a week after its debut in Italy. More
Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) has partnered with eye tracking technology firm Tobii Technology to collaborate on product innovations and conduct package and shelf testing on a global basis. More
In the US, Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) and ratings giant Arbitron have entered into a settlement agreement following their dispute about the latter's PPM (Portable People Meter), which SBS claimed was undercounting its ethnic minority listeners. More
Custom panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has relocated its Sydney office to accommodate its growing team. The latest recruit is Peta Lemmon, who joins with more than 10 years' consumer goods research experience. More
US mobile technology firm Cloud Mobile Forms has adapted its eSurvey tool to run market research via Blackberry smartphones. More
MR technology firms Insight Marketing Systems (IMS) in Australia and MarketSight in the US have partnered to offer a solution which enables research buyers to securely access and analyse research results online, and share them with internal stakeholders. More
Ipsos has rolled out its Social Research Institute globally, to provide clients with an international understanding of social policy and research methods, while drawing on the firm's extensive knowledge of social research conducted in the 64 countries where it has offices. More
Babette van der Kloet and Vandi Hill have launched a full service qual and quant market research firm called Ricochet Research, based in Nairobi, Kenya, which will offer services across the entire African continent. More
London-based online sampling and data collection specialist Research Now has launched a tool to enable clients to track online advertising campaigns. More
In the US, interactive television firm FourthWall Media has launched a media measurement unit, and appointed Nielsen Media Research veteran Bill Feininger to lead the initiative. More
Swedish television research specialist MMS plans to offer unified measurement of web-based TV from some of the country's major broadcasters, through a partnership with Dutch web analytics provider Nedstat. More
Australian insights consultancy The Leading Edge has made five senior appointments in Sydney, after winning several major new clients. More
In London, Synovate has revealed more information about the launch of its 'Digital Centre of Excellence' which will specialise in understanding and measuring the effectiveness of brands' advertising and communications through digital media. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has announced the acquisition of Randolph, NJ-based LGI Network, which provides retail point-of-sale information on fine watches and branded jewelry. Financial terms were not disclosed. More
NYC-based mobile advertising and analytics platform Medialets Inc. has raised around $5.9m in a second round of funding by DFJ Gotham Ventures and Foundry Group, according to an SEC filing. More
Hampshire, UK-based online MR firm eDigitalResearch has announced the launch of HUB, a new insight and analysis tool. In addition, the firm reports six new appointments, expanded office premises and a 25% growth in sales. More
US-based media measurement firm TRA has received a $10m injection of funds from Intel Capital, the global investment wing of the giant chip maker. The series-C round also includes $8.2m from other companies including existing investors Arbitron and WPP. More
Online measurement firm comScore has announced the introduction of AdEffx Smart Control, billed as a dramatic advance in the accuracy and scope of digital advertising assessment tools. More
US-based Media Economics Group has launched ColombiaWebMonitor, billed as the country's first online advertising monitor, with the help of partners Havas Digital (part of Havas Media Group) and media research organization ACIM (Asociacion Colombiana de Investigacion de Medios). More
Online survey technology and panels firm Toluna has reported revenue of more than £17m during the first three months of 2010 and says both revenues and profits in the quarter were slightly ahead of budget. More
Online research firm InSites Consulting has announced rapid growth and the opening of new offices in the Netherlands, UK and Switzerland. Four senior hires will help to support and consolidate the expansion. More
Two UK regulators, the Competition Commission (CC) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), have issued a set of guidelines for companies submitting consumer surveys to them as evidence, 'to ensure they are fair and representative'. More
UK-based MR software firm Cobalt-Sky has announced a new system for the display of surveys, promising a 'new visual survey experience' based on an easy to use survey interface that overlays SPSS web survey software. More
Online medical network Doctors.net.uk has today announced a strategic alliance with Medcenter Holdings Inc., an online healthcare marketing company in Latin/Central America and Iberia, for cross-selling and co-marketing. More
The second day of the BIG Conference opened on a beautiful May morning with a champagne breakfast. Our Features Editor Teresa Lynch reports from Wales on some papers arguing researchers can't go back to how they were; and some dancing which suggests they will keep trying. More
Synovate Korea has promoted Mr TaeHoon Kim to lead its Healthcare Division, effective this month. More
UK newspaper the Financial Times has become the first national daily to opt out of the online circulation analysis of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABCe). The FT says volume traffic measures have become 'less relevant to its advertisers and clients'. More
By dint of starting on a Wednesday night, the conference of BIG, the UK's b2b research group, is the only one on the circuit which manages two out of two mornings-after-the-night-before. Our Features Editor Teresa Lynch waits for skies and heads to clear, and reports. More
In the US, the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy has issued a clarification confirming that survey research companies can legally conduct market research with health care practitioners in the state. The move follows lobbying by MR associations CASRO, MRA and PMRG. More
Social media sample provider Peanut Labs has launched a sample for France, profiling users from an online population of over 3 million unique individuals; and says it will shortly roll out its Social Media Gamers Sample in the country. More
UK-based EasyInsites has announced the availability of a panel of viewers of breakfast television station GMTV on its Cint panel exchange (CPX). More
Synovate has established a Qualitative Business Unit in South Africa, headed by newly appointed Qualitative Director, Maree Fouché. More
India has a new specialist mystery shopping company, Startex India, formed by partners Market Xcel Data Matrix Pvt. Ltd. and Emirates-based Startex Marketing Services. More
Researchers at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem have devised an algorithm that recognises sarcasm in text - potentially vital to companies analysing online sentiment in social media and other sources. More
Online software and services firm Revelation has announced the beta release of an iPhone app, 'Revelation Mobile', which promises to capture and record consumer behavior in real time. More
US-based Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) has launched a research tool which links purchaser point-of-sale with passenger itinerary and demographic data. DataXpert Market Locator aims to help airports and airlines with their consumer targeting. More
Millward Brown has announced plans to extend its collaboration with Scangroup Limited and open a West African hub office in Accra, Ghana, in June. More
US market research association CASRO has formed a subsidiary called the CASRO Institute for Research Quality (CIRQ) to provide assessment and certification services to North American research firms looking for international MR standards ISO 20252 and ISO 26362. More
Missouri-based agribusiness consultancy AgriThority has announced the extension of its services into India via a strategic alliance with the SCS Group, whose services include agriculture marketing research and test marketing. More
Aegis' research arm Synovate has reported a 1.9% organic decline in first quarter revenue, compared with 10.1% and 5.5% declines respectively in the third and fourth quarters of 2009. Separately, Synovate has launched a 'Digital Centre of Excellence', based in London. More
Online market research specialist BrainJuicer has opened an office in São Paulo, Brazil, headed by former Philips Director Gabriel Aleixo. More
In the US, GfK subsidiary Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) has re-branded as GfK MRI, in a move which it says reinforces its connection with its parent company. More
Custom panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has appointed Bala Rajan to lead the firm's qual business in Australia and New Zealand, and Daniel Alexander-Head as Engagement Strategy Director. Both will be based in the firm's Sydney office. More
London-based full-service agency IFF Research has promoted directors Katie Oldfield and Rob Irving to its Board of Directors. More
UK research and consulting group Cello has made what it describes as a 'solid recovery' in its profitability for the first quarter of the year. More
In the US, Sands Research claims to have made a 'neuromarketing breakthrough', which will enable it to use high-density EEG sensors to capture brainwave activity across the full brain at 10,000 times a second per sensor. More
In the US, online panels firm uSamp has appointed Steven Sobolevsky, a web application product management specialist, as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Sobolevsky will guide the firm's product and IT strategy and execute its next generation panel platform. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has launched a new initiative, the 'Research Transformation Super Council', with a remit to define and shape the next generation of strategic research. More
Orem, Utah-based data collection firm Western Wats has announced plans to create 170 new jobs in Casa Grande, AZ; Pittsburg, KS; and Brookings, SD. More
Process efficiency specialist OpenConnect and media analytics firm the Global Language Monitor (GLM) have teamed up to launch the Healthcare NarrativeTracker Indexâ„¢ (NTI), which will use social media-based monitoring to better understand the issues driving healthcare reform. More
Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) has extended its two-year partnership with biometrics, neuroscience and eye tracking specialist Innerscope Research. More
In the US, C&R Research's YouthBeat lifestyle report has been repositioned as a subscription service, with several new features including data analysis and answers to specific questions relating to the data. More
In the US, user experience firm AnswerLab has appointed former Nielsen Director Kate Taplin as Director of Research. More
In the US, outsourced sales and marketing specialist MarketStar and retail MR agency The NPD Group have partnered to launch a product to determine the most efficient marketing programs to grow retail presence. More
In the US, boutique social media marketing research firm Conversition Strategies has teamed up with sample specialist Peanut Labs to launch a tool which enables researchers to scientifically measure opinions registered in social media. More
Tokyo-based online sampling and data collection firm AIP Corporation has opened an office in London, to offer services for European clients looking to conduct research in Asia. More
Global information services giant Experian is divesting part of its UK database marketing activities to form a new consumer and media insight business with its client British Sky Broadcasting (Sky). Terms have not been disclosed. More
GfK claims to be back on track with an increase in both Q1 sales and income. During the first quarter of 2010, the global group reported a 6.1% sales increase to EUR 280.9m from Q1 2009, up 5.2% in organic terms. Income rose 71.2% to EUR 25.3m during the period. More
In the US, two former Harris Interactive executives have launched an online 'omnibus-only' consulting and research firm called VeraQuest. More
WPP-owned Kantar has introduced a suite of video measurement and tracking tools, rolling out three new initiatives. More
Marketing Sciences has joined forces with sister agency ICM to launch a new qualitative research service called 'Inspired'. More
In the UK, The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has invested EUR 500k in Irish social media firm Simply Zesty, to add a 'new level' of social media to its research capabilities. More
UK-based agency 2CV has launched a new team called 'Bloke', to analyze the 30-50 year old male demographic group of what it describes as 'powerful decision-makers'. More
In the US, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has introduced the Set-Top-Box (STB) Lexicon, a common set of more than 800 terms of use for analyzing and processing STB measurement. More
The Research and Engagement Division of UK-based Chime Communications has returned to profit in the first half of 2010, following a restructure initiated by recently appointed CEO Crispin Beale. More
Ipsos says it is confident in its ability to return to 'significant and profitable growth' in 2010, after reporting a 14% rise in first quarter revenue to EUR 236.9m, compared with EUR 207.3m in the prior year period. More
In the US, brand research specialist Millward Brown has partnered with digital video recorder (DVR) firm TiVo to enable its clients to better understand the TV viewing behaviour of their target audiences. More
Canadian-based online data collection specialist Itracks has filed a lawsuit against US-based Artafact, which it claims has infringed one of its patents for an online focus group product. More
Who says researchers have to slum it in budget locations till the recovery is secure? Our Features Editor Teresa Lynch reports from a retail research conference in a venue so sumptuous that the Chairman described it as 'the kind of place that doesn't normally let in people like us'. More
In Sydney, two former Directors of The Leading Edge have set up Fiftyfive5, a market research consultancy focused on helping clients' to deliver growth from their investment in insights. More
In New York, ad pre-testing specialist Ipsos ASI has launched a solution aimed at helping marketers, brand managers and advertisers identify and develop the 'one big idea' which defines their brand in the mind of consumers. More
Nielsen has added mobile Internet audience measurement to its Australian market intelligence service, a 'world first' in online audience measurement methodology according to the measurement giant. More
At a conference recently the closing panel was asked 'What happens if PaddyPower get this one right and we don't?'. The consensus was that we couldn't be blamed for this one since it was 'too close to call'. As it was, pollsters did pretty well, as did two former researchers who are now MPs. More
In Canada Tony Chapman, founder and head of creative agency Capital C, is to launch a 'one-stop global market research and product development firm'. Launch Labs will merge private, public and academic sector expertise to strengthen the country's place in the digital revolution. More
Now that contacting the mobile-only demographic is becoming a core sampling issue (23% of all households in the US and rising) ESOMAR has published guidelines on research via mobile phone. More
US consumer researcher Experian Simmons has announced a strategic alliance with syndicated print measurement specialist Affinity LLC, and the launch of a syndicated print planning tool. More
Custom panels and research technology firm Vision Critical has relocated its French headquarters to accommodate staff numbers, which have quadrupled in the last 12 months and are set to expand further. More
Western Wats, the Utah-based data collection company, has closed its call center in Wayne, Nebraska, at a cost of around 50 part-time jobs. More
In Germany, GfK is expanding its digital strategy by taking a 40% stake in user experience firm SirValUse Consulting and in usability research specialist nurago. More
Recently launched research panel provider krea has partnered with sample marketplace firm Cint to recruit new panels and increase the overall sample available to clients across India. More
In the UK, market research industry veteran Chris Brookes has set up a new consultancy, specialising in conducting research for start-up businesses. More
US-based online qual specialist Invoke Solutions has appointed Basil Bennett as its new CEO, replacing Ben Cesare who left in March to work as a technology consultant in New England. More
In the US, travel industry research specialist PhoCusWright Inc has initiated its largest expansion since the company was formed in 1994 - with the launch of an education and training division, and a new research subscription service, as well as the appointment of 12 new staff. More
Online audience measurement firm comScore has appointed four key executives in the Asia Pacific region, as part of a plan to introduce an 'on-the-ground' presence in Hong Kong, India and Australia. More
London-based market research agency BDRC has rebranded as BDRC Continental to mark its merger with Continental Research, which it acquired from US ratings giant Arbitron two years ago. More
Barcelona-based online panel specialist Netquest has opened a new office in São Paulo, Brazil, to offer panels and advanced survey tools to local clients. More
Canadian firm In-Touch Survey Systems has reported a 7.4% decline in revenues to $5.48m in 2009, compared with $5.91m in FY 2008. However, CEO Michael Gaffney says he is optimistic about the future, with revenue forecasts for Q1 2010 ahead of those in 2009. More
UK-based insight consultancy Truth has opened its first overseas office, in New York, and appointed brand strategy expert Gayle Moberg to head the operation. More
Nielsen has acquired US-based video analytics and technology company GlanceGuide, and integrated the firm's advanced analytics capabilities into its own online video measurement tools. More
Former Forrester exec Bruce Temkin has left to set up his own consultancy, the Temkin Group, which aims to help companies become more customer-centric. More
TNS has appointed Fabrizio Giordano as Managing Director of its Portuguese office, supported by Teresa Veloso as Client Services Director. More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell says the figure reported in the press for Nielsen's possible valuation is 'out of the ballpark' and 'doesn't work in any way, shape or form'. Both companies reported encouraging results today, WPP forecasting growth for the year and Nielsen seeing 4% real revenue growth over Q1 2009. More
Harris Interactive has announced improved results for the third quarter of its fiscal 2010, with bookings well up on 2009 and operating loss cut from $7.3m to $0.9m year-on-year. However, President and CEO Kimberly Till says the company 'still has more work to do' to complete its recovery. More
Integrated research firm Advanis has acquired the operations of field specialist Gravitywave Research - both firms have offices in Alberta, Canada. More
MR software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies LLC has announced a partnership with interactive voice response (IVR) specialist CMS Research. More
UK field and facility provider Viewpoint Field Services Ltd has opened new focus group studio facilities on London's South Bank. More
Online audience specialist comScore has reported a 'record first quarter' with an 18% revenue increase to $36.1m. The firm attributes this to an 'improved industry environment', and anticipates that this trend will continue in the second quarter and the full year. More
Indian marketing research firm IMRS Advisory has partnered with market research agency BMI Research of Southeast Asia to launch a new firm called AZ Research Partners, which will offer a wide range of research related services across the region. More
Nielsen has withdrawn 'TV Channels Receivable', a reporting service which showed how many channels the average TV household receives. The firm cites the change in the way channels are presented by different multi-channel providers as the reason behind the move. More
In the US, Clear Channel Radio has hired former Arbitron researcher Bob Michaels for the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Research, responsible for supervising projects and personnel across all terrestrial and digital platforms. More
In the UK, Optimsa has completed the re-brand of its research companies - Quaestor, Buckingham Research and AiA Research - as Optimisa Research. More
In the US, social media monitoring and market intelligence firm Biz360 is to be acquired by semantic analysis firm, the Attensity Group. Terms were not disclosed. More
In Hong Kong, two former TNS Directors have launched Radar Global, a new 'services only' agency which provides multi-country project management and data collection services across Asia Pacific and beyond. More
Nielsen has released initial findings from its China 'Three Screen Report', which aims to provide insights into how Chinese consumers are using TV, Internet and mobile platforms. More
Berlin-based jovoto - which has developed an online community providing creative ideas and insight - has opened its first US office, in New York. More
Nielsen has launched a global Research and Development program in China, focusing on market research technologies and methodologies. The firm says this initiative will become its most important R&D program outside the US home market. More
Synovate has launched a new syndicated media study of 68,000 consumers across 66 cities and rural areas in mainland China. The study has been designed to gain a deeper understanding of the lifestyle, spending and media habits of today's Chinese citizens. More
In the US, data collection and online panel firm Focus Pointe Global (FPG) has partnered with drug safety service iGuard.org to launch the FPG Patient Panel, which will provide access to consumers for research specific to particular medications and chronic conditions. More
UK brand communication research consultancy i to i research has rolled out a new tool called iCITE, to track brands and issues online. More
Nielsen is said to be preparing to trade as a public company, inviting a number of investment banks to underwrite an initial public offering (IPO) which could be worth up to $21bn. More
Canada-based custom panels and interactive research firm Vision Critical has appointed Sally Campbell as Managing Director of its UK operation. More
In the US, the Audit Bureau of Circulations' interactive unit ABCi has teamed with California-based Verve Wireless to audit newspaper content, to provide publishers and advertisers with independently verified mobile usage data generated from apps, e-readers and mobile browsers. More
UK-based custom panels specialist Verve has launched a solution to enable clients to create short-term, closed branded panels or communities with their customers, to meet a specific research project objective. More
Sports broadcasting network Eurosport has launched a new TV audience measurement system, while claiming to be the first media owner to offer a pan-European audience panel. The firm has also introduced a new system to measure mobile Internet and mobile consumption. More
Kantar Media has merged its media measurement and evaluation agency Millward Brown Precis Europe/UK into its Intelligence Sector. The merger will be effective 1 May 2010. More
The Internet is just 'People doing stuff with stuff', according to Matt Rhodes, Director of Client Services at FreshNetworks. Features Editor Teresa Lynch spent Thursday huddled with the alchemists hoping to turn it into insight, at the one day conference of the UK's ASC. More
Panel provider and research outsourcing firm Pulse Group has opened a specialist Healthcare and Automotive practice, providing online panels, CATI and full-service offerings across Asia. More
Internet and mobile technology firm Presenter has launched an opinion poll as a platform through which physicians in China can voice their opinions. More
In the UK, LibDem leader Nick Clegg was seen as being the 'most persuasive' of the three party leaders, in last night's televised Leader Debate, according to feedback from the 'MESH Election Experience Monitor'. More
Weather stations in Hell registered a rapid drop in temperatures today and cows dug out the return portions of their travel tickets as Arbitron reported it had settled its dispute with the PPM Coalition over claims of undercounting minority listeners. The firm also published solid financials. More
GfK Kynetec - which supplies market research for the crop protection, biotech and animal health industries - has acquired the non-crop business of Agricultural Information Services (AIS), to enable it to act as the sole supplier of data on crop protection products usage. More
Brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners has rolled out its Engager tool, which measures how people think and feel - both consciously and unconsciously - about brands, and how they engage with them. More
In the US, market and employee research firm ORC has added a 'five-star ratings' system to its CityMARKS city measurement tool, to enable local governments to understand how their city or town meets its citizens' expectations. More
Individuals' exposure to media matching their unconscious 'visual desires' triggers something akin to love at first sight and stirs a 'buying instinct' within them, according to results published by specialist consultancy Visual Targeting. More
Fast-growing UK-based agency Nunwood has acquired customer and employee research specialist The David Conway Consultancy, and appointed the firm's founder to its Board. Terms were not disclosed. More
In Australia, veteran pollster Rod Cameron is closing his market research and polling firm ANOP Research Services, after nearly 40 years in business. More
Joey Harmon, the former COO and one of the founders of Datascension, has set up a new data collection firm called Harmon Research Group. More
In New York, media marketing firm Simulmedia has secured an $8m investment, which it plans to use to continue development of its predictive technology and set-top-box (STB) driven marketing services. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston has reported a 4% decline in revenues for the year ended 31 March 2010, which it says is 'marginally ahead' of the Board's expectations. More
Online audience specialist comScore and the Print Measurement Bureau (PMB) are working together on a tool linking Canadians' online media habits with print readership and other media consumption, product and brand usage and demographic information. More
Netherlands-based online market research agency MetrixLab has strengthened its International Media and Advertising business unit by expanding into the US market. More
In the UK, medical market research fieldwork agency Gillian Kenny Associates (GKA) has launched a suite of qual online research tools, which bring researcher and respondent together via online focus groups, depth interviews and bulletin boards. More
James R. Beniger, a former President of AAPOR and author of the acclaimed study 'The Control Revolution', has died aged 63 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. More
Cint has launched Sample Direct, a service promising those doing their own online research 'access to quality panels of consumers at the click of a button' and offering fully automated sampling and send-out procedures. More
Online MR services provider Crowd Science has launched Campaign Profiler, which it says 'redefines online ad research' by allowing clients to perform unlimited numbers of campaign research studies for a flat fee of $5,000 per month. More
Data collection and outsourcing provider Datascension, Inc. has announced results for the full-year ended December 31, 2009. Revenues were down 18.0% to $14.8m but a 2008 net loss of $6.5m was cut to a loss of just $533,171 in 2009. More
Last night, researchers in the UK were busy conducting instant polls to track response to the nation's first televised leader debate, which drew 9.4 million viewers. More
Munich-based online fieldwork specialist ODC Services has appointed former Lightspeed Research executive Tom Meyritz to drive its expansion in the UK market. More
In the US, Nielsen has partnered with word of mouth (WOM) specialist Bazaarvoice to integrate the latter's consumer ratings and reviews into its BuzzMetrics dashboard. More
WPP's CEO Sir Martin Sorrell says the firm may return its tax domicile status back to the UK if a new government guarantees it will not subject overseas profits to UK tax. Since relocating 18 months ago, the firm has saved around £50m by avoiding tax on its 'foreign profits'. More
US data collection firm Western Wats has paid $500,000 to settle charges imposed on it for child labor law violations, following a Department of Labor (DOL) investigation. The penalty is one of the highest ever imposed on a US company. More
In the UK, the Optimisa group of research companies has moved to new London offices, ahead of the rebrand of its MR agencies Quaestor, Buckingham Research and AiA under the new name of Optimisa Research. More
Tokyo-based online sampling and data collection firm AIP Corporation has launched proprietary, research-only online panels in India and Vietnam. More
According to a filing lodged with the New York Supreme Court, Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) and ratings giant Arbitron are working towards a truce regarding their PPM legal dispute. More
In the UK, Ipsos MediaCT - Ipsos MORI's media, content and technology division - has commenced a field test of MediaCell, its mobile radio audience measurement system. More
Analytics firm ClickFox has launched a research service to map customer experience and identify the greatest opportunity for service improvement. More
Canadian-based mobile testing and market research community Mob4Hire has launched Version 4.0 of its crowd sourcing platform, with new services including automatic sign-up and login with Facebook Connect, and improved integration of data collection. More
In the US, recently elected Marketing Research Association President Elisa Galloway has announced the line-up for the organisation's new Board. More
In the US, auto giant Ford has launched an interactive portal, which it claims 'goes beyond traditional consumer market research, studies and focus groups'. More
In the UK, ITV News at Ten has partnered with polling firm ComRes to provide viewers with instant analysis of the impact that Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg make on the electorate during their forthcoming TV debates. More
Following street protests in Thailand that left 21 people dead at the weekend, ESOMAR has moved its forthcoming Asia Pacific conference from the InterContinental in Bangkok, to the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The event will still go ahead from 25-27 April. More
US-based web analytics firm Omniture has added new analytics capabilities to its Online Marketing Suite, to enable clients to measure and optimize traffic and activity on the Apple iPad. More
In the UK, full-service market research agency MASMI has named former Synovate director Michalis Michael as Managing Director for Western Europe. More
US-based consumer research agency Iconoculture has partnered with Swedish market research technology provider Dapresy to drive a study of values and lifestyle trends across 17 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia. More
US-based full service agency Market Probe has appointed former Tata Consulting executive Viraag Agnihotri as Managing Director of India and Middle East/Africa Operations. More
Online researcher YouGov has announced a decline in both turnover (down 6% to £21.3m) and operating profit (down 16% to £1.35m). More
RAJAR Chief Executive Sally de la Bedoyere has announced she will leave the UK radio audience measurement organisation at the end of June. More
MR technology and operations company Annik has launched SurveyFlashTools, a set of products allowing clients to quickly and easily add Flash components into their surveys. More
Pharma researcher AlphaDetail has announced the launch of RapidRecruit, a unit offering an expanded version of its healthcare field and tab services for MR companies. More
In the US, the Governor of Minnesota has signed a bill clearing the way once agaiin for political exit polling. More
US IT market research specialist IntelliClear has launched nine new technology research panels, comprising IT decision makers across all business sizes and sectors, as well as consumers. More
US-based social community software provider Passenger has set up a Channel Partner Program to enable marketing and market research agencies to use its technology to create their own social media tools for gathering real-time consumer insight. More
Entertainment broadcast production firm FremantleMedia - which holds the rights to Simon Cowell's X Factor - has rolled out its iCount TV viewer research panel in Germany, under the name of UFA Medienexperten. More
In the UK, sample marketplace firm Cint has promoted former Sales Director Stephen Hughes to the position of UK Managing Director. More
More work for the lawyers of recently acquired leading edge agency OTX: now co-founder Kristin Luck is suing the firm for money she claims she is owed relating to its sale to Ipsos earlier this year. More
Just a year after joining Aegis-owned media agency Carat, media research veteran Theresa LaMontagne has moved to WPP-owned rival Mediaedge:cia (MEC), to launch an integrated Analytics and Insight practice in North America. More
Online physician data collection specialist Medefield has appointed Anne-Beatrice Clidassou as Managing Director for its office in Lyon, France, and Gerald Wackert as MD in Hamburg, Germany. More
LGBT specialist Out Now has rolled out its new global 2010 study across the US and Canadian markets. More
In the US, Nielsen is to eliminate live-only TV ratings, and has confirmed it will be introducing major changes to the way it calculates national ratings, including adding duplicate viewing to program telecasts. More
In the US, Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) has again pulled the encoders for Aribtron's PPM (Portable People Meter) system, after The New York Supreme Court lifted the temporary restraining order that had required it to continue. More
Ipsos Poland has promoted Jacek Otffinowski to the position of CEO, succeeding Dinko Svetopetriæ who has left the firm to 'pursue alternative career plans' after just 9 months in the role. The firm has also promoted Steven Vogt to the role of Director. More
Online panels and software firm Toluna has announced the US launch of Panel Portal, the firm's custom panel technology. More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology firm Vision Critical has appointed former Kantar Worldpanel Director Steve Davis as Director of Product Innovation, as part of its strategy to invest in NPD, improvement and innovation. More
Storytelling was a major theme of the conference and the 'Communications Breakdown' session, chaired by Tim Philips of Talk Normal, looked at how market researchers can communicate their findings with clients in new and engaging ways. Teresa Lynch reports. More
In the US, PluggedIN, which specializes in building online communities for market research and consumer insights, has appointed research veteran Mark Stapylton as Managing Partner, to help guide the strategic vision and direction of the company. More
Online panels and software firm Toluna has announced final results for the year ended 31 December 2009. Underlying profit before tax of £7.6 million is well ahead of market expectations, while the integration of Greenfield Online is transforming its global position. More
The UK's regulators have been flexing muscles this week, with implications for market researchers and associated professions. Tougher fines are ahead for 'silent callers' and, separately, for misusers of consumer data; while Ofcom is likely to use mystery shopping to target misleading ISPs. More
On day two, a session on The Future of Market Research looked at some up-and-coming MR technologies and techniques, leading to a debate about their potential to shape the future of the industry. Our News Editor Mel Crowther reviews the arguments. More
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has recently launched a new measurement system, Customer Experience Measurement (CEM), which replaces a system in use since the early 1990s. More
In the second day's fast-paced 'Ideas Rush' session, three agency side researchers and a client gave their personal take on the issues currently facing the MR industry. DRNO's News Editor Mel Crowther watched on. More
In the US, OTX is suing former employee Kevin Goetz, who left the firm earlier in the year to set up his own consultancy. In an initial ruling* on an application to stop Goetz from using OTX norms data, Judge James Chalfant has accepted assurances it will not be used while the case proceeds. More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology firm Vision Critical plans to double its investment in technology this year with the launch of five new products, and says it will be hiring another 55 product-based employees to support the move. More
Global business networking site LinkedIn has ceased offering sample from its members for use in B2B market research, according to a report on the blog of Anderson Analytics' Managing Partner, Tom Anderson. More
Online physician data collection specialist Medefield has appointed Drew Seath as President of its US operation and Iain Findlay as MD of its London-based unit. More
In Washington, DC, former leaders of Wirthlin Worldwide have today officially launched full-service research firm Heart+Mind Strategies. More
TNS and Research and Marketing Services (RMS) have formed an agreement to provide customized research in West Africa. More
We were getting used to the idea of rushing by the time we entered the 'Ideas Rush'. The morning sessions - even without questions - had left us so breathless that one chair advised us to 'leave now and get two minutes of your life back'. DRNO's Teresa Lynch pauses to report. More
In the UK, Synovate has launched a new Brand Positioning Framework in its specialist healthcare research division. More
The 'Innovation Interview' session was neither about innovation nor was it an interview, reports DRNO's Teresa Lynch. It was a jolly romp through the neuroses and misconceptions of the market research industry when it comes to getting its message over to the board and trying to influence decision making. More
Australian insights consultancy The Leading Edge has restructured its Sydney-based business with the return of overseas executives, internal promotions and the appointment of a new senior specialist. More
For those readers who are neither insomniacs nor business travellers who find themselves tuning in to the BBC in far flung hotel rooms, Stephen Sackur did need some introduction... DRNO's Teresa Lynch does the honours. More
In the UK, mystery shopping and performance improvement firm Grass Roots has merged its Learning and Measurement units and made a series of appointments to support the new division. More
The annual conference of the UK's MRS (Market Research Society) kicked off yesterday, filling a slightly smaller fraction of hotel than last year, but otherwise in good spirits, thanks partly to the help of Alan Partridge creator Armando Iannucci. DRNO's Features Editor Teresa Lynch watched the opening session. More
Media measurement and analytics firm TRA, Inc. has signed up MTV Networks for its Media TRAnalytics ad effectiveness solution; and has announced that it now has one year's worth of national singlesource data available for clients. More
Tuesday's MRS Conference included a session looking at hard-to-reach respondents and hard-to-research topics, and a number of approaches to getting the right voices heard. Our Features Editor Teresa Lynch listened in. More
A good ad appeals not just to an individual but to a social network, according to speakers at this year's MRS Conference in a Tuesday session on new approaches to ad research. Teresa Lynch watched, listened and once again, would have liked to ask the odd question. More
Research Panel Asia's newly established Korean subsidiary is up and running, with the official launch of its 'Panel Now' service site. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron and secure identity solutions firm Digimarc have settled their dispute, begun last year, over technology developed by the latter to monitor broadcasts. More
In the UK, Millward Brown (MB) has set up a neuroscience division, to extend the services offered by its existing advertising and brand research unit. More
US customer relationship marketing agency Merkle has acquired loyalty marketing firm Metzner Schneider Associates. Terms were not disclosed. More
UK agency Conquest has launched InfeXious, a research tool measuring the viral potential of ads. Conquest claims that consumers are neurologically impelled to broadcast 'infectious' ideas through social media such as Facebook and Twitter. More
Brainwave measurement specialist EmSense Corporation has launched a new neuromarketing measurement device, the EmBand 24â„¢, which it claims 'overcomes many limitations of using medical EEG for market research'. More
Panels specialist Toluna has added community features for its panellists in fifteen more countries, bringing the total to 34. More
Healthcare research agency 42 market research has announced the launch of its online panel service in India. More
Eye tracking software company iMotions has struck a reseller deal with Objective Digital, bringing local customer service and support for the former's Attention Tool in Australia and New Zealand. More
Aegis, Synovate's parent company, is raising funds through the issue of a convertible bond for c.£190m, which it plans to use to make acquisitions in the US and China. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association's (MRA) 'Research Industry Index' (RII), ended the year with a strong gain, which according to the association paints a 'much brighter picture' for the US industry than at the beginning of 2009. More
Clarity Strategic Research has launched a panel of early adopters of technology, using consumers from Research Now's panel in Australia. More
Market research software providers Confirmit and MRDC Thailand have announced a reseller partnership which will extend the former's reach into Asia. More
In the US, neuromarketing agency NeuroFocus has appointed Nobel Prize laureate and neuroscience expert Dr Eric Kandel to its Advisory Board. More
Synovate has reported a 13.7% fall in net revenue on an organic basis during 2009, while describing the research sector as 'much weaker than expected from historical precedent'. More
Online panel specialist uSamp has introduced an automated web-based panel management platform, which it says simplifies the delivery of online panel for market research. More
UKOM - the UK Online Measurement Company - has appointed former BMRB researcher Jeremy Smythe as General Manager, replacing Peter Bowman who left the role in January. More
In the UK, healthcare specialist WorldOne Research has appointed former SSI UK Joint MD Kim-Fredrik Schneider as Senior Vice President, to strengthen its European presence. More
Canadian-based data collection firm Acrobat Research has temporarily closed its US-based call center in Calais, Maine, making up to 45 employees redundant in the process. More
In the UK, qual specialist Discovery Research has reported a 10% increase in revenues for 2009, and a 40% year-on-year rise in profits to £2.8m. The firm has also announced plans to merge its three businesses under one brand. More
Out-of-home (OOH) agency Posterscope has promoted James Davies to the post of EVP of Strategic Development for its digital subsidiary Hyperspace, to oversee the development of new audience measurement techniques. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has extended its partnership with application developer Imperium by integrating the latter's advanced data validation software. More
Brand and communications research consultancy Hall & Partners has opened a new pharmaceutical division in Paris, headed by Clarissa Guengant Del Pup, who joins from Synovate Healthcare. More
UK research and consulting group Cello has described 2009 as a 'solid year', despite posting slight declines in headline operating profit (£5.6m, from £6.5m in 2008) and operating income (£36.3m, from £37.9m in 2008). More
Google and WPP have announced the recipients of the second round of grants for their jointly funded research award program, including researchers at academic institutions in the US, Israel and the UK. More
In the UK, the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) has opened its annual online auction, raising funds for those who work or have worked in the market research industry and are currently experiencing financial difficulties: a group which grew substantially in 2009. More
UK ad agency McCann Manchester has announced it will acquire research firm The Blue Banana Agency, for an undisclosed sum. More
medeConnect Healthcare Insight, the market research division of Doctors.net.uk, has upgraded its GP Omnibus research service, reducing delivery times to two weeks. The service taps the opinions of a regionally and nationally representative sample of 1,000 GPs once a month. More
In the UAE, the Ministerial Council for Services has passed a draft law advancing the TV Audience Measurement Project which will bring people meter technology to the country. More
Online audience specialist comScore has released results from nearly 20 European studies, showing good performance by online ads in driving advertiser site visits - regardless of small numbers of direct clickthroughs in some cases. More
Postal watchdog Postcomm is considering action against Royal Mail following an investigation into claims that it cheated in research to test its service quality, reports The UK Press Association. More
Research technology firm Voxco has appointed Juergen Hessdoerfer as MD of its German subsidiary Voxco GmbH. He will oversee Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Asia Pacific sales and operations. More
Arbitron's new Sports division has launched a report on radio listening to Pro Football games, team by team. The PPM-based figures cover and compare stats for 25 teams in 23 markets. More
Swedish researchers have started a fund to assist market researchers in poor countries, at the country's Market Research Day in Stockholm. More
Online women's opinion specialist SheSpeaks has announced the launch of 'Brand Advisory Communities,' which it says will connect participating brands with targeted communities of 2,000 or more consumers for 12-month plus programs providing quant and qual insights. More
UK-based marketing services group Chime Communications Plc has reported its 'best results ever', with full-year profit up 14% to £18.8m; despite a continued 'very disappointing' performance by its research division, where only Facts International is said to have done well. More
Millward Brown has unveiled a new 'Creative Viral Potential' (CVP) metric which aims to spot the potential of an ad to 'go viral'. More
Arab world researcher YouGovSiraj has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jordanian custom MR firm Analyseize, to co-operate on conducting joint research projects, exchanging data and expertise, and developing new projects serving the Arab world, and specifically the Jordanian market. More
In the UK, Opinium Research has partnered with the Daily Express newspaper to provide a voting intention poll in the run up to the 2010 General Election. More
Online market researcher BrainJuicer has reported rapid growth in 2009, with full year pre-tax profit up 21% to £1.66m; revenues up 27% to £11.8m; and operating profit up the same percentage to £1.65m. More
In Turkey, three former Synovate Directors have formed strategic market research consultancy Sia Insight, based in Istanbul. More
Global group Millward Brown has announced plans to open a new office in Vietnam during the second half of 2010, with a team led by Phil Worthington and Pham Chau Linh. More
Panel, community and survey software firm Globalpark has introduced a new mobile panel solution at its annual Mobile Research Conference in London this week. More
In the US, global research firm ORC has helped develop a program to offer jobs to people with disabilities looking to work from home. More
Infogroup, the parent of researcher ORC, has agreed to be acquired by affiliates of CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC for a total of around $635 million, including refinanced debt. More
Sunbeam Television's lawsuit against Nielsen Media Research, filed last April, looks like it might be going to court after all, following a decision by a Florida judge. The claims centre around lower audience figures from Nielsen's new LPM system. More
Indian IT outsourcing giant Satyam has reached agreement over two of its three acquisition-related disputes, reports indicate. More
In London, Howdo Research, a new consultancy established in the autumn by former NOP and JRA exec Simon Cheshire, is reporting a buoyant start to business. More
Lightspeed Research has announced results from the first Asian wave of its Global Web Index survey. The study covers online behavior, motivations and impact and was developed jointly with technology consultancy Trendstream. More
Marcoms giant WPP saw revenues in its insights division fall 9.5% on a like-for-like basis during 2009, whilst on the same basis gross margin fell by 7.7%. More
UK-based B2B International has reported a 10% increase in turnover to nearly £3.5m in 2009, despite seeing clients move towards more 'defensive' research, and delaying projects because of economic uncertainty. More
In the UK, recently acquired sister companies Rosslyn Research and Viewpoint Field Services are moving to shared premises on London's Southbank next month. More
In California, marketing technology firm Bunchball has launched an analytics system, which it claims links consumer actions to revenue-generating results. The firm has also appointed former Yahoo! exec Hongpei Zhang as SVP of Data and Analytics. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has proposed a change to its recruitment methodology in high-density African-American and Hispanic areas, in its top PPM (Portable People Meter) markets. More
TNS Gallup, Finnish subsidiary of TNS, has partnered with mobile customer experience management startup QAim, to offer Finland-wide tracking of mobile web site usage metrics. More
In the US, marketer Penny Redlin has launched Insights Discovered, a consulting company focusing exclusively on the children's products market. More
Two former Directors of automotive specialist JD Power & Associates have launched brownsauce Group, a full-service UK agency which offers research design, brand interpretation and project management services to clients in the automotive industry. More
Healthcare market research specialist Majestic MRSS has expanded its presence in China through the roll out of Focus Vision video-streaming facilities in Shanghai, and the addition of new team members. More
In the UK, Viki Cooke and Deborah Mattinson, the founders of Opinion Leader Research (OLR), have left parent company Chime to set up their own agency. More
In the US, health care research giant IMS Health has announced completion of its acquisition by investment firms TPG Capital and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), for $5.2bn. More
In London, Hall & Partners' Global CEO Vanella Jackson has outlined her plans for her new role as Chairman of the Market Research Society (MRS); pledging to strengthen ties between research, business and government. More
In the US, CBS and Sony Electronics have hooked up to launch 'The Sony 3D Experience' research center, which will focus on consumer preferences and perceptions towards 3D programming, as well as how broadcasters and studios can best deliver 3D content. More
In New York, marketing services firm Omnicom Group has launched a new agency to offer strategy, activation and metrics services to retail marketers at a local level. More
In the US, GfK-owned MRI and the Media Behavior Institute (MBI) plan to deliver a syndicated, consumer-centric multi-media database using the TouchPoints methodology developed by the IPA in the UK. More
US-based MDLinx has secured exclusive access to a panel of more than 350,000 verified Chinese physicians, operated by the DXY physician portal. More
In the US, MRA (the Marketing Research Association) has announced nine candidates for five positions on its Board of Directors, and opened the ballot. More
UK-based mobile research technology firm OnePoint Surveys has opened its first international office in Madison Avenue, New York and has plans to open two more international offices during the year. More
In Chennai, India, Dexterity co-founder and 'serial entrepreneur' Pravin Shekar has launched krea, a specialist provider of online and off-line panels. More
56% of UK companies consider their marketing measurement capability to be 'non-existent or basic', according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), in partnership with consultants Deloitte. More
Online sampling and panel company Research Now has announced what it describes as 'the first B2B and Affluent Consumer panels in the Middle East'. More
Clayton Buckley has joined Synovate as Managing Director for its offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran. More
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has launched a Canadian Digital Advisory Committee, whose remit includes review coverage of interactive and emerging media such as web sites, e-readers, mobile apps, hybrid audience measurement and ad-serving. More
ORC owner Infogroup is in final negotiations to be acquired by CCMP Capital Advisors, according to reports in the Omaha World-Herald. More
Kevin Goetz has quit OTX, where he was President of the Worldwide Motion Picture Research Group, to start his own research, marketing and consulting firm, Screen Engine LLC. Vincent Bruzzese fills his place at OTX, which says it is planning expansion. More
The Nielsen Company has announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009. Revenue was almost exactly level with the previous year ($4,806m) but up 4% if currency fluctuations are excluded. More
Insight consultancy Nunwood is reporting a 50% increase in international revenue in the last year. Four new members have been added to its New York team in the past few months, to help support the 25 new clients and £2.6 million of new business the agency says it won in 2009. More
The Web Analytics Association (WAA) has released for public comment a draft set of definitions for measuring social media technologies. More
Traffic analysis pioneer Webtrends has enhanced its Webtrends Analytics package with new measurement capabilities for tracking the activities that happen 'inside' Facebook. More
Healthcare data collection specialist All Global has announced new physician panels in Russia and Poland, with further launches planned for other emerging markets. More
Social media sample provider Peanut Labs has launched an Australia sample consisting of over 226,000 respondents, and says twenty other countries will follow, many in 2010. More
GfK has reported a 4.6% decline in 2009 sales to EUR 1,164m, taking into account acquisitions and currency effects. However, for the fourth quarter, the group recorded sales of EUR 324m, compared with EUR 282m in Q3. More
Despite a 3.6% decline in revenues to EUR 943.7m, Ipsos says it is 'ready for battle' in 2010, with plans to simplify management structures, increase effort in innovation, and extend its presence among a larger number of clients. More
Indian market research outsourcing and data analytics firm Annik Technology Services has launched a panel brokerage service to help clients source panel sample. More
In the UK, online research specialist YouGov has developed a set of qualitative research services to supplement its regular omnibus surveys. More
Ipsos has signed an agreement to acquire a 25% stake in Portuguese research firm Apeme (área de Planeamento e Estudos de Mercado), with the option to buy the remaining 75% in five years. More
LGBT specialist Out Now has launched what it claims to be the 'world's largest gay market research study', spanning 14 countries across Latin America and Europe. More
US market research data collection agency MRops has opened a new office in Minneapolis, headed by former TNS executives Joe Mann and Shannon Hazlett. More
International youth research agency The Sound Research has launched 'The Sound TV'; an online video insight tool. The company will analyze the behaviour and outlook of the 16-29 year olds who broadcast on it. More
US trade body CASRO has reported in its 'Year-end State of the Business Survey' that 77% of its members are forecasting increased revenues in 2010; with just 1% believing that revenues will decrease during the year. More
In the US, mobile ad network Millennial Media has acquired TapMetrics, a mobile analytics firm which focuses on application usage and behavior. Terms were not disclosed. More
In London, a collective of agencies, organisations, academics and individuals have joined to launch The Co-Creation Hub; a platform through which participants can co-create new products and services. More
Nielsen's TV ad effectiveness arm 'Nielsen IAG' is planning a UK roll out for its ad and programme engagement measurement service, running in the US since 2000. More
iPOWOW! – which provides tools for gathering opinion through online video – has partnered with digital signage producer MediaTile to develop a new interactive audience measurement system for digital touch screen systems. More
In Australia, the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has officially launched its industry-wide audience measurement tool MOVE. More
Market research outsourcing firm Ugam Solutions has expanded its Indian base with the opening of a new facility in Thane, Mumbai. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has launched a set of solutions to help clients comply with US federal and state transparency and marketing disclosure laws covering what is known as 'aggregate spend'. More
US-based branding firm Siegel+Gale has appointed Lisa Bertelsen as Global Director of its Research Insights practice. More
Mobax Networks – which develops technology for the mobile marketplace – has launched software which enables consumers to interact with messages on digital signs through their mobile phones; and measures their response. More
YouGov co-founder and CEO Nadhim Zahawi is preparing to step down from his role, after being selected to stand as the parliamentary candidate for the safe Conservative Party seat of Stratford-on-Avon in the forthcoming general election. More
US digital marketing agency One to One Interactive (OTO) has acquired UK customer experience research consultancy fhios, which it will roll into its neuromarketing research unit OTOinsights. Terms were not disclosed. More
British polling and research specialist ComRes has appointed former Barclays Bank India CEO Peter Harlock as its new Chief Executive Officer, and moved founder Andrew Hawkins to the position of Executive Chairman to enable him to focus on client growth. More
In London, pharma specialist The Research Partnership has appointed TNS Healthcare veteran David White as Director of Syndicated Services, to oversee the development and positioning of the firm's expanding portfolio of solutions. More
Toronto-based audience research firm Peoplecount has launched a pre-packaged audience metrics service for digital out-of-home (DOOH) networks, which is compliant with industry guidelines, and available in as little as 60 days. More
London-based market research agency BDRC has launched a suite of services for measuring the performance of venues used for corporate hospitality events. More
US ratings giant Arbitron has reported a 4.4% rise in full-year 2009 revenue to $385.0m (2008: $368.8m), while net income increased 13.4% to $42.2m (2008: $37.2m). More
Emerging markets financier Actis has invested $50m in outsourcing specialist Integreon, which the firm will use to support its growth plans, make 'strategic' acquisitions, and expand its delivery centers in the US, UK, India, China, South Africa and the Philippines. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has endorsed legislation in the state of Minnesota that would make it legal for researchers to conduct exit polling near to voting stations. More
In the UK, online polling firm YouGov has teamed up with newspaper publisher News International to offer a daily polling service during the country's forthcoming general election. More
US qual tools provider Revelation has reported a 240% year-on-year growth in sales in 2009. The firm says the increase was driven by demand for both its online qual research platform and online field support services. More
Systems relying on cookies to track web site audiences overstate unique user numbers by an average of two to four times, according to findings from a new study by US-based Scout Analytics. More
TNS has formalised its partnership with qual and quant agency Aftab Associates, to offer services in Pakistan and Afghanistan under the brand name of TNS-Aftab. More
The New York Supreme Court has ordered Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) to continue to encode its signals for Arbitron's PPM (Portable People Meter) service, following a temporary restraining order (TRO) it imposed on SBS last week. More
Global research firm Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) has teamed up with social media software specialist Mzinga to create online market research communities for customer and employee research. More
In India, the CEO of broadcaster Reliance Media World (RMW) has accused the Media Research User Council (MRUC) of providing an 'erroneous radio measurement system', which under-reports the number of radio listeners, especially in smaller towns. More
In the US, Arbitron/Nielsen joint venture Scarborough Research has integrated cell-phone-only (CPO) households into twenty additional local market studies. More
Global eye tracking software firm iMotions has partnered with Chilean eye tracking services company EyeOnMedia to deliver its Attention Tool solution to clients in Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Columbia. More
In the US, joint tests by The Nielsen Company and the Television Advertising Committee of the ANA (Association of National Advertisers) have paved the way for the provision of individual or 'brand-specific' commercial ratings, the partners claim. More
In the UK, children's newspaper First News has joined forces with research agency Opinion Matters to launch a new panel of 7-14 year olds, First News Research. More
In Australia, location and wireless technologies specialist GPS Innovations has announced a new offering promising real-time data collection methods for market researchers. More
Arbitron has secured a Temporary Restraining Order from a US court, immediately requiring Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (SBS) to resume encoding its broadcasting signals for the PPM in accordance with the contract between the two firms. More
Two former global agency execs have founded abn Research, a consultancy focused on market research among Asian consumers and based in Bangkok, Thailand. More
Financial specialist Charterhouse Research has launched the UK Business Banking Survey, billed as the most extensive continuous syndicated banking usage and attitude survey ever conducted among British businesses. More
GfK Retail and Technology have announced the launch of their Mobile Telecom retail panel in the Republic of Ireland, tracking the country's mobile market sales for the first time. More
In the US, online measurement firm comScore has announced strong results, and the acquisition of comms research firm the ARSgroup, which specializes in the measurement of advertising persuasion for TV and multi-media campaigns. Terms of the all-cash deal were not disclosed. More
US video game market intelligence firms DFC Intelligence and Nico Partners have joined forces to form DFC-Nico Emerging Markets, which will offer clients data about the video game industry across 10 emerging markets. More
Analytics firm Metrics Marketing has opened a 'one-of-a-kind' 2,100 square-foot research lab in Ohio, providing observers with a variety of hidden camera angles, real-time audiovisual monitoring and camera views on projected and flat-screen displays. More
US research giant IMS Health has reported a 3% increase in fourth quarter revenues to $599.2m. The firm has also received shareholder approval for its sale to TPG Capital and the CPP Investment Board. More
UKOM - the UK Online Measurement Company - and Nielsen have officially launched the UKOM Audience Planning System (APS), by publishing inaugural data from the online audience measurement system. More
US-based Cambiar and Asia Pacific's Gordon & McCallum - consultancies dedicated to the market research industry - have agreed to develop joint services and partner to provide 'on-the-ground' presence to support clients' geographical expansion plans. More
Neuromarketing firm NeuroFocus has formed a joint venture partnership with Nielsen to roll out its services in Australia. More
In the US, the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) has elected Elaine Buxton as President of its Board of Directors. More
Database giant Infogroup has reported a 13% drop in fourth quarter revenue to $24.7m for its market research arm, with an operating loss of $7.7m owing to a goodwill impairment charge. More
South African-based media information and brand intelligence agency Ornico has entered the Nigerian market through a partnership with Lagos-based investment group AData. More
US advertising and marketing company Bark Group is to acquire a 10% stake in UK-based Mindmetic, a firm that develops neuromarketing research tools. More
Customer insight solutions specialist MarketTools has promoted Lynn Christensen to the position of Chief Development Officer, responsible for its software engineering, user experience, performance optimization, quality assurance and customer support teams. More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology firm Vision Critical has appointed Rob Berger to its senior management team, as Senior Vice President of US Sales for Springboard America, its online consumer research platform. More
In the US, Frank N Magid, the television 'news doctor' whose research helped to shape US broadcasting, has died of Lymphoma at the age of 78. More
In the US, multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has established an agreement to integrate TV viewing data from satellite firm DISH Network's 14 million subscribers, with its own TV Essentials audience measurement service. More
In the US, the Digital Signage Group (DSG) has published what it describes as the industry's first code of conduct for the use and deployment of consumer tracking research and technology. More
Information giant Experian has rolled out its Marketing Services portfolio in Korea, to enable marketers in the country to convert data into customer intelligence, gain an understanding of their customers and develop marketing strategies to optimise return on investment. More
In the US, online agency iModerate Research Technologies has rolled out new global language capabilities for its qual-for-quant and focus group solutions. More
US qual and quant agency Quick Test/Heakin has opened a new 'kiosk' data collection center in the Queens Center Shopping Mall in Elmhurst, New York; and has hired Salvatore Brucculeri to run it. More
US publishing industry information firm Bowker has acquired UK-based market research specialist BML (Book Marketing) from Publishing News Ltd. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, research companies can once again legally conduct market research with Minnesota healthcare practitioners, following revision of a document restricting payments. The law now exempts payments for participation in bona fide market and opinion research. More
In the US, online measurement specialist comScore has appointed former AOL ad technology leader Chris Nicotra as Chief Technology Officer, responsible for overseeing software and data application engineering, and the infrastructure technology teams. More
ACNielsen HCI - a firm researching pharmaceutical promotions which was transferred to WPP in a 2008 regulatory asset swap - has been added to Kantar Health's Marketing Insight practice. More
In London, business information provider Progressive Digital Media (PDM) - which owns research firms The iD Factor and ICD Research - has reported group revenues of £18.3m for the six months to 31 October 2009, and says that over the calendar year 2009, it made a profit. More
In the UK, data collection specialist Ray Lindley has joined FieldWorks as Commercial Development Manager. More
Pharmaceutical research giant IMS Health has received clearance from the European Commission (EC) to proceed with its sale to US investment firms TPG Capital and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) for $5.2bn. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston has announced respectable results: like-for-like revenue for the third quarter is in line with the same period last year and an improvement on the second quarter. More
In the US, Market Fusion Analytics (MFA) has introduced a suite of solutions that quantifies the impact of a variety of factors on in-store traffic. More
In the US, Knowledge Networks' online ad measurement specialist KN Dimestore has extended its services to support the placement of campaign measurement surveys in online video streams; either as overlays or as part of the pre or post-roll. More
In London, The European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) has launched an Insight Council, comprising heads of research and digital commercial specialists from both EIAA member companies and agencies. More
US provider Digital Research Inc (DRI) has introduced a community platform called Waggle Omnibus, for use in online qualitative research. More
In the UK, non-profit trade association the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has commissioned online panel specialist Lightspeed Research to conduct monthly research to provide members with reports on mobile usage and behaviour. More
Database giant and ORC parent Infogroup has made 40 employees redundant as part of a companywide restructuring plan. More
Web analytics firm Webtrends has released a new tool to measure and quantify how customers are engaging with both mobile web sites and mobile applications. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has been awarded the Film Audience Measurement and Evaluation (FAME) and Film Monitor research contracts by the Cinema Advertising Association (CAA). The contracts were previous managed by TNS and BMRB. More
In the US, Mountain West Research Center has announced a reduction in its workforce at its Idaho phone center, which it says is 'temporary' and blames on a 'volatile' research climate and slow economic recovery. More
New York-based social media tracking and targeting firm Lotame has opened a new research and development office in Cambridge, MA, headed by John Thomas in the newly created position of Director of R&D. More
A new online research business has been launched by six agencies, offering online services across 15 European countries with access to more than 1.4 million European panellists. More
Market research trade associations efamro and ESOMAR have submitted a response to the European Commission (EC) regarding its consultation on the protection of personal data. More
In the US, broadcast industry organization The Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) has partnered with Harris Interactive and multi-screen media research firm Rentrak to study consumer usage habits for mobile digital TV (Mobile DTV). More
US neuromarketing research specialist Sands Research Inc (SRI) has partnered with Israeli market research and public opinion polling firm Market Watch, to provide its specialized services to companies in Israel. More
Panel and technology services provider ToLuna has released a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2009. Revenue is expected to exceed £49m, slightly ahead of market expectations, with underlying pre-tax profit of at least £7m. More
Fast growing UK-based online agency BrainJuicer has hired Alex Batchelor as Chief Operating Officer. Batchelor held brand and marketing leadership roles at Interbrand, Orange and Royal Mail and is the current Chairman of the Marketing Society. More
UK researcher Andrew Irving has launched a new qual-focused agency, AIMR, three years after selling his last company to Optimisa. More
US-based MDLinx has announced a new Omnibus offering for international pharmaceutical market research, among specialty physicians in eight treatment areas. More
Online physician data collection specialist Medefield has announced the launch of MedeQual, combining its global community of over 450,000 physicians with high quality access for clients, moderators and respondents across the world. More
In Canada, a study conducted for a television industry client by biometrics specialist Innerscope Research suggests the medium comfortably outperforms others in securing high emotional and cognitive responses to ads. More
US broadcaster NBC Universal (NBCU) is planning to conduct research into consumer cross-platform behaviour during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. More
In the UK, customer feedback technology provider Diciamo has launched a new service, 'Your Impressions', which it says allows customers to address issues that concern them rather than forcing them through rating scales. More
Ipsos has acquired LA-based hi-tech entertainment research specialist OTX (Online Testing Exchange) for an undisclosed sum. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has moved Bob Yazbeck to the new role of Vice President, Community Methodologies, and appointed Sarah Corp to fill his former role as Director, Transportation & Technology. More
In its second rebrand of the week, Kantar has re-named the TNS Worldpanel network as Kantar Worldpanel. Earlier in the week the group rebranded its media assets. More
US organisation Digital College Network (DCN) has partnered with iPOWOW! - which gathers viewer opinion through online video - to collect real-time data and feedback from advertising signage in colleges. More
In the US, Ipsos and Spanish language media firm Telemundo have launched a poll to find out more about the attitudes and opinions of Hispanic citizens. More
After eighteen months of losses, Harris Interactive has posted net income of $1.3m on revenue of $44.6m for the quarter ending December 31. More
In the US, Millward Brown and its digital unit Dynamic Logic have partnered with Kantar sister-firm Cymfony, to integrate analysis of discussions on social media sites, blogs and message forums into their suite of digital, media and marketing solutions. More
In the US, broadcasting network VELOCITY has launched a suite of audience insight tools, which it claims will enable its clients to tap directly into the mindset of audiences, while allowing viewers to question experts live on the air. More
In the US, Karen Forcade, the former President of now bankrupt Youth Research, has pleaded guilty to federal court charges that she falsified child safety tests for cigarette lighters. More
In the US a new mobile measurement firm, Ground Truth, has opened for business. The company will use census-based measures of actual mobile Internet usage from millions of mobile subscribers across the country. More
WPP-owned insight consultancy Kantar has re-branded the media assets of TNS, KMR Group and BMRB Media as Kantar Media. More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology specialist Vision Critical has relocated its London office to accommodate its UK team, which has tripled in size in the last year. More
In the US, the newly formed Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) is to establish a common set of terms for analyzing set-top box measurement (STB). More
Infogroup-owned employee, customer and stakeholder market research consultancy ORC International has expanded to Scotland with the opening of a dedicated public services office in Edinburgh. More
Infogroup company ORC is adding a cell phone sample option to its CARAVAN® Telephone Omnibus, 'designed to reflect the growing importance of cell phone usage nationwide'. More
Boston, US-based Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) has launched a Global Certified Network of data collection companies which it says extends to over 90 countries worldwide. More
In Australia, former Research International director Scott MacLean has founded Nulink Analytics, a consultancy providing both advanced data analysis and consultation on research design and interpretation. More
Ipsos has completed the acquisition of polling and research firm The Market Research Bureau of Ireland (MRBI) from WPP, and branded the firm Ipsos MRBI. More
In New York, Datran Media's Aperture audience measurement tool has been integrated into TRAFFIQ's digital media platform, to help agencies and advertisers better understand target audiences and optimize their online campaigns. More
John Shanahan, founder and CEO of market research agency Colmar Brunton Australia is to become Executive Chairman of the Colmar Brunton Group, as his firm announces the acquisition of benchmarking firm, The Advantage Group International (AGI). More
Ipsos has appointed Yannick Carriou as Managing Director, France, replacing Giorgio Caporusso who has joined confectionery manufacturer Ferrero in Italy. More
Digital marketing solutions firm ADTECH - whose Helios IQ software enables web publishers to evaluate online ad campaigns - has passed the Media Ratings Council's (MRC) auditing process and been granted accreditation. More
Former Research International (RI) CEO Marc Papanicola has been appointed Managing Director of Synovate France, based in Paris. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has appointed Chief Operations Officer Kristen Darby as Interim CEO, until it has sourced a permanent replacement for Larry Brownell, who leaves at the end of the month. More
In the US, Harris Interactive has hired industry veteran Jeni Lee Chapman as Executive Vice President, Global Brand and Communication Consulting. More
In the US, Dr Michael Baumgardner, the President & CEO of full service marketing research firm Burke, Inc., is to retire from the firm in October, after more than 28 years of service. He will be replaced by current President Jeff Miller. More
In London, Krish Kara, Bob Dance and Carol Ashby have joined forces to open KDA Insights; a new consumer research agency. More
In the UK, the BBC is conducting a 20 week review of its marketing strategy across its TV, radio and digital services, but would not comment on whether job cuts would be made as a result. More
In the US, online panel specialist United Sample has changed its name to uSamp and re-vamped its web site, while global marketing research firm Data Development Worldwide (DDW) has rebranded as Radius Global Market Research. More
US broadcast and cable tracking firm Media Monitors has upgraded its partnership with Arbitron, to provide clients with data from the latter's PPM service within a week, compared with the previous arrangement of 21 days. More
In Australia, the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has appointed former Research International veteran John Gandar to drive its Measurement of Outdoor Visibility and Exposure (MOVE) initiative towards its launch next month. More
US qual and quant data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has appointed Lightspeed's former Vice President of Global Panel Operations, Julian Groeger, as Vice President, Online Communities. More
US pharmaceutical and health care specialist Decision Resources has acquired BioTrends Research Group, which provides syndicated and custom market research services to mid-size pharma markets. Terms were not disclosed. More
UK market research and consulting group Cello has reported a 'marked pick up' in its MR activity, for the year ended 31 December 2009. More
In the US, self-service survey software developer Ask Your Target Market has launched an online tool which it claims provides small businesses, entrepreneurs, and student researchers with access to customized target market research panels for under $30. More
Panel, community and survey software provider Globalpark has introduced a new feature that allows researchers to activate and monitor survey projects using their mobile phones. More
In the US, the Board of Directors of pharma market research specialist AlphaDetail has appointed co-founder Rishi Varma as President and CEO. More
In the US, biometric and neuroscience provider Innerscope Research has appointed former Nielsen Media CEO John Dimling and former Arbitron President, Chairman & CEO Stephen Morris to its Board of Advisors. More
Social media analysis company Exvisu Canada is joining the Environics group of companies, and will now be known as Nexalogy Environics Inc. More
Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble is to introduce a web site selling its products direct, and will use the site to observe and analyse how shoppers buy, and how they react to ads and other promotions. More
UK MR firm McCallum Layton has launched a new online service that provides a fully integrated research and insight management solution comprised of quant and qual techniques, together with a secure project management portal, The Hub. More
The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) has announced that its stations will no longer be included in audience measurement provided by AGB Nielsen Media Research, which has been carrying out TV audience research in the region since 1989. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has published a revised Code of Conduct, to cover non-research activities. They include preventing the use of clients' goods as incentives in research projects. More
In the US, full-service market research firm Market Strategies International has sold its audience data collection unit MSInteractive and its Perception Analyzer technology to start-up firm Dialsmith. Terms were not disclosed. More
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has called for a 'thorough investigation' into Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM), following the revelation that the firm's CEO Michael Skarzynski had apparently 'provided false testimony' to a committee of the national legislature last month. More
US pharma and healthcare research firm Decision Resources has restructured into two segments - Biopharma and Medical Technology - and made a number of promotions accordingly. More
In the US, research and economic analysis company The Cicero Group has acquired polling and data collection agency Dan Jones & Associates. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US neuromarketing research specialist Sands Research Inc (SRI) has opened its first European office in Surrey, England, and appointed retail specialist Joe Oliver to its Board of Directors. More
Michael Skarzynski has resigned as President & CEO of ratings giant Arbitron, after allegedly making a 'misstatement' in his testimony before a US congressional committee hearing last month. He is replaced by Board Director William Kerr. More
Cegedim Dendrite - the division of French pharma and healthcare data supplier Cegedim which provides CRM solutions for the life sciences industry - has acquired US healthcare data and research firm SK&A. Terms were not disclosed. More
US-based ActiveGroup, which provides video streaming to the market research industry, has hired former Opinium MD Dan Foreman to lead international business development from its London office. More
IQ Holdings' shareholders have voted in favour of selling the firm's research subsidiaries Viewpoint Field and Rosslyn Research to media and financial services group Rivington Street Holdings (RSH), in a deal valued at £1.5m. More
US online healthcare market research firm Panel Intelligence has reverted to its original name, MedPanel, following its management buyout (MBO) in 2009. The owners say the move reflects the firm's 'singular focus' on the health care sector. More
KN Dimestore - which provides technology that adds consumer surveys to online ads - has enhanced its capabilities to enable publishers, networks and agencies to utilize and react to real-time respondent-level survey results. More
Intel has partnered with Microsoft to develop a platform for the digital signage industry, containing features that analyze users' physical attributes and then generate tailored ad displays. More
In the UK, TNS-BMRB has launched another new division, the Social & Political Attitudes Unit (SPA), which will focus on tracking social and political trends. More
In the US, in-store business intelligence provider BVI Networks has made several enhancements to its RetailNEXT analytics platform, to provide data on shopper behavior in the store environment for retailers and product manufacturers. More
US ratings giant Arbitron has been awarded an Emmy for 'Broadcast Audience Measurement Technology', for its Portable People Meter (PPM) electronic measurement system. More
Four former Drummond Madell and GfK researchers have launched a specialist brand strategy, innovation and communications research agency in central London. More
US-based JD Power and Associates has promoted John Humphrey to the post of Head of Global Automotive Operations, in a move to align operations globally and enhance and extend its industry benchmarks. More
In the UK, online research consultancy Opinium Research has appointed former MASMI Director James Endersby as Managing Director, following the departure of Dan Foreman last November. More
In the US, On The Spot Systems - which enables businesses to gather information through the web and mobile devices - has upgraded its SURVEY ON THE SPOT product to enable air travellers to rate airport security screening. More
YouGov's omnibus of Scottish adults will now run twice a week, while its Welsh Omnibus will be run weekly. More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology specialist Vision Critical has appointed former GfK Director Andrew Iain Reid as Managing Director of Corporate Development. More
Online measurement firm comScore has partnered with smartphone application analytics specialists Flurry, to offer 'more accurate' information about the ways users interact with their applications and devices. More
IT research and consulting specialist Gartner has announced its second major acquisition in five weeks, buying competitor the Burton Group for around $56m in cash. More
US professional body MRA (the Marketing Research Association) has announced the nominations for its 2010-2011 Board of Directors, and confirmed Elisa Galloway of Galloway Research Service as President for the year. More
Struggling UK-based firm IQ Holdings is selling two of its remaining research subsidiaries to PLUS-quoted media and financial services group Rivington Street Holdings (RSH). Rosslyn Research and Viewpoint Field Services should join RSH by the end of this month. More
In the UK, Synovate Healthcare has appointed Steve Lowery as Group Head, Custom Healthcare. More
Web-based market research solutions firm RelevantView is being merged into database technology developer Imperium LLC. Both organisations are based in Connecticut, USA, and both were founded by Marshall Harrison, CEO of the new, combined company. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has updated its Digital Video Ad Impression Measurement Guidelines, to establish the latest parameters for accurate counting. More
More than one in five American households (22.7%) have dropped landlines in favor of using cell phones, according to results from the most recent National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). More
In the US, former Millard Group researcher Barbara Jackson has set up her own full service agency, offering clients help in understanding their customers, patients and employees. More
In the US, video ad optimization firm TidalTV has launched a real-time brand impact measurement tool for online advertisers, incorporating surveys from consumer research specialist Knowledge Networks (KN). More
Media buyer Carat Ireland and market research firm iReach have launched a new monthly study examining Irish online consumer issues and trends. More
TNS Gallup shareholders have decided to liquidate the company in Lithuania following 'very poor' financial results. Its former employees have already launched a new market research firm, with a focus on economic, demographic and social changes in Lithuanian society. More
In Canada, shareholders of marcoms and ad group Cossette have approved an offer from US-based Mill Road Capital to acquire all the firm's shares at $8.10 each in cash, except for certain stock held by senior management. More
Arbitron is to speed up its planned increase in diary market cell-phone-only (CPO) household sample, raising it to an average of 15% of total sample across all its diary markets in the US, including Hawaii and Alaska, by Spring 2010. More
US-based e-Rewards has completed its £85.1m acquisition of UK-headquartered online panel specialist Research Now. More
Motif - a US-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firm that provides research and analytics, customer support and back office processing - is investing $2.5m in a new 500 seat service center in Costa Rica, to open in January. More
TNS-BMRB has announced the launch of its first new division, 'The Communications Research Centre', a UK-based specialist team dedicated to communications research for the public sector. More
The last quarter saw a marginal improvement in US researcher confidence, according to the Marketing Research Association's Research Industry Index (RII). More
KPO provider Evalueserve is expanding its operations in Chile. The company, which first opened in the country in 2006, says the expansion will meet current and anticipated customer demand as part of its global strategy. More
Sample specialist Peanut Labs has launched a new panel, 'Social Media Gamers', consisting of over 194,000 US players of console, PC, handheld and online games. More
Nielsen has modified its plan to change the metric on which advertising deals for local TV ads are made, and says it will continue to provide Live TV ratings until the end of March 2010. More
US customer experience analytics (CEA) firm ClickFox has launched an interactive online tool that calculates and forecasts potential return on investment (ROI) for improving customer experience across various service channels and touch points. More
Knowledge Networks (KN) has expanded its position in the pharma and biotech research market with the acquisition of CMR (Caduceus Marketing Research), which runs the Physicians Consulting Network (PCN) panel of 70,000 US physicians and healthcare professionals. More
In the UK, digital marketing trade association The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has appointed NORAS founder Tim Elkington as Head of Research, in advance of the January launch of the country's first web measurement currency. More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology specialist Vision Critical has overhauled its ShelfsetPlus product, to enable clients to field complex virtual shopping exercises in less time, while increasing respondent engagement. More
US TV ad analytics firm Ace Metrix has completed a $6m B Round of financing, which it plans to use to expand sales and marketing of its online TV ad effectiveness measurement service. The new funding brings the company's total raised to $9m. More
Multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak Corporation has acquired Nielsen EDI, which provides measurement information and research solutions to the movie industry. More
In New Zealand, Unite Union has asked its members and the public not to participate in interviews conducted by market research agency Colmar Brunton, following the firm's decision to make fifty union members and other call centre staff redundant. More
Two projects aimed at protecting the public were among those taking the trophies at the Market Research Society (MRS) Research Awards 2009, held in London last night. More
In the UK, full service research agency Crowd DNA is gearing up to launch an effectiveness research division in January 2010. More
Australian firm iPOWOW! - which provides tools for gathering opinion through online video - is to expand to the US with the opening of new headquarters in Silicon Valley and the appointment of two new members of its management team. More
Nielsen has formed a joint venture with St. Petersburg, Florida-based consumer-driven print communications firm Catalina Marketing Corporation, addressing the current hot topic of linking marketing exposure with purchasing behaviour. More
The Ukraine faces the prospect of having no independent exit poll for its forthcoming elections, despite the fact that such polls played a key part in exposing fraud and overturning the election result in 2004. More
Danny Russell, Marketing Strategy Director at BskyB, is the new Chair of UK research client organisation AURA. More
Online measurement firm comScore has launched AdEffx(TM), billed as 'a complete toolkit for measuring ad effectiveness for any campaign objective with unparalleled accuracy'. More
Online MR software provider Confirmit has struck a deal with automated telephony solutions provider Plum Voice to offer North American customers 'a complete data collection platform'. More
Newly formed media body The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) continues to build its leadership team with the appointment of Jane Clarke, most recently VP of Insights and Innovation at Time Warner Global Media Group, as Managing Director. More
Ipsos has launched a specialist gaming research practice, 3D. The unit integrates new tools and various existing skills from within the group to focus on the needs of game developers, marketers and console manufacturers. More
Millward Brown has announced a licensing agreement with Chinese digital measurement developer, Moment Systems, to provide clients with digital advertising measurement. More
European advertising firm Bark Group Inc. has announced two partnerships aimed at enhancing its ad campaigns through research and analysis: with neuromarketing research company Mindmetic and digital campaign analyst Glass box ApS. More
Custom panel firm Vision Critical has announced the hiring of former Colmar Brunton MD and current AMSRS President Peter Harris as its new Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand. More
Nielsen is to begin measuring television viewing in Puerto Rico, from the first quarter of next year. Launch clients include the island's three largest television providers: WKAQ-TV, the owned and operated Telemundo station; WLII-TV, the Univision affiliate; and WAPA-TV (Independent). More
In the UK, custom panels specialist EasyInsites is to build and maintain a new research panel for breakfast television station GMTV, incorporating a dynamic web site, direct incentives and on-screen recruitment. More
Las Vegas-based MR and public opinion firm Precision Opinion has announced a record year of growth, with the addition of more than 200 jobs, and a further 185 hires planned from January 2010. More
In the US, Arbitron and a consortium of radio industry leaders have agreed to collaborate to improve the analytical methods used by advertisers to evaluate the tangible impact of radio advertising on sales. More
Arbitron, comScore and Omniture have been commissioned to work with NBC Sports to provide cross-platform audience measurement for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, tracking the network's coverage reach across its broadcast, cable and online platforms. More
In Washington, a committee Chairman has hinted at the possibility of legislation to help resolve arguments over Arbitron's PPM device. Edolphus Towns concluded Wednesday's hearings by giving the firm 30 days to come up with a schedule to address the concerns of critics. More
Sample marketplace firm Cint is moving its global sales headquarters to the UK, and has promoted UK MD Richard Thornton to the role of Global Sales Director. More
Neuromarketing company NeuroFocus has hired Dr. Stephen Genco in the new role of Chief Innovation Officer. He previously founded and was CEO of San Francisco-based neuromarketing firm Lucid Systems. More
Mobile and online testing specialist Keynote Systems has expanded its test network to include Tokyo, strengthening its offer for mobile content providers in particular. More
WPP Chief Martin Sorrell has told a Reuters summit that with 'vicious' price activity in the market, he expects the group's 2010 revenues to be flat. Sorrell says new business activity in his media businesses is strong, but in MR and creative functions there is less cheer. More
QualVu, which provides online video-based research solutions, has announced a new product offering instant and ongoing access to webcam-enabled panels for face-to-face qual insights. More
Outsourced mobile development and testing firm InfoStretch has partnered with Canadian-based crowd-sourced testing and MR firm Mob4Hire to offer enhanced handset and application testing solutions for enterprise mobile developers. More
Canadian-based online data collection specialist Itracks has upgraded its market research online community (MROC) offering. Populis version 1.5 offers increased member participation, a new reporting utility and an SMS communication module for community managers. More
B2B specialist Kadence International has reported a 20% rise in revenue for its insight division, and overall growth of 9% to $11.3m during the financial year 2008-2009. More
In the US, consumer behavior and audience exposure data provider Integrated Media Measurement Inc (IMMI) has rolled out a new media measurement platform, which includes an expanded ability to monitor online consumer behavior. More
US healthcare marketing services firm Cadient Interactive has launched a new practice, HATCH Consulting, to provide clients with services including market and user experience research to support their interactive campaigns. More
GfK NOP Media has rolled out a panel in the UK which combines online and offline media consumption with consumer sales data, to help advertisers and agencies measure the ROI of their media campaigns. More
In the UK, the Central Office of Information (COI) has introduced a five-step guidance process to ensure behavioural theory is applied to ad campaigns designed to change citizens' behaviour. The latter include drives to give up smoking, take more exercise or reduce carbon footprint. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston has reported an 8% drop in first half revenues for its Insight division, partly attributable to the underperformance of market research agencies CML and MSTS, now merged into other companies. More
KPO specialist Pulse Group has reported pre-tax losses of almost £1m for the full year to the end of May, up from just £171,900 the previous year. More
Information giant Experian has launched a new German version of its consumer classification tool Mosaic, classifying the country's 68 million adult population into ten major lifestyle groups reflecting recent trends in society. More
In the UK, Maven Research is now offering Discovery Research's online research solution 'The Thinking Shed', which it says enables deeper engagement with a target audience, and extends the window of engagement further before and after qualitative / quantitative events. More
Harris Interactive has rolled out its Advanced Strategy Lab (ASL) qualitative research facility in Hong Kong, to offer brainstorming, idea generation and solution development through networked computers. More
Former Viewpoint Field researcher Al Anderson has opened Zen Research; a fieldwork company which works across all industry sectors and covers all major methodologies. More
Nielsen's group revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were down 1% to $1.25bn from the same period last year. CFO Brian West described the quarter as having been 'steady'. More
Japanese ad giant Dentsu Inc. and its largest MR firm INTAGE Inc. have announced a partnership to jointly develop marketing intelligence solutions aimed at speeding up clients' marketing decision-making. More
UK-based global insight consultancy Nunwood has appointed James Walker, former global President of Accenture Marketing Sciences as Chief Strategy and Development Officer. More
BPO (business processing outsourcing) firm American Pacesetters has acquired Indian BPO company IQ Resource (IQR), which supports customers in the US and UK. The combined firms will now be known as iPacesetters and be headquartered in Mesa, Arizona. More
In the US, Innerscope Research has become the first neuroscience-based biometric company to be validated by the Advertising Research Foundation's (ARF) research review process. More
Online market research panel firm United Sample has reported a triple-digit increase in sales for the last six months, compared with the same period in 2008. More
Ipsos is to launch 'The Polish OTC Consumer' study, to analyse Poles' habits and attitudes towards buying and using non-prescription medicines and parapharmaceutics. More
Online purchasing data firm BlueKai is to issue a quarterly index of consumer intent data across the web, based on activities such as price search by auto make and model, travel destination search by airport or city, or activity on price comparison sites. More
Pharmaceutical research giant IMS Health has agreed to be sold to private equity firm TPG Capital and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) for $5.2bn. More
Kantar Media has expanded its Global Target Group Index (TGI) Network of syndicated single-source marketing and media studies, following parent WPP's acquisition of TNS. More
Brainwave measurement technology firm EmSense has raised $9m in Series C funding, which it will use to continue its global expansion in support of its many market research partners, and develop a bio-sensory in-home panel - which it claims will be the first of its kind. More
In Canada, mobile data collection technology firm Techneos Systems has appointed Dave King as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, replacing co-founder Mark Cameron who is to remain with the firm in an executive and Board capacity. More
New York-based neuroscience firm Buyology has shifted its approach to help marketers tap into consumer's non-conscious decision making process. More
Data giant infoGroup has reported revenue for its MR firms down 16% to $24m in quarter three, with an operating loss of $700k compared with operating income of $1.4m for the prior year period. More
The recently formed Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) will be hosting a meeting with Nielsen, Rentrak, TiVo, TRA and TNS to discuss how the firms can work with the coalition to foster set-top box data research innovation. More
Newly founded LeGo Research, which specialises in customer management, brand and communications, and price and product projects, has partnered with Danish firm MyResearch and Norwegian agency Perceptor to offer clients a broader portfolio and deliver deeper insights. More
Digital video technology provider EyeWonder has added a new set of metrics, designed to provide advertisers and publishers with details about how their online ads are viewed in a browser. More
ORC parent and database giant infoGroup has responded to a press report that it is taking bids to sell the company, by stating that it is evaluating its operations and prospects to determine what is in the best interests of all shareholders. More
In the UK, Synovate's consumer psychology research specialist Synovate Censydiam has promoted Sue Phillips to the role of Chief Executive Officer. More
Ad research specialist Ipsos ASI has promoted Alex Gronberger to the post of Chief Executive Officer, based in its Chicago office. More
Nielsen and online targeting firm DataLogix have partnered to enable advertisers to target consumers based on their lifestyles, purchasing habits and media usage. More
Piers Lee, Managing Director of Kadence International in Singapore, has been elected as the new President of the Market Research Society of Singapore (MRSS). More
In the US, a coalition of three businesses has launched The Green Confidence Index, to provide a monthly snapshot of Americans' attitudes on environmental responsibility and their willingness to make green purchasing choices. More
WPP has reported a like-for-like revenue decline of 8.7% for the third quarter - a smaller drop than was seen in the second quarter. Consumer insight revenues stayed depressed although margin was better. The firm also pointed to strong regional differences and predicted a 'LUV' shaped recession. More
Harris Interactive has announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2010, with revenue of $38.9m, down $11.3m or 23% on the previous period, but operating loss almost eliminated due to cost-cutting measures. More
Japanese Internet service company EC Navi has announced the opening of a new subsidiary, Research Panel Asia Inc. (RPA), offering online survey panels in Asia. The first RPA panel, 91wenwen.com, launches in China today. More
In Germany, Ciao Surveys Managing Director Alberto Abisso is leaving after five years, following Toluna's acquisition of Ciao's parent company Greenfield Online. More
KantarHealth is expanding its CardioMonitor service into Japan and China, a major step towards its goal of providing a globally consistent cardiovascular and diabetes patient database. More
OVAB (the Out-of-home Video Advertising Bureau) says eleven of its member companies have now completed third party audience research studies based on the Audience Metrics Guidelines the organisation published in 2008. More
Online sample company Peanut Labs has posted third quarter revenue growth of 52.3% from the prior year period. More
Synovate has promoted Mike Cassidy to the position of Managing Director of its Australian business, and Brent Stewart to the newly created global role of CEO Strategic Units. More
Public relations firm MWW Group has launched a panel of 'online thought leaders', to generate new insights specific to a number of industry sectors. More
The Market Research Society of New Zealand (MRSNZ) and the Association of Market Research Organisations (AMRO) have condemned the New Zealand Labour Party for what they describe as 'unethical and misleading activities'. More
US-based multi-screen tracking firm Rentrak has rolled out its Box Office Essentials ticket sales data tool in Russia. The firm has also opened a Moscow field office to support the expansion. More
Harris Interactive has partnered with innovation consultancy Ideas To Go (ITG) to enable clients to explore, create concepts for, and test new products. More
In South Africa, media strategy agency Acceleration Media has launched an online audience measurement tool, to enable users to forecast reach and frequency for online advertising campaigns. More
In Singapore, out-of-home signage measurement firm 1-2-1VIEW has launched what it describes as 'the world's first all-in-one platform' that combines digital signage and audience measurement in a single screen solution. More
In the US, IT research and analyst firm The 451 Group has acquired The Uptime Institute, a think tank consultancy which has developed a system for comparing data center facilities. Terms were not disclosed. More
The newly formed Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) is about to invite agencies to submit proposals for two media research projects. It has also appointed MTV Networks' Colleen Fahey Rush as Head of its Executive Committee. More
Marcoms agency MDC Partners has formed a Consumer Insights Group, to develop data and analytics capabilities for use by MDC companies wishing to analyze clients' integrated digital and multi-channel media campaigns. More
Nielsen veterans David McCallum and Alastair Gordon have launched a new consultancy in Sydney, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand, to help agencies maximize their performance and clients optimise their research spend. More
Online panel specialist Research Now has opened its seventh European office in Madrid, to provide a local service for Spanish clients. More
In South Africa, former Synovate Director Ian Jeffrey has joined Ipsos Markinor as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Shirley Benney who has taken up the post of Chief Operating Officer. More
In the UK, Review Centre, which provides independent product and service reviews, is to create a consumer research panel which will provide marketers and researchers with access to the opinions of its four million monthly users. More
Online panel firm e-Rewards has confirmed that its founder and current Chairman and CEO Hal Brierley will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board, after the firm has completed its acquisition of panel provider Research Now. More
Nielsen is to give its client think tank, the Council For Research Excellence (CRE), an additional $2.5m, bringing its total four-year investment to $10m. More
Less than two days after it was announced that e-Rewards was considering buying online panel specialist Research Now, the firms have agreed on the terms of a cash acquisition, which values Research Now at around £85.1m. More
French media research agency MTdiamTtrie is planning to invest between €25m and €30m over the next three years, to improve existing services and develop new offers for broadcasters. More
UK-based data integration agency Cognicient has partnered with German research software firm 2x4 to roll out their respective product lines in Germany and the US. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has reported a 6% drop in third-quarter revenue to $540.8m, compared with $573.7m a year earlier. The news follows reports earlier in the week that the Board of Directors is considering selling the company. More
GfK has created a global database of point-of-sale data for electronic consumer goods. The 'Digital World' service has been designed by GfK Retail and Technology in conjunction with the US Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). More
Consumer Health Sciences (CHS) has added more than 13,300 Chinese consumers to the database for its 'National Health and Wellness Survey' (NHWS). Plans are also in place to roll out the service further across Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. More
Ipsos and its online panel firm Livra are to launch an online community for users to share and gather opinions. More
Japanese online panel supplier Research Panel has partnered with Korean agency Trend Monitor to provide a multi-Asian country consumer research service. More
Pharma market research firm AlphaDetail has added two new features, AlphaLink and AlphaMonitor, to its suite of tracking services. More
US-based e-Rewards has made an indicative approach to online panel specialist Research Now, which may lead to an offer for the latter's entire share capital. The price would be not less than £4.30 in cash per share. More
In Australia, the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has postponed the launch of its audience measurement system MOVE until next February. Its original plan was to roll out the system this year. More
Canada-based public opinion firm Angus Reid Strategies has hooked up with UK political blog PoliticalBetting.com to run online polls on the site, which will track voter intentions leading up to Britain's next general election. More
Online panel management supplier Globalpark has appointed Toluna's former MD for Germany, Boris von Heeson as Managing Director for Enterprise Feedback Solutions. More
US consumer specialist MSW Research (previously McCollum Spielman Worldwide) has announced a partnership with biometric communications measurement firm LABoratory & Co. The two will develop a set of tools to gauge the full spectrum of consumer response to advertising. More
In Canada, motion-media specialist tava touchpoints has added audience measurement to its in-store digital media screens, which have been lowered to eye-level to improve customer engagement. More
According to reports, pharma market research giant IMS Health is in talks with several private equity firms regarding selling the company. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has announced a drop in third quarter income to $13.7m, compared with $17.0m for the third quarter of 2008, which it say is largely due to client losses and costs associated with the commercialization of its Portable People Meter (PPM). More
US clothing firm Iconix is to pay a $250k civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that it violated child privacy Act COPPA by knowingly collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children online without first obtaining their parents' permission. More
In the UK, GfK NOP Media is launching a new panel of eight-to-fifteen-year-olds, 'rate it!', to offer better understanding of 'the next generation of media consumers'. More
The legislature in the US state of Maine has voted to repeal the privacy law intended to 'Predatory Marketing Practices Against Minors', following protests from a number of companies and industry bodies including MRA. More
London-based customer engagement specialist Fizzback has secured £1.6m in capital, earmarked for expansion into the US and continental Europe. More
Social media analytics firm Attentio and celebrity web site TheNod.com have released the first results from a collaboration to track and analyse celebrity brand associations. More
Brand and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has teamed up with the Open Mind Group to launch a joint venture in Australia, headed by former Research International (RI) Exec Louise McCann who will be based in Sydney. More
The deadline set by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for Arbitron to gain MRC accreditation for its PPM radio ratings service in the market has passed, with no announcement of success and reports suggesting no accreditation has been gained. More
Online data collection featured heavily in this year's London Stock Exchange AIM Awards, with Toluna and Research Now both taking major trophies at last night's award ceremony. More
In Turkey, TNS has been awarded a four-year contract to provide TV audience measurement, by local industry committee TIAK. The current deal, which expires in 2011, is held by AGB Nielsen Media Research. More
Synovate Healthcare has expanded the reach of its Global Oncology Monitor to eight new markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia. More
In the UK, research agency EasyInsites is to partner with online parenting club Bounty to build a young family panel with which to conduct bi-monthly research. More
Research software provider Confirmit and text analytics specialist Clarabridge have formed a partnership aimed at refining the value of open-ended customer responses. More
In Sweden, market research technology firm Dapresy has partnered with research software provider Action Dialog Partner, to integrate the latter's survey tool into its own Research Management service. More
In the US, Millward Brown has promoted Cheryl Stallworth-Hooper to the post of Chief Executive Officer of Greenfield Consulting Group, its North American qualitative division. More
US-based retail specialist The NPD Group has enhanced its Retail Insight Service to enable consumer technology clients to view point-of-sale information and 'casual' sales data side-by-side. More
In Sydney, Australia, online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has announced the appointment of Martin Filz as Managing Director, Asia Pacific from 1 November, replacing Jason Buchanan who is leaving to 'explore a new business venture'. More
In Canada, custom panel and technology specialist Vision Critical is to merge with sister firm, public opinion and MR agency Angus Reid Strategies, DRNO has learned. The combined firm will be known as Vision Critical and Angus Reid Strategies will operate as its public opinion practice. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has commercialized its Portable People Meter (PPM) radio ratings service in five new local markets, as the deadline approaches for the firm to obtain Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its service in New York. More
In Amsterdam, global MR organisation ESOMAR has appointed market research veteran Finn Raben as its new Director General. More
Israeli online analytics firm Kampyle has partnered with Yokohama-based Infinet, to offer its clients local sales and support services in Japan. It has also launched a Japanese language web site. More
Data collection agency Field Force has become the first firm in Australia to join the 'Panel Exchange' sample marketplace operated by Swedish software firm Cint. More
In the US, Arbitron has confirmed that EVP Taher Behbehani, one of three top men brought in as part of a major restructure announced earlier in the year, has left the company. More
Today sees the official merger of TNS' UK Custom Division and Research International UK to become TNS Research International UK; and the merger of TNS Custom's UK Social sector with BMRB's social research team to become TNS-BMRB. More
UK marketing spend fell for the eighth quarter running in Q3, but the fall is still slowing and marketers are more optimistic, according to the latest quarterly IPA/BDO Bellwether survey, which is published today. More
Ipsos Marketing in Poland has launched sales potential estimation tool 'NOVACTION NextGen' - billed as the first of its kind in the country. More
Nielsen Online has underlined its commitment to the panel-based methodology it will use for the UK's first web measurement currency, following competitor comScore's proposal of a 'person-centric' approach using a hybrid technique employing cookie deletion. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has asked the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary in Maine to exempt survey and opinion research from a new law, which prohibits researchers from collecting, analyzing or storing data on persons under 18 years of age. More
Online measurement firm comScore has unveiled a tool which combines reported mobile behavior measurement with mobile device ownership information, to provide marketers with attitudinal, lifestyle and product usage information data. More
Social media measurement firm Fizziolo.gy has developed a system to measure and track real-time online conversations about the entertainment industry. More
A study has shown that more than 30% of physicians may no longer participate in market research if the Sunshine Payment Act is implemented, requiring drug and device manufacturers to disclose incentive payments over $20 for market research. More
In The Netherlands, online market research agency MetrixLab has appointed former Research International VP Alexander Kleijngeld to spearhead the international expansion of its NPD & Innovation unit. More
In Australia, former Galaxy Research Director Chris Lonergan has launched his own full service market research agency, which he says will 'marry old school rigour' with new technology and a thorough understanding of business issues. More
In Canada, The Verde Group has launched a system to which determines how employee behavior affects customer experiences, and how this impacts on company profitability. More
Netherlands-based community insight agency CreativeCrowds has announced a partnership with Canadian crowdsourcing technology firm Cambrian House. Using the latter's flagship Chaordix product, the partners will design and deliver crowdsourcing platforms to organizations in Europe. More
Advertising research specialist Ipsos ASI has launched a tool which measures and tests communications across all forms of advertising platforms, including emerging digital media. More
In the US, research technology firm eePulse has introduced an employee engagement benchmarking survey, which it says it the first to provide real-time research on what drives a firm's or individual's performance. More
US healthcare specialist Panel Intelligence has expanded its access to patients, to provide cancer therapeutics companies with direct access to the end users of their products. More
The biggest new MrWeb section in nine years opens today with launch articles from five research luminaries. 'MRT' is an online home for custom panel builders, mobile researchers, data miners, neuromarketers and many others at the leading edge of what we broadly define as 'MR'. More
US-based consumer specialist Knowledge Networks (KN) has acquired Dimestore Media (DSM), a firm which has developed technology which adds consumer surveys directly into online ads. More
US reseacher Nicole Wyrembeck has set up a new agency, Decision Point, which promises a combination of social science research and marketing expertise. She is joined by Senior Research Strategist Donna Cangelosi. More
Former Ipsos operations head Efrain Ribeiro has joined online panel specialist Lightspeed Research as Chief Operating Officer, based in the US and responsible for global online operations. More
In the US, biometric and neuroscience agency Innerscope Research has appointed former Arbitron senior exec Linda Dupree as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. More
Marketing services group Optimisa has appointed former Synovate UK boss Michelle Norman as CEO of its market research businesses, which include Quaestor, Andrew Irving Associates and Buckingham Research. More
Andrew Wiseman is leaving UK-based group Optimisa Research to join customer panel specialist Verve, and will establish a Leeds office for the company. More
Three agencies, Acrobat Research, Cimigo and EuroInterview are combining to create a new global operations business called Cido Research. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has appointed Gilles Pajot in the new position of Vice Chairman. Previously the company's COO, he continues to report to Chairman and CEO David R. Carlucci. More
Mumbai, India-based KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) firm Adventity, Inc. and Canadian firm Revanalytics are joining forces to set up a new Sri Lankan-based company, whose services will include market research and BPO solutions. More
In New Jersey, the state Supreme Court has banned exit polls from being conducted within 100 feet of polling stations, and also kept in place a bar on the distribution of leaflets and other materials within the same area. More
In the US, multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak Corporation has hired David Chemerow for its newly created post of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. More
In the US, sports entertainment firm ESPN has teamed with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to examine media challenges such as cross-media measurement and analysis. More
Danish firm iMotions has released a new eye tracking software platform with 'Reading Metrics' to uncover whether consumers really read or are able to read communications, and 'Study Sharing' which enables users to run studies in multiple locations simultaneously. More
In Australia, SampleWorx has launched an online sample marketplace where potential buyers can log on and post details about their projects, and suppliers can place bids to win these contracts. More
Eastern and Central European online specialist BrainActive Market Research has expanded its reach in Russia, Turkey and Poland through the recruitment of new panel members in each country. More
GfK has expanded its custom research network with the launch of a joint venture in Japan and the acquisition of a majority stake of Conecta Asociados S.A.C. in Peru. More
UK retail giant Asda plans to 'empower' consumers by enabling them to get involved in every aspect of the business - from product development to the look and feel of packaging. More
In the US, ratings giant Arbitron has formed a 'cross-media' measurement group, which will use its Portable People Meter (PPM) technology and third-party partnerships to establish a new audience measurement service across TV, radio, Internet, mobile and place-based media. More
Online specialist Research Now is to offer Experian's consumer segmentation tool Mosaic, across its panels globally. More
In Tokyo, online research firm Macromill has sold most of its shares in Asian sample specialist AIP Corporation, and instead bought Brand Data Bank (BDB), which provides marketing database services. The deal is valued at nearly 147m yen ($1.6m). More
US data collection firm Western Wats has been fined $552k for employing 1,482 minors, three of whom were as young as 13, to conduct market research and political surveys from its call centers in seven states. This is the highest such penalty ever doled out to a US company. More
The Canadian Out-Of-Home Digital Association/Association Canadienne de l'Affichage NumTrique (CODACAN) has unveiled standards for measuring viewing audiences in digital out-of-home (DOOH) settings. More
US analytics firm EchoMetrix has been accused of violating a federal law that restricts the gathering of data about children under the age of 13. More
US online physician community provider Sermo has launched an on-demand offering, which enables users to engage with and start private online conversations with a targeted group of medical practitioners. More
Two divisions of marketing services agency Euro RSCG Worldwide have teamed up to launch a tool to help marketers target teen consumers and their families. The two are data analytics and behavioral marketing arm Euro RSCG Discovery and American Student List (ASL). More
In the US, MindSign Neuromarketing - which measures consumer brain responses to ads - has been tasked by film producer Peter Katz with determining the degree of fear caused by certain scenes in his latest horror movie, 'Pop Skull'. More
US-based web analytics firm Omniture has measured what it says is the first retail transaction ever to take place in Facebook, on behalf of a florist and gift retailer advertising on the social networking site. More
The practice of 'digital fingerprinting' may breach Canadian privacy laws - and by extension those of many European and Asian countries - according to a statement today by Canada's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) is piloting a program to develop industry-standard methodologies for online audience research and measurement. The Quality Enhancement Process will be tested later this year by firms including P&G, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Microsoft and General Motors. More
WPP agency Added Value is launching three new initiatives to help clients address strategic marketing questions facing their business and brands. The first, AV-id(TM), uses the principles of social networking to help clients develop and refine conceptual marketing ideas in real time. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has announced the opening of an office in Mexico City, servicing clients conducting online and telephone research throughoutout Latin America. More
London-based b2b agency IFF Research has announced sales of just over £8.7m for the financial year to 31st March 2009, an increase of 40% year on year. More
The new Chairman of US standards body the FCC has told an audience of minority broadcasters that the Commission aims to bring together the sides in the dispute over Arbitron's PPM. He also acknowledged that his organisation's authority regarding the PPM is 'limited'. More
TNS Magasin has launched a service focusing on understanding shoppers who don't buy the products in front of them, identifying and analysing attrition amongst shoppers at every stage of the process. More
UK-based custom panels firm EasyInsites has formally launched its EasyMobile product, allowing it to conduct rapid polling via mobile phones. The new system uses the OnePoint survey platform. More
Synovate has expanded its Retail Performance shopper counting and analytics business across Europe, the Americas and Asia; and appointed a 'Business Development champion' for each of these three regions. More
GfK Romania is opening a CATI call centre in Iasi, which CEO Andi Dumitrescu says will allow the firm to contain costs and improve services. More
In the US, Edolphus Towns' investigation into Arbitron's PPM claims Media Ratings Council (MRC) documents flag up 'persistent problems' with the technology. Arbitron says his Committee has reached 'erroneous conclusions' which it looks forward to clarifying. More
UK-based online research specialist BrainJuicer has confirmed 22% revenue growth to £4.85m (H1 2008: £3.97m) for the six months ended 30 June 2009. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released the final version of its In-Game Advertising Measurement Guidelines, to help game publishers measure the ads that appear in PC or console-based games. More
In the UK, healthcare and medical market fieldwork agency Healthcare Landscape has launched a series of research blogs where patients and carers can discuss a variety of medical issues on an anonymous basis. More
Nielsen and Facebook have signed a multi-year partnership to help clients better measure the impact of online advertising and develop and market new products. More
In London, Synovate has hired Marc Chester for the newly created role of Community Panels Director. More
London-based communications research agency MESH Planning has launched an 'experience database', aiming to enable marketers to measure every single consumer interaction with their brands in real-time. More
Online panel specialist Lightspeed Research has promoted Andrew Cayton to the post of Chief Executive Officer of its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business. More
In the US, the Nasdaq Stock Market has given Harris Interactive 180 days to increase its share price, as this has now fallen below the $1 per share requirement for the previous 30 consecutive business days. More
Mobile survey technology provider Techneos Systems has launched SODA, a survey platform which works by downloading applications to mobile phones to run when they are offline, and connects to a wireless network as required to fetch projects and submit data. More
Arbitron has announced the formation of a task force of radio and advertising industry leaders to develop an ongoing measure of 'affinity', designed to 'reflect the advertising value of the unique relationship listeners have with their stations'. More
Synovate will close its call center operation in Ottumwa, Iowa, USA in November, with the loss of 80 part-time jobs and one full-time. More
MR and consulting group Cello has appointed a new senior management team to lead its subsidiary RS Consulting. Jane Shirley adds the role of Chairwoman of RS to her existing responsibilities as CEO of Cello Research and joint MD of Insight, while RS's Group MD Neil Swann is leaving. More
Panel and online research software provider Toluna has reported strong revenue and profit growth and increased market share in all European territories in the first half of 2009. Revenue grew 67% to £13.7m and first-half operating profits were up 21% to £1.6m. More
In Sydney, Australia, AMR research founder Brian Fine is to leave his job in November. Fine started the company, now part of marketing content and services firm STW Group, 25 years ago. More
Graphic design and display software giant Adobe Systems Incorporated is to acquire web analytics and online business optimization firm Omniture, Inc. for around $1.8 billion. More
Online audience measurement and ad services firm Ando Media has been acquired by Triton Digital, which provides digital applications, services and content for radio broadcasters. Terms were not disclosed. More
Sampling and data collection provider Authentic Response has hired former SSI leader Jim Follett as its Chief Executive Officer, to replace Matt Blumberg as CEO; and has announced the closing of a funding series. More
Arbitron has signed an agreement with BroadSign International, a provider of SaaS solutions for managing digital out-of-home (OOH) video networks, to deliver a proof-of-play advertising audit service using the Portable People Meter (PPM) technology. More
United Sample and Clear Sky Media have launched a new survey platform for the latter's comparison shopping web site RedFlagDeals.com. More
UK-based marketing services group Cello has announced half-yearly results. Overall group revenues were down 12%, a post-tax loss of £4.2m reflecting the write-down of recent acquisitions, but the Research and Consulting division performed respectably with operating income of £18.2m on turnover of £30m. More
In the state of Maine, USA, a new law aimed at protecting minors could impact any research organization that collects, analyzes or stores data on persons under 18 years of age, according to a warning today from industry advocate body CMOR, part of MRA. More
FreshMinds Research has announced the formation of a distinct Research Communities and Panels division, and the arrival of James Turner, formerly Head of Research at BT, to lead it. More
US health care specialist Roger Green and Associates (RG+A) has announced the launch of DPS® Tracker, the first ATU/tracking system based on its established patient-centered Dynamic Practice Simulation (DPS) methodology. More
In the US, professional association the CMO Council has announced the launch of 'Pause for a Cause', a program which aims to direct millions of dollars in funds to good causes in exchange for survey responses. Major charities and corporations are among those backing the initiative. More
High profile UK-based start-up Verve is already opening its first overseas offices, in Sydney, Australia - and will launch customer advisory panels and online brand communities in Australia and New Zealand. More
Nielsen's decision to do away with live-only program ratings is 'a significant step backwards' according to GroupM North America's Chief Investment Officer, Rino Scanzoni. More
GfK subsidiary Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) has announced plans to expand the size of the AdMeasure database five-fold making it, the firm says, 'large enough to be a syndicated industry currency for print ad measurement'. More
In the US, online metrics company Ando Media has entered its Webcast Metrics real-time Internet audio measurement service for accreditation by the Media Rating Council (MRC). More
Following client consultation, Nielsen is to move to live-program-plus-same-day ratings in its Local People Meter (LPM) and Set Meter markets by early December. More
In the US, the newly formed Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) has attempted to clarify its goals in a conference call, stressing that rather than creating a competitor for Nielsen Media Research, it wants to fund new research into cross-platform and TV set-top box measurement. More
GfK Custom Research North America has announced the appointment of Kimberly Bastoni as Group MD for Marketing, Business Development, and Global Key Account Management. More
Nielsen has acquired KoreanClick, a web measurement company in South Korea, for an undisclosed sum. More
A group of 14 companies has formally announced the founding of the Council for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM), a consortium that will create a new TV audience measurement system, designed to challenge Nielsen's control over the marketplace. More
Digital marketing agency Critical Mass has launched a multi-channel measurement group which will focus on gathering insights to improve marketing and user experience. More
In the UK, Voodoo Research has launched a panel which offers clients access to 'culturally attuned' and 'future focussed' 18-30 year olds. More
Ipsos Public Affairs has opened a new research center to provide market research and insight into the lives of Hispanic citizens living in the US. More
Nielsen Media Research has developed a new meter which will measure online video viewing in the same way the firm's A/P Meter does for television. More
In the US, customer relationship management (CRM) firm RightNow has acquired social network market research agency HiveLive for approximately $6m in cash. More
Global market research revenues grew 4.5% to $32bn in 2008, according to the ESOMAR Global Market Research Report. However, the organisation says that this equates to a net increase of only 0.4% after taking into account inflation. More
Austrian full-service agency INTEGRAL Market and Opinion Research has bought a majority share in German psychological and sociological research specialist SINUS Sociovision. Terms were not disclosed. More
US-based Communispace - which creates online customer insight communities - has partnered with Australian ad hoc market research agency Colmar Brunton to develop private online communities in the Asia Pacific region. More
Synovate has updated its online community panels; integrating qual and quant research with a number of applications to help clients spot trends and obtain feedback about product ideas. More
Australian digital audience measurement firm Effective Measure has expanded with the opening of offices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and has hired Brendon Ogilvy for the newly created role of Regional Director for MENA (Middle East North Africa). More
GfK has launched EMO Sensor, a system which measures the emotions that consumers experience when coming into contact with a brand, for example when viewing a TV commercial. More
Healthcare market research specialist Majestic MRSS has opened a new office in Dubai, and equipped ten of its existing focus group facilities across Asia with 'Focus Vision' video-streaming facilities. More
Professor John Beath has been appointed to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the UK's largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues. He takes up the post for a period of three years. More
UK agency Ci Research has formed a new retail division, which it says will provide clients with access to team members' client-side and agency-side retail market research expertise. More
Media and market intelligence solutions firm Biz360 has expanded its Community Insights social media monitoring system to make it suitable for small and middle market companies. More
In Sweden, market research technology firm Dapresy has appointed former GfK NOP executive Anders Brogren as a Senior Advisor, to support the development and promotion of its Survey Manager Software-as-a-Service tool. More
India-based market research outsourcing firm Ugam Research Solutions has increased its US client service and project management capabilities with ten new staff appointments. More
New York-headquartered MSW - previously McCollum Spielman Worldwide - has partnered with UK-based Insight Engineers to introduce its brand and communications research approaches across Europe. More
Healthcare and pharma MR agency The Research Partnership has appointed industry specialist Dr Chris Gaj as Director of its US operations, based in Philadelphia. More
In the UK, the GSMA - the trade association for mobile operators - has selected comScore to be its partner for its Mobile Media Metrics (MMM) audience measurement service, designed to define common metrics and measurements for mobile advertising. More
TV technology firm NDS and TNS Media Research have enhanced their joint TV audience measurement offering by adding the ability to identify individual viewers in homes signed up to participate in a measurement panel. More
In the UK, medeConnect Healthcare Insight, the market research division of Doctors.net.uk, has adopted an account team structure and appointed Nicky Richards and Neil Reynolds to head the two new teams. More
In the US, GfK Healthcare has introduced a quarterly omnibus, 'Managed Markets Delegates on Demand', to provide pharma marketers with access to a panel of key decision makers. More
In the US, video and media data technology firm Concurrent has introduced a solution designed to offer a 360-degree view of linear, video-on-demand (VoD) and interactive media consumption across the three screens of TV, mobile and online. More
In Canada, ratings giant Arbitron and TNS Media Research have launched what they describe as the 'world's largest combined panel for TV and radio audience measurement', designed to support industry organisation BBM Canada's own multi-media measurement initiative. More
US marketing research and ad testing consultancy ARSgroup has introduced a copytesting solution to measure and predict consumer reaction to online ads. More
Synovate parent Aegis has reported an 86% drop in first half pre-tax profits to £6.6m despite growing revenues by 4.8%. The research agency itself made an underlying operating loss of £3.2m in the first half, compared with a £7.9m profit a year earlier. More
Online panels specialist Research Now has teamed up with Reed Business Information's (RBI) 'Computer Weekly' magazine to create a purpose built panel of IT professionals across the UK. More
In Australia, TV technology firm NDS and TNS Media Research have partnered to track and analyze audience behaviour across pay-TV operator Foxtel's network, to enable it to introduce advanced advertising products. More
London-based specialist MR recruiter Soho Search has been bought out by Frankie Wootton-Kelly, formerly an Associate Director of the company, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, multi-screen media measurement firm Rentrak has appointed Bruce Goerlich as Chief Research Officer and Dr Michael Vinson as Vice President of Statistical Sciences and Analytics. The new positions have been created to push the development of video ad research products. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has introduced a number of outreach programs that engage and recruit in-demand, hard-to-reach segments of the population, such as African Americans, Hispanics, males and teens. More
US marketing and comms specialist HCD Research has added media mix modeling to its services for advertisers, with the aim of providing a 'holistic approach' to understanding and analyzing the impact of all advertising efforts and expenditures. More
In the US, Nielsen and retail analytics agency Information Resources Inc (IRI) have formed a new firm which will recruit, maintain and process data from a common set of households to support the Nielsen Homescan and IRI Consumer Network panels. More
Ipsos has reported a 3.2% decline in first half revenues to €447.8m, compared with the same period in 2008. The firm says it would be unrealistic to hope for the second half of 2009 to be much better. More
UK marcoms giant and Kantar-owner WPP has reported a 47.9% drop in first-half net profit to £108.4m from £208.2m a year earlier, but predicts a brighter performance for the rest of 2009. Like-for-like consumer insight revenue was down 10%. More
Shopper behaviour consultancy TNS Magasin has combined EEG (electroencephalography) and eye tracking technologies to capture shoppers' emotional and cognitive responses at what it describes as 'an unprecedented level of detail'. More
TNS Healthcare and consumer comms agency McCann Healthcare have linked to launch the first in a series of studies providing insights into the Singapore health sector. More
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yahoo! has acquired online community Maktoob.com, which owns its own dedicated research practice, Maktoob Research. Terms were not disclosed, although local sources estimate the total purchase price will be around $100m. More
In India, the National Readership Studies Council (NRSC) and the Media Research Users Council (MRUC) have received the green light to merge, to create a single research currency for the country's print industry. More
Revenue in the Research Division of UK marcoms group Chime Communications fell to £4.58m from £7.41m in the prior year period, while operating income dropped 26% to £3m. More
In the US, digital marketing agency Tribal Fusion has launched a service using advanced analytics to measure the effect of online advertising on offline purchasing decisions. More
Australian readership research is in flux as incumbent currency provider Roy Morgan declines to take part in a new-look tender. As of yesterday, magazine publishing giant ACP has quit its national association in support of the Roy Morgan survey. More
Analysts expect ad giant and Kantar owner WPP to cut its sales forecast again this week. However the firm's debt position and strategic focus are considered solid, while buoyant reports in the UK press suggest business confidence in general has turned the corner. More
UK researchers' association the ICG (Independent Consultants Group) has grown its membership with sixty new members in the last ten months bringing the total to 340, a net gain of 8% allowing for departing members. More
Australian software developer EB Strada Pty has added to the growing armoury of data collection tools available to researchers. FormReturn 1.0 offers a cross-platform optical mark recognition (OMR) system for simpler analysis of hand-written data such as that on questionnaires. More
Harris Interactive has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2009, showing a 23% decline in annual revenue. More
The Research Industry Index (RII) compiled by the US association MRA has shown its first slight upturn in eighteen months. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron is attempting to invalidate nine patents for technology which identity solutions firm Digimarc has developed to monitor broadcasts. Digimarc claims that technology used for Arbitron's PPM infringed the patents. More
In the US, qual and quant data collection firm Delve has partnered with focus group specialist The Focus Room to provide clients with a 'one-stop' approach to conducting qual research nationwide. More
In the US, American Express Business Travel has opened a dedicated research practice to help companies cut the cost of their business trips. More
Researchers who joined together to form the Association Collaborative Effort (ACE) last September, have announced their first combined effort - a set of terms and definitions for online research. More
In the US, multi-screen media measurement agency Rentrak and mobile TV service FLO TV are to launch what they describe as the mobile TV industry's first comprehensive viewership and ad impression reporting. More
Online feedback and panel management supplier Globalpark has reported a 35% increase in second quarter revenues to €2.5m. More
US entertainment, media and technology market research firm Interpret has launched a syndicated research tool to provide an understanding of what drives the purchase of mobile handsets and devices. More
Media giant Time Warner has signed a seven year agreement with Nielsen, which will bring together TV, online, mobile measurement services, research on advertising segmentation and targeting, and consumer engagement research, under one contract. More
In the US, Lnx Research has launched a new market research division called LnxPharma, dedicated to using social network analysis (SNA) tools and techniques to help pharma, biotech and government clients better understand how communities function. More
A New York firm has launched a new online mystery shopper exchange, to provide a 'one-stop shop' for recruiters and job seekers. Inpulse Shopper aims to help researchers in the US and Canada find mystery shoppers, while also connecting job seekers with legitimate firms. More
London-based market research agency BDRC has launched an ad evaluation service, AdForensics, which enables clients to test up to three creative executions simultaneously with a 200-strong sample of their target audience. More
In the US, online survey sample firm United Sample and teens and young adult network eSPIN have partnered to launch a community where teens can participate in surveys and earn rewards for sharing their thoughts. More
In response to last week's news that a consortium has been formed to challenge Nielsen's TV audience measurement 'monopoly', the firm has been in touch with employees to confirm that 'three screen' measurement remains central to its strategy. More
In the US, GfK Healthcare has launched a suite of healthcare-specific brand positioning and diagnostic tools for measuring the 'cognitive and emotional strengths' of a brand. More
In the US a TV ad solutions firm is to bring together the services of Nielsen, Experian and Acxiom to help clients improve ad effectiveness using their existing data segmentation and optimization models. More
UK-based healthcare market research agency The Planning Shop international has launched a panel which it claims provides access to the market shapers of the future. More
In Canada, In-Touch Survey Systems has reported an 8% increase in Q2 revenue to $1.41m, thanks largely to the strength of its manual data collection business. However, the firm warns of a tough half-year ahead because of cancelled orders. More
In Australia, marketing services group Photon - which owns MR firms The Leading Edge and Jigsaw Strategic Research - is attempting to raise AUS$114.6m through a share offering. The money is for debt reduction and to ensure the firm can fund future earn-outs. More
In the US, youth marketing blog YPulse and student online research community SurveyU have merged to form Youth Pulse Inc., a service offering research among tweens, teens, college students and young adults. More
IT and BPO (business process outsourcing) firm Cognizant is expanding its Phoenix-based delivery center to include BPO services, and is planning to hire more than 100 members of staff there over the next 12 months. More
In the US, a group of broadcast and cable networks have joined with media agencies and clients to form a consortium that will create a new TV Audience measurement system, designed to challenge Nielsen's control over the marketplace. More
Nielsen has reported a 6% dip in revenues to $2.36bn for the six months ended June 30 2009. Revenues for its market research business dropped 11.7% to $1.25bn from $1.42bn in the year earlier period. More
GfK has reported a decline in sales and operating income during the first half of the year despite an improvement in the second quarter. In organic terms, first half sales were down 8.5%. More
In the UK, full service agency Opinium Research has reported a 350% increase in sales for the trading year 2008/2009. More
US word of mouth (WOM) specialist Bazaarvoice has rolled out a solution that helps companies plug into social networks to help optimize the user experience on eCommerce and brand sites. More
In China, mobile ad network Madhouse has introduced a service to enable advertisers to track mobile ads in real-time. More
WPP's insight arm Kantar has appointed Marita Carballo as President for Latam (Latin America) and Fiona Keyte as Global Account Director for client, Procter & Gamble (P&G), in a move designed to strengthen the firm's client relationships and regional capability in Latin and South America. More
The market for contact center feedback and surveys is predicted to grow by 6% in 2009, 5% in 2010, and 8% in 2011, according to a study conducted by market research and consulting services firm DMG Consulting. The estimates are based on performance in 2008 and activity to date in 2009. More
In New York, media management firm Mediabrands has launched Geomentum; a marketing and media insights agency which brings together marketplace intelligence, technology and local targeting capabilities. More
In the US, TNS Media Research has partnered with digital entertainment technology firm Rovi Corporation to develop advanced TV and set-top-box (STB) measurement solutions. More
Arbitron and Nielsen joint venture Scarborough Research will be incorporating cell-phone-only (CPO) users into the sample for its syndicated local market studies, beginning this summer and due for release next spring. More
In the UK, Nielsen has taken a stake in CGA Strategy - which offers market intelligence for retailers in pubs and bars, and for drinks brand owners - while CGA has taken over Nielsen's sales tracking activities in the sector. Terms were not disclosed. More
Global outsourcing solutions firm Datascension (DSEN) has posted gross profit of $770,877 for the quarter ended June 30, up 178% on the same period in 2008. More
In the US, a group of representatives of minority broadcasters have written to President Barack Obama asking him to intervene in the ongoing dispute over Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM), which they say they believe undercounts the audiences of minority radio stations. More
In the UAE (United Arab Emirates), two regulatory bodies have commissioned management consultancy Capgemini to undertake the initial phase of the country's new TV audience measurement initiative. More
Revenues for the top 25 global research firms increased 3.9% last year, to $18.9bn, according to the new Honomichl Global Top 25 ranking, to be published in the AMA's 'Marketing News' this month. Allowing for inflation, the figure equates to a tiny real increase of 0.6%. More
Datamonitor is integrating its three technology research brands - Butler Group, Datamonitor Technology and Ovum - under the Ovum name from September 1st. On the same day it wll launch two new research services. More
Daily Research News has today launched a page for short summaries of breaking news items. Readers interested in items appearing can register their email address to receive a link to the full story if and when it is published at the end of the day in the main DRNO bulletin. More
In the UK, panel and online community specialist Verve continues to expand with the appointment of two former iD Factor execs. Amyas Peto joins as UK Operations Director and Paul Ferreira as Technical Design Manager. More
Business and professional information giant Thomson Reuters has reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, showing revenue growth and margin expansion, with continuing progress on the Reuters integration. Today, shareholders gave it the OK to drop its London and Nasdaq listings. More
Canadian-based custom panels and communities specialist Vision Critical has announced a 75% increase in first-half gross revenue, versus the same period in 2008. More
Online sample company Peanut Labs has announced a partnership with online games firm Frogster America, by which players of the latter's 'Runes of Magic' game can earn virtual currency by completing surveys. More
In the US, custom research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) has joined with specialist marketing firm AgencySacks to provide insights to companies that target the affluent consumer. More
TNS has launched a series of reports measuring the sporting and entertainment passions of consumers in Asia. More
US-based retail intelligence specialist The NPD Group has launched its first ever store level information service for the beauty industry. More
Retail analytics firm CustoLogix has launched a service that helps small and midsized retailers understand their business through the use of graphics and analyses. More
In the US, communications firm Manning Selvage & Lee (MS&L) has launched a new approach, which combines proprietary healthcare consulting tools with a team of senior advisors in healthcare, and other key areas. More
TNS Media Research has been awarded a ground-breaking three year audience measurement contract to gain new insights into the viewing and behaviour of audiences in subscription TV homes across Australia. More
US mobile analytics provider Motally has announced the beta launch of its mobile analytics service for iPhone and Blackberry, with support for Android and others to follow shortly. More
In the US, social software provider HiveLive has launched a new community application for online concept testing, as part of its suite of qualitative research tools. More
In the UK, ad-supported mobile phone network Blyk - which launched a research service for its users in December - is to close at the end of August. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has launched a web-based tool which it claims provides an alternative to custom primary market research for assessing brand promotional campaigns. More
US media communications agency Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) is collaborating with Spanish language TV group Telemundo Communications to provide advertisers with a deeper understanding of Latino consumers in the US. More
US customer experience insights firm Market Force Information has appointed Mark Newhall as its new Chief Operating Officer, with overall responsibility for operations and technology. More
Healthcare specialist Cegedim Strategic Data (CSD) has acquired Hospital Marketing Services Ltd (HMSL), a leading provider of hospital based patient and promotion data analysis, via its subsidiary CSD UK. More
Ipsos has agreed to acquire 100% of Market Research Bureau of Ireland Limited (MRBI) from WPP, which was required to sell it for competition reasons by an EC ruling. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, Arbitron has responded to the news that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is being asked to join the rush to investigate the impact of the PPM, by reiterating that it 'welcomes every opportunity to discuss the PPM technology, service and our sampling methodology.' More
Customer loyalty specialists Omega Management Group and Vovici have announced a partnership for marketing and the integration of their EFM and CEM solutions. More
Computer giant IBM is to acquire SPSS for around $1.2 billion. The deal should close later this year, subject to shareholder approval, regulatory clearances and other conditions. More
In the UK, Ipsos-MORI has sounded out employees about the possibility of taking two weeks of voluntary unpaid leave later in the year. More
Dallas, Texas-based online panel firm e-Rewards, Inc. has opened an office in Paris, France, to serve its growing European client base. Sales Managers Katia Levy and Virginie Le Rat join the firm in the new location. More
In the US, the House of Representatives has approved $138.7m in funding for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) surveys for next year - an increase of around $1 million on the 2009 figure. More
MarketTools-owned DIY survey brand Zoomerang has released an upgraded version of its software, Zoomerang Enterprise, offering improved management and sharing of online surveys. More
Hi-tech entertainment research specialist OTX has formed a new research practice focusing on youth and families, and appointed Donna Sabino to lead it as Senior Vice President of Kids and Family Insights. More
Arbitron says Spanish-language broadcaster Univision Radio will not renew contracts for its Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings in San Diego, Miami and Phoenix, and will refuse to encode its signals for PPM in the three markets. More
Two UK-based brand specialists have launched a new system, 'Smash Your Brand', to help clients optimise brands at both a conscious and subconscious level. More
Advertising firm Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has announced that its Malaysian CEO Yap Chee Weng is to resign from his role to pursue personal interests outside the industry, and will be replaced by insight and analysis specialist Ranganathan Somanathan. More
South African eye tracking specialist Prompt Research Insights (PRI) has launched ADGist(TM), a measure of the effectiveness of print and billboards glimpsed very briefly. More
Harris Interactive has hired Edward Chatham for the newly created position of UK Sales and Marketing Director. More
MR services provider Precision Opinion has announced the expansion of its Las Vegas CATI center from 100 to 200 stations, citing two years of record growth. More
Pharma market research giant IMS Health has reported a 19% drop in Q2 profit to $62.9m from $77.7m a year earlier. Accordingly, the firm is planning to shed a total of 850 staff, or 11% of its global workforce. More
In the UK, information services giant Experian has updated its consumer segmentation tool Mosaic, in a move which it says reflects demographic and social changes that have occurred in British society since 2003. More
Full service firm Majestic Market Research Support Services (MMRSS) has expanded with the opening of an office in Jakarta, Indonesia. More
In the US, Robert Groves has been sworn in as the 23rd Director of the US Census Bureau, at a ceremony attended by seven of his predecessors as well as hundreds of members of the statistical community and Census Bureau employees. More
US-based online market research panel operator e-Rewards has appointed former TNS Director Mark Walton as Senior Vice President of International Operations, responsible for Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. More
US-based Invoke Solutions has upgraded its Engage Analytics platform to provide automated integration with PowerPoint, cross-tabs, and advanced filtering techniques. More
Customer behavioural data specialist Business Logic Solutions has opened a solution centre in Malaysia, in a bid to better serve mobile operators in the Asia Pacific region. More
In Canada, NAVTEQ - which provides digital map, traffic and location data - has partnered with mobile application market research firm Mob4Hire in order to tap into the latter's global community of 14,000 respondent testers in 105 countries. More
MrWeb's first detailed job and salary stats for three years show an industry interrupted in the midst of growth: client side numbers falling but salaries staying strong; struggles for SREs; and rude awakenings for Directors - but not yet ADs. More
Plans are underway to consider combining India's two rival print readership surveys - the bi-annual Indian Readership Survey (IRS) and the annual National Readership Study (NRS) - in a bid to reduce costs. More
B2B specialist Kadence International has reported a 40% climb in UK revenue to £4m during the financial year 2008-09. More
In the US, online research specialist Decipher has launched a tool allowing clients who use online 'dial testing' to view survey results in an interactive reporting environment. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has reported revenue growth of 10.4% to $86.8m in the second quarter, from $78.6m in the prior-year period. The company has also maintained its earnings outlook for 2009, while trimming its year-on-year revenue growth forecast. More
In the US, consumer specialist Perception Research Services International (PRS) and neuroscience firm EmSense have partnered to offer bio-sensory measures within quant packaging research studies. More
Nielsen has launched a web audience measurement solution in Taiwan, which offers third-party verification of Internet traffic through a combination of page tagging and visitor surveys. More
In Canada, online panel firm Vision Critical has released an online research product specifically for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. More
Canadian news and business information resource FPinfomart.ca - a division of media company Canwest Publishing - has added radio monitoring to its portfolio of sources for tracking corporate and competitive intelligence. More
In the UK, the government's marketing and communications unit the Central Office of Information (COI) has published its annual report and accounts for 2008/9, showing an increase in spending on market research of almost 30% from £22.7m to £29.4m. In four years, spend has more than doubled from £13.2m. More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell has extolled the virtues of organic growth; of helping ad budgets to follow consumers online; and of a balance between local and multinational clients, as he looks five years into the future of WPP. More
In the US, higher education marketing specialist EducationDynamics has announced a merger with NYC-based Aslanian Group, which focuses on adult student market analysis. More
Media services firm PR Newswire has announced the EMEA launch of an intelligence tool, Social Media Metrics. The tool is powered by Sentiment Metrics, a real-time analysis system and dashboard breaking down mentions of brands and companies by sentiment, demographics, influence and authority. More
Preeti Reddy will replace Tissa de Alwis at the head of the Kantar-owned Lanka Market Research Bureau (LMRB) at the end of July. More
UK-based decision-making research specialist Spring has launched 'Emotimeter', a new methodology to measure the emotional resonance of advertising campaigns using emoticons and other novel ingredients. More
Automated telephony solutions provider Plum Voice has launched a tool, Plum Survey, which allows users to design, manage and analyse surveys delivered both over the Internet and by 'phone. More
US-based full service agency Market Probe has acquired the Pharmaceutical Research Group of rival Maritz, in a bid to expand its own healthcare business. Terms were not disclosed. More
UK-based market research group Optimisa has agreed to cease trading on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market) stock exchange in London, following a vote from shareholders at its AGM earlier today. More
While UK organisations' budgets are down, b2b market research spend appears resilient, according to the findings of the B2B Barometer survey conducted recently by Circle Research. More
Having passed its ten thousandth news story in May, MrWeb registered its 10,000th jobseeker at the beginning of this month. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has compiled population estimates for cellphone-only (CPO) households down to the local market level, and says it is the first firm to do so. More
ToLuna CEO Frederic-Charles Petit has welcomed the staff of the Internet Survey Solutions (ISS) division of Greenfield Online to his firm, following the completion of its acquisition from Microsoft. More
In Germany, TNS Infratest has promoted Jens Krnger to the post of Head of Consumer & Retail, as part of its integration with Research International (RI). More
UK agency Nunwood has reported a 14.9% rise in sales for the first half of the year, compared with the same period last year. The agency's turnover increased £640k to more than £5m. More
In Canada, Omnicom-owned digital marketing agency Critical Mass has opened a new research division called Curious, which will use online communities to uncover consumer insights. More
In Canada, data collection specialist Itracks has launched an online forum where moderators can learn, discuss and generate ideas about qualitative research. More
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has outlined plans to bolster the media sector, which include the launch of a research center where media companies, universities and others will be able to collaborate on research and share findings. More
TNS Gallup has extended its contract with the Norwegian Media Businesses' Association (MBL) for Internet audience measurement in Norway. A fresh four-year period will commence in early 2010. More
Florida Attorney General (AG) Bill McCollum has filed a lawsuit against Arbitron, claiming that its Portable People Meter (PPM) methodology undercounts minority listeners. His is the fourth such case to be brought against the firm. More
In Mumbai, Nielsen has launched a specialist Business Consulting Services group, which will combine qualitative consulting with fact-based analytic-driven recommendations. The group will be led by Asitava Sen, who joined Nielsen as Director, Retail Consulting last year. More
OgilvyPR's social media and marketing practice '360 Degree Digital Influence' has launched a tool to help marketers evaluate the impact of social media across different types of advertising and communications. More
Arbitron's former SVP/Press & Investor Relations Thom Mocarsky is returning to the firm in the newly created position of VP/Investor Relations. More
US voice-of-the-customer (VOC) solutions firm Allegiance has acquired online survey software firm Inquisite. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The US Senate has approved President Obama's nomination of Dr Robert Groves as Census Director, following more than a month of objections from Republican lawmakers. More
Online qual specialist Blauw Research has announced a tool for continually assessing brand exposure and evaluating communications on Twitter; and launched a suite of research products including 'Superpromoter', a tool which identifies and assesses brand champions. More
Neuromarketing company NeuroFocus has launched a brainwave-based measurement tool to provide CPG companies and design firms with the means to measure consumer response to new package designs. More
In the US, Nielsen has launched what it describes as the industry's 'most advanced panel and platform' for measuring Internet audiences - increasing its measurement of web sites from 3,000 to more than 30,000. More
The IPA's latest Bellwether survey has found that for the second quarter in a row, the rate of decline in marketing spend has eased, with one in three companies now reporting that their financial prospects have improved compared to one in four reporting a deterioration. More
Directors at panels specialist ToLuna have given the thumbs up for the purchase of the Internet Survey Solutions (ISS) division of Greenfield Online from Microsoft. More
Media research veteran Steve Sternberg - who is currently EVP of Audience Analysis at Interpublic's (IPG) media services firm MAGNA, New York - is leaving after 27 years, to 'pursue other opportunities'. His role is to be split between colleagues. More
In the UK, market research group Optimisa has seen its shares plummet a further 15% to 8.5 pence, compared with a highest price of 229 pence in September 2007. More
Nielsen is opening new regional headquarters in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, from which it will continue to serve clients in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan. More
Hispanics in the US, especially those who are more recent arrivals, give higher ratings in product surveys than their non-Hispanic counterparts, according to a study designed by Jeffry Savitz, President of Savitz Research. More
In Germany, the TNS Infratest Group - which includes TNS Emnid - has announced that it is to shed 35 staff positions at its Bielefeld site. While 20 employees have been made redundant, 15 others have been offered jobs in the firm's Hamburg office. More
Ipsos Marketing in Poland has launched a pair of quant research tools - MARKETLandscape and BRANDStretch - for use at early stages of brand development. More
Research process outsourcing firm Pulse has rolled out the beta version of its mobile and IVR (Interactive Voice Response) research solutions, to provide a multi-mode data collection service across Asia. More
In the US, the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) has joined the Media Rating Council (MRC), in a bid to establish accurate representation of the Latino market in audience measurement. More
User experience consultancy Bunnyfoot and ad agency OgilvyOne have partnered in Hong Kong to provide a range of services to measure ad response and increase understanding and recall. More
In the UK, online research specialist Tpoll has launched a tool which analyses the build up of events that contribute to a customer's decision-making process. More
In the US, MVL Group's online research agency Carbonview Research has partnered with RelevantView to enhance its respondent quality technology and validation process. More
GfK has finalised its acquisition of French music tracking firm Ifop Music (Institut Frantais d'Opinion Publique), and taken a 25% stake in Cypriot radio/TV audience measurement company Watch Media, with an option to purchase a majority stake at a later date. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has increased the size of its online communities in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, and has also launched mobile and landline samples in Mexico and a landline sample in Brazil. More
US data collection firm SurveyHealthCare has developed a managed care database of professionals who are involved with making formulary decisions, and developing medication protocol and pharmacy programs. More
In the UK, TNS has told 'a small number of employees' in its Custom division that their jobs are at risk, and has made a more general request to employees to take a fortnight's unpaid leave during the second half of 2009, as it tries to avoid further cuts. More
UK digital marketing specialist Digital Marketing Group plc (DMG) has announced the launch of new agency DemographDMG, which it says will provide 'digital research with a human touch'. More
MENA agency Maktoob Research has launched a syndicated study, Middle East Shopping Trends, covering shoppers in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. More
UK-based digital market research specialist eDigitalResearch has rolled out a new online video vox pop tool, to enable web visitors to record their feedback about a client's product or service. More
US ratings giant Arbitron has told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it has no authority to impose regulations on its Portable People Meter (PPM) system, which replaces previously used paper diary-based methods for logging radio listening habits. More
In the UK, Ipsos MORI has opened the Research Methods Centre (RMC), billed as a hub of expertise in sampling, survey methodology and advanced data analysis. More
TV research division GfK Fernsehforschung has upgraded its tool for analysis of TV consumption in Germany, to include measurement of time-delayed, time-shifted and out-of-home TV viewing. More
UK market research and consulting group Cello has warned that gross profits are likely to be down by around 10% for the first half of the year, and says it has cut costs by around 7% to offset the effects of the economic downturn. More
In the US, consumer and retail specialist the NPD Group is now tracking consumer shopping habits, purchases and perceptions of the supermarket deli counter through its new service 'DeliTrack'. More
GfK Retail and Technology has upped its stake in its Indian joint venture (JV) with Nielsen from 40.0% to 50.1%. Previously known as ORG-GfK Marketing Services, the JV will now be re-branded as GfKNielsen India and will be included in the consolidated accounts of the GfK Group. More
From next Monday, Millward Brown IMS and Lansdowne Market Research will combine into a single company named Millward Brown Lansdowne. The new firm will be part of Millward Brown Ireland, along with Millward Brown Ulster. More
UK agency Conquest has launched a concept testing product, designed to measure gut reaction to new product ideas. More
In Germany, The Association of Online Research (AGOF - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Online-Forschung) has formed a working group which is tasked with designing a currency for measuring mobile advertising and online services. More
Hi-tech researcher OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has integrated the simulated moderator software Socrates into its AdCEP pre-testing product, which measures how emotion, message and context impact the performance of advertising. More
In the US, sample audit specialist Mktg Inc has launched an online program to validate panel consistency over time. More
WPP's insight division Kantar is to merge Lightspeed Research's online panel business with the TNS 6th Dimension network of online managed access panels. More
The UK's Advertising Standards Association has ordered consumer product manufacturer Procter & Gamble to pull a TV advert for Clairol hair dye, which makes misleading claims about the results of a survey. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now has beaten its predictions for first half revenues, growing them 24% to £23.6m (2008: £19.1m). More
UK Government stats unit the Central Office of Information (COI), has overhauled its market research roster to create a 'framework' including 108 agencies from across the UK. Half of these firms are new to the roster. More
US survey software firm Vovici has appointed Greg Stock as its new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dean Wiltse who has held the role since 2005. More
Following the merger of TNS and RI earlier in the year, the company has announced that TNS Infratest will now be known in Germany as TNS Infratest RI. More
In the UK, The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has launched a qual operation called Mimosa, which it says will address clients' needs for joined-up qual/quant thinking in the FMCG, retail and shopper insight, customer satisfaction and OTC sectors. More
Radio ratings giant Arbitron says it welcomes the chance to discuss the impact of its PPM system further with Congress, following moves this week by New York Democrat Edolphus Towns, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. More
A new online agency, Jeeran Research, has launched in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The firm is building a proprietary, diversified panel across 18 countries in the region. More
Loss-making AIM-quoted B2B research specialist IQ Holdings Plc has announced interim results for the period ended 31 March 2009. The Board says it has taken 'decisive actions... in line with bringing IQH into profitability in the shortest possible timeframe'. More
The UK's registered MR charity, the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA), is launching a 'Become a Friend' campaign at this week's Insight Show in London. The move aims to increase the number of its regular donors at a time when requests for help are growing fast. More
UK-based professional body the ICG (Independent Consultant's Group) has published 'Research in a Recession', which it describes as 'a practical guide for undertaking market research when budgets are under pressure.' More
French-based advertising company Publicis Groupe is feeling acquisitive, according to remarks made to Dow Jones Newswires at Cannes last week by CEO Maurice Levy. Market research companies may be targets. More
Contrary to claims in the Turkish press, reported in DRNO on Friday, AGB Nielsen says its own panellists have alerted it proactively to corruption issues; that it continues to enjoy good relations with awarding body TIAK; and that it is very much in the running for a tender taking place later this year. More
UK-based fieldwork specialist John Mackay has launched his own international B2B and consumer sampling agency, Mr Sample. More
Datamonitor parent Informa plc has reiterated its confidence in its current position, in a trading statement, and has won approval for a restructure based around the creation tomorrow of a new parent company, New Informa. More
Microsoft has sold the survey division of Greenfield Online to panels specialist ToLuna for a cash consideration of $40m (just over £24m). The french-based company will use a placing and subscription to raise c.£26m net for the acquisition and other investment. More
TV ratings data supplied by AGB Nielsen for the Turkish market is the subject of corruption claims. After complaints filed by the country's Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), the Television Audience Research Committee (TÝAK) has apparently said it will change the system, and the supplier. More
Online research specialist MarketTools has launched a panel of IT professionals, using its TrueSample validation technology. More
FocusVision, which provides online video transmission and analysis for qualitative market research, has launched a service to enable its clients to view respondents live as they participate in ethnography, in-home interviews, and 'shop-along' studies. More
Alec Gallup, who previously served as Co-Chairman of the Gallup Organization, has died at home of a heart ailment at the age of 81. More
US entertainment, media and technology market research firm Interpret has launched a syndicated service to provide an understanding of consumer behaviour around digital media and emerging technologies. More
In the UK, former Ipsos MORI and York Consulting executive Margaret Frazer has joined Cambridge Market Research as the Research Director of a new business unit that will focus on the development of the firm's client base in both the public and private sectors. More
In the UK, former Opinion Leader and ORC International Director Rachel Lopata has set up a new consultancy to help public sector clients engage in more effective dialogue with their communities and stakeholders. More
In the UK, online marketing services group TMN - which owns online research firms The iD Factor and ICD Research - has received shareholder approval to go ahead with its acquisition of business information provider Progressive Digital Media. More
In the UK, technology-led marketing agency Blueview has acquired Logicall Results, which offers market research, lead generation and appointment setting for the technology sector. More
Following the recent launch of Bing, Microsoft is linking up with marcoms giant WPP to conduct research which will explore the dynamics between search engine marketing and brand building. More
Library and information specialist Sue Hill Recruitment has moved formally into market research with the launch of a new business area and the appointment of Damon Thomas to lead it as Recruitment Manager. More
Digital video recorder (DVR) services provider TiVo and Internet ratings firm Quantcast have partnered to provide advertisers and media firms with an audience analysis service for evaluating the correlation between TV viewership and online activity. More
US travel services firm Morley Companies Inc is planning to open a call center in Saganaw, Michigan to provide data collection and market research, along with other outward bound services. More
In the UK, managers at Royal Mail have been accused of manipulating a mystery shopping programme being undertaken by Research International, to artificially boost the organisation's performance and generate big bonuses for themselves. More
In the UK, Phyllis Macfarlane has taken on the new role of Chairman of GfK NOP, while Richard Jameson steps up to her previous position as Managing Director, and joins the global Board of GfK Custom Research. More
US ratings giant Arbitron has launched a new suite of measurement services, designed to improve visibility into 'away-from-home' TV audiences. More
Creston, the marcoms group which owns market research firms ICM and Marketing Sciences, has reported a revenue increase of 4% to £83.8m for the year ended 31 March - 'though figures for its Insight Division were less buoyant. The firm has also appointed a new operational Executive Board. More
In the UK, Sky News has re-launched its online research group - the Sky News Panel - with a new user web site supported by an online and TV recruitment campaign to attract new members. More
London-based MR recruitment specialist Hasson Associates has announced a partnership with recently launched Asia Research Recruitment (ARR). More
In the US, online communities network Wetpaint has released what it describes as the first-ever measurement tool that gauges online engagement with popular TV programs, rather than just measuring the size of the viewing audience. More
Gross billings for the Canadian research and market intelligence industry were flat last year, according to the latest MRIA Financial Health of the Industry (FHI) Survey. During the year, revenue grew by just 0.2% from $784m in 2007. More
A member of the newly formed ethics council of the Indonesian Public Opinion Survey Association (Persepi), has called for a block on the results of opinion polls funded by political parties being released to the public. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now has launched a 'family' of mobile survey products called Momentum. The new technology offers quick polls using SMS; and online surveys using WAP, GPRS and 3G connections. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has begun tracking sales of sports apparel, athletic footwear and some equipment categories across major cities in Russia. More
Market research group Optimisa has reported a loss of £4.5m (2007: £5.5m) for 2008. The firm is also asking shareholders to vote on de-listing the company from the AIM stock exchange, to save the £100k associated admin costs. More
Nielsen has partnered with French media agency MTdiamTtrie to launch a study of French mobile phone consumer behaviour. More
In the UK, user experience consultancy User Vision has unveiled a new service to allow global clients to watch focus groups and user tests sessions carried out at its HQ, live from their own offices. More
US research revenue was up 1.6% to $8.98bn in 2008, according to the annual report by Jack Honomichl. This compares with growth of 6% in 2007. More
In the UK, the BBC is developing an audience measurement tool which will provide insight into how audiences 'pick and mix' content across a variety of viewing platforms. More
Online market research agency InSites Consulting, headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, will be opening offices in London, UK and Geneva, Switzerland in July. More
In the UK, online medical data collection agency Medefield has launched a qual service which uses video streaming to provide global access to respondents. More
Technology giant IBM has announced plans to invest $100m in a five-year program to conduct research into mobile communications. More
In India, the Media Research User's Council (MRUC) and Hansa Research have finally rolled out their Indian Outdoor Survey (IOS) in Mumbai. More
In the UK, the Daily Telegraph has revealed that millionaire Tory MP Brian Binley broke parliamentary rules by claiming around £57k in taxpayer-funded expenses to rent a flat from his own firm, BCC Marketing. More
Publisher Time Inc and media agency Starcom USA are the first to sign up for Admeasure, described by Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) as the ad industry's first-ever ad ratings for major consumer magazines. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released guidelines to establish a common methodology for measuring ads that appear in PC or console-based games. More
Nielsen has been selected by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) to provide market research services for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. More
In the US, media researcher Jay Guyther - a long-time executive at Arbitron - is joining broadcast consulting firm ROI Media Solutions (ROIMS) to expand its reach in new people meter markets. More
US TV ad measurement firm Ace Metrix has launched a service to help advertisers and agencies measure the persuasiveness and watchability of their advertising. More
US media measurement and research agency Rentrak Corporation has partnered with video and media solutions firm Concurrent to gain a 360 degree view of video and advertising consumption patterns across TV, mobile devices and the Internet. More
The UK government is embarking on a major ROI assessment of its web presence, led by the COI (Central Office of Information). Industry-owned not for profit body ABCe has been appointed to run the programme, which is billed as 'the largest project of its kind to date'. More
Two third of senior marketers (67%) are now running cross-channel campaigns, but only 12% are integrating performance data across channels, according to new research from rich media firm Eyeblaster and TNS Media Intelligence. More
Millward Brown has announced the launch of a new structure for its Europe business, merging the UK/Ireland and Continental Europe regions. Seven Directors are named for a new European Board. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has reported findings from its 'Foundations of Quality' (FoQ) project, examining the key issue of quality of online survey response. More
European agency SKOPOS has launched the m-Suite(TM), a collection of mobile-based qual and quant research tools, giving respondents simple access via their own mobile phones to surveys, interviews, diaries, video and other research features. More
The UK market research industry grew 6.22% to an estimated £2.16bn in 2008, while revenue from international research increased by 12.5%, according to the Market Research Society's (MRS) annual report on the state of the sector. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has moved to larger premises in central London, UK. The firm has also launched a new online reporting and analysis tool which enables the user to analyse data in real-time. More
In the US, online qual agency iModerate has updated its virtual focus group platform Optimum!nsight. The new platform provides a more robust survey environment and handles a variety of qual initiatives. More
In the US, medical information firm IntrinsiQ has acquired pharma and biotech market research and consulting specialist WWMR. Terms were not disclosed. More
In Australia, the subscription television (STV) industry has created an independent company to provide research and audience measurement services to its members and the broader media and marketing community. More
David Day will become Global CEO of Kantar-owned online panel specialist Lightspeed Research, following the departure of Anne Hedde, who is leaving to pursue a different role with a competitor. More
Healthcare data collection firm All Global has added to its suite of healthcare research solutions with the introduction of AllBus, a physician omnibus, and AllCheck, an on-demand feasibility check offering. More
Global MR organisation ESOMAR has launched a series of revised guidelines, to take account of recent developments in technology and increasing public concern about privacy and control of personal information. More
GfK Retail and Technology has combined information on energy consumption and sales figures of electronic appliances to create a new energy efficiency tracking product. More
In Dubai, healthcare web portal ArabMedicare.com has launched a new market research service designed to provide support services to healthcare providers, consulting firms, government agencies, and pharma and allied healthcare organisations. More
In the UK, a group of organisations led by TNS has won a contract from the Department for Transport (DfT) to deliver the first in-depth study into how public attitudes to climate change impact travel preferences. More
In the UK, new research agency EasyInsites is the latest to appoint an Advisory Board. Senior market research and food marketing executives from Europe and North America will help guide the firm's strategy and approach in the marketplace. More
Nielsen has re-organised its consumer research group into a global practice, and appointed practice expert teams across its five geographic regions. More
GfK Healthcare has added tailored reporting options to its Roper Global Diabetes Program, offering healthcare and related companies in the diabetes category access to patient data and market trends. More
US mobile and broadband software developer Openwave Systems has updated its mobile analytics platform to help carriers better understand mobile data usage, segmented by various subscriber demographics and peak usage times. More
In the US, mystery shopping evaluation firm TrendSource has acquired health care mystery shopping specialist Examine Your Practice. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, web-based research software firm Revelation has upgraded its online qualitative tool Revelation Project so that it can be used for Latin American Spanish, continental French and German projects. More
GfK-Nnrnberg e.V - GfK's non-profit market research promotion arm - is developing a process that records and analyzes human emotions via the software-based detection of facial expressions. More
Lawyers involved in a privacy violation suit against behavioral targeting company NebuAd are now claiming that the firm went into US receivership specifically in order to avoid having to pay possible damages. A new firm has been launched in the UK. More
UK-based agency Nunwood is rolling out its 'Fizz' knowledge management solution in the US later this month. The system provides clients with a single information depository for gathering, consolidating, and aggregating data from across the enterprise. More
US contact center solutions firm Envision Telephony has launched a speech analytics solution which it says simplifies the processing, search and reporting of speech data from within audio recordings. More
In the US, the Traffic Audit Bureau (TAB) has released the outdoor industry's first ratings, intended to replace the existing practice of using traffic counts to measure outdoor advertising. More
Marcoms giant WPP has sold Mediafax - its Puerto Rico-based media research agency - to Brazilian media, market and opinion research specialist IBOPE. In return, WPP has increased its shareholding in three IBOPE businesses. More
In Australia, digital audience measurement firm Effective Measure has announced plans to roll out a new visitor opt-out mechanism, which it says promises a 'new benchmark' in visitor privacy. More
The Research Pacific Group has opened a Consumer Insights studio in Tokyo and moved its Korean operation to new offices in Seoul. The firm has also created a new Language Services Unit at its HQ in Singapore. More
Reputation analysis and comms research specialist Echo Research has opened Asian headquarters in Singapore, managed by Regional Manager Michelle Allen. More
Online measurement giant comScore has announced the arrival of Media Metrix 360, a 'panel-centric hybrid' solution to digital audience measurement. More
In the US, the MRA (Marketing Research Association) has won protection for health care researchers in the state of Massachusetts, in the form of an official exemption for research from the Massachusetts Department of Health. More
In the US, the Board of Directors at radio ratings giant Arbitron has elected advertising veteran Philip Guarascio as its Non-Executive Chairman, replacing the firm's former CEO and President Stephen Morris. More
The UK Online Measurement (UKOM) company, which plans to launch a single online audience measurement currency, is in preliminary discussions with Nielsen Online to provide the data. More
In the UK, Kingston University is leading a £1.1m research project to find out if it is possible to nudge individual behaviour in a 'socially-desirable direction', simply by telling people what others are doing. More
Online panel specialist Lightspeed Research has launched a sample de-duplication platform that prevents respondents from retaking a survey from the same computer, through either multiple panels or by using multiple identities. More
Walt Disney World and Disney's cable TV sports network ESPN are building a media research lab at the company's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. More
Research outsourcing and analytics firm Dexterity has made its Columbus, OH office the US hub to service clients in North America, and moved CEO Palanivel Kuppusamy there from its Indian facilities, where he has been based for the last ten years. More
Qual and quant agency GIM Russia has outgrown its existing offices and moved to new premises in Moscow's Suschewsky Business Center, near Red Square. More
In the US, Ipsos Understanding UnLtd (IUU) - the qualitative division of Ipsos in North America - has developed a new approach to qualitative research for an online environment. More
In the US, web technology firm Autonomy Interwoven has launched a tool that automatically listens to content on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and analyzes the dialogue to understand user sentiment. More
In the US, Coca-Cola veteran Stan Sthanunathan is to lead the Online Research Quality Council (ORQC) established by the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF). He takes over from Kim Dedeker, who recently left Procter & Gamble to join Kantar. More
In the UK, a group of entrepreneurs has launched a research agency, Innovate Solutions. The founders believe observational data in increasingly important to pharmaceutical companies, as well as to patients as consumers of healthcare. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has upgraded its 2.0 platform to create an interactive environment for consumers, while offering clients greater versatility when fielding questions and analyzing response. More
In the US, pharma/biotech marcoms agency Tugboat Consulting has formed partnerships with two organizations, to enable it to provide clients with new products, including an evidence-based market research concept. More
In Germany, seven Directors and Partners at qual/quant agency Produkt + Markt have bought the firm, following the retirement of co-founder Dr Paul Pottebaum. More
Shareholders at marcoms giant WPP are opposing a scheme which could result in CEO Sir Martin Sorrell receiving up to £59.7m ($95m) worth of free shares during the next five years. More
Arbitron's company spokesman Thom Mocarsky is to leave at the end of June, after nearly 27 years with the firm. More
In Germany, BVM Chairman Wolfgang Dittrich has opened a media consulting and market research agency called d.core. More
In the US, Seattle-based Survey Analytics has been awarded a White House contract to develop a new 'open government brainstorming' web site for President Obama's administration. More
In the UK, interactive voice messaging specialist Qire has launched an automated telephone-based research solution which allows instant surveys to be carried out with large contact databases. More
Pharma and biotech specialist MattsonJack has launched a study that focuses on specific cancer tumor types in China. More
The MRA's Research Industry Index (RII), which measures the outlook of US research professionals, has seen its fifth consecutive quarterly drop, to a composite score of 84; however, CEO Larry Brownell suggests the trend may be 'bottoming out'. More
US research trade bodies CASRO and PMRG have given their support to health care MR specialists IMS Health, Inc. and Verispan LLC in their attempt to overturn a Court of Appeals ruling which would prevent them from using prescriber-identifiable data for marketing purposes. More
Call center operator and BPO specialist Datascension has announced results for the first quarter of 2009, turning a net loss into a net income, the first in its history. Revenue decline of 29.4% to $3.77m was more than matched by cost reductions. More
UK-based data integration agency Cognicient has launched a dashboard to help customers identify which survey questions have the greatest impact on their business, and weed out those questions that are unproductive and redundant. More
US broadcast and cable tracking firm Media Monitors has opened an office in London, from which it will provide radio stations, advertisers and agencies with same-day online reports. More
In the UK, MMR Research Worldwide has launched a market research service to provide manufacturers with a 360Ý view of the emotional factors that influence consumers when they make buying choices. More
India-based MR outsourcing firm Ugam Solutions has opened a new delivery center at the Coimbatore Park in Sarvanampatti, Tamil Nadu. Over the next two years, the firm plans to hire 400 staff for this new facility. More
In the UK, Speed-Trap - which monitors and evaluates web site usage - has introduced online analytics software that captures and analyses visitor interaction with non-browser-based applications that run on desktops or on mobile devices. More
In the US, social polling network Polladium.com has launched what it describes as a 'Twitter-like' interface where members can vote and express their opinions on polls ranging from politics and entertainment to sports and technology. More
In the US, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened an inquiry into claims that Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) undercounts the audiences of minority radio stations. More
Ben Page is set to become the new Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI in the UK and Ireland, replacing Mike Everett who takes on a new global role on the Group Management Board. More
In the US, behavioral targeting firm NebuAd has ceased trading, following legal problems. The firm was sued last autumn and questions asked in Congress concerning its purchase of information about web users, without their permission. More
Research software provider Confirmit has delivered double-digit organic growth during the first quarter, and won a seven-figure contract with a global retailer for its customer feedback program. More
In the UK, medeConnect Healthcare Insight - the market research division of Doctors.net.uk - has launched a qualitative MR service to complement its quant service which provides access to medical professionals. More
The Nielsen Company has agreed to acquire GfK's FMCG Retail Measurement and Consumer Panel business in Switzerland. Nielsen will take over assets related to two continuous FMCG panels: GfK's Retail Store Panel and GfK's Household Consumer Panel. More
UK-based media group Aegis has announced organic decline in revenues for the first quarter for both its main divisions. With currency and acquisition effects revenue rose 4.8% for Aegis Media and 9.6% for MR division Synovate; without them it fell 13.1% and 9.1% respectively. More
MR industry supplier companies from three countries have combined to create a global VideoDiary(TM) research panel. QualVu, EasyInsites and Cint, of Denver, Stockholm and London respectively, say the panel will give brands instant access to screened participants for qual research. More
Online panel marketplace provider Cint is opening a German office in Berlin. German CEO Michael Henrich will manage the office and will take responsibility for customer development and support in all German speaking countries, including Austria and Switzerland. More
For the first three months of the year, GfK's sales slipped 1.3% from €268.1m in Q1 2008 to €264.7m. In order to absorb further 'crisis-related losses' the firm has announced measures to reduce personnel costs including short-time work, hiring freezes, salary cuts and redundancies. More
Swedish eye tracking firm Tobii Technology has raised another $16m in investment funding, which it plans to use to roll out its existing technology into new markets as well as for developing new applications. More
Nielsen has reported revenues for the three months to the end of March down 7% to $1.1bn from $1.2bn for the same period last year. Excluding the impact of currency fluctuations however, revenues increased 1%. More
Users of Internet audience measurement are not satisfied with the metrics and information available to them, according to feedback from a new survey conducted among more than 800 executives from ad agencies, media publishers, ad networks and advertisers across the globe. More
In London, YouGovStone's MD Carole Stone is about to launch a monthly invitation-only club, where like-minded people can exchange ideas and build both business and social partnerships. Ideas generated by the StoneClub will come from, and feed back into, the firm's research. More
In the US, consumer research firm experiEmotive (EMA) has developed a research technique to uncover the specific feelings potential customers have towards a new product or corporate brand. More
Ipsos has reported global revenues down 4.6% in Q1 2009 to €207.3m compared with the same period in 2008, with negative organic growth of 5.1% and a negative currency effect of 2.3%. The firm says it has held up well in an exceptionally difficult environment. More
UK-based business intelligence specialist MDL Research Group is to go into voluntary liquidation at the end of this month, after 30 years of trading. More
In South Africa, research provider Ask Afrika has acquired the remaining 30% of TGI SA, the suppliers of media, brand and product information. More
WPP-owned healthcare data collection agency All Global has integrated the TNS JStreet panel into its online physician panel across the US and Europe, thus boosting its number of active physician participants by 50% across key specialities. More
Harris Interactive is to offer clients access to the opinions of families in Europe through a panel to be launched in the summer. More
Ipsos has rolled out its 'CATI at Home' method, which enables interviewers to conduct telephone-based research from their own homes, for use in Poland. More
Pert Survey Research has announced the acquisition of two companies, customer experience and public policy consultancy Pulsar Research and brand and strategy consulting firm Market Directions; and the changing of its corporate name to the Pert Group. More
US professional body the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has announced its official endorsement of Robert Groves, the President's nominee as Director of the U.S. Bureau of the Census. More
In the UK, 2CV has appointed Doug Edmonds, former Head of Numbers, to the position of UK MD, and Tim Blandford as Global Chief Operating Officer. More
In New York City, Joseph Craig from Nielsen Entertainment's NRGi and Gary Faber from The Weinstein Company have launched an entertainment research and marketing consulting firm. More
In the UK, out-of-home media firm Titan Outdoor has launched a new unit to bring together its strategy and insight functions, and provide audience-focused solutions for clients. More
In Dubai, Maktoob Research has rolled out a service to provide advertisers, agencies and media firms in the region with insights into the impact of their online and offline ad campaigns. More
In the UK, Synovate has appointed former GfK Director Yusuf Ramadan as Operations Director for its UK operations. More
US game testing firm Absolute Quality (AQ) has launched a real-time social media analysis tool to gauge how users of interactive entertainment feel about the products available in the marketplace. More
US qual market research firm PluggedIN has released V1.5 of its market research online community (MROC) software, with an enhanced discussion forum functionality designed to streamline the member and moderator experience. More
Simon Dannatt, CEO of UK market research group Optimisa, has stepped down from his role to focus on key consulting clients and on business in the US. He is replaced by Non-Executive Chairman Ron Littleboy, and will remain an Executive Director until the end of October. More
In Slovakia, PMT Ltd - which was founded in 2002 to implement electronic measurement of the country's TV viewing - has awarded TNS SK a five year contract to measure both analogue and digital viewing. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has appointed Robert Salvoni as UK and European Managing Director, replacing George Terhanian who took up the post of President of Global Solutions earlier this year. More
In the US, digital signage firm Stratacache has launched a new service which provides in-store/in-branch consumer traffic pattern analysis to help firms assess the best positions for their digital signs. More
Harris Interactive has reported a 30.4% fall in revenue for the third quarter of 2009; from $57.3m in 2008 to $39.9m this year. The revenue decline impacted nearly all the firm's geographic regions, including the US, where revenue was down 33% for the quarter. More
In the UK, FreshMinds Research has announced the most profitable quarter in its nine year history. For Q1 2009, revenues increased 24% to £1.08m from the same period last year, and were up 51% on those recorded in Q4 2008. EBIT increased ninefold compared with Q1 2008. More
In the UK, market research and consulting group Cello has upped its stake in youth market research and creative agency Face Group, taking its total holding to 50.7%. More
Barbara Cooke, who helped introduce media research brand TGI (Target Group Index) to South Africa, is to retire at the end of the month, after a career spanning 51 years in the research, advertising and media industries. More
Groundbreaking media researcher TRA has raised $13.5m in funding, led by ratings giant Arbitron and with participation from current investors WPP and Kodiak Venture Partners. More
Nielsen has been unable to provide overnight TV ratings for four days this week, following a server issue which went undetected and caused a data collection stoppage over the weekend. More
Harris Interactive has amended its credit agreement in a move which President and CEO Kimberly Till says will provide it with 'the financial stability and flexibility needed' as the firm continues to implement its strategic plan. More
In the US, GfK Healthcare has launched a syndicated research service offering data on physicians' brand preferences, current and anticipated prescribing practices, patient treatment algorithms and other insights across more than 30 diseases. More
Procter & Gamble veteran Kim Dedeker is joining WPP's insight and consultancy division Kantar in a new role as Chair, Americas, where she will focus on the group's global research quality initiatives. More
US opinion research and strategic advice firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (GQRR) has opened an office in Buenos Aires, Argentina. More
UK marketing services group Chime Communications is enjoying a strong first quarter with operating income up 13% from the same period last year, pre-tax profits 18% higher than 2008 at £4.8m, and operating profit margin rising 17.2%. More
In South Africa, Havas Sports and Entertainment and eye tracking firm Prompt Research Insights have developed a tool to assess whether brands are looked at and registered by TV viewers during sports broadcasting. More
Online customer satisfaction metrics agency ForeSee Results has launched a tool that records what web site visitors are seeing and doing online in a real-time movie format. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released 'Social Media Ad Metrics Definitions' to provide consistency in the terms used to measure social activity. More
In the US, technology-driven market research firm Invoke Solutions has launched a 'fully fused' omnibus, offering a real-time blend of qual and quant approaches, which will enable clients to view results while the survey is still in field. More
Marcoms giant WPP, which eliminated 3,600 positions in Q1, is planning to make 6% of its global workforce redundant resulting in the loss of 7,200 posts in all this year. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now is predicting first half revenues will rise 23% to £23.5m (2008: £19.1m), ahead of its interim results which are due out on Wednesday 1 July 2009. More
Nearly a third (31%) of marketers say they have decreased their use of market research as a result of the recession, compared with 14% who have upped their investment in this area, according to an online survey conducted by B2B International. A number of positive trends also emerge. More
In the US, Ipsos ASI - which offers advertising pre-testing services - has launched a research solution to help marketers refine and optimize the creative content of their advertising. More
In the US, Nielsen is facing a lawsuit brought by Sunbeam Television Corporation, over claims that the ratings firm is understating the broadcaster's TV audiences. More
US translation and transcription technology firm Language Logic has appointed Dean Kotchka as President and CEO. He succeeds Richard Thoman, who takes up the post of Chairman of the Operating Committee. More
In the US, Owners Research Group (ORG) has launched a research platform through which shareholders can voice their opinions and priorities on issues impacting firms they invest in. More
Ipsos' shareholders have approved the appointment of five new Board Directors, including Pierre Le Manh who is Global CEO of Ipsos Marketing and Chairman of the CEEA and MENA regions. More
Call center outsourcing firm Telus International Philippines (formerly Ambergris Solutions) has reported 2008 net income of P600.52m (£8.4m), up from P431.37m (£6.0m) last year. The firm has also opened a fourth call center in the Philippines, employing 900 staff. More
In the US, CRM outsourcing firm ICT Group has seen a drop in revenue to $96.1m in Q1, from $108.7m for the same period last year. More
In the UK, full service agency Opinium Research has joined forces with IFA Promotion (IFAP) to launch an online research panel of independent financial advisors (IFAs). A consumer survey run in tandem will allow comparison of the views of the two groups. More
US firm TodobebT, which runs a portal and social networking site for Spanish-speaking parents, is to offer access to proprietary research conducted through its panel of Hispanic Moms. More
In the US, customer behavior analytics specialist Quantivo has extended its service to include the analysis of multiple customer events that lead to online purchases, web registrations, ad clicks, up-sells and more. More
In Dubai, market research consultant Dipen Mehta has launched Unboxed Consulting, to provide specialised research services for clients in the region. More
TNS Travel & Tourism is planning a May launch for 'the world's first activities-based research panel', which promises to help clients reach groups based on their participation in niche sports and leisure activities. More
Online research firm YouGov has launched a new study to provide insight into the mobile phone purchasing experience from a customer perspective. More
UK marcoms giant WPP has reported a 5.8% fall in Q1 revenues, excluding the impact of acquisitions and currency fluctuations. The firm says this reflects a cut in client spending in reaction to the global financial and economic crisis. More
In the UK, market research agency Ci Research has been bought by its management, led by MD Ian Font and fellow investors Colin Auton, Andy Wright, Richard Walker and Katie Waterhouse. More
Nielsen is about to begin a test to measure the Internet usage of some of the members of its national TV ratings sample. If the pilot is successful, it will consider expanding the sample to include online viewing in its TV currency. More
US market research data collection agency MRops has expanded into Europe with the opening of an office in London. More
US-based online audience measurement firm Hitwise plans to measure the Internet activity of 100,000 Canadian users from all provinces and territories. More
In the US, toy manufacturer Mattel and brainwave reading technology firm NeuroSky have partnered to develop a new category of games and toys that operate using the power of concentration. More
GfK Healthcare has announced the launch of FlashPoints(TM), a custom quantitative mini-study focused on delivering topline information on physicians' perceptions and behavior, with survey results delivered in just one week. More
In the UK, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Communication (APPGC) has launched an investigation into developing areas of Internet practice including behavioural targeting and online privacy. The BBC and AT&T have also been in the news for behavioural targeting activity. More
In the UK, the Central Office of Information (COI) has followed up last week's announcement of a roster or 'framework' for Strategic Consultancy projects with the launch of a similar setup for regional marketing agencies. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has formed a new industry solutions committee tasked with increasing transparency and improving understanding of online research quality issues. More
In the US, Edison Research, which is best known for its national election exit polls, is to extend its services to the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, through a partnership with local firm Victory Communications. More
In the UK, Leeds-based agency Quaestor has launched a toolkit to enable clients to interact more directly with their audiences. More
US pharma research giant IMS Health has seen total first quarter revenue fall 8% to $526.9m from $574.2m as the strong dollar impacts on overseas sales. Nevertheless, the quarter saw a sharp rise in net income. More
In Canada, Ipsos Reid has launched an online panel of 3,000 ethnic and new Canadians, to provide information about this growing segment of the population. More
Research suppliers may see declines in 2009 revenue as more clients prepare to take a proportion of their online research in-house, predicts an industry survey conducted earlier in the year. More
Switzerland is the first country to go live with GfK's new fashion Total Store Report (TSR), which provides retailers and manufacturers with information on the fashion retail markets. More
In the US, mobile analytics firm Bango has updated its service to enable mobile site owners to track unique visitors in real time; whether a mobile user connects via operator gateway, WiFi or home broadband. More
In Japan, advertising effectiveness analysis firm d-worx has released an updated version of its web analytics product wellout, to measure user traffic originating from smartphones such as the Blackberry and iPhone. More
Global market research and analytics services firm Cross-Tab has opened Borderless Access; a subsidiary providing online consumer panels in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). More
Former market researcher and specialist MR recruiter Fiona Warren has launched Snapdragon Research Recruitment, a new consultancy focusing on social and market research roles, both client and agency side. More
Former Ipsos and NPD executives Jean Davis and Tessie Ting have started Conversition Strategies, a new research firm focused on social media and with bases in the US and Canada. The company's first key offering is brand rating web site MatterMeter, due for launch this weekend. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has announced a 24.1% drop in net income to $12.3m for the quarter, compared with $16.3m for the first quarter of 2008, despite a revenue rise of almost 5%. More
The BBC is cutting £20m from the budget of its £100m Marketing, Communications and Audiences (MC&A) division, according to reports in the Guardian newspaper. More
In the US, online DIY survey tools firm SurveyMonkey has received a major round of funding from a group of investors who have acquired a majority interest in the company. As part of the transaction, Dave Goldberg will become CEO. More
Global b2b research agency Kadence has appointed Jo-Ann Foo as Associate Director, to head up its Malaysian insight team based in Kuala Lumpur, and capitalise on the business links between Malaysia and her home country of Australia. More
In the UK, Ameya Marketing Solutions has launched a range of services to help companies conduct market research, identify sales leads and retain customers. More
In the UK, public sector body The Central Office of Information (COI) has launched a new roster and 'framework' to support the work of its Strategic Consultancy division, in response to a significant increase in demand for stakeholder research and public consultation projects. More
Full service agency InterfaceASIA has announced the launch of new online panels in India, Taiwan and Hong Kong. More
Arbitron has appointed Taher G. Behbehani to the newly-created position of EVP, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer, reporting to President and CEO Michael Skarzynski. More
UK-based agency 2CV is launching an experiential marketing evaluation division, 2CV: EXP, in a partnership with Phoenix Research. More
Stephen Hughes, formerly EU Commercial Director for CfMC, has joined recently launched Cint UK as Sales Director. More
EFAMRO, the international federation of MR associations, has announced a new strategy, to be implemented by a new executive board. The move recognises the 'urgent' need for more professionalisation, and for a more pro-active stance on European legislation. More
Record numbers of first-timers booked for a research conference? It doesn't sound like 2009. But BIG, the UK's b2b research association, says a more open, debate-oriented style and a strong client-side presence are two of the factors bringing in the new faces as it gears up for its annual get-together. More
New Zealand's Unite union has published the Memorandum of Understanding it agreed with Synovate earlier in the week. This includes the terms relating to pay rises for call centre workers which were interpreted in different fashions by the two parties yesterday. More
Research process outsourcing (RPO) firm Pulse Group plc has opened its second facility in Malaysia, expanding its CATI capacity by 45 seats; and has announced that it will be embarking on the ISO certification of its operational centres. More
Neuromarketing company NeuroFocus has named Dr. Michael Smith, previously President of CorTech Labs, as a Partner in its Consulting Practice. More
Canadian-based Mob4Hire, which offers crowd sourced mobile application testing and market research, is targeting growth across the Atlantic with the appointment of Chantelle Hyde-Lewis as Director, Business Development, UK & EMEA. More
In New Zealand, Synovate has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the union Unite which ends the lockout of workers. The company says the MOU establishes a working party which has six weeks from 14th April to reach a deal over a performance pay scheme for interviewing staff. More
Panel firm ToLuna Plc has reported results for the year ended 31 December 2008, another year of strong growth with revenue up 74% to £21.7m (35% excluding the effect of acquisitions), and profit before tax up 48% to £4.7m. More
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone has confirmed that his firm has no official links with Twitter Partners, a newly launched London-based agency which allows clients to receive feedback on their brands and products by monitoring the microblogging leader. More
More than 30 call centre workers at Synovate in Auckland, NZ, were notified by text on Good Friday that they were locked out of the office, after turning down a pay increase of 20 cents per hour. More
US-based POPAI, the global association for 'marketing at retail', is launching what it claims will be the largest syndicated qualitative study on shopper engagement in the world. The retail-level research will be used to develop a metric to gauge in-store merchandising effectiveness. More
In the UK, B2B research specialist IQ Holdings has announced a net loss of £440k for the year ended 30 September 2008, with its liabilities exceeding its assets by £677k. In a statement, the firm says this casts doubt on its ability to continue as a going concern. More
UK online performance researcher eDigitalResearch has opened a new London office, managed by Head of Business Development Dominic Bean. More
Harris Interactive has launched a new methodology to enable children and teenagers to participate in the co-creation of new products and services. More
Traffic analysis firm WebTrends has partnered with social media monitoring analysis service Radian6, to help clients marry their onsite customer data with deeper insights into brand conversations and trends in social media. More
In the UK, online research agency YouGov has launched a study to track the attitudes and behaviours of affluent and high net worth individuals towards finance, media and general expenditure. More
Hi-tech researcher OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has launched a new business intelligence tool and tracking service which aggregates consumer data on hundreds of games on a weekly basis, and forecasts future consumer behaviour around each title. More
TNS has beaten IPSOS, Gallup and Synovate in a pitch to win what it describes as 'one of the largest market research contracts ever commissioned' - a four year €65m EU project to provide a measure of public opinion in Europe. More
MR software giant SPSS has created a new and distinct brand for its predictive analytics products, PASW (Predictive Analytics Software). More
In the US, the MRA (Marketing Research Association) has urged all researchers to sign a petition to fight new regulations which require the public reporting of payments to respondents involved in research conducted by pharma firms and medical device manufacturers. More
President Barack Obama has nominated University of Michigan professor Robert M. Groves to serve as Director for the 2010 Census. Prof Groves has strong survey credentials and experience, but the choice has already provoked alarm among Republicans, as has talk of the incumbent 'working closely' with the Whitehouse. More
In the UK, online agency Fly Research has bought Q Research, which specialises in using the mobile phone to conduct large scale MR with young people. Through the acquisition, the firm plans to develop the UK's first nationally representative mobile panel. More
Rumours that up to 50% of YouGov's UK staff are to be made redundant have been strongly denied by UK CEO Tim Britton. Britton says a review announced this week is intended to 'cut the firm's cloth' to match current conditions and will probably mean 'a small number' of job cuts. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has begun cellphone-only household sampling in an initial 151 diary markets for its Spring 2009 radio survey. More than a third of a million households have already been contacted to build the address-based sample. More
In the US, marketing and public opinion agency PERT Survey Research has launched a product analysis and modeling tool (PRIMO Analysis) that identifies those product design areas most likely to increase product ratings and purchase intent scores. More
Dubai-based healthcare industry specialist '42 market research' has extended its coverage by offering services in Brazil and Mexico. More
The field operations division of Market Probe India has been spun off as a separate unit called MP Global Link India. The company will offer fieldwork solutions for market research companies, consultancies and corporate clients. More
In the UK, Bob Douglas has been promoted from Head of Synovate Healthcare's global custom business to overall Global Head of Synovate Healthcare. More
In the US, research supplier PeopleMetrics has opened a stand-alone subsidiary called Feedback Partners, to provide online research bureau services for tracking studies and focus groups. More
Mayfair, London-based recruitment consultancy Prime Insight is adding a specific Market Research arm to its established Analytics recruitment business; and has recruited Matt Terry to lead the launch. More
In the US, Lightspeed Research has appointed T.Mitchell McCauley as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), replacing Chris Urinyi who became CEO of Lightspeed Research Americas business last November. More
Harris Interactive has announced that up to 30 UK jobs could go, as part of its plans to streamline the business. Meanwhile, continuing its US restructure, the firm has appointed former TNS Chief Information Officer Enzo Micali as Global EVP of Technology and Operations. More
GfK has reported an increase in income of €58.4m to €1,220.4m for the year 2008, reflecting organic growth of 5.5%. More
Radio ratings giant Arbitron has appointed Alton Adams as EVP, Chief Marketing Officer and Dr Robert Henrick as EVP, Customer Solutions, as part of its previously announced shake-up, designed to facilitate effective decision-making. More
Swedish eye tracking firm Tobii Technology has launched a new high definition widescreen eye tracker. The tool promises market researchers, usability professionals and scientific researchers the ability to conduct widescreen eye tracking using large stimuli. More
infoGROUP Inc. has entered into an agreement to sell social research specialist Macro International Inc. to ICF International for $155 million in cash. Macro was acquired with ORC in December 2006 but is not considered to be 'a strategic fit' with the Group's other business. More
In London, former Research Now Director Charles Pearson has today announced the launch of a new research agency, EasyInsites, focusing on custom panel solutions and using technology from Cint AB. Research Now's former Client Development Director Jo Winning joins him in the venture. More
In Auckland, New Zealand, the Unite union says it has reached a settlement with the Oceania Customer Interaction Service (OCIS) over staff conditions, following emergency talks on Saturday morning. More
Software and panels firm GMI has announced 'the GMI X vision', a series of enhancements to its sampling and quality technologies, aimed at delivering 'the right information from the right people at the right time'. More
GfK Custom Research North America is partnering with The Hartman Group to launch a new study, Future Buy: The New Shopper Value Paradigm, which aims to find opportunities for companies looking to connect with shoppers in a changing retail marketplace. More
In New Zealand, 59 call centre staff at Oceania Customer Interaction Service (OCIS) have been locked out by their employer, after going on strike in protest over wages. More
Nielsen has reported 2008 revenues up 4.5% on a constant currency basis to $5bn, despite a climate which CFO Brian West predicts 'won't get any better, any time soon'. More
'An anthropologist, a zoologist and an economist all went to the UK Research Society's annual conference...' It's not the beginning of a joke, but the basis for a fascinating session on Wednesday watched by MrWeb's special correspondent Phyllis Vangelder. More
In the US, bio-sensor equipment firm NeuroSky has launched brainwave-reading (EEG) and mental state assessment technology for a wireless Bluetooth headset that operates with most PCs. More
US firm Knowledge Networks (KN) has integrated address-based sampling (ABS) into the recruitment process for its custom research panel KnowledgePanel, in order to increase its representation of cellphone-only households, Hispanics and other groups. More
In Which our special correspondent Phyllis Vangelder reports on a session about the need for researchers to tell stories (but not make them up, of course); an old-fashioned medium makes a timely reappearance and wins a prize; and some general remarks are made on 'Research 2009'. More
In the US, employee-owned market research agency Thoroughbred Research Group has opened a new operations and call center in Paducah, Kentucky. The firm has also launched a family of online research products. More
Marcoms giant WPP is preparing to make thousands of staff redundant this year, in response to declining revenues and its £1.1bn debt-financed acquisition of TNS. Credit agencies S&P and Moody have downgraded the firm's rating from stable to negative. More
In the US, lobbying by the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has helped quash proposed legislation in Maryland, Rhode Island and Mississippi that would have required public reporting or banning of survey research incentives for healthcare practitioners. More
US-based NeuroFocus has introduced a suite of brainwave-based tools to enhance video game development and players' enjoyment. The firm estimates the tools can shave years off the game development timeline, and many millions in costs. More
US-based WB&A Market Research has announced it is bucking the trend for call center closure, by setting up additional telephone interviewing stations at its Ithaca, NY center. The firm plans to add 25 more part-time workers to its team of 60. More
In the US, radio ratings giant Arbitron has announced redundancies for around 110 of its 1,086 full-time employees, along with a program of cost-cutting in non-employee related areas. More
Given a choice of good venues for their Tuesday evening eating and drinking, delegates could be forgiven for missing the start the next morning (we did). Could the mid-morning panel session on 'Opportunities and Threats' for MR wake them up with its promise of being 'live, revealing and controversial'? More
The afternoon's online research session explored a number of areas around the theme, generally running over familiar ground. The exception was a paper on the use of ethnography to create connections between emerging trends in both the real and online worlds. More
Ipsos has announced a deal with Thomson Reuters to provide 'regular intelligent information about behaviours, attitudes and opinions of consumers and citizens', based on regular multi-country polling on a wide-range of topics. More
Research 2009, the MRS' flagship event in London, is billed by its organisers as the 'Glastonbury of the market research world'. But will it live long in the memory or sink deep in the mud? Scientist and presenter Prof Robert Winston set the ball rolling today, watched by DRNO News Editor Mel Crowther. More
Australia's print audit body the ABA is to launch a web traffic measurement service for its member publishers, on 1st May, with the first data a month later. Participating members will have their site traffic data compiled through Nielsen Online's Market Intelligence tool. More
In Canada, Ipsos Reid has announced a deal with Tell Us About Us Inc. (TUAU) to better serve clients in the retail, restaurant, service and hospitality sectors. The deal adds TUAU's data collection and reporting engine the OnlineKMC(TM) to Ipsos' consulting expertise. More
Appropriately, given reports today* that the UK government is to replace P&G as the country's largest advertiser, and their research spend is also up, public sector clients are among the few in evidence at the MRS Conference. Hence a topical session on communicating with - and getting the truth from - the public. More
In the afternoon, Nick Southgate from ad agency Grey London introduced a session on 'Research and Advertising Media in the 21st Century', including papers on the impact of in-game advertising, and a comparison of consumer engagement for ads on sites such as YouTube and those on TV. More
Not everything at 'Research 2009' was planned and finalised before this rather irritating downturn came along, it seems (see the keynote write-up). The Conference dared to utter the other R word this afternoon, with a look at possible winners and losers. More
The UK's MR charity MRBA reports 'a marked increase in the number of worthy cases' as it begins its annual Online Auction to raise money for researchers and ex-researchers in difficulties. More
TNS has announced further changes to its senior management team, following its recent merger with Research International. The latest appointments cover global roles, North America and Europe. More
Cello Group has announced a new board for its Cello Research division, with Vincent Nolan, founder of its subsidiary 2CV, as Chairman, and Jane Shirley as CEO. More
In San Francisco, Facebook-funded Kontagent has launched the private beta version of its Social Analytics Platform, claimed as the first to offer analytics and viral optimization tools for iPhone and web applications with Facebook Connect support. More
After a number of contract wins, UK-based agency 2CV is launching a new centralised tracking division for long-term monitoring of consumer attitudes and behaviours. More
Online video research solutions provider QualVu has teamed up with Knowledge Networks (KN) to deliver its qual research technology VideoSurvey(TM) as part of KN's KnowledgePanel® quant surveys. More
TNS has appointed a new Regional Operating Board for the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa (ALM) region, led by former TNS Regional MD Jamie Hall, who assumes overall responsibility for the region as ALM CEO. More
Polling firm Ipsos Reid is to close its call center in Ottawa, Canada in June, citing client demands for cheaper research. Around 40 full and part-time staff will lose their jobs. More
After more than 14 years with UK public sector specialist Andrew Irving Associates (AIA), Nicky Spicer has been promoted to the position of Managing Director. More
Booked revenue and RFPs/proposals at US market research firms have decreased this quarter, according to the latest feedback from the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII). More
Europe-based agency SKOPOS has designed a trio of online and qual and quant tools to evaluate new and traditional media. More
Survey software firm Vovici has launched a customer satisfaction and loyalty research package, designed to offer users dramatic increases in customer engagement by increasing the reliability and validity of customer data. More
British marcoms group Aegis - which owns market research firm Synovate - has announced plans to cut around 780 jobs across its global operations as part of a cost-saving plan to beat the downturn. Meanwhile CEO John Napier denied reports he has held merger talks with competitor Havas. More
In response to what it describes as 'shifting trends in market research', Kantar Operations will be shutting a telephone centre in Warwick, UK, in June. Local reports say that up to 137 people could lose their jobs as a result of the closure. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has launched a consumer tracking service for the US housewares market, to provide insights into purchase behaviours and preferences for the cooking, baking and tabletop categories. More
In the US, brand loyalty specialist The Cult Branding Company has launched a model designed to uncover the motivations behind the purchase behavior of a business's best customers. More
Ipsos has posted organic growth of 7.8% and operating margin up 8.2% for 2008, despite a financial crisis which it describes as 'unprecedented in its scale since the modern economy took shape'. More
In the UAE (United Arab Emirates), broadcaster Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) has announced it will fund and lead the introduction of People Meters to measure numbers of TV viewers in the region. More
Ipsos has acquired Punto de Vista, described as the leading company in Chile for customer satisfaction research and quality measurement. More
Eleven universities are to receive funds from the initial round of WPP and Google three-year Marketing Research Awards Program. The money will enable them to conduct studies into how online media influences consumer behavior, attitudes and decision making. More
Speech analytics software provider CallMiner has secured millions of dollars in venture capital, which it says it will use to grow its market share in the speech analytics industry. More
UK-based specialist business-to-business market research agency B2B International has recorded its twelfth consecutive year of growth, reporting an annual turnover of £3.3m ($4.7m) in 2008 which it attributes to its expansion in the US and Chinese markets. More
French media research agency MTdiamTtrie has teamed up with software developer Jungo to create a solution for collecting data relating to the user habits and preferences of those living in 'digital households'. More
The Research and Consulting arm of UK-based Cello has delivered a headline operating profit of £6.1m (2007: £6.2m) for the year to 31 December 2008, from operating income of £39.1m (2007: £32.m) and revenue of £66.4m, up 30% on the year. The group describes this as a 'good year' given the economic context. More
Synovate has announced an agreement with Canadian software provider Vision Critical, to power its online community panels around the globe. More
Spoken word radio stations tend to post higher audience figures with Arbitron's PPM measurement than they used to with diaries, according to data from Coleman Insights, a company specializing in studies of the PPM. More
Recently opened research division Pitney Bowes Business Insight has announced the PSYTE HD, a new geodemographic segmentation system for Canada, giving household level data on purchasing behavior, attitudes and preferences. More
Harris Interactive has made a further 90 staff redundant - 16% of its US full-time workforce - in a bid to make $10m in cost savings. The firm saved $9.5m through headcount reduction in October and December last year. More
In the US, ratings giant Arbitron has met with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Acting Chairman Michael Copps in an attempt to head off an investigation into claims that its Portable People Meter (PPM) measurement device undercounts minority radio station audiences. More
Mobile marketing campaign specialist iLoop Mobile has unveiled a new service to assist industry marketers with campaign strategy. More
US-headquartered neuromarketing research agency NeuroFocus has acquired brainwave measurement specialist Neuroco in the UK, as part of its strategy to expand into Europe. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, healthcare agency All Global has introduced an online data collection service that allows researchers to test concepts with physicians across a variety of speciality segments. More
London-based market research agency MM-Eye has appointed three former Simpson Carpenter executives: Damien Field as Automotive Research Director, Deborah Fitzpatrick as Services Director, and Alison Phillips as Research Director. More
In the US, Millward Brown-owned digital ad effectiveness specialist Dynamic Logic and online data collection firm Safecount have partnered to provide an overview of the brand impact of ads running on publishers' sites. More
In the US, market research provider ZeeProbe has launched an online focus group service offering real-time, frame-by-frame video testing. More
Google is to launch a new behavioral targeting system which will deliver ads based on the sites people visit, not just the searches they make or the site on which the ad appears. In a beta test of the new service, Google will show ads on YouTube and on its partners' sites. More
UK marcoms group Chime Communications has seen a continued decline in the performance of its research division, with operating profits dropping by 73% to £400,000, and operating income falling from £7.7m to £7.0m. Results in other divisions carried the group to healthy revenue and profit growth. More
European panels firm Toluna has partnered with technical solutions provider nurago to launch a service which enables advertisers, planners and media buyers to analyse the response of more than half a million of Toluna's panel members to campaigns in six European countries. More
UK information systems provider COA Solutions has launched an employee engagement tool to help HR professionals monitor and analyse data to aid their strategy in areas such as absenteeism and staff retention. More
In the US, The Spanish Radio Association (SRA) and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) have expressed their 'disappointment and frustration' with Arbitron's recent promises to upgrade its PPM sampling methodology. More
In the US, Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has promoted Robin Lake to the post of Vice President of Research, in charge of all research and related analysis for the group. More
In the UK, social media research consultancy Trendstream has launched a bi-annual web usage study to provide a global view of web trends and the impact and growth of social media. Fieldwork will be conducted by Lightspeed Research. More
US strategic consultancy Brand Counsel has launched a new assessment tool to help companies evaluate the value and relevancy of their corporate and product branding strategies. More
Arbitron is moving its corporate headquarters from New York City to Columbia, Maryland, where its research and engineering operations are already based. The NYC location will continue as a sales office. President and CEO Michael Skarzynski says he wants 'to live and work where the operational core of the business resides'. More
UK-based agency 2CV, part of Cello Group, has announced the opening of an office in San Francisco. The office is its first in North America and the beginning of an international expansion plan. More
Market strategist Barry Fischer is leaving Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting unit after twelve years, prompting a reorganisation of the group's research, marketing and media buying organization. More
Market research online community specialists PluggedIN have launched a proprietary platform for use by MR and consulting firms looking to launch private online communities for their clients. More
Canada's Do Not Call list (DNC) is for the most part working well, according to the latest VoxPop survey by the country's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA). Eight in ten of those registering a number with the service say they now receive fewer telemarketing calls. More
US research software firm Vovici and high-profile London-based start-up Verve have announced a strategic partnership to provide fully serviced customer communities and advisory panels for corporate clients in Europe. More
WPP has reported healthy results for the full year 2008. Like-for-like revenue growth of 2.7% came from a combination of a strong first half and slower second half. Insight division Kantar provided 17.1% of all WPP revenue and 12.8% of operating profit. More
Lightspeed Research has announced three more additions to its Wimbledon, UK team this month. Angela Bonora joins as a Project Manager, Puja Myne as Sales Coordinator and Matthew Seabrook as a Client Operations Manager. More
Rita Clifton, Chairman of Interbrand, is to take over from Jeremy Bullmore as President of the UK's Market Research Society (MRS), when he completes his five-year term in April. More
In the US, TACODA and Real Media founder Dave Morgan is launching Simulmedia, a firm promising to help television companies improve the effectiveness of their advertising spots, using sophisticated data analysis and predictive technology. More
Global agency GfK has announced that it has increased its share in UK agriculture and animal health research specialist dmrkynetec by 49% to 75%. More
Brainwave measurement technology firm EmSense Corporation has hired Mark Mallardi as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. More
Research and marketing job losses at ITV appear a strong possibility as the UK broadcasting group cuts 600 staff in response to 'unprecedented conditions' in the sector. More
Saskatoon, Canada-based online data collection specialist Itracks has sold its call center to market research firm Advanis. The two companies have also formed a partnership that will allow Itracks access to a network of over 250 call stations. More
Consumer strategist, author, and InsightFarm Principal Kelley Styring has teamed up with MR firm C&R Research to offer the InsightFarm Innovation HotHouse, billed as a more cost-effective method for marketers to determine the potential success of their latest innovations. More
Radio ratings giant Arbitron has confirmed that it will be extending methodological enhancements from New Jersey, New York and Maryland to all PPM markets. The firm has also announced a new multi-year deal for diary-based ratings, and discussed revenue changes in a 10-K filing. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) is launching a US Small Business Owner Omnibus, the first of several b2b omnibuses planned based on its proprietary OpinionWorld Business Community. The firm has also issued an industry-wide call to action with its Respondent Preservation Initiative. More
Swedish firm Tobii Technology has introduced what it describes as 'the world's first off-the-shelf eye tracking system for integration', at the CeBIT expo in Hanover this week. More
In New Mexico, USA, lobbying by research association MRA has helped to defeat a bill in the State Senate which the association says 'would have crippled research with physicians'. More
Brand research specialist Evo has closed its UK office, and eight of its personnel including three directors have moved to Clerkenwell, London-based Prescient, part of Loewy Group. More
In the US, pharma specialist Cutting Edge Information has launched a customized survey offering, adding to its existing proprietary databases of market data, industry executives and physicians. More
Shares in AIM-listed market research group Optimisa jumped by around 80% to 45p by 5pm today, following the purchase of a 17% stake last Thursday by Norwegian group Gimle Finans AS. More
In the UK, Ci Research has launched a new financial services team, consisting of four individuals and headed by Director Colin Auton. More
India-based MR support and data management company Annik has continued its US expansion with the appointment of Steve Tucholski as North America Vice President and Principal Consultant. More
Online feedback and panel management supplier Globalpark has appointed former SPSS exec Kelly Anson as Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. More
Millward Brown has acquired Copenhagen-based qual agency Alsted Research for an undisclosed sum. More
In Australia, the Outdoor Media Association (OMA) is testing a new audience measurement system called MOVE, which calculates people's 'likelihood-to-see' an outdoor ad campaign (LTS), rather than counting all potential viewers who pass by. More
More than half (57%) of the respondents questioned in Confirmit's annual market research software survey cite declining response rates as one of the three major challenges facing the industry. A quarter (25%) say it is the most important challenge for technology to address. More
LA-based marketing sciences firm MarketShare Partners (MSP) has received funding from Elevation Partners, whose MD and co-founder is Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2. The investment figure was not disclosed. More
According to preliminary figures, GfK has achieved organic revenue growth of 5.5% to €1,220m for the financial year 2008. The firm has also implemented a new efficiency programme which it says should save €30m between now and 2012. More
Revenues at sample provider Peanut Labs grew by 300% in 2007, which according to the firm, makes it the 'fastest growing sample source in North America'. The company has also launched a new platform to deliver surveys to respondents within social networks. More
Specialist MR recruiter Elizabeth Norman International (ENI) has promoted Emy Rumble-Mettle to MD of its UK operation, and has announced a partnership with US-based Morgan Search International, as it expands its international presence. More
Digital video recorder (DVR) provider TiVo has added 17 more cable networks to the roster of broadcast and cable channels for its Stop||Watch ratings service. The firm now tracks ratings for 93 networks across the US. More
In the US, marketers Albert Gadbut and Tim Daly have set up a permission-based behavioral targeting solutions firm, ClearSight Interactive, to provide services which evaluate consumer online behavior and connect it with offline profile data. More
In California, Alliant International University has opened an on-campus laboratory to conduct product testing for new research service Sample U. Consumers are invited to sample products and groceries in exchange for their feedback, and leave the laboratory with a bag of free goods. More
UK b2b research specialist IQ has closed its telephone and online data collection firm The Wire, just three weeks after acquiring it from global agency Illuminas. More
Following a review of its operations, Arbitron has eliminated Owen Charlebois' role as President, Technology, Research and Development. The media research veteran will leave the firm on 22 March. More
US public opinion polling firm Gallup is opening an office in Nairobi, Kenya to focus on media, market and social research. More
In New Zealand, up to 20 market researchers at Synovate's east Auckland call centre will begin a 24-hour hunger strike today in protest at what they describe as 'poverty wages, inadequate breaks and no job security'. More
GfK has acquired Nielsen's C.L.E.A.R. contact lens tracking service in the United States. Terms were not disclosed. More
Australian marcoms group Photon, which owns MR firms The Leading Edge and Jigsaw Strategic Research, has made 5% of its staff redundant - a total of 129 jobs of which 17 are in its research arm. More
US market research data collection agency MRops has opened a division to help clients build and manage online communities, and appointed Jeff Berg as Head of the new practice. More
In the US, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has barred Dr Gilbert Burnham from heading 'research involving human subjects' for five years, saying that he put survey participants at risk during his controversial research into civilian deaths in Iraq. More
The Kantar Group is streamlining its businesses after buying TNS. The TNS Custom business will merge with Research International and will be generally known as TNS. A new social research force for the UK is established in TNS-BMRB, while Kantar has four new vertical sector operating units: Media, Health, Retail and Worldpanel. More
YouGov executives have considered taking the company private following its share price tumble this month, according to private equity sources quoted in the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper. More
Tesco's pre-launch market research for its US 'Fresh & Easy' stores missed vital clues about purchasing decisions Stateside, its boss has told UK paper The Sunday Times. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released the final version of its Audience Reach Measurement Guidelines, which aim to provide clear, consistent definitions of key metrics and create a single standard for measuring web audience sizes. More
US data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has launched an online patient health and wellness community, built and managed by partner firm Inspire; and has promoted Amber Leila Jones to the position of Executive Vice President to lead the initiative. More
Most web surfers are not happy with having information collected about them in order for advertisers to provide them with more tailored ads, even where the info is not personally identifiable, according to study results from ad technology firm Burst Media. More
In the UK, Kantar-owned brand and insight agency Added Value has transferred Paul McGowan to its newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer, to lead an investment programme across its network of international offices. More
In India, knowledge services firm Boston Analytics has partnered with financial news channel CNBC-TV18 to re-launch its monthly barometer of Indian consumer opinion and consumption. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has helped fend off attempts to cut budget for the decennial census, by convincing the US Congress to provide $1bn census funding as part of its economic stimulus package. More
In the US, movie community platform Flicketz and research agency OTX have partnered to launch a movie ranking system which combines the influence of critics' reviews with word-of-mouth audience feedback. More
Marketing research agency Data Development Worldwide (DDW) has increased the size of its online 'Know More' panel to provide access to 3.4 million households and 6 million consumers in the US and 1.5 million consumers in Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia and Scandinavia. More
In the US, Ipsos Marketing has launched two new research tools to help marketers understand a brand's growth potential and how consumers will interact with it. More
Marcoms agency Prompt Communications has launched a market research service to provide quant and qual insights into market conditions, demands and opportunities for B2B firms. Its focus at present is on technology companies across Europe, the US and Asia Pacific. More
More momentum for the idea of ads that analyse passers-by: digital signage software producer C-nario has partnered with TruMedia Technologies to integrate the latter's facial recognition tracking systems into its products. More
Music web site Songness.com is offering free audience research for new songs posted by independent musicians. More
New London-based technology, telecoms and media research provider Verve has hired former Synovate CEO/CFO Peter Chopra as Partner, Strategic Finance and International Development. More
In the UK, TMN Group, which owns MR firms ICD Research and iD Factor, has suspended trading in its shares on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM ), as it discusses a potential reverse takeover of the company. More
Indian MR outsourcing firm Ugam Solutions has opened new offices in Rochester, New York and Dallas, Texas, and appointed Jim Frederickson as its President in North America and Russell Britt as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. More
In New York, Jack Sullivan, SVP/Out-of-Home Activation Director of Starcom USA has been named Chairman of the Traffic Audit Bureau (TAB) Board of Directors. More
US consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has begun offering weekly ecommerce point-of-sale (POS) data for consumer technology. More
US market intelligence provider Filtrbox has updated its G2 service, which monitors thousands of news outlets, millions of blogs, and social networks such as Twitter. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has launched Consumer Village, an online community providing an alternative means of conducting both qual and quant research. More
Radio ratings giant Arbitron has reported a 9% drop in net income from $3.7m in Q4 2007 to $3.4 in the fourth quarter of 2008, despite revenue increasing 16.8% to $93.6m. More
In New York, All Global's former President Jerry Arbittier has launched a new healthcare data collection firm to provide both panel and off-panel sampling methodologies to healthcare market research agencies. More
Mobile industry trade association the GSMA is planning to launch an audience measurement system which it says will enable media and ad agencies, brands and publishers to deliver better mobile ad campaigns. More
Dutch market research agency DervalResearch has claimed it has found a link between the perception of taste and an individual's job and hobbies, which it is calling the Hormonal Fingerprint. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now has added four new tools to its Rich Media toolkit, which provides clients with Flash survey enhancements. More
Former Ciao Europe MD Richard Thornton has joined Sweden-based panels firm Cint as UK MD, managing its expansion into the UK market. He will start by opening an office in London and recruiting sales and support staff. More
The BBC has appointed Sharon Baylay as Director of its Marketing, Communications and Audiences division. Formerly General Manager of Microsoft Online Services Division UK, she replaces Tim Davie who was promoted from the role last year. More
In Canada, out-of-home (OoH) digital signage manufacturer Vertigo Group is to integrate CognoVision Solutions' face detection technology into its LCD displays, allowing targeted outdoor ads. More
Ipsos has reported full-year organic growth of 7.8% with revenues up 5.6% to €979.3m from 2007. The group says that in 2009 it intends to deliver further growth, while maintaining margins - at the very least - at their 2008 level. More
In the US, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a revised report which reinforces the view that companies which track peoples' online behaviour should follow self-regulatory guidelines to protect user privacy. More
In the US, recently launched customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention research agency Customer Lifecycle has designed a new consulting and research approach which it claims provides a deeper stage-by-stage understanding. More
Online music intelligence platform Band Metrics is testing a web application that aims to collect, analyze and display popularity and trends data for musicians and bands. More
In New York, media's 'most quoted man' Jon Mandel has left his role as President of NielsenConnect, which is closing after two years in operation. More
In the UK, marcoms group Media Square is to reduce its global headcount by around 9%, as part of a cost saving programme in response to a significant reduction in client spend. More
Panels and technology firm Toluna has reported a revenue increase of more than 70% to £21m for 2008, from £12.5m in 2007. Excluding the effect of acquisitions, revenue rose by just over a third. More
US data collection firm Western Wats has closed its Chadron, Nebraska phone center, blaming the economic downturn. Around 100 part-time employees have been laid off. More
US auto research specialist JD Power and Associates has formed an agreement with web analytics unit TNS Compete to jointly develop products based on market intelligence gathered through the online automotive buying process. More
Youth networking site / fun polling platform Pollsb has secured $1.3m in funding, which it plans to spend on further development of its polling tools. More
In the US, content analysis firm SearchHelp is to launch a system monitoring tens of millions of unfiltered teen chats on blogs and online communities. To support the initiative, the firm is changing its name to EchoMetrix and has appointed Jeffrey Greene as CEO. More
Ciao Surveys has extended its partnership with Yuseo, a specialist in the ergonomics of interactive systems. The firms' e-Performance Observatory solution will now analyse users' experience of e-commerce high-tech web sites in the UK, Germany and France. More
Nielsen Online - the research giant's online audience and consumer behaviour division - has launched its services in India, as well as in the UAE and across the Middle East. More
The Kitelab group of companies - which specialize in conducting market research in Latin America and the US Hispanic market - has acquired market and opinion intelligence firm Lechter Americas Colombia. Terms were not disclosed. More
Full service online research agency mo'web has appointed Cathrene Rowel as its new Director, replacing Tom Fuller who has returned to the States to set up the firm's first US operations. More
B2B research specialist Kadence has reported revenue of US$7.8m in the six months to December 2008 - 40% up on the same period a year before. More
TNS is to close a call center in Indiana, USA at the end of March, with the loss of 128 jobs. More
Synovate is strengthening its Brazilian business from March by giving new roles and responsibilities to Manuel Lopes; and to Jesus Caldeiro who returns from Spain. More
Advertising ROI specialist TRA has announced the appointment of Andrea Mezzasalma to its Advisory Board. Formerly Global Sector Head of TNS Media Research, Mezzasalma will provide expertise in the areas of strategic corporate initiatives and global partnerships. More
Harris Interactive has announced a steep decline in revenue for the second quarter of its fiscal 2009, to $50.7m from $62.7m a year previously. An already substantial operating loss for the quarter looked a lot worse after a write-down of $40.3m for goodwill impairment. More
Pharma research leader IMS Health has announced full-year 2008 revenue up 3% at constant currencies to $2,329.5m. Income grew slightly (2%) and EPS respectably (11%) in real terms. Chairman and CEO David R. Carlucci said the firm was 'positioned to perform well in a slower growth environment'. More
UK agency Select Research has begun work on the first large-scale project to measure the size of children across the country using 3D body imaging scanners. Known as Shape GB, the project is sponsored by major retailers Next, Monsoon and George at Asda. More
Atlanta-based MR agency Infosurv is promising rapid and accurate concept testing facilities using the principle of on-demand prediction markets, the idea popularized in James Surowiecki's book, 'The Wisdom of Crowds'. More
Arbitron has announced an agreement with the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland regarding its Portable People Meter (PPM) services in Washington D.C. and Baltimore. More
WPP-owned healthcare and pharmaceutical market research specialist Ziment has introduced COMPOUNDZ, a system for modeling the potential uptake of new products. More
In the US, employee-owned market research agency Wilkerson & Associates has changed its name to Thoroughbred Research Group and moved its corporate HQ to new offices in Louisville, Kentucky. More
In the US, Opinion Research Corporation will be closing its Tucson office at the end of March following the loss of a number of client contracts. More
In the US, print ad effectiveness research firm MRI Starch is planning to launch a syndicated ad measurement service which will triple the number of magazine issues it measures in 2009. More
In the US, mobile services firm Syniverse Technologies has launched RoamWise, a forecasting tool to provide real-time subscriber-roaming behaviour data, designed to help mobile operators optimize their roaming services. More
In the UK, marcoms giant WPP has snapped up Red Dot Square Solutions, a firm which provides virtual market research to help retailers and manufacturers predict consumer behaviour in-store. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) has found an academic guilty of violating its code of ethics and practices, after he repeatedly refused to make public facts about his research into civilian deaths in Iraq. More
In the US, the market for independent online panel suppliers grew 16.7% to $1.2bn in 2008, according to estimates contained in a recent study conducted by research and advisory firm Outsell. More
Research International (RI) has launched a simulated test market system designed to provide sales predictions within the consumer packaged goods category. More
In the UK, online market research agency YouGov has designed a new platform to provide insight into how consumers are responding to the adverse economic conditions. More
Harris Interactive's US-based President of North American and Global Operations, David Vaden, is set to leave the firm on Friday. The company has also agreed adjusted terms for its purchase of Canadian research provider Decima. More
Kantar Operations - the internal operations division for WPP's insight arm the Kantar Group - is to close its call center in Corpus Christi, Texas in June, resulting in 87 redundancies. More
Online market research agency YouGov is bringing together all its solely-owned international operations under the YouGov brand. More
In the UK, Newcastle-based Explain Market Research is to open a specialist call centre in Jesmond to provide space for additional staff at its headquarters. More
Marketing services group Creston has reported a 4% increase in revenues for the nine months ending December 2008. The group says trading for ICM and Marketing Sciences, the larger companies in its Insight Division, remains 'robust'. More
Research software provider Confirmit has launched a new platform allowing clients to conduct surveys using a variety of data collection methods and channel them into in a single feedback program. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now has announced a 60% increase in group revenues to £41.2m for 2008, compared with £25.8m a year previously. Profit before tax was £5.7m, compared with £0.3m in 2007. More
In the US, social media ad targeting firm Lotame has partnered with DIY online survey agency Vizu and natural language processing technology company Amplify, to measure the value of advertising on social media. More
In Ireland, digital research agency Sponge It is building a community network of consumers through which brands can obtain feedback about their products or services. More
Survey software firm Vovici has partnered with UK customer experience consultancy CGA to offer clients customer experience measurement. More
TMN Group plc, which owns MR firms ICD Research and iD Factor, says that due to a 'continued decline in performance' its profit will be 50 per cent below expectations for the full year, and that it will make staff cuts 'across the company'. More
Business information firm Dun & Bradstreet Corporation (D&B) has reported fourth quarter revenues up 4% to $474.7m, and full year revenue up 7% excluding foreign exchange effects. More
UK-based B2B International has taken on additional floorspace for its Bramhall, Manchester Head Office, and says it will also move its China office, established only in December 2006, to larger premises in the spring. More
In the UK, marcomms group Media Square has announced the completion of its sale of MR consultancy assets to IQ Holdings plc. Viewpoint Field, Viewpoint Studios and The Wire were previously part of Media Square-owned Illuminas, but were considered 'not core' to its offer. More
Marcoms giant WPP has announced a partnership with US web analytics firm Omniture to provide clients with 'more effective insights' across both digital and traditional media channels. The deal involves WPP investing $25m in Omniture stock. More
In Japan, IT solutions giant NEC has developed a digital signage board containing face recognition technology, which can serve up targeted ad content according to the viewer's gender and age and measure how interested they were in a particular ad. More
Sample provider Peanut Labs and AOL-owned online marketing research and field agency DMS (Digital Marketing Services) have partnered to combine their recruitment strengths. More
In the UK, new technology, telecoms and media research provider Verve has hired Nina Pocock as Project Team Leader and Charlotte Brady as Business Development Executive. More
In the US, mobile phone intelligence firm Carrier IQ has raised $20m in a third round of funding, which it plans to use to develop new IQ Insight products and expand its reach in both Europe and Asia Pacific. More
In Australia, panels from Lightspeed Research and The Online Research Unit (The ORU) are the first to be accredited with the new international standard for online research, QSOAP. More
Researchers need to develop listening and idea generating skills, according to Procter & Gamble's senior researcher Kim Dedeker, who was speaking at yesterday's Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) workshop 'Transform Your Research By Listening'. More
US-based NeuroFocus has appointed cognitive neurophysiologist Dr John Polich as its Director of Global NeuroLab Operations. More
In the UK, music industry financing platform Slicethepie has launched a web-based consumer insight and music analytics service which it claims will help identify the commercial potential of any track, and give an indication of its most suitable target market. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) is inviting feedback on its revised Code of Conduct, which includes requirement for parental consent for interviews with children under 16 and the banning of the use of client products as incentives. More
Radio ratings giant Arbitron has reached separate agreements with Ipsos and The Media Audit regarding infringement of three US patents relating to its Portable People Meter (PPM). The deals mean the two firms will not compete with the PPM for at least three years. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now has opened an office in Auckland, New Zealand, and appointed former TNS exec Martin Tomlinson as Client Development Manager. More
Swedish eye tracking firm Tobii Technology has signed a global agreement with Ipsos Marketing for its Eye Tracking hardware and software to be integrated into Ipsos' Pack Evaluation packaged testing system and other Ipsos solutions. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has released a set of best practices for survey and opinion research, in recognition of Data Privacy Day which takes place tomorrow. More
Canada-based online data collection specialist Itracks has updated its Bulletin Board Focus Group software with an additional language option, and user enhancements for both moderators and respondents. More
In the US, Nielsen has announced the indefinite suspension of its P.R.I.S.M. initiative, which it set up with the In-Store Marketing Institute in 2006. P.R.I.S.M. aimed to establish a common industry metric to measure audiences and gauge the effectiveness of in-store marketing. More
In London, full-service research agency SPA has restructured its business into three divisions, each with its own Managing Director. It has also promoted Jo Lockett from Marketing Director to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer to oversee non-research functions. More
Healthcare market research specialist Medimix International has opened a new regional office in Hong Kong, which will be known as Medimix Asia. Managing Partner Bruno Leraillez will head the new unit. More
In the UK, Viz comic co-founder Simon Donald has relaunched his comedy career with a sketch show featuring a series of new characters, including a market research interviewer. More
In Belgium, Insites Consulting has launched an online tool which allows users to conduct in-depth interviews and online user experience testing through remote desktop technology and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). More
In China, XFMedia group has entered into an agreement to sell all of the outstanding equity interests in Shanghai Hyperlink Market Research to Tokyo-based market research firm INTAGE. The sale price is 1.05bn Yen (c$11.86m). More
In the US, media research firm Innerscope Research will be using biometric measurement to track the physical responses of people watching ads during next weekend's Super Bowl game. More
In the US, Revelation – which develops web-based qual research tools – has created what it describes as the first online Qualitative Discovery System (QDS). More
Global communications group WPP is planning to move away from its role as a traditional media and advertising supplier, to concentrate on becoming a more insight-led organisation, says CEO Sir Martin Sorrell. More
In the UK, confectionery giant Nestlé has opened an Insight and Learning Centre, to help its retail clients understand how the layout of shelves in their stores can be tailored to shoppers' needs. More
In the UK Ed Mayo, the CEO of government watchdog Consumer Focus, has co-authored a book which criticizes firms that use young children to conduct market research into their products. Mayo describes the system as 'insidious and downright creepy'. More
Despite the global downturn, GfK has booked nearly a quarter of its expected revenue for the year, says CEO Klaus Wübbenhorst – almost precisely in line wth figures for this time last year. More
UK-based Holden Pearmain Research has launched a new panel service which aims to convert clients' customer databases into 'managed, incentivised and engaged' dedicated client panels. Payam Ghamsari joins to head up the new Panel Solutions Team. More
UK marcoms group Chime Communications has appointed Paul Tredwell as Chief Executive of its Research and Engagement division. More
In the UK, The Direct Marketing Group (TDMG) has transformed its Millennium 'mature consumer' marketing agency into a specialist market research and consultancy firm. More
Dinko Svetopetrić has joined Ipsos Poland, eventually to assume full management of the company. Current leader Aleksandra Leis will leave in the next few months after a handover period. More
US pharma business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information has launched a new customized survey service which taps into its database of 350,000 executives at more than 4,000 life sciences companies worldwide. More
Healthcare research consultancy Double Helix (DH) has opened a division which will conduct strategic pricing, reimbursement and market access studies. The team will be led by industry veteran Andrew (Drew) Baker. More
In the US, full service marketing research firm Burke Inc has acquired a seven acre property in downtown Cincinnati, which will become the future site of its new corporate headquarters. More
Harris Interactive has launched a specialist youth and kids practice that will operate within its Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) division in the UK. The new division is headed by Steve Mellor. More
In the UK, online market research agency YouGov has launched a quarterly report that tracks consumers' use of social networking sites and their levels of engagement and advocacy. More
Ahead of the 2009 elections in Indonesia, Jakarta-based research firm MarkPlus Insight has launched a system to enable political parties, analysts and candidates to access and analyze opinion polls and map voters' behaviour in each election district. More
UK-based online quant research specialist BrainJuicer Group Plc has issued a trading statement with 2008 results ahead of market expectations. Reported revenue rose more than 40% to £9m – all organic growth - and operating profit was up by 45% to over £1.2m. More
AIM-listed Cello Group plc has issued a trading update for the calendar year 2008, indicating that its results for the full year will be at the lower end of market expectations, but reporting a number of positives concerned with finance and operations. More
In France, cell phone operators Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom have partnered to develop their own system for measuring mobile Internet audiences. More
In the UK, relationship marketing group Hicklin Slade & Partners (HS&P) has launched Legends; a multi-channel word-of-mouth (WOM) agency which aims to 'create on- and offline consumer conversations' for brands. More
A man who was laid off when CRM outsourcing firm ICT Group shut down its Erie, Pennsylvania call center without warning, has launched a lawsuit against the firm for failing to give workers at least 60 days' notice of the closure. More
Synovate has notified the state of Miami that it plans to close its existing operations in the area. More
MR software and predictive analytics giant SPSS has updated its text analysis platform to enable users to analyze text in multiple languages and then integrate this insight with other quantitative data. More
In the US, The Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has formed a 'Creativity and Innovation' Special Interest Group (SIG), as a forum for members to exchange information and knowledge on qual practices and techniques. More
In the US, GfK has consolidated its three healthcare market research operations – GfK Market Measures, GfK Strategic Marketing and GfK V2 – into one entity called GfK Healthcare, which will provide health care manufacturers with access to a global single resource. More
Booked projects and RFPs for US research firms were flat or down slightly overall in the third quarter of 2008, according to feedback from the MRA's Research Industry Index (RII). More
US web analytics firm Omniture has launched a product to provide retailers with real-time visual analysis of customer interactions, and correlate off-line data with online interactions. More
In the US, Integrated Media Measurement Inc (IMMI) has named veteran media and ad measurement executive Bill McKenna as its new President and CEO. More
UK headquartered 'online buzz' research specialist WaveMetrix has reported its third consecutive year of 50% growth in turnover. More
UK-based MR recruitment specialist RPCushing has become part of pfj, one of the country's leading recruitment firms. pfj took a majority interest in RPCushing for an undisclosed sum. More
After almost exactly two years at the helm of SSI, Jim Follett has departed the company and is replaced by Bloomerce founder Kees de Jong. Dennis J. Beckingham meanwhile joins the firm as President and CFO. More
In the US, online survey sample firm United Sample has raised $3m in Series B funding which it will use to fuel sales, increase marketing efforts, develop technology and enhance operations. More
Sheila Jones has handed over the reins at Cardiff-based market research agency Research and Marketing Plus, after leading the company for twenty years. New arrival Phil Evans takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer. More
In the UAE (United Arab Emirates), the National Media Council (NMC) and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) are working together to introduce the country's first metered measurement of TV audiences. More
In Hamburg, Germany, Research International has appointed Frank Gollnick as CEO, with a remit to lead the firm's expansion in the country and position it as a 'leading innovation agency'. More
Richard Thornton has resigned as Managing Director of Ciao Surveys after five years at the firm, saying in a statement that 'it was a natural time to move on'. He leaves today. More
In the US, Nielsen has partnered with broadcast measurement firm Repucom to analyze content and measure viewers' exposure to sponsored media during televised sporting events. The new service will replace Nielsen's current Scorecard offering. More
US firms Planalytics and Revionics have partnered to incorporate the former's weather intelligence into the latter's price optimization solution, to help clients adjust pricing decisions to match localized consumer buying behavior. More
Canadian Customer Experience Management (CEM) firm Empathica has partnered with Australian market research firm DBM Consultants, to roll out its services and products to organizations in the region. More
At a time when other call centers are offshoring their data collection activities, Canadian firm Consumer Contact has opened a new center in the north east area of Toronto, Ontario, and is recruiting more than 400 new research interviewers. More
Arbitron has appointed Michael P. Skarzynski as President and CEO, taking over immediately from Steve Morris who will continue as Chairman of the Board and serve as an advisor during the transition. More
GfK and venture capital group Apax Partners could be possible buyers for Synovate, while Havas Chairman Vincent Bolloré nets the remainder of Aegis, according to reports in the UK press. More
More record-breaking bad news for UK marketers. The latest quarterly Bellwether survey published today by the IPA says marketing budgets have dropped for a fifth successive quarter, and fallen year-on-year for the first time in the survey's history. More
WPP's insight and consultancy division The Kantar Group has made what it claims is an industry first appointment, with the naming of George Pappachen in the newly-created role of Chief Privacy Officer. More
Health and sustainability specialist Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has announced the expansion of its services to Canada, and the appointment of Jorge Santos as Vice President of Strategic Consulting, based in Ontario. More
UK-based agency Nunwood, fresh from its MRS Agency of the Year award, is recruiting to cope with record new business of £3.4m, and 45% growth in international sales. More
Research outsourcing and analytics firm Dexterity has announced that co-founder Palanivel Kuppusamy is retaking the role of Chairman and CEO from Anantha (Krish) Krishnan who moves into a strategic advisor role. More
Omnicom-owned brand and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has acquired a majority stake in Jigsaw International, a custom qualitative research agency based in Shanghai, China. Terms were not disclosed. More
US media ratings giant Arbitron has signed a settlement with New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram to resolve her concerns that its PPM undercounts the listening habits of minorities. The result has prompted a call for terms of the settlement to be rolled out across all PPM markets. More
In the US, marketer Bob Bulik has set up a company offering access to a panel of 100 specialists in market research, sales, product development and revenue growth. More
Netherlands-based Blauw Research has moved its London office to larger premises in Soho, and opened a new viewing facility there which offers high definition recording with real time online streaming. More
In the US, web-based application developer LetsGoExpo has launched a web-based audience response system using text messaging, which it says can be used for surveys, polls, staff training and marketing initiatives. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has rolled out its Consumer Reports on Eating Share Trends service (CREST) in the People's Republic of China, to track and offer insight on consumer purchases of commercially prepared meals and snacks in the region. More
Research software provider Confirmit has partnered with call recording/outbound dialling technology firm Magnetic North to deliver a hosted telephony platform that enables market research firms to reduce the cost of telephone research projects. More
In the US, media ratings company Arbitron has settled a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who had claimed that the firm's Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings misrepresent minority listenership. More
UK direct response ad agency Tri-Direct has re-positioned itself as a customer insight specialist by creating an Insight and Analytics team with the core proposition 'Know Your Customer'; and has been re-named Acquity. More
In the US, IT sector market intelligence supplier TheInfoPro (TIP) has raised $7.25m in investment funding which it plans to use to expand sales, marketing and development. More
In the US, CRM outsourcing firm ICT Group has announced that it will no longer be providing market research services, and that it will be closing or partially closing six of its contact centers in the US and Canada, and offshoring much of the work from those in Europe and Australia. More
ESOMAR, the global association for market and opinion research, has appointed US-based Gunilla Broadbent as its President for the period 2009-2010. She is the second woman to hold the position and the first President who resides outside Europe. More
In the US, competitive and market intelligence firm Strategy Analytics has launched a user experience research capability, which will explore purchase motivations, product satisfaction and barriers to the use and consumption of digital media. More
Auto-dialling of cellphones and online behavioral tracking are among the key areas raising legislative and regulatory concern for the research profession in 2009, according to a new forecast by the US-based Marketing Research Association (MRA). More
British marcoms group Aegis has commissioned a review of the business which could result in the spin-off of its market research arm Synovate, according to a report in UK newspaper The Sunday Times. More
In the US, CRM outsourcing firm ICT Group has closed its Erie, Pennsylvania call centre in a move which it says has been prompted by the 'sluggish economy'. As a result, around 100 interviewers and managers have been made redundant without notice. More
Retail behemoth Wal-mart has pulled out of the P.R.I.S.M. initiative, which was set up by Nielsen and the In-Store Marketing Institute in 2006 to establish a global metric for evaluating the in-store environment. More
In the US, the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) has revised its Self-Regulatory Code of Conduct to address best practices for presenting behaviorally targeted ads to online users. More
In the US, the Interactive Marketing Research Organization (IMRO) – a division of the MRA – has created a blog where members can discuss best practices and ethical approaches to online market research. More
Ratings giant Arbitron is to formally open its fully owned subsidiary, Arbitron India, in Kochi, Kerala on January 5. Investment in the scheme has so far totalled more than $10m. More
Online analytics firm WebTrends has partnered with music, videos and games chain HMV to track user interaction with the retail giant's in-store transactional and information-point kiosks. More
In the US, technology and in-game ad company NeoEdge has launched a service to collect consumer feedback while online games are being played. More
Research and EFM software firm Vovici says it has made more than 50 improvements to its suite of enterprise feedback applications. Vovici v4 aims to bring online communities, business intelligence (BI), and survey software into one common platform. More
Some of the world's biggest advertising groups have this week announced thousands of job cuts. However, their MR firms seem to be relatively little affected so far, as do PR subsidiaries, while ad agencies themselves bear the brunt. More
Pharmaceutical companies are turning to MR departments to help them run leaner organizations in troubled economic times, according to a new report from sector specialist Cutting Edge Information. More
Nielsen has written to clients announcing a delay to the rollout of its Local People Meter (LPM) service in local television markets. The company will pause when the LPM is in use in 25 markets, instead of continuing rapidly to reach all 56 originally scheduled. More
Toledo, Ohio-based MR and strategy company c8mr has announced the release of Forum360(TM), a new 'social collaboration tool' designed to give marketers insights from a carefully constructed and maintained online community. More
Cello has announced that Group Executive Chairman Kevin Steeds died last night, after a four month battle with cancer. More
Harris Interactive's new President and CEO Kimberly Till has implemented a series of restructuring initiatives, including a net loss of 51 US jobs, c.8% of the total US full-time workforce; the formation of new vertical teams; and changes in senior management. More
GfK has acquired a 74% majority stake in Egyptian consumer research company Market Insight; and has formed a joint venture with the Median Group under the name of GfK Custom Research Middle East Holding, in which GfK holds a 51% share. More
In the UK, insight consultancy Truth has announced that turnover for 2008 – the firm's first full year of trading – will be close to £4m. More
Medical fieldwork agency Healthcare Landscape has rolled out its patient and caregiver panel to agencies in the US. More
In the US, online research firm Modern Survey has introduced a research-based system for measuring employee engagement levels alongside how well an organization is able to turn that engagement into business results. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has accelerated plans to introduce cellphone-only sampling to all diary markets by 2009. More
US web analytics firm Omniture has extended its measurement capabilities to help marketers and developers better understand how iPhone users are interacting with applications. More
US semantic intelligence and predictive analytics firm BeliefNetworks has secured investment funding, which it will use to negotiate additional deals with advertising networks, media and content web sites, and for research and business development. More
Business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Motif has opened a new 450-seat delivery centre in Quezon City in the Philippines, to provide back office support, and research and analytics to firms in the region as well as in the US. More
In the US, Nielsen has completed the pilot study for its new diary-based radio measurement service, which is due to launch next spring. The company expects to unveil initial findings in February. More
Consumer specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has sold its Apollo Retail Space and Assortment Planning unit to retail software firm Aldata, for around $10.5m. More
France Telecom-owned mobile and broadband provider Orange has launched a 'Technocentre' in Britain, where 'twenty-first century' services will be developed for its customers. More
In the US, The Marketing Research Association (MRA) has launched a program to vet and standardize online sample providers, while creating a clear understanding of panel supplier practices relating to data quality. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of 60% of the Strategic Puls group. The company makes more than 90% of its turnover (c.8m Euros in 2007) in Serbia and Croatia, but is also established in five other Balkan states. More
B2B specialist Kadence has appointed Rohit Churamani as Executive Director in its Indian company. Based at the company's Delhi office, he will manage the firm's full service team in all areas from business development to client service. More
In New Zealand, MR agency Surveytalk has responded to statements made earlier in the week by the trade union, Unite, whose members are striking over pay and conditions in its telephone unit; and has underlined the need for the country's CATI services to remain competitive in the global economy. More
In the US, members of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) have formed a committee to lead an initiative designed to deliver more precise online Hispanic market research data. More
In Singapore, market research firm The Kalypso Agency has been awarded funding to analyse online virtual worlds, as part of a 5-year $500m incentive programme to transform ideas into 'breakthrough' products. More
In the UK, youth mobile phone network Blyk has launched a research service for its target group of around 200,000 16 to 24-year-olds who use the free service. More
Employee-owned marketing research firm Hotspex is establishing a new team in Soho, London to serve its existing and new European clients. Paul Acerbi will head the new team, and has relocated from the firm's headquarters in Toronto. More
Research and EFM software firm Vovici has partnered with employee and customer strategy firm Walker Information to create a tool to help organisations conduct employee loyalty surveys and benchmark them against Walker's database. More
Vision Critical and Angus Reid Strategies have opened an office in Chicago, and appointed Matt Kleinschmit and LeAnn Helmrich to work there as Senior Vice Presidents. More
In the US, survey and user feedback systems provider Opinionmeter has partnered with Elo TouchSystems to offer a platform to capture real-time in-store customer feedback. More
US word of mouth (WOM) specialist Bazaarvoice has introduced a new social navigation tool to assist to clients' product merchandising and advertising strategies. More
UK b2b research specialist IQ is to acquire Viewpoint Field, Viewpoint Studios and The Wire from global agency Illuminas, in a move it says will help develop client facing practices for its research-based consultancy businesses. More
Web site usability researcher JuxtConsult has created an online panel of more than 115,000 consumers in India, which the firm says are representative of 86% of the country's total urban population of 337 million people. More
In the UK, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has awarded £1.1m to establish the Survey Resources Network (SRN), a body which will promote best practice in survey research, provide online information resources for researchers and link academics, policy-makers and survey practitioners. More
Direct marketing and MR group TMN has made a post-tax loss of £476k for the first six months of the financial year, compared with a profit of nearly £1m a year previously. Revenue at its online research subsidiaries iD Factor and ICD climbed 30% from the year-earlier figure, while group turnover rose 72% to £15.5m. More
Global marketing research firm Data Development Worldwide (DDW) has opened new offices in Chicago and Indianapolis and hired two industry veterans to run them. More
Texas-based neuromarketing MR specialist Sands Research has developed a system for measuring and scoring objective brain responses from subjects during the storyboard stage of advertising development. More
Global engineering and management consultancy Mott MacDonald has established a new market research and stakeholder team in central London, to serve both public and private sector clients. Former Benchmark Research Director Dennis de Cala will lead the division. More
Kantar-owned TNS has acquired the remaining 37% of TNS InterScience, one of Brazil's leading custom market research businesses. More
Interviewers working for data collection firm SurveyTalk in Auckland, New Zealand have gone on strike. The action is described as a protest at the firm's failure to improve rates of pay and health and safety standards, or to allow staff to take annual leave. More
Nunwood took the prize for Best Agency at last night's MRS Research Awards in London, the second time it has done so. It beat off competition from FreshMinds, which has won for the past two years. More
In the UK, the former Joint Industry Committee for Internet Measurement Systems (JICIMS) is to be re-launched as the UK Online Measurement (UKOM) company, following recent news that its original stakeholders had withdrawn financial support. More
Panels and software firm Toluna has launched a new polling service that enables companies to launch online surveys, access its panel community, and receive real-time poll results 24/7. More
US-based Polaris Marketing Research has introduced a package called SurveyTrac, which combines an online survey solution with support from an MR team available to help with questionnaire design, data analysis, and creating reports. More
Custom online panel firm Vision Critical has announced a new branch in Sydney, Australia, extending its presence into the Asia Pacific region. Kris Hartvigsen will lead the operation as MD, Australia. Last week, the firm announced the release of its newest online research platform, Sparq. More
Hi-tech researcher OTX has launched a new sampling engine, OTXCortex(sm), promising high quality data, new levels of security and an improved survey-taking experience for consumers. More
In the UK, commercial radio trade body RadioCentre is cutting seven of its thirty-five staff, in response to the economic climate. Departures include members of the organsiation's recently formed Insight Team. More
US-based organisation the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released Audience Reach Measurement Guidelines for public comment. The guidelines aim to provide clear, consistent definitions of metrics and set standards for measuring unique audience across different methods. More
Marketing execs are under increasing pressure to show a return on investment for their work, but many are struggling and finding the process complex, according to a report by US-based research and membership organisation The Conference Board. More
In the US, three companies and five people who operated a mystery shopping scam have paid $850,000 to the FTC to settle charges of deceptive marketing and contempt. More
The Australian Federal Government is to shake up the way it selects ad agencies and market research companies, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner promised an end to the 'closed shop' operated under the previous government. More
In the UK, The Joint Industry Committee for Internet Measurement Systems (JICIMS) is having to re-think its plans to establish an online audience measurement standard, following news that its original stakeholders have withdrawn financial support. More
In Switzerland, Nielsen Online is to partner with NET-Metrix, the online industry committee for Internet audience measurement, to provide online research data for the Swiss market. More
Millward Brown has hired Suhas Khanderia to manage and develop its healthcare and pharmaceutical practice as Senior Director of Healthcare, based in the London office. More
Online research specialist MarketTools has conducted research which it says conclusively demonstrates the connection between fraudulent survey respondents and skewed survey data. More
Most employee surveys fail to identify key issues because they ask the wrong kind of questions, says former MORI leader Peter Hutton, in his new book. More
GfK Market Measures – which provides health care marketing research services in the US – has launched a tool for pharmaceutical manufacturers to assess the value and impact of their managed markets, sales and marketing activities. More
In the US, Ipsos Mendelsohn has formed an advisory council – made up of representatives from ad agencies, publications, cable TV networks and digital media worlds – to expand the scope and size of its annual Affluent Survey. More
In London, the founders of Research Now, Hall & Partners and the iD Factor – Andrew Cooper, Mike Hall and Jon Gumbrell – have launched Verve, a new technology, telecoms and media-focused research provider. More senior personnel are set to join in the next two months. More
Global thinktank, The Society for New Communications Research (SNCR), is calling for applications to join its volunteer-based Fellowship program, to help develop best practices and standards for social media metrics and measurement. More
Former Synovate Hungary Researcher Brúnó Bitter has set up a market research and brand consultancy called Next Wave Research, which uses a technique he dubs 'visual ethnography' to view consumers' actual in-store behaviour. More
Healthcare and pharma market research agency The Research Partnership has opened a new regional headquarters in Toronto, Canada. More
In the UK, Carrot Pharma Recruitment has moved into premises in Wilmslow, Cheshire which are three times the size of its current office in Didsbury. More
Online research and panels specialist Research Now is forecasting results ahead of previous market expectations, including reported revenues up more than 55% to £41m, and operating profit up 120% to around £6.2m, for the year ended 31 October 2008. More
India-based outsourcing company Annik has opened an operation in Shanghai, to service clients in Japan, China and Korea – with local language support capabilities. More
Research software provider Confirmit has announced its most successful quarter to date for new business revenue, along with revenue growth of 51% for the nine months ending September 2008. More
Havas' Vincent Bolloré is more confident of securing his two boardroom seats at rival Aegis, after a recent meeting with interim CEO John Napier, according to sources quoted in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. More
Synovate has promoted Jon Salters to CEO of Synovate South Africa. He has been MD for the past four years. Former CEO Albert McLean has decided to take an extended break from work. More
UK-based Munro Global has expanded teams at two of its subsidiaries, FDS International and acefieldwork, with five appointments in the last few weeks. More
Sample provider Peanut Labs has this week announced the availability of its Sample3.0 advanced methodology in the UK. More
Robert Lerwill is to stand down as group CEO of Synovate parent Aegis, at the end of this month. Chairman John Napier will take on his responsibilities on an interim basis. Aegis shares leapt 17% today as rumours linked the move to a possible merger. More
Groupe Aeroplan, owner of the Nectar loyalty scheme, is to launch its UK-based customer-driven insight and communication business in North America, with offices based in Toronto and Chicago. More
Marketing services group Creston has announced good interim results for the six months to September 2008, with revenue up 5% to £41.3m. The Insight Division saw revenues fall from £9.0m a year ago to £8.5m with smaller MR firms suffering, although its margins remain good. More
TNS has beaten Ipsos, GfK and others in a major qual competitive tender from the European Commission and the European Parliament. TNS says the deal covers all the body's qualitative studies and is 'believed to be the world's largest qual research programme', valued at some 15m Euros over four years. More
Australian digital audience measurement company Effective Measure has linked with MR firm Real Opinions to provide a new audience measurement tool for the Middle East. More
UK research pioneer Harry Henry, the last survivor of the 23 founders of the Market Research Society (MRS), has died aged 92 after a stroke. More
Madison Avenue-based trade organisation the Out-of-Home Video Advertising Bureau (OVAB) is to expand into Europe. Founded last year, OVAB represents out-of-home video networks and the advertising community, promoting standards and research. More
UK agency Virtual Surveys has hired former Harris researcher Andy Buckley to head up its rapidly expanding work in the online communities area. He leads a specialist team formed only in the summer and already boasting nine people. More
In the US Adam Berman, formerly of CfMC Research Software, has launched a new research technology and data processing firm, CatalystMR. The company offers web survey programming, hosting, data tabulation, real-time reporting, panel, and international CATI fieldwork. More
AHAA Chairman Jose Lopez-Varela has questioned Arbitron's 'indifference' to the concerns of the Hispanic advertising community with its PPM technology and methods, in a follow-up letter to the radio ratings giant. More
Ipsos MORI has launched a new shopper research solution, Checkout, which promises to increase the chances of success at launch by optimising manufacturers' in-store strategy in the competitive environment. More
New York-headquartered SIS International Research has launched an online intelligence gathering service to assess stakeholders' opinions and their behavior as influencers regarding a brand or product. More
MR software provider Confirmit says it will integrate its new platform more closely with the Ascribe software of partner firm Language Logic, which provides simple coding of open-ended responses. The platform is due for release in early 2009. More
Panel provider Lightspeed Research has promoted Christopher Urinyi to the post of CEO of its North American company, based in Princeton, NJ and reporting to President and Group CEO Anne Hedde. More
Just a few months after its co-founder Paul Flatters left Opinion Leader, new London-based forecasting firm Trajectory Partnership has been awarded a contract by UNWTO to forecast international tourism growth through to 2030. More
In the US, web analytics unit TNS Compete has launched a service to deliver behavioural and survey-based insights on iPhone and other smartphone users. More
Nielsen has signed an agreement to acquire pharma retail trade specialist AMAR Research, headquartered in Brno, the Czech Republic's second largest city. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, market research exhibition The Insight Show is to be integrated into a cross-discipline event called 'Marketing Week Live', which will be held at Olympia in London next summer. More
In the US, automotive specialist JD Power and Associates has named Finbarr O'Neill as its new President, succeeding Stephen Goodhall who is retiring after 30 years with the company. More
UK-based B2B International has launched INSTEP, a tool to enable schools, colleges, universities and other educational establishments to conduct market research to understand the needs of their students. More
In the US, physician network Epocrates has expanded its opt-in panel to include physicians and pharmacists in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. More
In the US, FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein is calling for a formal investigation into the effect of Arbitron's PPM technology on minority radio stations. Separately, the ratings giant has closed its southwest call center in Houston following hurricane damage. More
In Hong Kong, Nielsen has appointed Umang Pabaru as Managing Director, Nielsen Consumer Research, for the Greater China region, leading the teams in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan. More
In the UK, healthcare panel firm Pearl Medical has ceased trading, after being unable to raise the short-term financing required to continue operations. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has launched the goSHOP online research environment, a new platform which simulates the retail environment to help clients understand how consumers make a purchase decision and identify what products they are likely to buy. More
Online audience measurement firm comScore has launched an online ad effectiveness tool, designed to measure the various quantifiable impacts that brands have on Internet users. More
Nielsen is moving into direct competition with Arbitron over US radio ratings: two major radio broadcasters today announced a switch to Nielsen Media's ratings service in a number of markets from Q3 of 2009. Arbitron has described the once-a-year Nielsen service as 'a step backward'. More
TNS has launched Digital Suite, described as a 'new generation' of online ad monitoring tools. The suite combines cookie tracking technology with the company's 6th Dimension Panel to give in-depth analysis of online ad consumption. More
In the US, research firm Cambridge Focus (CF) has announced a strategic partnership with business education provider Bentley University, to whose Center for Marketing Technology (CMT) it will transfer the running of its groups. More
US and Japanese physician panel operator MDLinx Inc has adopted Crop Duster(TM) de-duplication fingerprinting technology from Mktg, Inc., to enhance protection against repeat respondents and duplicate interviews. More
Social networking solutions firm Small World Labs has partnered with social marketing firm Sway Inc. to offer marketers a comprehensive set of tools for the creation and execution of social media strategies to support their brands. More
Microsoft will for the time being remain the owner of Greenfield Online's Internet Survey Solutions (ISS) business, after potential buyer ZM Capital failed to meet financing conditions. President and CEO Al Angrisani will stay on in an advisory capacity while a new home is sought. More
Nielsen CEO David Calhoun says the firm plans to push for dominance in the 'three screen audience measurement' market, and can continue to grow despite world economic problems. The firm reported revenue of $1,260m in the third quarter, up 3% after excluding currency fluctuations. More
Despite painting a grim picture of an unfolding 'financial, economic and ideological crisis' around the globe, Ipsos has reported Q3 revenues of Euros 234.2m, a 5.9% increase compared with Q3 2007. Organic revenue growth was 8.2%. More
GfK has appointed former TNS Director Bill Noah as Global Chief Information Officer for its Custom Research business, responsible for overall IT and software including software strategy for operations. More
UK marcoms group Chime Communications has described the performance of its Research division – which includes Opinion Leader, Facts International, Ledbury and Naked Eye – as 'disappointing', with profits for the first ten months of the year below the same period in 2007. More
Nielsen's alliance with US ad and brand measurement firm NeuroFocus has been extended into Japan, where the pair will use respondents' brain waves, eye movements and other physical features to study the impact of commercial messages or products on potential customers. More
In the UK, behavioural research consultancy Bunnyfoot is opening a new office in Sheffield and has appointed Alison Rawlings as its Managing Director. More
In Australia, online research solutions provider The Digital Edge has launched mobile phone technology which will enable surveys to be conducted with consumers who have access to the mobile Internet. More
GfK NOP has appointed former GfK Executive Allan Dib as Head of its Marketing Effectiveness Centre of Excellence, tasked with leading the development of new research approaches for testing, benchmarking and improving marketing effectiveness. More
In the US, Phoenix Marketing International has launched a suite of research tools to support the analysis needs of five distinct phases of the marketing lifecycle. More
Nielsen and WPP have signed an asset swapping agreement. Nielsen will acquire WPP's half of AGBNielsen Media Research (AGBNMR), and in return, WPP will take over three of Nielsen's media services assets. More
Thwarted in its TNS marriage plans, GfK appears to be enjoying the single life. Revenue for the first nine months of the year rose to €883.8m, representing organic growth of 7.2% (up from 5.5% the previous year); and adjusted operating income up 1.7% to €104.3m. The firm described the results as 'satisfactory' in the current economic climate. More
In the US, web analytics unit TNS Compete, now part of Kantar, has launched a Retail and Consumer Products practice to provide retailers with insights into shoppers' online activities across rival sites, portals, search engines and aggregators. More
In the US, Nielsen has promoted Executive Vice President Susan Whiting to the post of Company Vice Chairperson, joining Chairman and CEO David Calhoun in the newly created 'Office of the CEO' to provide oversight and direction to the company's initiatives and operations. More
MR software and predictive analytics giant SPSS has upgraded its mrDialer automatic dialling solution with VoIP; tapping broadband connections to enable interviewers to work from separate offices or even from their own homes. More
In the UK, Omnicom-owned brand and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has promoted Vanella Jackson to the post of Worldwide CEO. She replaces Terry Willie, who is leaving at the end of the year to pursue private interests. More
The Nielsen Company and partner IMMI have mothballed their recently launched out-of-home (OOH) television viewing measurement service with immediate effect. The companies blamed difficult economic times, which had led to 'limited economic support' for the service. More
Ground-breaking US-based media ROI measurement firm TRA has announced a database of 370,000 US homes, and the signing up of Discovery Communications as a client. More
Mall media specialist EYE has signed an agreement with Arbitron Custom Research to measure the effectiveness of mall-based advertisements and the psychographics of its shoppers. More
In the UK, specialist MR recruiter Hasson Associates continues to expand with the appointment of Nicky Geen, who becomes a Senior Associate. More
Pharma companies are moving away from the idea of hard ROI measurement for their market research, according to a study by US-based Cutting Edge Information. 74% of surveyed companies do not attempt to calculate ROI for MR. More
London based acefieldwork has launched 'FlexiHalls', a system using a wireless hub to provide web surveys from 'almost any UK location'. More
Business improvement company Grass Roots Group, whose services include mystery shopping, has reported strong financial results for its year ending June 08. Turnover is up 20% to £284.3m and pre-tax profit up 24% to £10.3m. More
In the US, industry associations the MRA (Marketing Research Association) and CMOR (the Council for Marketing and Opinion Research) have merged. The new body will be known as MRA. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has updated the schedule for rollout of its PPM (Portable People Meter), with some markets brought forward for commercialization, and others pushed back. More
US custom research firm MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc) has introduced a suite of shopper insights research services, designed to help consumer product manufacturers and retailers connect with shoppers throughout the purchase process. More
US-based online market research panel operator e-Rewards has launched a quality management system to ensure each online respondent meets both its own and its clients' quality standards. More
Sony BMG is launching a broad-ranging communications and artist agency, SBX, as a pan-European joint venture with communications company Exposure. Marcel Engh will lead the agency as MD. More
Online research and panels firm Research Now has promoted Sébastien Croizard to lead its French business as MD. He was previously Commercial Director for the office. More
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced that it will not intervene in WPP's acquisition of TNS, after receiving court-enforceable undertakings from WPP regarding its TAM (Television Audience Measurement) services. More
The European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) and the Internet Advertising Bureau Europe (IAB Europe) have officially launched their industry-wide survey into the use of online audience and traffic measurement techniques; and appointed Elizabeth Van Couvering to help guide the initiative. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has released reliability calculators for its diary and Portable People Meter (PPM). Separately, the firm has met for the fourth time with a group of diary-market broadcasters to review and plan for service improvements for diary-based ratings markets. More
Online data collection and panel specialist Research Now has promoted Chris Dubreuil to the newly created role of Head of Client Development in the UK. More
The Media Rating Council (MRC) has completed the first phase of its audit of Nielsen's NetSight meter technology, which is used in the firm's international panels and US MegaPanel and will now be integrated into its audience measurement products in the US. More
Havas-owned MPG has developed a new social network modelling tool, Havas Media Resonance, which uses an agent-based algorithm to represent populations of consumers and predict their behavior. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has added a new wireless / mobile telephone sampling capability to its online sample ordering system SSI-SNAP. More
Pharmaceutical research giant IMS Health has reported third-quarter revenue of $574m, up 6%, or a modest 3% year-on-year on a constant dollar basis. However, net income and EPS grew 33% and 41% respectively in the quarter. More
Business networking site LinkedIn has launched a service to help market researchers and professional investors conduct research among its database of more than 30 million members. More
Consumer insight firm DunnhumbyUSA has outgrown its existing Cincinnati headquarters and is moving to a 150,000 square-foot space that can accommodate more than 500 employees. More
UK-based Nunwood has developed Bioshopping, a new way of combining traditional shopper research with biometric technology to probe the emotions behind what engages/disengages consumers and what prompts them to buy. More
Nielsen has appointed Rebecca Chiu as Director, Consumer Research (FMCG) based in Hong Kong. More
US cable TV firm and Internet service provider Comcast has promoted Ramon Ramos to the newly created post of Vice President of Research and Marketing Solutions. More
Mintel and Information Resources Inc (IRI) have enhanced their joint product development support solution, GNPD IRIS, with additional trend analysis. More
Harris Interactive has announced that President & CEO Greg Novak is leaving the firm, to be replaced by former TNS North American CEO Kimberley Till. The company has also announced today that it will make around 30 US staff redundant. More
Marketing communications group WPP has now received acceptance from shareholders representing 91.72% of TNS, for its offer to buy the UK market research agency. More
Online research specialist MarketTools has launched an on-demand research solution that it says integrates survey tools, online panels and communities, and research best practices into one platform. More
Ipsos has acquired China's largest automotive research specialist, Shanghai-based B-Thinking, in a fifty-fifty cash and shares deal for an undisclosed sum. The business will be integrated into Ipsos' existing business in China. More
The venture capital company run by the founder of Big Brother and Deal or No Deal producer Endemol has taken a 30% stake in European online MR agency MetrixLab. More
Australian Liberal Party polling guru Mark Textor has found himself in the middle of a dispute over interviewer pay after apparently sending a strongly worded email. More
Finnish research provider Global Intelligence Alliance (GIA) is merging with three of the companies in its GIA Network: East Asian-based Fusion Consulting, Gayer Consulting in Germany, and DeskResearch Nederland. More
In the UK, the Market Research Standards Board (MRSB) has found Opinion Leader in breach of the MRS Code of Conduct for the part it played in a Whitehall consultation on nuclear energy. Opinion Leader rejects the finding and says the MRS is 'not competent to assess' the new techniques involved. More
WPP has agreed to acquire a 33% stake in Smollan Group, a Johannesburg-based provider of field marketing, market intelligence, customer contact and brand activation services. More
In the UK, qual agency the Nursery has launched a new approach which aims to get closer to emotional and intuitive responses to brands. More
In the US, a new guide has been launched offering MR buyers metrics and recommendations to improve online survey data quality. The work of more than forty consumer research agencies and online sample providers, it also includes input from researchers in fifty leading client firms. More
In the US, custom provider MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc) has launched a fast turnaround online research service which allows clients to ask up to 20 closed-end questions among a representative sample of 300 consumers. More
The New Jersey Broadcasters Association (NJBA) has applauded the decision by the state's Attorney General Anne Milgram to investigate complaints that Arbitron's PPM is 'flawed' and undercounts the listening habits of minorities. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has launched a new strategy for expanding the availability and diversity of panel members worldwide and improving the quality of sample provided to clients. More
In the US, ORC parent infoGroup has partnered with location content firm Urban Mapping to augment its business listings with relevant neighbourhood information. More
US voters watching televised debates in the lead up to the presidential elections are using MSInteractive's hand-held dial technology, which elicits and measures audience feedback. More
GfK has received a break fee of around €13m (£10.6m) from TNS as compensation for the abandoned 'merger of equals' deal planned earlier in the year. The German firm has also reported a bulging order book. More
In the UK, the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) is rolling out the second phase of an online solution which helps users analyse the diary data contained in its TouchPoints multi-media survey of consumers habits. More
Nielsen has launched a new service to benchmark the quality of mobile phone networks across 39 markets in India. More
TNS Cymfony – which analyses market influence in social and traditional media – has introduced a model to help PR and communications professionals measure the impact of their work. More
Frances Grubb, President of marketing and sensory research firm J. Reckner Associates (JRA), will be stepping down from her role next January after sixteen years in the role. She will be replaced by SVP Steve Aukers who joined the firm last October from TNS. More
Online data collection and panel specialist Research Now has appointed Adam Portner as SVP in San Francisco, David Bilicic as SVP in New York, and Steve Rosen as Finance Director, North America. In addition, Charles Pearson has been promoted to the new role of SVP, Panel Excellence. More
YouGov has announced results for the year ended 31 July 2008. Turnover has almost tripled to £40.4m and normalised operating profit rose 55% to £8.7m, although reported profit is down 29% to £4.0m. More
Hispanic research panel SusOpiniones has partnered with English language Latino media company Sí TV to develop its English-dominant US Hispanic panel. More
Research International (RI) has announced an alliance with STAT'COM to launch a new simulated test market product named MicroTest Nouveau, integrating state of the art modelling of market conditions with a global database of over 40,000 records in order to put results into context. More
Arbitron has followed up its appeal for court protection from the New York Attorney General with the same request in New Jersey. The firm seeks a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief to prevent a ban on publication of its PPM estimates. More
In the US, Nielsen has launched a new panel which it says is the first to simultaneously measure use of both television and the Internet in the same home. More
Greg Wayman, Jayne Van Souwe and Ian Thomas have been named Fellows of The Australian Market and Social Research Society (AMSRS). More
WPP has declared its offer for TNS 'unconditional as to acceptances' after securing the approval of shareholders representing 81.78% of TNS stock by its latest deadline of 3pm today, UK time – well over its new 75% target. More
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has called Arbitron's early PPM launch on Monday 'an affront to racial and ethnic minorities in New York and around the country'. However, a number of radio broadcasters have come out in support of the ratings firm, saying the FCC has no jurisdiction in the area. More
Global online panel company Authentic Response is opening an office in Toledo, Ohio and has appointed former TNS Director Paul Hudson as Vice President of Technology to run it, while steering the firm's overall technology strategy. More
Mobile analytics firm Bango has partnered with mobile web site optimization firm SiteSpect to help clients improve conversion rates and target mobile marketing spend. More
IMRB International has been named 'MR Agency of the Year' by the Market Research Society of India (MRSI) for the third time since the award was introduced in 2005. More
European-based ad metrics testing firm MediaAnalyzer has launched new technology to allow advertisers to measure consumers' emotional responses while they are watching TV ads online. More
US blog and social network tracker Visible Technologies and social media marketing firm M80 have expanded their year-long partnership with the launch of a suite of tools to support online word-of-mouth and conversation marketing campaigns. More
US-based online market research panel operator e-Rewards has attracted a $60m minority investment from private equity and buyout firm TA Associates. More
In the US, media and market intelligence solutions firm Biz360 has launched a tool to monitor consumer opinion as expressed on thousands of shopping, consumer product and expert review web sites. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has launched a new online method for conducting in-depth, interactive focus groups. More
US custom research firm MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc) has launched an Online Shelf Testing tool to provide respondents with a 3D virtual shopping experience. More
Following WPP's announcement on Friday that around 61% of TNS shareholders had accepted its bid, the TNS Board has recommended that shareholders accept, to avoid the risk of being left with a minority interest in an unlisted company. More
Arbitron is turning to the courts to prevent the current enquiry into its representation of ethnic audiences from stopping publication of its PPM listening estimates, which today went commercial in eight new markets. The firm cites 'unfair conduct' by the New York Attorney General. More
In the UK, Buckingham Research Associates founder Maggie Drye has launched a new company, Insitas. Former Buckingham execs Sandra Halstead and Duncan Fergusson join the start-up team, along with Acritas CEO Lisa Hart who becomes a Non-Executive Director. More
Direct marketing and data group IPT (Interactive Prospect Targeting) has sold the majority of its UK operations for 1.3 million pounds to investment company Volvere Plc. More
WPP has again extended the deadline for acceptance of its TNS bid to next Wednesday, October 8th, with 61% of shareholders accepting. However, major TNS shareholder Cedar Rock has taken its holding past the 10% mark, which may impact the ad giant's options. More
Public policy and social research specialist Macro International has won a $142m, five-year contract to conduct the MEASURE Phase III Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) contract by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Macro is part of ORC owner infoGROUP. More
WPP says its current offer for TNS is final and will not be increased unless a rival bidder emerges. The ad group has also sent TNS shareholders information clarifying its intention to create a new UK-listed but offshore-based parent company. More
In the US, Decipher, Inc. has opened an office in downtown Portland, to serve the Pacific Northwest. More
Digital marketing specialist Frogfire DIGITAL has launched dNeero, a platform using online surveys to help marketers harness social media communications and promote conversations about their products and services. More
In the UK, online measurement standards body ABCe has launched a new initiative to provide greater transparency in ratings. Media owners taking its web traffic audit, based on site-centric transactional data, can now add demographic, lifestyle and media data via a validated on-site survey. More
In the US, six national news companies have filed a lawsuit against a state of Minnesota law which they say will prevent them from conducting accurate exit polls. More
GfK is launching a panel to provide a comprehensive measure of the UK watch market. The new service will track sales of watches across outlets including jewellers, mass merchandisers, department stores and mail order. More
At the Old Bailey in London, Matthew Fagan has been found guilty of the murder of Cathy Marlow and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a recommended minimum of 26 years. More
WPP has announced that its bid for TNS had been accepted by around 43% of the latter's shareholders as of 2.30pm Monday – up from just 34% on Friday. The acquisitive ad group also says it will move its 'domicile' to Ireland due to the current 'complexity' of the UK tax system. More
UK-based professional services research specialist Acritas has announced rapid expansion, with fourteen appointments taking its total staff to more than forty. More
Senator Barack Obama has joined calls for a delay in the launch of Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) system in new markets. More
With political polls currently ubiquitous in the US media, the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has formed a Political Special Interest Group (SIG). More
Survey Analytics has launched IdeaScale, an application using social media, surveys and messaging to improve customer and employee engagement, based on the principles of 'crowdsourcing'. More
WPP has again extended its deadline for TNS shareholders to decide on its £1.2bn bid - to this Friday, October 3rd - but has now received acceptances from 33.8% of them - up from just 11% two weeks previously. More
Global research turnover rose in line with expectations last year to just over US$28bn, according to statistics from ESOMAR, revealed at last week's annual Congress. The rise from 2006 figures was 6.5% or 3.9% after adjustment for inflation. More
Cambiar partner and former NOP leader Simon Chadwick has accepted the role of CEO at online sample company Peanut Labs. Chadwick, Chair of the firm's advisory board since May, says the new role is 'on a part time basis and for a limited period', and that he will continue with Cambiar. More
Canada will begin implementation of its National Do Not Call (DNC) List tomorrow. Calls from market researchers, in addition to charities, political parties and newspapers selling subscriptions, are exempt. More
Two Internet-driven research firms have confirmed their rapid rise with rankings in Deloitte's regional and national Technology Fast 50 lists. GMI is 13th in Washington State with five-year growth of 1,096%, and Vision Critical fifth in Canada with 5,298% growth. More
The Indian MR Outsourcing (MRO) sector will grow to around $800m in 2012, from current revenues of c.$148m (2007), according to a new report. The study also warns of challenges in acquiring and retaining talent. Meanwhile another study predicts steady growth for the global information industry as a whole despite more general economic gloom. More
In the UK, the Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has ruled that calls made by the Liberal Democrat party to 250,000 homes on September 17 were direct marketing rather than market research as claimed, and were therefore unlawful. More
The 2008 US presidential election will produce either the first African-American President; or the oldest first-term President and the first woman Vice-President. A recent Harris Poll probed into the difficult areas of racism, sexism and ageism, and the part they are likely to play. More
Online audience measurement firm comScore expects to double its revenue to $200m in the next two to three years, according to President & CEO Magid Abraham. More
Knowledge process outsourcing firm Mu Sigma has received a $30m boost from investor FTVentures, which will support expansion of the firm's analytics capabilities delivered from its centre in Bangalore, India. More
In the UK, technology firm Knowledge Online (KOL) has launched new software for the vending sector, which it says will improve the speed and accuracy of real-time and automated survey creation on a PDA. More
US-based screen capture software firm TechSmith has updated its usability-testing platform to include support for digital video and provide the ability to run unmoderated sessions. More
In the UK, online research agency eDigitalResearch has launched a new version of its communities tool, incorporating facilities for participants to create profiles and upload photographs and personal information. More
In the US, investment firm Intel Capital has acquired a $20m stake in Telligent System, a Californian-based firm which designs solutions for online communities and social networks, along with business intelligence tools. More
TNS has today issued its shareholders with a new statement urging them to reject WPP's offer for the firm, underlining its strength as a standalone group. More
Experian is to combine its FootFall system – which counts the numbers of people visiting retailers and shopping centres – with Path Intelligence's shopper behaviour technology, to understand the movement of shoppers as they flow through retail centres. More
Search engine Samepoint.com has launched a real-time scoreboard that keeps track of the online comment count on Democrat candidate Barack Obama vs Republican candidate John McCain. More
TNS is to adopt research software provider Vovici's Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) Platform and Community Builder Model as its standard platform for building custom online panels and communities for its customers. More
Speech analytics software provider CallMiner has partnered with Co-nexus – which provides call logging and quality monitoring solutions for contact centers – to offer small to mid-sized centers improved insights and business intelligence. More
WPP has received a qualified approval from the European Commission for its offer to buy TNS. The deal will comply with EU merger rules, provided two divestments are made. More
Canadian firm In-Touch Survey Systems has acquired NCI Mobility of Chicago. Both firms provide technology-based data capture tools. More
In the UK, Clive Gibbins, a 19 year veteran of NOP, has died of cancer just weeks before his 50th birthday. More
TNS has appointed David Kieselstein as CEO for North America, responsible for the US and Canada Custom Research businesses. He joins from D&B where he was General Manager of the Small Business Credit Division. More
London-based medical market research company Healthcare Landscape has launched what it believes is the first patient and nurse omnibus. More
In the US, Dr Raymond Pettit has joined the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) as SVP, Research & Standards, to support the body's Online Research Quality Council and manage and advance its research standards. More
US-based consumer research firm OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has upgraded its service for measuring ad effectiveness, to aid advertisers with channel planning and evaluation of integrated multi-media ad campaigns. More
For the first half of the year, European panels and software firm Toluna has posted a flat pre-tax profit of £1.39m, despite revenue growth of 36% to £8.2m million and organic revenue up 32%. More
In the US, a Greenfield Online stockholder has filed a class action lawsuit, alleging that the firm's acquisition by Microsoft for $486m undervalues the company. More
Social network site MySpace and the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) have launched a new web site where viewers can engage in the political process using tools such as a personalized issue scorecard, polling, reportable national statistics and live web streaming. More
Launch only in January, market research recruitment firm Hasson Associates has already outgrown its London offices and is moving to larger premises in Soho. More
TPI, the outsourcing data and advisory firm owned by Information Services Group (ISG), has launched a new business unit with an independent management team which will provide information and insights to outsourcing and offshoring service providers. More
Online fieldwork provider Research Now has established a joint venture in Shanghai and opened an office in Singapore, while launching eight new Asian panels. More
TM Forum – a trade body focused on the online information, communications and entertainment industries – has launched a new market research division to offer global market analysis of trends in the telecoms, cable, media and Internet sectors. More
Panels and software firm Toluna has expanded into the Asia Pacific region with the opening of a new office in Sydney, Australia. Mike Billingsley will head it up, bringing more than 20 years of market research experience. More
UK marketing services group Optimisa has seen its pretax profits tumble in the first half of the year, with 2nd quarter performance well below budget in all three of its major operating units. More
In the US, Nielsen has expanded its suite of out-of-home (OoH) media measurement services to cover the $1.3bn advertiser-backed video network business. More
The UK Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) has OK'd the use of Phorm's controversial user-behaviour ad-serving technology, stating that the system does not break EU data protection laws so long as users are given an easy option to opt-out. More
In the US, around 25 agencies, advertisers and social media companies have joined forces to form the Social Media Advertising Council (SMAC), an industry association established to set the first standards for buying and measuring marketing in the medium. More
204 weeks separate the Beijing Olympics and the start of the next games in London – precisely one week for each country that took part in the events in China. MrWeb will be following a trail across the world for the next four years, each week profiling one country and its research industry, linking also to news, jobs and suppliers. More
In London, the jury in the Cathy Marlow murder case has heard harrowing details of how the Research Now Finance Manager died. More
It's a good week for panel launches in Belgium. Yesterday Lightspeed, now European online data collection firm ODC has announced one, as well as launching a new tool to keep panellists motivated. More
In the US, gsi interactive has appointed Michael Summers as Senior Director of Usability, responsible for building and leading the usability practice. His role includes developing user research service offerings and leading gsi interactive's eyetracking lab. More
A study by Nielsen Mobile has shown that 20 million US households (c.17%) are without landlines and rely solely on mobile phones for their home telecommunications. More
Following last week's news that New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating the accuracy of Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) methodology, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram has followed suit and issued Arbitron with a subpoena seeking info about its PPM. More
Direct marketing and data group IPT (Interactive Prospect Targeting) is to sell off its UK business, including its research agencies Tpoll and Integra Insight. The firm is already in talks with potential buyers regarding various options for the sale. More
In the US, Proclivity Systems – which develops consumer shopping and purchasing behavior analytics – has raised $5.5m in Series B financing, led by Fung Capital USA Fund, with co-investment from WPP Digital and Pilot Group, as well as investors from the firm's Series A funding. More
After 12 years with the firm, Giorgio Caporusso has been named General Manager of Ipsos in France, following the departure of Joint MDs Pierre Giacometti and Stéphane Truchi at the end of last year. More
In the UK, online fieldwork provider Research Now has signed an agreement to create specialist business-to-business panels with online and offline publisher Reed Business Information (RBI). More
In the UK, user experience consultancy User Vision has launched what it describes as the first fully comprehensive multi-media testing lab with eye tracking, offering insights to broadcasters, set top box manufacturers, advertisers and content producers. More
In the US, Nielsen has appointed Ed Dandridge as Senior VP and Chief Communications Officer, responsible for managing communications between Nielsen and its key audiences and stakeholders inside and outside the company. More
US pharma and healthcare specialist HARPER has launched a new qualitative research methodology for understanding physician-patient interactions and prescribing decisions. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston, which owns market research agencies ICM and CML, has confirmed it is in talks over a possible buy-out funded by an as yet unnamed private equity firm. More
Arbitron has announced further moves to improve sample quality for its diary markets, aimed at enhancing the participation of 18-34 year olds in its radio ratings services. More
On a day of chaos for stock markets, shares in online research success story YouGov have continued to climb on speculation that it is pondering a large US buy, and might itself be the subject of a bid from a larger research or marketing services group. More
Opinionmeter International has upgraded its SurveyManager application, which designs surveys and processes online customer feedback collected via kiosks and other 'point of experience' media. The tool now allows the inclusion of multimedia content in questions and responses. More
WPP said today it would extend its offer for TNS shares to September 26th. Only 11% of shareholders had accepted the offer by today's 3pm London deadline, already an extension. More
Microsoft has set a deadline for the expiry of its share offer for Greenfield Online of midnight (NYC time) at the end of Wednesday, October 8 – an extension is allowed, if required. Elsewhere, the software giant reveals that it was first approached by ZM Capital with a view to buying and splitting the group, more than ten months ago. More
Wales has a new centralised social research body, WISERD, established with £9m in joint funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Initially the Centre pulls together expertise from five Welsh universities. More
Arbitron has this week reported bullishly on the progress of its PPM sampling, and responded in like manner to the Attorney General's subpoena, saying the media industry should be concerned about 'attempts to supplant or short-circuit the Media Rating Council accreditation process'. More
The Nielsen Company has appointed Dwight Watson, a fourteen-year veteran of the firm, to serve as MD of its Russian operations. His previous roles include MD in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. More
MMR Research Worldwide has announced a new suite of research methods for clients in the food, drink and CPG sectors; and has rebranded, and relaunched its web site. More
New York-based Mktg, Inc. has launched a digital fingerprinting tool, Crop Duster, which aims to spot and remove 'professional respondents' to online surveys. More
In the US, Media Monitors has become the first radio monitoring firm to be awarded accreditation by standards organisation the Media Rating Council (MRC) for its radio spot service. More
In the UK, healthcare specialist Adkins Medical Market Research has said it regrets an incident which led to questionnaires and documents containing personal medical details being dumped in a recycling bin. More
In the US, Gallup has upgraded its daily service which provides data on how Americans view the presidential election and the economy. More
Microsoft has revealed that it is selling the Greenfield Online Internet Survey Solutions (ISS) business to ZM Surveys, a 'shell' organization affiliated with media-focused private equity firm ZM Capital. Terms were not disclosed. More
US Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has begun an investigation into the accuracy of Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) methodology. The move follows pressure from the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) and a group of minority radio broadcasters. More
TNS Media Research has partnered with NDS – which supplies digital technology and services to digital TV platform operators – to develop and market an end-to-end set-top box (STB) audience measurement solution. More
Pharma and biotech specialist MattsonJack has introduced CancerNFluence – an online database of peer-nominated physicians who influence cancer treatment decisions. More
In China, mobile ad network operator Madhouse has partnered with research firm iResearch Consulting Group to help inform advertisers and investors about the latest trends in the country's mobile marketing sector. More
Full service agency Market Probe has extended its international footprint with the acquisition of UP-Point China in Beijing. The company, which will be renamed Market Probe China, has annual revenues of $8m RMB (USD $1.2m). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
A number of US research associations have come together to establish guidelines and metrics to promote high quality online panel research. More
UK researcher Matthew Lawrence has set up his own agency in Cyprus, offering all aspects of qual data collection and project management. More
WPP-owned global agency Millward Brown (MB) has partnered with research group Shiluv in Israel. More
UK supermarket giant ASDA has launched a new quarterly consumer confidence survey, with a panel of 10,000 of its shoppers who will provide feedback on topics such as personal finance, job security, the economy, and safety from crime. More
Dutch cable operator Ziggo is recruiting for what it claims will be one of the largest consumer panels in the Netherlands, with members offering opinions about its existing products and services, and providing input on future product development. More
Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) has rolled out its weekly online omnibus CARAVAN – which provides consumer opinion on brand awareness, product image, and market trends – across Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. More
In Singapore, Pauline Chia and Andrew Wood have opened Asia Talent – a market research recruitment consultancy, serving the needs of the industry across Asia. More
In the UK, The University of Reading and MMR Research Worldwide have opened a Sensory Science Centre, which will provide sensory evaluation data for MMR's food, drink and healthcare clients, as well as for the University's research and teaching programmes. More
In the US, Kelly Music Research's President Tom Kelly is to sell the patent for his moderator-free methodology for conducting music surveys at home. More
Nielsen has launched Mobile-PRIZM, a new product that combines the company's consumer segmentation and mobile media targeting tools, to help advertisers target mobile audiences more effectively. More
Experian has launched a new online 'Company Information' service to provide details about any UK private company, its shareholders and directors. The database also includes millions of companies in Asia Pacific and elsewhere. More
Malaysian firm Opinion Box, a market research agency that collects data among online community members, is to launch Blue Box, a project management system for use in online surveys and sample outsourcing. More
Shares in UK information group Informa fell 6.6% today, as the firm rejected a reduced £1.9m takeover bid from a consortium of three private equity groups, saying that it significantly undervalues the firm. More
UK-based online market research agency BrainJuicer has confirmed significant organic growth for the first half of the year, with revenue up by 37% from £2.9m to £3.9m. For the six months ended 30 June 2008, operating profit increased 33% to £196,000. More
In the US, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) – the trade publication for the film industry – has linked up with parent company Nielsen to offer a customized data analysis service, and appointed Nielsen Entertainment Media Analyst James Li to head the initiative. More
UK marketing services group TMN has reported that revenue for its research agencies iD Factor and ICD Research rose 42.5% to £2.7m in its end-of-year results (2007: £1.9m). Operating profit for the period was £532,000, compared with £388,000 last year. More
In Canada, Ipsos has released the latest version of its Interactive Forum (IAF) software, introducing multilingual capabilities including Chinese, Russian, Hindi and all major western European languages. More
In South Africa, food, beverage and packaging research agency BMI Foodpack has merged with retail and manufacturing intelligence specialist Adcheck Research, under the leadership of CEO Gareth Pearson. More
In the UK, private equity firm Blackstone has joined a consortium comprising the Carlyle Group and Providence Equity Partners, which is bidding for Informa, the owner of Datamonitor. Reports speculate that the offer price is about to drop substantially. More
Key metrics in the Research Industry Index (RII) compiled by US professional body MRA (the Marketing Research Association) remain relatively flat for the second quarter of 2008. Industry execs, however, are gloomier in their forecasts. More
In the US, Survey Sampling International (SSI) is moving to new global headquarters in Connecticut, having outgrown its existing offices in the area. More
US-based healthcare data collection agency All Global has launched a new Palliative Care Panel, providing access to more than 18,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists and healthcare professionals across 39 countries. More
In Dallas, Texas, online market research panel operator e-Rewards has appointed Steve Davis as Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer (COO). More
The European Commission has extended by ten working days its investigation into the potential effect on competition of communication group WPP's takeover bid for global agency TNS. More
In the US, the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) has joined with a group of minority radio broadcasters known as the PPM Coalition to ask the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) methodology. More
In London, the Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA) has made a number of appointments in marketing and insight roles, responding to demand for more campaign assessment and audience research. More
In the UK, the Telegraph Media Group (TMG) has pulled out of its sponsorship of the Ipsos MORI British Business Survey (BBS), saying it 'lacks credibility'. More
Online panel firm Research Now has opened an office in Dallas, headed by newly appointed VP of Client Development, Joe Cunningham. The firm has also made a number of appointments in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. More
In the US, women's fiction publisher Harlequin has launched a panel through which readers can influence the direction of future novels by voicing their opinions and sharing their book experiences directly with the publisher. More
Consumer specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has appointed Hans Jessen as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of European Services and Global Analytics Delivery. More
Magazine trade association the PPA (Periodical Publishers Association) is to consolidate its various research departments into a single research unit, following a review by incoming CEO Jonathan Shephard. More
In the US, Nielsen and Integrated Media Measurement Inc (IMMI) have begun delivering the first daily all-electronic national TV ratings for viewing outside the home. More
WPP has extended its offer to buy shares in TNS to 3pm London time on September 12th. The company's original deadline passed on Friday with only 8.61% of TNS shareholders accepting its offer. TNS continues to recommend rejection. More
UK healthcare fieldwork firm KeyQuest Health has today moved to new offices in the former home of writer Virginia Woolf in Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey. More
Greenfield Online has revealed the identity of its new potential buyer - Microsoft. Having offered $486m to clinch the deal, the software giant intends to sell Greenfield's online survey arm and just keep the Ciao comparison shopping web sites. More
In the UK, marcoms group Chime Communications has reported operating profits down 39% to £460,000 in its research division – which includes Opinion Leader, Facts International, Ledbury and Naked Eye. The firm is also set to launch a new digital research business in the autumn. More
In the US, ratings giant Arbitron has appointed Steven Smith as EVP of Survey Operations, responsible for both its Portable People Meter (PPM) and diary-based radio ratings services and overseeing more than 800 employees. More
Australia-based research software developer QSR International has added Spanish and Chinese language versions to its flagship NVivo qualitative research software tool. More
In India, Chintamani Rao, the CEO of TV broadcaster Times Now, has been appointed as Chairman of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) for a fixed term of two years. More
In the UK, employee-owned investment firm Cedar Rock Capital – the largest shareholder in TNS - is understood to have rejected ad giant WPP's latest £1.1bn offer. More
Following yesterday's news that it had shelved plans to acquire UK rival TNS, GfK has bounced back by announcing its highest rate of sales growth since the firm's IPO in 1999. Organic sales were up 11.4% for the quarter, and 8.4% for the first six months of the year. More
UK marcoms group Aegis has posted overall organic revenue growth of 8.2% for the first half of 2008. Research arm Synovate reports healthy revenue and profit rises but has reduced expectations for 2008 organic market growth to 4.1% from 5.1%, in the light of tough trading conditions. More
GfK has cancelled plans to acquire UK rival TNS after failing to secure funding for the deal. TNS, whose shareholders must vote this week on the bid of its remaining suitor WPP, also announced 6-monthly results today with revenue and profit rises both in double figures. More
Ipsos has acquired 100% of Alfacom, a Brazilian firm specialising in research and customer relationship management in the Latin America automotive sector. Terms were undisclosed. More
Business IT firm Infosys Technologies has launched a new platform which it says provides retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms with a 360-degree view of real-time in-store shopper and shelf activity. More
In the US, Greenfield Online has confirmed that it has received a 'superior proposal' of $17.50 in cash per share from an undisclosed potential buyer, and that consequently it intends to terminate the existing $15.50 per share merger agreement with investment firm Quadrangle. More
Media and marketing group Omnicom has combined its data and analytics agency Targetbase with its creative agency Claydon Heeley, and based the newly formed Targetbase Claydon Heeley at offices in London. The combined operation will offer 'creative consumer science' services across Europe. More
In New York, kids' entertainment firm Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group has promoted Jane Gould to the post of VP of Consumer Insights, responsible for coordinating consumer research and helping understand the attitudes, lifestyles and behaviors of target audiences. More
Ipsos MORI has announced that it is the first research agency in the UK to achieve registration to the international information security standard ISO 27001:2005; recognised as the means to establish, implement and monitor an information security management system (ISMS). More
Harris Interactive has announced results for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. Annual revenue was up 13% to $238.7m, but pro forma organic revenue was down 1%, with a decline of 3% in North American more than cancelling out good growth of 6% in Europe. More
WPP has announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30th June 2008, showing good revenue and profit figures in all regions and for all divisions including insight. While his own firm may be healthy however, CEO Sir Martin Sorrell says the current merger process is 'not doing [TNS] much good'. More
Australian polling firm Roy Morgan Research has angered the country's unions by sacking fifty-six interviewers in its Melbourne call centre by email and with little or no warning. More
In the USA, online research sample provider EMI Surveys has announced a partnership with online qual specialist Itracks; and the appointment of Annette Landesman as a Sales Executive. More
Lieberman Research Worldwide (LRW) has appointed two senior consultants, Mark Hartstone and Soumya Roy, PhD, to their European HQ in London. More
Less than a month after removing Vin Gupta from his role as Chairman of database giant and ORC parent infoGroup, the firm's Board has announced his resignation as CEO. More
Consumer and retail research providers The NPD Group and GfK Chart-Track, and publisher Enterbrain have partnered to produce a single source of data on video game software sales in their respective countries: the US, UK and Japan. More
In the US, broadcaster Radio One Houston has launched a new scheduling and ratings verification system, which will merge Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) data with ad schedules to provide ratings data based on schedule delivery. More
Research software and EFM provider Vovici has launched a new tool to allow organizations to collect survey data offline on any PC, and then upload the feedback to a centralized response database. More
Central London-based Jigsaw Research has opened a new office in Amsterdam, to support its growing international client base and to develop relationships with companies headquartered in the Netherlands. More
In the UK, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to conduct a major new household survey to uncover the long-term effects of social and economic change on the general well-being of the UK population. More
In the USA, former Sigma Director Joe Kiefer has launched a consumer agency, Culture Current. The firm aims to use innovative image association techniques to provide strategic thinking about customer behaviour and attitudes to products and services. More
TNS Gallup, in partnership with industry body the Norwegian Media Businesses' Association, is launching a new tool to measure usage of the mobile Internet in Norway. More
CNN has commissioned media measurement system provider Integrated Media Measurement Inc (IMMI) to track out-of-home (OoH) ad exposure for 10 clients of media agencies OMD and PHD, to help them justify their ad investment on the CNN networks. More
GfK will use the time available to it before making any offer for TNS, according to CEO Klaus Wuebbenhorst. This is likely to mean September, while WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell will see TNS shareholders vote on his proposals on 29th August. More
UK-based pharma consulting specialist J&D Associates has announced a licensing deal in Europe for ADSAM®, a proprietary technique for measuring emotional response. More
Panel operator e-Rewards Europe has announced a partnership with travel loyalty firm AIRMILES, whose members will receive miles for enrolling in the panel and participating in online surveys. More
Global marketing and advertising database TGI (Target Group Index) has been relaunched in South Africa, via a new company, TGI SA [Pty] Ltd, whose majority shareholder is Ask Afrika. More
New York-based start-up Media6Degrees, Inc. (Media6°) has announced the closing of a $9m series A round of funding led by U.S. Venture Partners. The company offers an innovative alternative to conventional segmentation for ad targeting purposes, grouping like-minded individuals using social graph data. More
In the US, professional body the MRA (Marketing Research Association) has announced the resignation of Director of Development, Lucy Haydu and the appointment of a new VP of Development, Ruth Freedman. More
Nielsen has reported increased second quarter revenues of $1,304m, up 12% from the same period in the previous year; and a year-on-year rise of 12% in first half revenues to $2,518m. More
Dubai-based communications and events agency Action Impact has opened a new 'Insight' division, to provide information about clients' objectives, as well as audience attitudes and expectations. More
Ipsos has posted a 4.5% increase in revenue to Euros 462.8m for the first half of 2008, and organic growth of 8.4%. Four of the firm's business lines reported double-digit organic growth during the period. More
UK-based global recruitment group Prime People plc has launched a research, insight and analysis division, Prime Insight, and has appointed Alice Glover, co-founder of recruiters NicholsonGlover Consulting, to head it up. More
Online measurement agency comScore is now providing two ways to measure audiences of online advertising networks – the 'potential reach' for each network, and an 'actual reach' reading. More
WPP has acquired a 27.5% stake in Nairobi-listed ad and marcoms agency and Millward Brown JV partner Scangroup, in a bid to expand its operations in Africa. Details and terms of the purchase were not disclosed. More
In the US, consumer information and research firm Knowledge Networks (KN) is launching a new panel to provide data about the US Latino population. To help ensure it is respresentative, KN will provide laptops and web connections to panellists who require them. More
In the UK, the Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA) has launched a tool to provide data about readership of national newspapers online. More
Online on-demand research specialist MarketTools has named Scott Arnold President & CEO, while Amal Johnson has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. More
US data collection agency Innovative Concepts is relocating its existing call center to Long Island City, NY and opening a new bi-lingual call center in the Dominican Republic later this week. More
In the US, EmSense – which creates physiological and brainwave measurement technology – has appointed Timothy Carlisle as SVP of Sales, to expand the firm's client portfolio and support development of its suite of media engagement measurement products and services. More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell says GfK is misleading the market about being able to pull together the resources to buy British rival TNS, and about having access to an 'unidentified but substantial source of capital'. More
In the US, Greenfield Online, which has recently received two takeover offers, has seen a decline in net income to $2.1m, compared with $3.1m a year earlier. More
In the UK, contact centre consultancy RXPerience (RXP) has become part of data-centric marketing services company, The Panther Group. More
Specialist UK research recruiter Hasson Associates has expanded with the appointment of Kate Langford as a Senior Associate. More
GfK has acquired US brand innovation consultancy Arbor Strategy Group (ASG) to complement new product development services for its Custom Research North America subsidiary. More
GlobalNR, a multi-country consortium of independent research agencies, has extended its reach across 21 countries with the addition of seven new members to its network. More
Online survey specialist, Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has launched an interactive tool to enable US panellists to participate in 'fun polls' posted on Facebook. More
Former ACNielsen Exec Terilyn Reber has established an international coalition of data collection agencies, to offer CATI/WebCATI and online research to clients around the world. More
Panels and research process outsourcing (RPO) firm The Pulse Group has opened a new office in Singapore, its third in the Asia-Pacific region. More
Online survey company Inquisite has unveiled the latest version of its Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) software, which features a new interactive analytics engine and report builder to provide feedback on customer and employee opinions and motivations. More
In the US, Greenfield Online has announced that in addition to the offer made by investment firm the Quadrangle Group to buy the company, a second offer has been submitted by an unnamed party to acquire its stock for $17.50 per share. More
GfK is reportedly in talks with private equity house Apax Partners about funding a cash bid for TNS, which last night outlined in a shareholder document why its Board had rejected WPP's most recent hostile bid. More
UK polling firm Populus has launched FIFTY+, a panel of 18,000 over-50s aiming to provide detailed information about their purchasing behaviour and attitudes. More
Audience measurement system manufacturer TruMedia has announced that Spanish firm VENCO Electronica is the first to integrate its iCapture audience measurement tool into digital signage screens, to track out-of-home exposure to media and advertising. More
In the UK, JICIMS (the Joint Industry Committee for Internet Measurement Systems) has appointed Research International's former Worldwide CEO Mark Cranmer as its first Chairman, heading up its initiative to establish a single online measurement currency. More
Indian-based market research outsourcing firm exëvo has launched a Global Technology Panel, comprising more than 125,000 dedicated business and consumer panellists across 15 countries. Meanwhile, Research Now has launched an online panel in India. More
UK-based healthcare fieldwork agency WorldOne Research has unveiled a European and US GP omnibus. The service taps into the firm's Global Physician Panel which includes more than 320,000 physicians and 60,000 allied healthcare practitioners worldwide. More
In the UK, TV marketing body Thinkbox has commissioned consumer agency Work Research to conduct an in-depth qual and quant research study to uncover online TV's value to advertisers. More
WPP has posted TNS shareholders a formal offer for the company, valuing it at $2.28bn. It includes news of an option to sell TNS' television monitoring arm TAM to Ipsos, if required to meet EU competition law. More
In the US, interactive marketing services provider Rosetta, whose expertise includes personality-based customer segmentation and web analytics, has recently acquired rival Brulant for an undisclosed sum. More
UK-based agency SPA has established a dedicated team to focus on Internet and Web research, and appointed Chris Handford to head it up. More
Pharmaceutical research leader IMS Health has confirmed the acquisition of Russian research and analytics firm RMBC, first announced in January. More
UK-based Quaestor has announced four internal promotions, including Rachel Hoy to Director of its fieldwork and DP division Quench. More
In the US, technology research and consulting firm Forrester has acquired rival JupiterResearch and its parent company JUPR Holdings for $23m in cash plus assumed liabilities. In addition, Forrester has posted Q2 revenue of $63.5m, compared with $55.2m last year. More
In partnership with Digital Media Group (DMG), Nielsen has conducted what it describes as the 'first ever' China subway TV rating survey, using an evaluation method that the pair say has never been applied to digital outdoor media until now. More
In the US, word of mouth (WOM) specialist Bazaarvoice has launched a new platform to allow companies to connect with customers on their eCommerce web sites. More
In the US, Vorex – a provider of online business intelligence software – has launched a tool which it says will allow any company to create and distribute its own 'professional grade' online surveys. More
In the US, healthcare data products and analytic services firm SDI has acquired pharma information provider Verispan. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, Dig Research has promoted Mark Broughton to Research Director, and appointed Emmeline Scott as Research Consultant, Matt Tindall as a Research Coordinator, and David Hollis as Competitor Intelligence Analyst. More
In the US, Nielsen has partnered with Mindset Media – a firm that creates consumer profiles of web users – to add personality profile mapping to its Homescan consumer purchase panel of 125,000 US households. More
In the US, consumer information and research firm Knowledge Networks (KN) has appointed Martin Zagorsek as EVP Client Service, in charge of Custom Marketing and the Media Research team in the firm's New York office. More
In the UK, the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) has launched a web-based tool to help users access and analyse the diary data in TouchPoints – the institute's consumer-centric multi-media survey which collects data about how people spend their time. More
GfK Asia has released its first Pan Asia contact lens retail forecast, covering sales in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore. More
GfK's discussions regarding a possible offer for TNS are 'progressing positively' the company said today, as it announced a strong order book from the first half of 2008 and a two-week delay in financial reporting. However, TNS has reportedly been talking to Sir Martin Sorrell and scouting for other possible buyers. More
In the US, the Association for Downloadable Media (ADM) has released the first ad measurement standards and guidelines for podcasts and other distributed digital content. More
TNS' Technology division is rolling out its ComTech study across Europe, giving customers access to 1.2 million interviews a year across the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. The research measures the converging markets of mobile telecoms, fixed line, broadband and Pay TV. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released its 'Ad Campaign Measurement Process Guidelines' for public comment. More
Indian regulator TRAI has worried researchers with its recommendations regarding the country's future TV audience measurement. Its conclusions favour 'self-regulation' via the newly constituted BARC body, but recommend the inclusion of government nominees on the latter's committees. More
In the US, Spanish-language media firm Televisa Publishing + Digital and consumer intelligence firm BIGresearch have partnered to open the Televisa Hispanic Insights (THI) unit, which will study the culture, behavior and future purchasing plans of Hispanic consumers. More
Aegis Media-owned out-of-home (OOH) communications agency Posterscope has expanded its US operations with a new office in Denver, and appointed Scott Blair Managing Director. More
US-based phama business intelligence firm Wolters Kluwer Health (WKH) and Nielsen have formed an alliance to analyse consumer purchasing behaviour for prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) and other health-related products. More
Web technology firm Bango has unveiled a new tool designed to help web site owners measure the value of mobile sites by accurately counting their unique visitors. More
In the US, employee survey firm Lightspeed Research - The Foresight Group has appointed HR survey veteran Jerry Halamaj as a Senior Consultant. More
US media ratings giant Arbitron has unveiled its new Portable People Meter (PPM) sample program, which aims to increase sample sizes prior to roll out of its delayed service this September. More
In the US, GfK-owned media and consumer firm Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) is to acquire sister agency Starch Communications – a firm that specializes in providing marketing intelligence on print ad effectiveness. More
In the US, opinion polling and message testing firm Capital Earnings & Research has launched a new forecasting model which it claims can 'poll the nation' and produce 'conclusive results' in 4 hours or less within a 4% margin of error. It has also promoted H. Richard Oprinski to the post of CEO. More
Edinburgh-based full-service agency Market Research Partners (MRP) has re-named its Northern Ireland-based CATI unit MRP Voice, and opened a new research office in Bangor, NI under the same banner. More
In the US, customer experience firm The DiJulius Group has partnered with business market research agency Direct Opinions to develop a new customer satisfaction test. The tool can measure an organization's customer service as a whole or by individual departments. More
IMS Health has announced second-quarter revenue up 12% (4% at constant currencies) to $600.7m. Operating income rose 11% (1% at constant currencies) to $131.4m. Net income on a GAAP basis was $77.7m, compared with $73.4m in the year-earlier quarter, an increase of 6%. More
Maritz Research has appointed Graham Devereux as Division Vice President of its newly created Retail Research Europe unit, responsible for strategy and business development and based in Marlow, Bucks, UK. More
Online data collection specialist Itracks has unveiled Canada Talk Now, a new online panel offering insights into Canadian consumer behaviour. More
In the US, the MRA has worked with CMOR to produce a self-assessment tool for panel companies to analyse and evaluate elements of their online research process and publish the results, providing assurance for potential users. More
In the UK, the BBC has awarded digital market research provider eDigitalResearch a three year contract to provide quarterly user analysis and usability surveys for a number of its bbc.co.uk web sites. More
US-based media ad network Pheedo has launched a dashboard to measure news feed (RSS) user behaviour, for advertisers distributing content through social media such as Facebook and MySpace, or through web sites and blogs. More
Medical technology MR firm The MarkeTech Group (TMTG) has launched what it believes is the first longitudinal panel of hospital-based imaging directors and managers working in radiology departments around the US. More
International ad consortium AMIN – the Advertising and Marketing International Network – has appointed GfK-owned Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) as its exclusive provider of multi-media audience, demographic, psychographic and product usage consumer data. More
Just over a year since joining TNS as Global Head of Access Panels, Robert Tomei has left to become President, Consumer & Shopper Insights at consumer analytics firm Information Resources Inc (IRI). More
In the UK, marketing services group TMN, the parent of research agencies iD Factor and ICD Research, has called off talks with private equity firm August Equity to fund a management buyout led by CEO Mark Smith and FD Craig Dixon. More
A bill drafted by the Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) to stop political persuasion calls (sometimes known as 'push polls') taking place in the state of Louisiana, has been passed by Governor Bobby Jindal. More
Two US researchers, Rich Woller and Nancy Stoll, have founded a new research firm focused on helping non-profit organizations better understand how they perform in their local marketplaces. Plum Market Research is based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. More
In the US, full service agency Creative & Response Research Services (C&R) has launched a tool for real-time identification and removal of duplicate respondents from online surveys. More
MR software provider Confirmit has increased revenue in the second quarter by 80% to $11.0m, and operating profit 154% to $1.2m. More
In the UK, TNS has promoted two execs to lead its new contracts for broadcasting research body BARB: Chris Balch becomes MD of the new BARB Service Team within TNS Media Research, while Graeme Griffiths takes on the role of Services Director for TNS Custom Media. More
In Q2, survey software and EFM specialist Vovici has achieved record growth in its Software as a Service (SaaS) business and in renewals from existing customers. SaaS bookings increased 157% over the firm's Q1 2008 performance, and 138% over the same period in 2007. More
In the US, WPP-owned market research and strategic communications consultancy Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates (PSB) has launched a new tool to offer clients advances in operations, sampling and deliverables. More
The GfK Group has acquired a 26% stake in UK agriculture and animal health research specialist dmrkynetec, increased its holding in GfK Danmark in Denmark, and formed GfK Albania to cover the central and east European regions. More
GfK is understood to have had talks with European private equity firm Cinven about finance for its bid for TNS. Such a partnership is likely to be treated with caution by major shareholder the GfK-Verein. More
In the UK, The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) is doubling the number of campaigns its quantitative research tool RadioGauge will analyse this summer. More
UK research and marketing insight consultancy McCallum Layton has expanded its services to include sensory testing, through a bespoke Sensory Testing Unit and panel in Leeds. More
In the UK, TAAP (The Application Airtime Provider) has launched a new palmtop data collection device to aid the face-to-face collection of fundraising information. More
GfK will not take 'unreasonable' financial risks in bidding for TNS, according to Klaus Wuebbenhorst. The CEO has played down the pressure on his firm, which is said to be in talks with 'other wealthy German families' in addition to the Herz family. More
Panels and software firm Toluna has been named the fastest growing company in France by the publication 'L'Entreprise'. The company saw turnover growth of 970% in the period 2004-2007, and since floating on AIM in May 2005 has more than tripled in value from £25m to £84m. More
Online research applications provider Itracks has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Artafact, LLC of Fremont, California, in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. More
Nielsen Media Research has been awarded a five-year contract to conduct the South African Advertising Research Foundation's (SAARF) All Media and Products Survey (AMPS) and the Radio Audience Measurement Survey (RAMS). The contract commences on 1st January 2009. More
US broadcast monitoring and verification service Media Monitors has been granted a patent for fingerprinting technology used to analyse audio samples. More
In the US, wireless survey provider Kinesis Survey Technologies has enhanced the real-time reporting capabilities of its software, and added support for the industry standard Triple-S XML export formats. More
German market research agency GfK has stressed today that there is no certainty it will make an all-cash offer for UK rival TNS, after the pair scrapped their plans to merge yesterday. More
Danish firm iMotions, which develops emotional response and eye-tracking software, has raised $2m (DKK 9.5m) in funding, which it plans to use to accelerate sales. The company has also appointed Peter Schmidt as Director of the Copenhagen office and COO of European Operations. More
Greenfield Online has completed a project to combine its Internet survey solutions business into one global survey platform for managing its panels and processing its clients' survey projects in North America, Europe and Asia. More
In the US, Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain is among the first users of a new polling system on business networking site LinkedIn. More
US blog and social network tracker Visible Technologies has joined forces with WPP digital marketing agency Beyond Interaction (BI) to provide new ways for the latter's clients to understand, measure and participate in social media. More
GfK, backed by an as-yet unnamed investor, is preparing to make a counter-offer for TNS in response to WPP's £1.08bn ($2.1bn) hostile bid announced this morning. More
In the UK, sensory panel company MSTS is being integrated with product development specialists Marketing Sciences. Both are part of the Insight Division of UK marketing services group Creston. More
In the US, Peanut Labs – which provides access to members of social networking sites – has partnered with online gaming community Acclaim Games to enable the latter's members to take market research surveys in return for in-game items such as weapons, clothing and character boosts. More
2007 was a mixed bag for US research providers, some reporting impressive growth and others struggling, according to figures in the latest Honomichl 50, just out. Overall, growth was a respectable 6%, the mean of the two previous years, achieved despite a US workforce reduction of c.1,300 among the top 50 firms. More
Rob Stevens, co-founder of UK-based behavioural research consultancy Bunnyfoot, has moved the firm's established eye-tracking expertise into a new, separate consultancy, which will test consumers' behavioural response to offline media including TV, print and outdoor, as well as packaging. More
In the US, Arbitron is adding web-based alert features to engage its key younger panelists, while a committee that advises the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on diversity investigates the device's alleged under-representation of minority groups. More
Despite approval from the Board of the GfK Verein, the 'merger of equals' with TNS continues to face pressure from two sides: Sir Martin Sorrell, who has one more day to decide for or against a 'hostile' bid; and workers and a former Chairman at the German firm he describes as 'very traditional'. More
GfK has acquired a majority share in games, music and video retail information provider Chart-Track Limited, upping its existing 9% stake to 55% from July 1st. Based in West London, the firm uses POS information to compile charts for music and video in Ireland and games software in the UK and Denmark. More
NBC Universal (NBCU) is to use the forthcoming Beijing Olympics as a unique testing environment for a more rounded measurement of media consumption, covering a wide variety of media. More
In New Zealand, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff has urged a legal review to consider the setting up of a national 'do not call' database similar to that in the US and Australia. More
The Administrative Board of GfK-Nürnberg e.V. has approved the firm's merger with TNS, leaving the vote of Verein members on 21st July technically unnecessary, 'though 'important'. Meanwhile, the bosses of TNS and WPP have been exchanging increasingly hostile comments. More
Lightspeed Research has announced three new appointments in its London office, located in currently tennis-mad SW19. Saleem Ghumranand and Alex Mazurovs join as Project Managers, and Fiona Bryce as a Product Marketing Director. More
TNS has fended off a third approach from communications giant WPP, stating that the bid still substantially undervalues the company. More
The proposed $426m sale of Greenfield Online to media and communications investment firm the Quadrangle Group is being hampered by complaints from investors Springhouse Capital and Pennant Capital that the agreed sum undervalues the company. More
Advertising, marketing and comms agency Omnicom has formed a consultancy, led by a dozen female execs, to help clients make connections with women – whether as consumers, customers, employees or other stakeholders. More
US-based online and mobile research supplier Invoke Solutions has upgraded its Engage Open service, offering asynchronous qual-quant research sessions for large and/or harder to reach groups. More
UK marketing communications group Aegis has acquired independent research agency Steadman Group in Africa, in a move which it says will add media monitoring and strategic consulting to Synovate's existing market research expertise. More
In the UK, the Panel Executive, an independent body which administers the City Code on takeovers and mergers, has ruled that marketing firm WPP must clarify whether it intends to make a firm offer for TNS by 9 July. More
UK-based Chime Communications, which owns MR agencies Opinion Leader, Ledbury Research and Facts International, is predicting that operating income will be 20% up on last year's £43.9m. Chime has also appointed former Australian politician Richard Alston as a Non-executive Director. More
US-based industry body the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has formed an Ethnography Special Interest Group (SIG) for its members to share their expertise and ideas. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive plans to make between fifteen and twenty full-time employees redundant. The firm says the move will help align the cost structure of its UK operations with the evolving needs of the business. More
In the UK, Andrew Cooper, Founder and Group MD of online panel firm Research Now, is to step down as part of a restructure designed to streamline management during the firm's next phase of growth and development. More
UK-based online market research agency BrainJuicer has recorded increased revenues of 38% for the first six months of 2008, and confirmed that it is growing in line with expectations. More
US-based online sample provider Peanut Labs has appointed Alison Morgan as VP of Technology Solutions, to lead market adoption of its OptimusID digital fingerprinting technology. More
Online on-demand research specialist MarketTools is rolling out its online sample quality system across Europe, commencing in the UK. More
Nationwide Insurance has partnered with the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University (OSU) to create The Nationwide Center for Advanced Customer Insights, dedicated to researching and evaluating consumer behavior in the United States. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has launched an industry-wide initiative designed to provide knowledge-driven answers to client questions about the overall quality and effectiveness of online market research. More
The proposed 'merger of equals' of GfK and TNS faces political opposition in Germany, reports suggest, with some German local authorities represented in the company's majority shareholding 'Verein' saying they will oppose the deal at next Friday's key meeting. More
Panels and Research Process Outsourcing (RPO) firm The Pulse Group has announced its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the PLUS markets in London, with trading commencing today. More
GfK NOP has launched a Media Insight division, to be headed by Julia Lamaison. The firm says the new division is a 'direct response to the market need for in-depth interpretation and insight from research data'. More
In the US, ad and media research specialist Sequent and the Center of Media Design at Ball State University (BSU) have partnered to launch a new media research company that will use 'state-of-the-art' methodologies to track consumer media behaviour. More
In the US, the founders of survey sample firm goZing have launched a new company to offer online survey solutions to the global marketing research industry. The pair have also hired four industry veterans to help them kick-start the business. More
Synovate Healthcare has launched its Diabetes Therapy Monitor in India, linking data about doctors' prescribing behaviour with patient profiles. More
In the US, Greenfield Online has partnered with market research technology firm RelevantView to incorporate the latter's RelevantID digital fingerprinting system into its patent pending Duplicate Response Detection (DRD) tool. More
Both TNS and WPP have reported healthy revenue growth in the first five months of 2008 - the former doing particularly well in the UK, balancing a slight decline in the US. Meanwhile Martin Sorrell has again asked TNS for more financial information. More
Digital video recorder (DVR) pioneer TiVo has partnered with media marketing research firm TRA to develop an ad research system that gauges how consumers makes household purchasing decisions based on ad exposure. More
Ipsos is to acquire Buenos Aires-headquartered research firm Livra Panels, which provides online panels and data collection services for market research agencies in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking markets. Terms were not disclosed. More
Oslo, Norway headquartered fieldwork group Norstat has acquired the data collection arm of Hermelin Research, based in Finland, to create a new company known as Norstat Finland. More
A group of research buyers from some of America's leading corporations is considering proposals which would create transparency guidelines for online sample; and revive the practice of providing technical appendices with study results. More
Insight and communications group Creston, which owns market research agencies ICM and CML, has reported a 25% rise in profits for the year ending 31 March 2008, and says it has yet to feel the impact of the economic downturn. More
The UK market research industry has reported revenue growth of 2.3% to an estimated £1.8bn, according to the latest figures from the Market Research Society (MRS). This follows growth of 2.5% in 2005 and 2.4% in 2006. More
UK-based sports sales and marketing group Goodform has acquired sports market research agency SportsWise. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based provider InsightExpress has launched a solution to improve potential respondents' online research experiences. More
UK-based sports marketing, insight and evaluation agency Sponsorship Intelligence (SI) has been commissioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to conduct both consumer research and media research into this year's games. More
European-based ad metrics testing firm MediaAnalyzer has partnered with Acrobat Research in Toronto, Canada to offer the former's eye-tracking analysis services to the latter's manufacturing, publishing and media research clients in the country. More
Ratings giant Nielsen Media has told clients it will drop its landline-based random digit dialling (RDD) telephone sampling method for recruiting paper diarists, from November, in favour of one using the addresses of prospective panel households. More
Buenos Aires-based research firm Livra Panels has launched a new online platform for recruiting panelists. The new site combines the features of social networking sites with online surveys and product reviews. More
In the state of Louisiana, US, a bill to combat political persuasion calls ('political telemarketing' or 'push polls') drafted by the Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) has passed both the State House and Senate with unanimous approval. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has upgraded its Professional Research Certification program (PRC) to make it easier and more convenient for market research professionals to become qualified, or to maintain their PRC status. More
European panel and survey technology provider Toluna has bought US-based panel management firm Common Knowledge for an initial $8.49m in cash and a deferred cash sum of $2.16m. More
Agricultural market research specialist Kleffmann North America (KNA) has announced plans to expand to Iowa City to accommodate current growth and growth projected in the next three years. More
As the US prepares for November's presidential elections, ad network Specific Media has launched a political segmentation solution which anonymously targets consumers by party affiliation, segments and issues. More
In the US, consultancy COLLOQUY has launched a national Retail Loyalty Index, to provide insight into which retailers consumers feel most loyalty towards. More
In the US, healthcare market research firm Decision Resources has acquired physician and consumer opinions agency Manhattan Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK consumer and market analyst CACI has won the first contract to process the Scottish Census using a mix of both traditional paper and online questionnaires. More
Online market research agency Lightspeed Research has launched Beauty and Personal Grooming Panels in the UK, Germany, France, Canada and the US, to offer data to manufacturers of personal care products, toiletries, cosmetics and related consumer goods. More
In the US, Internet ratings firm Quantcast has applied to the Media Rating Council (MRC) for accreditation of its online metrics and analytics services. Assessment will commence this summer. More
Greenfield Online is to be sold to private media and communications investment firm the Quadrangle Group for approximately $426m (£217m). More
TNS Chief David Lowden has today met with WPP's Sir Martin Sorrell to present him with the data his firm has already disclosed to GfK as part of the nil premium merger announced in April. More
Global information giant Experian has rolled out its Mosaic consumer segmentation tool online in Italy. The tool will provide users with access to classification of the population's lifestyles, and information about its consumption of a variety of products and services. More
Arbitron says it will resume the commercialization of its Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings service in eight markets, despite concerns from a coalition of Spanish-language radio broadcasters that its use could have a 'harmful impact' on the Hispanic marketplace. More
Responding to an article in the New York Times which has raised fears about billboards with facial recognition tracking systems, manufacturer TruMedia has sent a letter to the paper confirming that all data collected is anonymous and is only reported in aggregate. More
TNS is expanding its operation in Russia by rolling out its FasTrack 360° financial services tracking tool, which the firm says is the first of its kind in the country. More
In the UK, marketers remain upbeat about their own organisation's prospects even if they feel less positive about the UK's economic outlook, according to research conducted by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). More
In the UK, insight consultancy Truth has reported rapid growth since its launch last year – with client billings for 2008 forecast to exceed £3.5m. The firm is also considering opportunities for an overseas presence in Asia and the US. More
Synovate has launched a division which will offer an integrated approach to clients across the company's different service areas, to help them develop more profitable relationships with their customers. More
US technology specialist Yankee Group has partnered with Dubai-based researcher AMRB to offer thought leadership and analysis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. More
Consumer analytics firm Information Resources Inc (IRI) has added a number of new solutions to its Consumer Network household panel to enable clients to gather reactions from hard-to-reach respondents. More
In the US, Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has partnered with Peanut Labs – which provides access to members of social networking sites – to improve its reach among the 13-34 year old demographic, otherwise known as Generation Y (Gen-Y). More
TNS has agreed to open its books and give WPP the same information it gave to GfK as part of their recent merger agreement. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the GfK-TNS merger may face an EU competition probe; and may be 'sweetened' by a cash bonus for TNS shareholders. More
Pranesh Misra, Global Director Marketing Accountability at Lowe Worldwide, is leaving to launch a new firm offering KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) for marketing data analytics and 'insight mining'. More
In the UK, mobile survey firm OnePoint Surveys has partnered with Dipsticks Research to launch OmNow, a mobile omnibus promising nationally representative results within four hours. More
In the UK, newspaper publisher Mirror Group has launched an online research community, Mirror Mouthpiece, on the back of its 5,000-strong reader panel, operating since 2003. More
Google is integrating its Google Analytics traffic analysis tool with its Google TV Ads program. Some observers are interpreting the move as further evidence that the search giant is headed for direct competition with Nielsen. More
Online research specialist Lightspeed has made five recent European appointments including hires in its London, Paris and Hamburg offices. More
The partners of online feedback software and services firm Globalpark GmbH have announced a decision to convert to a public company, with immediate effect. Dr. Lorenz Gräf, previously MD, will become CEO of Globalpark AG. More
In Dubai, Arab MR firm Maktoob Research has expanded its service portfolio with the launch of two new offerings - Online Research Communities, a tool for building online market research communities; and SMS-based Mobile Research. More
Toronto-based QA and research supplier Sensors Quality Management (SQM) has launched an online mystery shopping tool aimed at small and medium-sized businesses in North America and named MyShop. More
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is to send surveys to 100,000 randomly selected New Yorkers, asking them to rate city services, at an estimated cost of $500,000. More
In the US, healthcare data management firm MedData, a division of AGDATA, LP, has acquired healthcare analytics firm ManagedCare.com. More
GfK and TNS have agreed the terms for their 'merger of equals' to create GfK-TNS plc. Aside from 'significant opportunities' for revenue growth, the firms say the move will bring annual pre-tax benefits through cost reduction of at least Euros 97m (£76m) by the end of the third full year following completion. More
infoGROUP, until this week known as infoUSA, is combining two of its market research businesses, recently acquired Guideline and Opinion Research Corporation (ORC), and has placed ORC President Gerard Miodus in charge of all operations for the new unit. More
Survey Sampling International has opened a new office in Seoul, South Korea, and appointed Simon (Quan) Zhang to lead it. Zhang worked previously for Tesco International Sourcing. More
Mobile survey specialist OnePoint has launched OnePoint Reward, an incentive system delivering cash to mobile phones, in the form of points which respondents can redeem immediately on completion of a survey, at 19,000 retail outlets across the UK. More
Reports in the UK press have suggested the GfK-TNS merger may be 'under threat' after TCS Capital Management, a US hedge fund, reportedly offered its 6% shareholding in the group to would-be TNS buyer WPP Group. More
Research Now has opened an office in Los Angeles, to be headed by Tobin Bailey as Vice President, Client Development, West and Central Regions. More
Online focus group specialist Itracks has announced a partnership with GroupNet, a network of 29 independently owned discussion facilities across the US. More
Full service healthcare consultancy Double Helix Development has announced the launch of Web Sthealth(TM), a tool for data-capture and analysis of patients in online forums. More
MR software provider Confirmit today announced the debut of version 12.5, the latest update of its flagship product. In addition to immediate benefits, the firm says it lays the foundation for big changes in the future releases. More
comScore has announced the acquisition of mobile measurement firm M:Metrics, Inc., for a cash payment of $44.3m and the issue of c.50,000 share purchase options for comScore stock. More
UK firm Opinion Health has acquired Pearl Medical, which operates a panel of around 2000 primary-care doctors. More
UK-based agency Nunwood has announced ten recent appointments, plus the promotion of two of its directors to the Board. More
Nielsen has extended its online audience profiling service to the mobile Web. The new service provides marketers and publishers with lifestyle and demographic information for the audience of more than 200 mobile web sites. More
B2B specialist Kadence has officially launched in China with the opening of a Hong Kong office, and says it will launch a Shanghai office before the end of the year. More
US-based online sample provider Peanut Labs has this week announced the formation of a consultative group of prominent researchers and clients to study and combat the problem of fraudulent online responses. More
Ipsos has launched a Spanish language omnibus service, the Ipsos Hispanic Express Omnibus, billed as the only Hispanic Omnibus survey to start every week. Each wave consists of 500 interviews completed either in English or Spanish, according to respondents' choice. More
ION Media Networks has appointed Carole Smith as Vice President of Research. Based in New York, she is charged with building a strong research department to design and conduct qual and quant research. More
Harris Interactive has announced the UK launch of two solutions, the Customer Commitment Model and Employee Ambassadorship, at a seminar in County Hall, London. More
YouGov is gearing up for the launch next month of an investment fund based on research findings from its YouGovAlpha subsidiary. More
Research International's New Zealand MD Colin Yee has been appointed as Chairman of AMRO New Zealand, the country's Association of Market Research Organisations. Yee has been Deputy Chairman for the past two years. More
UK-based research and consultancy group Optimisa has reduced its revenue projections for the year by more than 15% following what it calls 'extremely disappointing' trading conditions in the last month and a half. Shares in the group have lost almost a third of their value since Wednesday. More
Behavioural targeting and browser tracking remain hot topics. This week saw a US lawmaker quizzing Google on data security issues relating to its takeover of DoubleClick; it also saw the launch of software which runs interference with trackers like Phorm by random background web surfing. More
UK-based specialist B2B International is following up a successful office launch in China last year with a New York office, opening next month. More
Canadian-based public opinion and market research firm Angus Reid Strategies is to open a New York office, and has appointed MR veteran Tom Neri to run it as Executive Vice President and Managing Director. More
MrWeb, the world's busiest daily news and jobs service for market researchers, has expanded with the appointment of Chris Jensen as Marketing Executive. Initially, his focus will be on building the site's Asian and US job listings, and its UK and international audience. More
Indian-based KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) firm The Smart Cube will launch operations in Romania and Hong Kong, and will be expanding in the US, the UK and India. More
B2B specialist Kadence has appointed Rowena Lim as Project Director, to support the ongoing expansion of its Asia-Pacific company. More
In the US, the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) has formed an advisory council to explore 'industry issues and opportunities' surrounding Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM). More
In Northern Ireland, outsourcing firm Forward Emphasis is setting up a second contact centre in Donegal where it plans to create 100 new jobs in market research, customer care, and claims processing and adjudication over the next three years. More
In the US, former Research International (RI) executives Diane Frederick, Alice Fawver and Shaikat Sen have launched a new market research consultancy which they say delivers a 'fresh approach' to business decision-making. More
US online agency InsightExpress has received authorization to conduct brand effectiveness research studies across the Google content advertising network, which encompasses hundreds of thousands of web sites ranging from international publishers to one-off niche sites. More
In the UK, digital marketing group TMN, which owns research agencies iD Factor and ICD, is in talks with private equity firm August Equity over a possible £38.5m management buy-out led by CEO Mark Smith and FD Craig Dixon. More
In the UK, another first for Portsmouth. Foot traffic monitoring firm Path Intelligence, based in the city, is testing patent-pending surveillance technology that continuously tracks mobile phone signals to understand the movement of shoppers as they flow through retail centres or public amenities. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has hired 11 new staff on the back of 2007 revenue and project growth. To support the recruitment process, the firm implemented a strategy which included fostering university relationships and offering referral incentives. More
In Australia, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has appointed Paul Fisher as its first CEO. He takes up the new post at the beginning of July. More
US-based parental control software developer SearchHelp has launched new technology which analyzes sentiment in digital content such as blogs, forums, e-mails, instant messaging and mobile text. More
In Canada, research software developer Vision Critical has reported triple digit growth for the third consecutive year. The firm has also teamed up with US full-service agency Creative Marketing Research (CMR) to develop proprietary online customer advisory panels. More
In the US, the Media Ratings Council (MRC) has created a new code of conduct requiring audience ratings firms to obtain accreditation before launching a new measurement currency into the marketplace. More
Nielsen has completed the acquisition of TV ad effectiveness firm IAG Research, which will be re-branded as Nielsen IAG. More
UK agency Shopping Behaviour Xplained has developed a new technique called Xtraviews, which claims to capture and analyse not just what people say, but how they say it and what they really mean. More
Ipsos first quarter revenues rose 6.2% to €217.3m from Q1 2007. Despite slow going in North America, global organic growth reached 9.6%, which the firm said exceeded its full-year targets. More
GfK has described its Q1 results as 'sound', with organic growth in sales up 5.1% to €268.1m and consolidated total income rising almost 21% to €12.5m. More
US neuromarketing research agency NeuroFocus has recruited Michael Smith for its newly created post of EVP for Client Services. More
US data collection firm Datascension has reported revenue growth of 12.5% to $5.35m for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Operating income for the quarter was $140,500, compared with an operating loss of $136,900 for the same period in 2007, helped by cost-cutting measures. More
US online ad platform TargetSpot has begun providing its nationwide network of more than 600 Internet radio stations with access to comScore Arbitron Online Radio Rating audience estimates. More
Ipsos North America has concluded the acquisition of media research specialist Monroe Mendelsohn Research (MMR), which it says will further strengthen its global media research team, particularly in the North American market. More
Nielsen has reported $1,214m revenues for Q1, an increase of 13% from Q1 2007. Excluding the impact of currency fluctuations, the increase was a healthy 8%. However, the firm still made a net loss from continuing operations of $82m. More
WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell has increased his offer for TNS from £948m to £996m (($1.9bn), but has been rejected for a second time by the market research group's Board. More
Media giant Disney is planning to open a laboratory in Austin, Texas which will conduct year-round research to test the biometric reactions of consumers to emerging media and interactive advertising. More
Greenfield Online, Inc. has reported first quarter results, with rapid revenue growth for its Comparison Shopping business (up 60.3% year-on-year to $10.8m) masking a 3% decline for its Internet survey solutions segment. Greenfield has also agreed in principle to settle a pending class action lawsuit regarding 'false and misleading' projections. More
Business information provider D&B last week reported results for the first quarter of 2008, ended March 31st. Revenue rose 8% on the year (excluding currency effects) to $414.7m, of which the Sales & Marketing Solutions division accounted for $109.7m, up 5%. More
Advertising and brand equity research division Ipsos ASI has introduced two new tools, Next*360 and CampaignLab, to help marketers evaluate and optimize multi-media ad campaigns and communications prior to final execution. More
Recently acquired infoUSA company Opinion Research Northwest has launched IDetailing(TM), an online qualitative solution for 'ideation' and brainstroming. More
GfK CEO Klaus Wübbenhorst has told employees of the German-based global agency that the proposed merger with TNS would mean more jobs, not fewer. Prof. Wübbenhorst said comments suggesting the contrary from WPP's Martin Sorrell were 'morally reprehensible'. More
European online MR agency MetrixLab increased revenues 76% to €14.5m in 2007 and is anticipating further growth to €19m in 2008 and €27m in 2009. To support this organic growth, the firm is planning to hire up to 40 new MR professionals this year, and expand with a US office in 2009. More
UK-based EPG Health Media has launched a new online panel of healthcare professionals in Europe, for regular participation in clinical and scientific surveys. The company also says it has 'ambitious plans to provide global reach'. More
Bodies representing most Indian broadcasters and advertisers have given a thumbs down to the idea of government intervention in television ratings, known as TRPs. More
Canadian-based research software firm Voxco has updated its flagship application to include a data collection module via CAMI, for surveys conducted on mobile phones. More
Online customer satisfaction management firm Foresee Results has partnered with online customer experience management (CEM) firm Tealeaf, to allow companies to maximize online customer satisfaction and return on their investment in site tools. More
Figures from the Research Industry Index (RII) compiled by MRA (the Marketing Research Association) suggest that the industry in the US is already suffering as a result of the country's economic slump. More
US healthcare consultancy Quintiles is planning to acquire Boston-based decision-analytics and market research consulting firm Eidetics. Terms have not been disclosed. More
US-based media and market intelligence agency Biz360 has secured $10m in funding which it will use to develop social media analysis tools, extend its existing suite of business intelligence products and hire new sales and marketing personnel. More
UK research agency Conquest has launched an online tool to measure unconscious emotional reactions to brands by tapping into the metaphors consumers use to describe and express their feelings. More
In the US, word of mouth (WoM) measurement and analytics firm ChatThreads has launched Conversation Value, a new tool that quantifies the revenue impact of every conversation about a client's product or service. More
Pulse Group is to give regional coverage to its online travel survey. Already rolled out in Malaysia with support from Tourism Malaysia, the firm plans to extend the study to other markets including Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. More
In the US, The Radio Research Consortium (RRC) – a non profit organization which provides audience data to non-commercial radio stations – has signed a multi-year deal with Arbitron for diary and Portable People Meter (PPM) syndicated radio ratings services. More
From next month, AOL's ad business Platform-A will offer TACODA's advanced suite of behavioral targeting solutions across its entire network, which includes all AOL-owned and operated sites such as AOL News and Sports, along with sites in the Advertising.com third-party network. More
Groundbreaking New York-based media research firm TRA (True ROI Accountability for Media) has appointed James O'Hara as EVP of Sales. More
Nielsen Media Research has sent clients a 9-page letter explaining its plans for the transition to digital-only TV broadcasting, which comes into effect in February 2009. To accommodate the transition and avoid potential disruptions, the firm will be moving its February 2009 TV viewing 'sweeps' to March. More
Online survey and analysis tool provider SurveyGizmo has secured funding which will be used to expand staffing. More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell has said that he is surprised and disappointed by TNS' 'cavalier' rejection of his £1bn part-cash / part-share offer to purchase the firm. More
YouGov has won the battle of the pollsters in London's Mayoral race, correctly predicting the result and the margin, and leaving more egg on the face of outgoing Mayor Ken Livingstone whose team had claimed its survey figures were 'farcical'. More
Research software and EFM provider Vovici is helping companies launch their own community panels and web sites through its new Vovici Community Builder; designed to gather in-depth feedback on customer sentiment, satisfaction and loyalty. More
Harris Interactive has reported third quarter fiscal 2008 results showing consolidated revenue up 11% to $57.3m, with a very good performance from newly acquired companies in Asia, France, Canada and Germany. However, due to declines in the US and UK, consolidated pro forma organic revenue dropped 4%. More
In the US, Nielsen Online has formed a Digital Strategic Services group, to help advertisers manage their online reputations on social media platforms. The new group is headed by Pete Blackshaw, EVP of Nielsen Online and former CMO of Nielsen BuzzMetrics. More
In the US, Survey Sampling International (SSI) has conducted a study to analyze the motivating psychological factors behind survey participation using a new principle called self-determination theory or SDT. More
In the US, media communications agency Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has partnered with online research agencies GMI and InsightExpress to conduct a tracking study which aims to uncover how ad messages influence consumer intentions to buy. More
In the US, an institutional investor has filed a law suit against ratings giant Arbitron, charging the firm with 'false and misleading statements' regarding the roll out of its Portable People Meter (PPM) service. More
CRM outsourcing firm the ICT Group has reported a first quarter revenue drop to $108.7m from $115.2m in Q1 2007. Net loss for the 2008 first quarter was $1.0m, or $0.06 per diluted share. More
Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) has launched Small Business CARAVAN, a shared-cost US omnibus study which 'checks the pulse' of the small business community. More
In the US, online measurement firm comScore has enhanced its comScore Plan Metrix service, which links consumers' offline behaviour and attitudes with their online activity. More
US mobile ad network AdMob has introduced a new system to improve understanding of user behavior and measure usage of mobile web sites and mobile ad campaigns. More
UK-based panels firm Research Now is anticipating total revenue for the six months ending 30 April 2008 to exceed £18.5m versus £9.9m last year – a leap of 85%. Operating profit is expected be £2.3m, up from just £300,000 a year ago. More
In the UK, online market research agency YouGov has launched a new syndicated tracking service to connect with the 32% of the population who were born between 1946 and 1964. More
UK full-service agency Market Research Partners (MRP) has launched a monthly qualitative omnibus. The new Qualbus format allows clients to buy 30-minute sections on any of the firm's four different monthly focus groups. More
WPP-owned digital marketing firm 24/7 Real Media has partnered with Mindset Media – a company that creates consumer profiles of web users – to enable advertisers to target consumers with ads based on their personality traits. More
Top five global MR firms TNS and GfK are in discussions about a possible 'merger of equals', which would create the world's second-largest market and information group. More
Last year saw a 3.5% increase in the number of focus groups and other qual market research interviews conducted worldwide, according to FocusVision's annual 'Focus Group Index'. The figure matches the previous year's growth. More
In the US, pharma research giant IMS Health has joined with ten academic researchers to establish the Health Services Research Network (HSRN), to conduct detailed, national-level studies of key health services and their outcomes. More
UK radio audience body RAJAR will cut short its investment in its experimental electronic measurement panel, run by TNS using Arbitron's PPM, and will launch an industry-wide review of audience research options. It will also field test a new online diary system, to be designed by Nunwood, in July. More
BBM Canada, supplier of radio and television audience ratings services to the Canadian broadcast advertising industry, has selected a joint bid by TNS Media Research and Arbitron Inc to deploy Portable People Meter (PPM) technology to measure TV and radio in Canada. More
A spokeswoman for incumbent London Mayor Ken Livingstone has denounced as 'farcical' figures from pollsters YouGov, which suggest rival candidate Boris Johnson has widened his lead from six to ten points. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has opened a new office in Stockholm, Sweden, as a hub for servicing its existing clients and developing new business in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. More
In the US, NielsenHealth has launched a series of 32 'Ailment Panels' to provide manufacturers and retailers with insights into consumer related attitudes and behaviours of patients suffering from diseases and medical conditions. More
US membership organisation MRA (Marketing Research Association) has launched a portal where clients, agencies and sub-contractors can evaluate and comment on each other's services online. More
WPP has announced first quarter like-for-like revenue growth of just under 5%. Reported revenues were up 14.1% to £1.56bn for the group and up 11.3% to £227.1m for Kantar, the group's information, insight and consultancy arm. More
UK-based brand and insight agency Added Value has appointed Janine Hawkins as Global CEO, replacing Angus Porter who is leaving to take up the position of Group Strategy Director with Thomas Cook Group from 1 June. More
The growth of MR subsidiaries iD Factor and ICD Research is expected to help parent TMN plc to full-year pre-tax profit within 10% to 15% of management predictions, despite a significant shortfall at its email marketing agency EDR. The latter's quarterly revenues will be around £1.5m below earlier predictions. More
MediaVest has become the first media agency to sign up for MR firm TRA's recently launched service, which matches viewing data from digital set-top-boxes with offline shopping behaviour data provided by loyalty cards scanned at grocery checkout counters. More
UK based data processing agency MRDC has doubled the size of its operation in Thailand and employed extra staff to man the expanded unit. Employees David Ward and Fiona Turnbull have meanwhile become Directors in the UK. More
Seattle-based MR software and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has partnered with publisher TechTarget to launch a double-opted in panel of IT professionals and decision-makers. More
UK-based Chime Communications, which owns MR agencies Opinion Leader, Ledbury Research and Facts International, has reported a 29% increase in its first quarter profits as a result of tight cost controls. Double-digit growth was reported across all areas of the business. More
In the UK, consumer research agency rdsi is bringing together its qualitative and quantitative research teams at its headquarters in Islington, Central London. More
Social networking site Facebook has launched a stats tracking tool called Facebook Lexicon, which counts the number of times a word crops up on profiles, groups, and forms – known as 'Facebook Walls' – in its network. More
Healthcare research consultancy Double Helix has moved its UK headquarters to new purpose-designed offices in Baker Street, London. Meanwhile Rebekah Turner joins as Research Manager and Natalie Champness and Ben Shankland as Project Managers. More
UK research and marketing insight consultancy McCallum Layton has hired former Nunwood exec John McCambley as Brand Marketing & Communications Manager, and Synovate's Mark Gentry as Research Manager. More
US start-up UserVoice has launched an online community where customers can contribute to a client's product concept and innovation. More
San Francisco-based social media specialist BuzzLogic has acquired blog retrieval firm Activeweave. The buy is intended to enhance the firm's analysis of online influence, and to strengthen and grow its Conversation Targeting solution. More
US media ratings giant Arbitron has posted first quarter profit growth of 5.5% to $16.3m. Revenue for the period ended 31 March rose 5.5% to $94.1m from $89.1m in the prior year, almost in line with Wall Street expectations. More
In the US, customer and employee engagement specialist PeopleMetrics has formed a division dedicated to the market research needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. More
Cincinnati-based Empower Mediamarketing has launched a new proprietary tool to measure and analyze consumer-generated media. More
Indian company Satyam Computer Services has bought the market research and customer analytics operation of Caterpillar Inc. for $60m (c.£30.2m); and Belgium-based consulting firm S&V Management Consultants for $35.5m (£17.8m). More
As planned, global agency Synovate has brought its London-based teams into a single flagship location in Minerva House, London Bridge, SE1. More
Insight and communications group Creston plc performed in line with expectations in the 2008 financial year, delivering revenue growth of c.16% year-on-year, or 8% on a like-for-like basis, according to a pre-close Trading Statement. More
Online research software firm Survey Analytics has today unveiled the public beta of IdeaScale, offering web site owners a means to get user feedback, and users the chance to promote good ideas to the top of a list. More
In the US, the Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) has responded to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) proposals to regulate online behavioral advertising, by requesting that any definition of the practice excludes survey opinion and marketing research. More
US data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has acquired Interactive Video Production (IVP), the owner of MobiLAB usability testing lab services. More
German ad metrics and testing firm MediaAnalyser has entered the US market by opening a New York office and clinching a deal to work exclusively with the magazine publisher Condé Nast. More
US data collection firm Datascension has logged revenues up 37% to $20.3m for the year ended 31 December 2007; however, operating income tumbled 70% to c.$92,000 from c.$313,000 last year. More
Kantar Operations – the internal operations division for the Kantar Group – has ditched its dedicated consumer interviewer panel due to the continuing advance of online data collection. More
Datamonitor founder and former CEO Mike Danson has upped his stake in takeover target TMN plc, the UK-based parent of research agencies iD Factor and ICD Research, to 19.2%. More
US building industry web site ToolmanDepot.com is recruiting contractors to join an online research panel, to gather information on their likes, dislikes, behaviors and attitudes on behalf of industry manufacturers and service providers. More
Finnish research agency Kuulas is to become a Millward Brown licensee. The new operation, known as Kuulas Millward Brown, will offer research solutions to clients in Finland and the Baltics. More
In the UK, direct marketing and data group IPT (Interactive Prospect Targeting) has posted a pretax loss of £966,000 for the year to 31 December 2007, compared with a profit of about £3.39m the previous year. More
Aegis-owned out-of-home (OOH) communications agency Posterscope has conducted its first survey in the US to examine the OOH landscape through the 'lens' of the consumer. More
In British Columbia, Canada, new legislation has been passed which according to Health Minister George Abbott, prohibits disclosure of information from electronic databases for market research and allows individuals access to their own health records and medical information. More
In-Touch Survey Systems has announced that it will acquire MarketLine Research Inc., supplier of the MarketVU CATI / analysis system. In-Touch also announced first quarter revenues up 20% over Q1 2006 but short of previous guidance estimates. More
UK marketing budgets have been revised downward for the second quarter running, according to the IPA's quarterly survey of marketing spend, the Bellwether Report. MR is in the 'all other' category, which the survey says is the worst hit. More
Acrobat Research is to acquire the Omnitel omnibus / tracking business of Maritz Research Canada. Running since 1986, Omnitel interviews 2,000 Canadians from across the country each week on a wide variety of topics. More
Nielsen Online has been selected by the Italian Joint Industry Committee 'Audiweb' as the provider for its system to monitor digital media in the country. More
Fast-growing UK provider The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has been bought by two of its directors, Andrew Tharme and Chris Sinclair, with the aid of venture capital. Former TRBi CEO Laurence Curtis also joins, as Chairman, with immediate effect. More
In the US, Spanish-language media giant Univision Communications Inc. has announced further collaboration with Nielsen, aimed at providing improved measurement and insight covering the Hispanic consumer segment. More
In the UK, online research software provider Demographix is to launch Panelwise, a fully-integrated panel management system incorporating new Web 2.0 based interactive workflow features. More
In the US, TV network AMC has partnered with Nielsen to develop a new Audience Identity Metric (AIM) that segments the audience by behavior, as well as a new 'Ad Vantage' metric for advertisers to measure ad receptivity across the industry. More
In the US, customer data integration firm Acxiom has partnered with travel research agency DK Shifflet & Associates (DKSA) to provide travel companies with insights about the buying and travel behaviors of customers and prospects. More
Database giant and ORC parent infoUSA has reported preliminary unaudited first quarter revenue of $191m, compared with $158m recorded the previous year. EBITDA was $27m for Q1 2008, compared with $24m for Q1 2007. More
Nielsen Online has appointed four new senior members of staff in the UK to support its growth in EMEA markets. More
In the US, Scarborough Research has expanded its consumer and media research services with the introduction of a new online panel specifically for the youth and teen markets. More
GfK has made a series of acquisitions, including Turkish market research firm Bilseim International, the remaining 35% of Swiss oncology specialist GfK Research Matters, the Brazilian MR company Shopping Brazil, and the watch panel set up by French MR agency Société V. More
In the UK, marketing services group Optimisa has reported a climb in pretax profits to £1.26m from £0.73m, while revenue rose to £11.42m from £5.89m a year ago. Gross profit also increased 75% from £4.62m to £8.09m, and the Board says it is looking forward to 2008 with confidence. More
In the UK, Tangent has pulled out of talks to acquire rival digital marketing company TMN, parent of research agencies ID Factor and ICD Research. Meanwhile newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror and private equity firms August Equity and 3i are all believed to have expressed an interest in buying the c.£40m business. More
Panel and software provider GMI (Global Market Insite) has increased the size of its Singapore consumer panel from 40,000 to 85,000 double opted-in members. More
Consumer packaged goods specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has partnered with the GfK/TNS-owned Europanel Association to offer what the firms describe as 'the widest-reaching, single-panel research service in the world'. More
The Traffic Audit Bureau (TAB) has commissioned data from two additional research agencies to add to its forthcoming outdoor audience measurement initiative. The new research will track the likelihood that passersby will see a billboard, and then integrate this probability into the overall measurement. More
In the US, Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) has launched Market-by-Market, a service providing local market versions of its studies on the media usage, lifestyle and product purchasing behavior of US consumers. More
In the US, online on-demand research specialist MarketTools has launched a new system to improve the quality of online sample. More
Nielsen has agreed to acquire US-based audience engagement firm IAG Research for $225m; and will make it 'the cornerstone for a new analytics practice'. More
For the year 2007, European panel and survey technology provider Toluna has reported sales growth of 49% to £12.5m, and pre-tax profits up by 42% to £3.2m. More
London Mayor Ken Livingstone is to make an official complaint against UK polling firm YouGov, following publication of a poll putting him 13 points behind his main rival in the race to retain his job. More
Synovate has launched a new service called Market Barriers, which measures the obstacles that brands face – such as distribution, pricing and product configuration – and reports back on the impact that these have on customer choice and market share. More
In the US, data collection solution firm Gravic has launched the latest version of its web-based data collection and analysis software, Remark Web Survey 4. More
In the US, Forrester Consulting has been commissioned by a consortium of virtual world companies to help define standard marketing and engagement measures for the virtual space. More
US database consulting and research firm InfoCommerce Group (ICG) has launched a division catering for the medical, life science and healthcare sectors. More
In the US, research technology specialist MarketTools has acquired Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) firm CustomerSat, which will form the basis of a new Customer Insight Management division. More
JD Power and Associates has acquired Umbria, a consumer market research company that analyzes intelligence gathered from social and consumer-generated media. Terms were not disclosed. More
New York-headquartered Millward Brown Optimor – the consulting unit dedicated to brand strategy and marketing investment – has formed a strategic partnership with Brazilian brand consultancy BrandAnalytics. More
US-headquartered data collection firm Western Wats is to add to its presence in the Philippines by opening a new 500-seat call center in Davao City in mid-July. The firm, which also operates in Cebu City, has already invested between P60m and P70m (c$1.5m) in the new operation. More
In the US, GfK Roper Public Affairs and Media has partnered with independent government advisor and author Simon Anholt to expand his annual Nation Brands Index (NBI); which provides an analytical ranking of the world's nation brands. More
New-York headquartered online customer satisfaction specialist iPerceptions has opened a permanent office in central London to provide a 'gateway' for its services into the UK and the rest of Europe. More
London-based Q Research – which specialises in using the mobile phone to conduct large scale market research with young people – has developed a mobile research platform for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) projects and satisfaction surveys. More
In the US, customer relationship management solutions firm eLoyalty has launched a new version of its Behavioral Analytics software to offer insights into customer attitudes to their experience of call centers. More
In the UK, digital entertainment firm HUGE Entertainment has formed a partnership with ethnic research firm ETHNOS. The venture aims to help media owners and platform operators to identify revenue-generating on-demand entertainment opportunities among ethnic audiences. More
Strategies, a member of the Harris Interactive global network of independent market research firms, has launched a survey it claims is the first to analyse new trends among readers of Jordanian newspapers and magazines, as well as radio station audiences. More
Mobile media measurement firm M:Metrics and multimedia research agency Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) are to combine their US offline and mobile media audience metrics to help agencies and mobile operators better integrate mobile into their cross-media campaigns. More
In the US, the anti-trust lawsuit raised by TV ratings company erinMedia against Nielsen Media Research (NMR) has been dismissed by the court, with terms of the agreement remaining undisclosed and both parties agreeing to pay their own court costs. More
In the US, marketing intelligence firm GOLIATH Solutions has closed a $27m investment deal. The funds will be used to roll out the firm's real-time proprietary tool which analyzes consumer reaction to store displays, signs and merchandising. More
In the US, QualVu – which creates online video research tools – has launched ReportBuilder, an application designed to help researchers utilise online user-generated video for market research. More
YouGov has announced interim results for the six months ended 31 January 2008, with acquisitions helping to treble its turnover and more than quadruple its headcount year-on-year. Organic revenue growth was 43% while profit before tax increased 30% to £3.0m. More
The Nielsen Company has announced results for the year ended December 31, 2007. The research giant narrowed its loss from $368m in 2006 (pro forma) to $282m, and grew reported revenue to $4,707m, a rise of 13% from its pro forma figure for 2006, or 7% adjusting for currencies and deferred revenue. More
GfK has confirmed a record year of trading in 2007 with organic sales up 5.8% to EUR1,162m. Adjusted operating income rose 4.7% to EUR157.6m and margin crept up to 13.6%. The firm has also announced plans to change its legal form to an SE, or Societas Europaea. More
Online survey firm QuestBack AS Norway is launching a Canadian operation, QuestBack Canada Inc., led by John McTrusty as MD. More
From next January, Nielsen Media Research will switch to 'time-shifted' commercial minute ratings data as the standard currency for local TV ratings. The system will use 'live plus three' data, meaning that video played back within three days of initial broadcast will be included. More
Gallup has announced the official launch of its 'World Poll', an annual global survey of opinions and behaviours via interviews in 140 countries representing 95% of the world's adult population. The firm says it has has committed to conducting the study for the next 100 years. More
London-based firm Opinionpanel has launched 'The Future Panel' for anyone wanting to conduct research with young people and prospective higher education (HE) students. More
In Germany, Colibri Research will be launching a new qualitative omnibus study in June, enabling clients to ask questions in a focus group setting. More
Another virtual research partnership: in the US, marketing services agency GSD&M Idea City and virtual worlds developer Metaversatility have partnered to create a platform which enables surveys to be conducted 'in-world' to provide clients with access to consumer, product and experiential insight and knowledge. More
Luc Rens, Research International's (RI) Regional Director of Qualitative Asia Pacific, has been given an expanded role as Lead Co-ordinator and Spokesperson for the firm's worldwide qualitative team. More
Data collection firm Interviewing Service of America (ISA) has partnered with research and consulting agency SMS in Hawaii, to offer customer and employee satisfaction measurement to the islands' business community. More
Harris Interactive has appointed Stephen Wallace as its new Chief Information Officer, responsible for infrastructure and information security. More
In the US, Arbitron and Nielsen joint venture Scarborough Research says it is considering the possibilities of expanding into additional 'mid-tier' local markets. More
Recently-launched Networked Insights – which gathers customer intelligence from social networking, sites – has upgraded its Customer Insight Platform to provide a 'real-time window' into customer behaviour. More
In India, research and analytics firm Dexterity has announced a refocusing of its business on marketing and customer informatics, and appointed former Accenture USA Partner Anantha Krishnan as Chairman and CEO. More
Greenfield Online is bracing itself for costs of up to $3.5m in the first quarter for legal and other fees relating to a pending lawsuit against it, as well as stemming from an investigation into its internal practices. The firm also says its own investigation has found some evidence of accounting errors. More
A study conducted by marketing services firm Q Interactive and MR agency MarketingSherpa has found that many consumers are reporting legitimate e-mail communications as spam. More
Database giant infoUSA, the parent of Opinion Research Corporation, has announced plans to compile telephone-verified B2B and B2C databases for China and India, in partnership with a number of companies in the regions. More
Researchers are not here to predict the future; we don't need to be in the boardroom; and lack of accountability is still our biggest issue. In her third report, Phyllis Vangelder hears Conference 2008 asking the same old questions, but at least trying to give new answers. More
In the US, Peanut Labs – which provides market researchers with access to members of social networking sites – has developed patent-pending software which it hopes will help eliminate fraudulent online responses. The system blocks any respondent who takes too many surveys within a set time-period. More
In her fourth and final report from MRS Conference 2008, Phyllis Vangelder joins web analysts on the trail of site visitors, and hears how carbon neutral corporates can accurately gauge the public's response. More
In the UK, B2B marketing and research firm Quadriga Consulting and MR agency Blauw Research have joined forces to offer a global research resource for IT and telecoms assignments. More
In the US, audience measurement firm Arbitron has upgraded its diary processing center by opening a new facility which combines several processes under one roof. The new building, new layout and new equipment were all designed by Arbitron staff. More
In the US, recent MR industry entrant Cable & Co Worldwide (CCWW) has agreed to purchase Precision Opinion, which provides market research services to the entertainment industry and political polling for the government. More
'No seminal papers headed for a learned journal, nothing on methodology or media (except of course the Internet), and no ball or cocktail party. Instead, interaction, debate, discussion...' DRNO's Special Correspondent Phyllis Vangelder pinches herself but it's no dream, it's Conference 2008. More
How does research attract and keep young graduates - the views of experts... and of young graduates; how does it get into the boardroom (again); and how does it help 'scapegoat' brands turn things around? More from Phyllis Vangelder at the 2008 Conference. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has acquired the online consumer Canvasse Opinion Panel from Experian – terms were not disclosed. The panel will add up to 200,000 members to the current multi-million Harris Poll Online Panel. More
Kantar Media Research (KMR) has introduced a syndicated study for B2B marketers which measures their brand's relative vitality among product category competitors. More
Media and market research groups Aegis and Cello, and global MR agency Ipsos have all beaten industry analyst predictions and recorded healthy profits for 2007. More
TNS's CEO for North America Kimberley Till is to leave, as the firm merges its North American and Latin American custom business to create one region, 'The Americas'. More
Ipsos is to acquire 100% of US-based Monroe Mendelsohn Research and its subsidiary Mendelsohn Media Research from current President and CEO Walter McCullough. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, communications group Chime has acquired a share of video-based ethnographic research firm Naked Eye, which was established by Nick Leon in 2003. More
In the Middle East, TNS has launched a study to uncover trends among 16 to 25 year olds in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait. More
In the US, through a new deal with kid-friendly network Radio Disney, Arbitron will be measuring the radio listening behaviour of 6 to 12 year olds for the very first time. More
In the Philippines, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court has suspended proceedings filed by broadcaster ABS-CBN against AGB Nielsen Media research, to allow the parties time to try and reach a settlement. More
In the US, audience measurement system manufacturer TruMedia Technologies has launched the iCapture Mini, a video-based solution to analyze the faces of consumers watching small digital screens in out-of-the-home venues. More
US-based healthcare specialist Decision Resources, Inc. has boosted its managed care franchise with the acquisition of Fingertip Formulary, which provides access to and insight into formulary data in the United States. More
UK 'phone giant BT is facing a possible lawsuit after it admitted using business customers' data without permission, in a trial run for 'Webwise' software from analytics and ad-serving company Phorm. Others including Webfather Tim Berners-Lee have been joining the privacy debate. More
IBM's India Research Laboratory (IBM IRL) have developed data mining software ProAct, which extracts and delivers business insights from the information gathered by companies during customer service calls and other communications. More
In the UK, marketing group TMN Plc has reacted coolly to a £40m preliminary approach from Tangent Communications, saying that the proposed price 'significantly undervalues' the company and its prospects. More
London-based behavioural data insight firm Beyond Analysis has acquired Sydney-based engagement agency Enzyme Insight Solutions, and re-branded the firm Beyond Analysis Australia. More
Data giant and parent of Opinion Research Corporation, infoUSA, has hired Andy Taylor as Head of Marketing and Product Development of its new infoUK.com business. More
In the US, Arbitron is to offer a 'second chance' diary to respondents who have agreed to participate in a survey, but failed to return their diary. The move is an attempt to bolster response rates for hard to reach demographics. More
In the UK, digital marketing group Tangent Communications is considering a c.£40m takeover bid for rival TMN, which owns research agencies iD Factor and ICD Research. More
In the US, former Synovate SVP Joel Rubinson has joined the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) as Chief Research Officer. More
In the UK, The Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) has acquired building controls market research firm Proplan from its parent, i&i limited. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen and US cable TV company Charter Communications have partnered to analyze digital set-top box (STB) data from 330,000 households in the Los Angeles area. More
In the UK, communications group Chime has announced double digit growth for its research division in 2007, with operating income up 64% to £7.7m and an increase in operating profit of 37% to £1.4m. Operating margin fell slightly to 18.1% from 21.7% last year. More
TNS has grouped several of its North American operating units into a new division, TNS media, with Dean DeBiase as CEO. TNS media intelligence and TNS media research join newly-acquired companies Compete and Cymfony to form the new entity. More
The Nielsen Company has launched Nielsen PreView, a business-to-business research service which brings the group's range of marketing and media information sources to bear on issues identified as important by members on a web site. More
Ipsos has announced the launch of a new proprietary online panel of Canadian farmers. Producers' Perspectives – The Ipsos Canadian AgriForum currently has more than 1,500 members, with plans to grow to over 3,000 in the coming months. More
Ipsos MORI has appointed Johanna Shapira as Head of Ethnographic Research at its UK-based Qualitative Hothouse. More
Research technology supplier FocusVision has named Eric Grosgogeat as its new Chief Executive Officer. He joins from Philips Electronics where he served as Vice President and General Manager - Oral Care. More
M:Metrics has launched its M:Ad competitive tracking service for mobile advertising in the UK, four months after its successful rollout in the United States. The company says the service will be rolled out to the major European markets during 2008. More
The Nielsen Company continues to break new ground following its rebranding from VNU last year. Today it announced its first global brand awareness campaign, built around a marketing collaboration with The New York Times Company and including sole sponsorship of an Olympics Special issue of the latter's 'PLAY' sports magazine. More
Leeds-based McCallum Layton has significantly expanded its Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing (CATI) Unit, relocating it to new premises in Headingley, Yorkshire. More
US web analytics firm Omniture has partnered with Chinese language Internet search firm Baidu to provide online marketers around the world with access to Chinese consumers. More
Information Resources (IRI) has this week unveiled a number of analytics platforms for the CPG / retail marketplace, at its annual client summit in Florida. More
The Presidents of three US radio stations have given their different reactions to recent news of the Media Rating Council's refusal of accreditation for Arbitron's PPM in New York and Philadelphia. Cox Radio's Bob Neil says Arbitron's 'hollow promises' are on 'full display' while others say the problems are 'not unusual'. More
Louise McCann, the Chair of Research International Australia, has been given an expanded role within the company's Asia Pacific (APAC) offices to oversee RI's commercial operating strategy for the region. More
In the US, government research specialist Macro International is to open a call center in Springfield, Illinois on 1 April, and plans to hire more than 190 new staff to fill telephone interviewing, supervisory and quality assurance roles. More
Information Resources Inc (IRI) and The NPD Group have joined forces to launch the Beauty Cross Channel Monitor, claimed as the US beauty industry's first and only cross-channel retail tracking product. More
In the US, the Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) has helped defeat proposed legislation that would have required disclosure of a poll's sponsor at the beginning of each call. More
Online panel specialist Lightspeed Research has launched a new weekly omnibus to provide clients with fast access to consumer opinion across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. More
Atlanta customer intelligence agency Vantedge Group, and San Francisco-based AbsolutData have partnered to launch a joint Research and Analytics Center of Excellence, with a team of 30 staff. More
Harris Interactive has been awarded a patent for its Rapid Exposure system, which controls the length of time survey respondents can view an image online. More
In Canada, CRM outsourcing firm ICT Group is to create up to 200 new jobs at its contact centre in Sydney Nova Scotia, following the award of a major new contract and a $1.4-million payroll rebate from the state. The firm has also posted a drop in Q4 results caused by restructuring costs. More
TNS has announced an agreement to acquire online behaviour measurement company Compete, Inc. for US$75m in cash, doubling if targets are met over two years. The company also reported full year results for 2007, with revenue of UK£1,067.7m, representing underlying growth of 5.4%. More
The US research industry showed robust growth in the last part of of 2007, according to the Research Industry Index (RII), the quarterly study by the Marketing Research Association (MRA). More
Arbitron has revealed that the Media Rating Council turned down accreditation of its PPM service in Philadelphia and New York, in January. However, the firm says it has made 'significant improvements' since the audits concerned, and an MRC statement also seems to offer encouragement for the PPM. More
Research Process Outsourcing (RPO) company Pulse Group has launched its second new office of the year, this time in New Delhi, and says it aims to boost client development throughout the South Asian region. Nitin Gulati will lead the new location. More
Polls by Ipsos-MORI and ICM are this week at the centre of a row surrounding London's driving toll, the Congestion Charge. Mayor Ken Livingstone says his survey shows support for a new £25 charge on high fuel consumption vehicles, but Porsche Cars GB says its own survey says the opposite, and claims it's being more open with its findings. More
The shift from offline to online research should drastically improve the validity of findings of surveys of Chinese respondents, according to a recent study by Survey Sampling International (SSI). More
Online panel community and survey technology provider Toluna has announced the launch of a Japanese panel community, currently at 25,000 active members and forecast to reach 40,000 by June 2008. More
MR software firm Voxco has concluded a partnership agreement with the French company Prylos, which develops mobile applications, giving it the ability to offer clients data collection via mobile phones worldwide. More
Harris Interactive has announced that Len Bayer, who co-founded the company more than 30 years ago and currently serves as Chief Scientist, Chief Technology Officer and Director, is to retire at the end of March. He will be replaced by Harris veteran David Bakken. More
In the final quarter of 2007 GfK achieved organic growth of 6.5% and a margin of 16.8% – a figure the firm says is the most successful in its history. Based on preliminary data, the group also reported an organic sales increase of 5.8% to Euros 1,162m for the full year. More
Nielsen has set up a national Hispanic/Latino Advisory Council (HLAC) to guide the company's recruitment, measurement and reporting of Hispanic TV households in the US. More
AbsolutData Research and Analytics has strengthened its US executive team with the appointment of JR Bult as Senior VP Analytics in Miami; and Client Development Directors Todd Milligan and Jim Huttenberger in San Francisco and LA respectively. More
Microsoft is to test a new approach to measuring Internet ad campaigns, which supplements 'last ad clicked' metrics by taking into account all the online interactions that lead up to a purchase. More
Nielsen Online has appointed Rene Lamsfuss to the newly created role of Senior Director, Product & Methodology EMEA, where he will work alongside European industry bodies to tailor the firm's suite of Internet measurement technologies to the needs of the regional market. More
A Conference with lots of clients? It may just happen. The b2b research association BIG is changing the focus for this year's annual gathering, to concentrate on the wider business issues affecting clients, and boasts speakers from many of the main b2b research buyers. More
Arbitron has lowered its 2008 earnings outlook as a result of terminating its Project Apollo joint venture yesterday. More
In the UK, Leeds-based research agency Quaestor is to open a new central London office next week, headed by Associate Director Claire Whelan and supported by Liliana Mardirossian. More
UK-based consumer insight agency Nunwood has made four new appointments since the beginning of 2008, following organic growth of 'more than 12 times the industry average' during the last year. More
Nielsen Media Research is funding a $3.5m year-long study to observe how people actually consume media on both traditional and emerging video platforms inside and outside their homes. More
In the US, Statmon Technologies – which develops monitoring software – has released 'ACCURATE', a system which interfaces with Nielsen's Portable People Meter (PPM) data rating system to ensure household TV viewer ratings are correctly credited to the relevant broadcasters. More
Arbitron and Nielsen have ditched development of 'Project Apollo', their much-vaunted scheme to give a better understanding of the link between consumer exposure to advertising through multiple media and shopping / purchasing behaviour. More
Two people have been arrested in connection with the 'mystery shopping' scam that has conned hundreds of US citizens out of at least $150k to date. More
Following last year's retirement of veteran researcher Piet Smit, the South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) has formed a new team and appointed Lucas Raganya and Claire Milne as Technical Support Executives reporting to Technical Manager Dr Michelle Boehme. More
UK marketing services group Creston has axed its New York office at a cost of around £600,000, forcing US CEO Steve Blamer to step down because of uncertain economic conditions. More
In the US, Nielsen has acquired TV analysis and software company Audience Analytics along with its Audience Watch software. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, Common Knowledge Research Services has appointed seven members of staff from Informa Research Services, who were made redundant when the firm recently merged its main Seattle operations with its Los Angeles office. More
Following the closure of Opinion Research Taiwan (ORT), a number of the firm's key staff have joined Millward Brown Taiwan. MB has also promoted Deepender Rana to Chief Client Officer Africa Asia Pacific (AAP), and given AAP COO Adrian Gonzalez additional responsibility for Greater China. More
US Internet survey sample provider Sample Czar has launched a new product to offer survey translation in more than 50 languages. More
Ipsos has posted full year revenue of Euros 927.2m, up 8.2% on the back of organic growth of 9.1%. Strong performances in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe more than offset a slight decline in the group's North American revenue. More
The UK's five main mobile phone operators have agreed to work together to define common metrics and measurements for mobile advertising, beginning with traffic to mobile sites. If successful, the metrics should be rolled out internationally. More
The management of Rotterdam-based Global Data Collection Company (GDCC) has established a majority shareholding in the company. The team increased its holding from 33 to 75% with an acquisition from BBI Group, for an undisclosed sum. More
Global b2b research specialist Kadence has reported revenue growth of 18% in 2007, reaching $9.3 million. The group says all its established international offices performed strongly while new locations were launched in Malaysia and Indonesia. More
US radio ratings giant Arbitron has reported a 20.7% drop in net income from $4.9m to $3.7m, with soaring costs relating to the roll out of its Portable People Meter (PPM) device. More
Danish firm iMotions, whose Emotion Tool(TM) measures emotional response to visual stimuli, has partnered with Edinburgh-based user experience consultancy User Vision to launch its software in the UK. More
Ratings giant Arbitron has promoted Tom O'Sullivan, a 20-year veteran of the company, to fill the new position of VP/Diary Market Development. The role has been created in response to a request from the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council for a central point of contact for the diary markets. More
UK MR psychology specialist CRAMQIQ has partnered with Chinese research agency DiagAid to undertake in-depth consumer and B2B research in the Chinese market. More
Colorado-based technology start-up firm QualVu has closed a $750,000 deal to fund development of its web-based video platform, which is used for conducting qualitative research. More
In the UK Postar, the audience research body for the out-of-home ad sector, has commenced a project to measure all out-of-home media, using GPS technology to record consumers' travel patterns and ad exposure. More
WPP Digital, the digital investment arm of marcoms giant WPP, has bought a stake in web engagement metrics firm NuConomy. While the sum was not disclosed, sources say that the amount totalled $3m. More
Research Process Outsourcing (RPO) firm Pulse Group has opened an office in London headed by Jonathan Sheldrake, who joins as Associate Director for Europe. More
WPP has launched a new research tool to evaluate sponsorship within the arts, music, film festivals, entertainment and sports markets. More
Panel management expert Jean Davis has been promoted to President of Ipsos Interactive Services in North America, less than a year after joining the firm. More
In the US, customer experience management firm LRA Worldwide has hired former Harris Interactive VP Jeff Ganis as Senior Research Consultant specialising in sports and entertainment industry projects. More
US firm TRA, Inc. has today unveiled a system for measuring and reporting 'True ROI Accountability' for advertising spend. The firm plans to match ads actually received with products actually bought for a massive 1,000,000 plus US households. More
Greenfield Online has reported a net revenue increase of 30.2% to $38.4m for the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with $29.5m in the same period last year. Although the comparison shopping business grew faster, the firm's Internet Survey solutions segment recorded an impressive 19.2% rise to $26.7m. More
Louisville, Kentucky-based market research firms Wilkerson & Associates (W&A) and Marketing Research of Kentuckiana (MRK) have recently merged. More
Synovate has announced the formal integration of its business in Belgium, combining research operations in Ghent with the local Synovate Censydiam practice in Antwerp. More
Online panel firm Research Now has appointed Phil Rance to the newly created position of UK Commercial Director, with overall responsibility for client development. More
London-based BDRC has acquired Continental Research from its US owner Arbitron. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has formed an alliance with neuromarketing research firm NeuroFocus to develop new measurement techniques based on the latest advances in neuroscience. Nielsen CEO David Calhoun becomes a member of the NeuroFocus Board. Details of the investment were not disclosed. More
In New York, healthcare marketing research firm the Ziment Group has promoted John Tapper from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer of its primary research and consulting division, Ziment Custom. More
In London, survey software firm Merlinco has expanded with the opening of a new survey analysis department to provide an in-house facility for clients, and a hosting service for the firm's web survey facilities. More
US customer insights firm Market Force Information, which bought mystery shopping provider Shop'n Chek in 2006, has acquired marketing agency Certified Marketing Services (CMS), and aims to create an integrated suite of mystery shopping, direct customer feedback, and analytics services. More
UK survey design and data processing agency IDA has ditched its central London offices in favour of a 'virtual company' structure. MD Peter Jackling is the only remaining IDA employee, with the other seven former members of staff now working independently and directly with the firm's clients. More
European panel and survey technology provider Toluna says it expects to report 2007 growth of more than 45% in both sales and operating profits. More
In the US, product placement evaluation agency iTVX has partnered with MR firm Marketing Evolution to develop an online tool which measures the financial value of product placement on TV. More
Data giant and parent of Opinion Research Corporation, infoUSA, has appointed former Experian Business Information MD Richard Lloyd as General Manager of its new infoUK.com business. More
Global agency Millward Brown (MB) and fellow Kantar company IMRB are launching a Joint Venture. MB will take a majority share of the new business, to be known as Millward Brown India, which will start with offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. More
German consultancy IFM International Sportanalysen GmbH (IFM) has acquired a majority stake in the UK's Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS). More
Harris Interactive has released results for its second quarter and first half of fiscal 2008, ending December 31. Acquisitions drove the overall Q2 revenue figure up 13% on the year, but pro forma organic revenue dropped 2%, mainly due to a 5% decline in North America. More
Opinion Research Corporation's parent firm infoUSA has released results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2007 ending on December 31. Record Q4 revenue of $185.8m includes $67.0m for the Marketing Research Group established in December 2006. More
Online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has appointed Peter Blansjaar to head up its operations, project delivery and quality assurance systems in the Asia Pacific region. More
Pharma research leader IMS Health has announced full year 2007 revenues up 12% (a very respectable 8% at constant currency) to $2,192.6m. Operating income for the year was down from $444.2m to $393.3m after a fourth quarter restructuring charge of $88.7m. More
In London, TNS is ready to launch what it claims is the UK's first one-day turnaround Omnibus, aiming to provide clients with an 'instant snapshot of consumer opinion and behaviour'. More
US-based global research firm OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has partnered with Mexican research and public opinion agency RVOX to work together on large scale custom pan-American and global projects. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has appointed Marjon de Bruin as Director of European Client Services and Delivery, reporting to Suresh Subbiah, Vice President of Global Client Services and Delivery. More
As the Presidential primary elections hot up, the US industry association MRA is warning against 'push polling', a political campaign technique in which an organisation attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a poll. More
TNS has formed a partnership with Buenos Aires-based Livra Panels to offer additional online access panel research services across Latin America. More
Following a recent raft of changes to its senior management team, Research International has now appointed industry veteran Bridget Armstrong as CEO RI-USA and as a member of its Worldwide Board of Directors. More
London-based panels firm Research Now has ended the 2007 financial year with a 168% rise in revenue to £25.8m, and has doubled its organic revenue, now £19.2m. More
In the US, reputation analysis and communications research firm Echo Research has appointed Dan Soulas as EVP and Director of its new primary research unit, which has been launched to service corporate and PR agency clients. More
London-headquartered BDRC (Business Development Research Consultants) has been appointed as the UK representative of international research network, Associated Global Market Research (AGMR). More
Canadian MR data collection firm Itracks has launched a new tool, known as Socrates, to provide moderators with the ability to probe deeper for insights while interviewing online. More
Toronto-headquartered Acrobat Research has hired Jayna Smith as Research Center Manager at its newly opened call center in Calais, Maine. The company is also on a recruitment drive to fill between 200 and 250 full- and part-time jobs at the centre. More
UK telecoms giant BT has selected WPP-owned Kantar Group to manage its consumer brand and customer tracking projects. More
Research International (RI) is continuing its leadership re-shuffle with the appointments of Kirk Ward to the newly created position of Global Product Development Leader, Andrew Wish to the new title of Worldwide Infrastructure and Operations Director and John McHarry to Chief Information Officer. More
CINT, the Swedish online sampling and panel management solutions firm, is to open its first overseas office in Atlanta, Georgia next week. More
In the US, Prince Market Research (PMR) has launched a healthcare unit, Catalyst Healthcare Research. The new unit will specialise in brand strategy and communications research, as well as customer satisfaction, and new product and service studies. More
Nielsen has officially launched NORA, its measurement service that compiles video-on-demand (VOD) usage figures from real-time transactions collected at the set-top box level. More
Online research software firm Confirmit has posted a 68% increase in revenue for the final quarter of 2007, including 38% organic growth. The Q4 total of $12.8m includes $2.5m consolidated revenue from the acquisition of MR software firm Pulse Train. More
Nielsen has expanded its telecom and mobile research division Nielsen Mobile, with the establishment of operations in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Russia. The firm plans additional expansion throughout Europe later this year. More
TNS is launching its 6thdimension Interactive Research services in Latin America and has appointed Trixie Cartwright as Regional Director for Interactive Research, based in Buenos Aires. More
In Australia, communications services group STW is splitting its panels business The Online Research Unit (The ORU) from its MR agency AMR Interactive, and has appointed AMR Chairman and Founder Brian Fine to head the offshoot. AMR Interactive will now be run by MD Gary Wilkinson. More
UK-based agency B2B International is taking its panel of medical practitioners online, to allow respondents to complete questionnaires at their own convenience. More
Research International's UK Chairman Paul Edwards has swapped places with UK CEO Julian Bond, taking on the day-to-day running of the agency. More
Online research specialist Invoke Solutions has launched a suite of online and mobile applications to help clients access real-time quant and qual insights more easily. More
Synovate has acquired CIMA Group, one of Latin America's leading independent research companies, headquartered in Santiago, Chile and operating in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Costa Rica. More
TNS has merged its own continuous research service in China with that of its joint venture CTR Market Research, under the Worldpanel brand. Jason Yu is appointed to lead the newly merged unit as General Manager, TNS Worldpanel China. More
Information services provider The McGraw-Hill Companies has given details of restructuring carried out in the fourth quarter of 2007, with the loss of 600 jobs, c.3% of its workforce. Research company J.D. Power and Associates, a subsidiary, lost around the same proportion of its staff. More
Lightspeed Research has signed a deal to give a new incentive for completion of its questionnaires. The agreement with EMI Music via digital content specialist The Licensing Agency (TLA), will offer respondents free music and video downloads. More
Panels and online research firm Research Now is to open its third office in Germany on 1st March, in Munich, and has appointed Client Development Manager Oliver Tjarks to lead it. More
UK customer insights agency directexcellence has announced the launch of a mystery shopping service for the insurance sector. The service is pitched as a solution to the detection of mystery shoppers by 'increasingly sophisticated' providers. More
Canadian-based Vision Critical has appointed Ida Goodreau to its Board of Directors. Ms. Goodreau is currently President and CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health, one of Canada's largest public health organizations. More
In the US, ImpactRx – which measures the impact of pharma promotion on physicians' prescribing behaviour – has acquired Paragon Research & Consulting for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, Greenfield Online and database company and ORC owner infoUSA have partnered to develop a panel of small business decision makers, powered by infoUSA data. More
TNS's joint venture CSM Media Research has been given the go-ahead to undertake TV and radio audience measurement in China for a further 10 years. More
Pharma research specialist IMS Health will conclude a deal at the end of the month to buy Russian competitor RMBC for an estimated cost of between $4.5m and $7m. The acquisition will increase IMS' share of the Russian pharma research market from 10% to approximately 40%. More
Global marketing communications group Havas has signed an agreement with TNS Media Intelligence (TNSMI), ending its contract with Nielsen Monitor-Plus and making TNSMI its primary provider for competitive advertising intelligence. More
Following Senator Hillary Clinton's surprise win in last week's New Hampshire election, pollsters are still trying to understand how the primary polling was so wide of the mark. US survey associations MRA and AAPOR are also getting involved in the debate. More
UK MR and consulting group Cello has reported a strong trading year and says its board is anticipating results in line with market expectations. Net debt is likely to fall to £6m, reflecting much improved operating cash conversion in the second half of the year. More
In the republic of Georgia, state financed TV station Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has threatened AGB Nielsen Media with legal action if it continues to distribute its ratings. Nielsen's representative in the region is also accusing competitor BCG Research of being unfairly awarded a government ratings contract. More
In the UK, marketing budgets in the last quarter of 2007 were cut significantly in response to concerns about the economy and weak sales, says the latest IPA Bellwether quarterly survey of marketing spend. Just 6.2% of budget was allocated to market research during the year. More
Online pharma fieldwork specialist Medefield has moved its London headquarters to larger, purpose-designed offices in Wigmore Street, in response to business growth. More
In the US, healthcare MR specialist DSS Research has launched a Senior Health Risk Assessment (SrHRA) tool, which provides health risk stratification measures for the over 65 age group. Meanwhile in the UK, two Yorkshire councils are using Digital Pen and Paper (DPP) technology to assess older residents' care needs. More
TNS says it expects revenue growth of more than 5% for 2007, based on strong performance in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. Also this week, TNS Media Intelligence has acquired Irish media analysis firm MediaMarket for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, MR and consulting group Cello has bought a 23% stake in youth market research and creative agency Face, with options to buy the remaining equity through a staged earn-out during the next three to five years. More
In the US, media research firm Coleman Insights is launching a series of studies to examine how Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) reports the responses of radio audiences to different programmes. More
Following a series of problems with its TV coding system, Nielsen Media Research has written to US TV stations asking them to help ensure there are no future glitches. Nielsen has also sent them a 'Guide to Encoder Best Practices', which outlines the correct coding procedures. More
Internet data collection and comparison shopping firm Greenfield Online has launched a suite of Asia-Pacific online omnibus products for the Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Australian markets. More
UK commercial radio association RadioCentre is creating a new team of five, to bring together its research and insight capabilities. More
European online data collection firm ODC Services has rolled out new panels in Austria, Poland and the Netherlands to meet the growing needs of its clients. More
GfK has expanded its global network with the acquisition of Australian research firm the Blue Moon Group, while taking a 51% majority stake in Macedonian MR agency Stratum Research. More
Another day, another legal challenge. Now it's Arbitron's turn: Kansas-based Manhattan Broadcasting has filed a complaint with the FCC claiming anti-competitive practice by the radio audience researcher and its client, African-American focused media firm Morris Communications. More
US data collection firm Schlesinger Associates has expanded its New York focus group facility and will be opening a new facility in Houston, Texas next week. Schlesinger has also partnered with Canadian data collection firm Itracks to enable it to offer clients online focus groups and bulletin board discussions. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has elected Ipsos-MORI's MD of Operations Rowland Lloyd as its new Chairman. He will replace outgoing Chairman Simon Lidington in April. More
Nielsen has announced plans for the September launch of an enhanced weighting procedure for its TV ratings estimates. It will also be consolidating all its national ratings systems into a single 'calculation platform' during the next two years. More
Market research recruiter Sinead Hasson has launched her own consultancy, Hasson Associates Recruitment Ltd. Based in Soho, London, Hasson will draw on her experience from leading teams at Pricejamieson and RP Cushing Recruitment. More
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has awarded NielsenConnect a contract to develop audience metrics to quantify the combined impact of its television and Internet platforms, to help its advertisers better understand the make-up and behaviour of audiences. More
Greenfield Online-owned Ciao Surveys has hired Chris Watson as Senior Director, Client Development for the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands; and promoted Leslie Abell, Christophe Deguignet and Cedric Maury. More
Insight firm RONIN has upgraded its 'Results for Research' CATI system to allow central monitoring of interviews, and moved its London operations to new premises opposite the Houses of Parliament in Vauxhall. More
Kantar-owned pharma and biotech research consultancy MattsonJack has appointed Dr Pierre Anhoury as Senior Vice President and Business Leader, to support the expansion of the firm's cancer and non-cancer qual and quant services in Europe. More
Synovate Healthcare has announced the acquisition of US research firm Oncology Inc., which provides oncology treatment information from 100,000 patients to pharmaceutical, biotech and financial companies. More
In the Philippines, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has dismissed the 'ratings cheat' case brought by television company ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp against ratings firm AGB Nielsen Media Research (AGB), citing the requirement for notice periods in the contract between the two companies. More
UK-based TMN Group plc, parent company of panel operator iDFactor and Internet specialist ICD Research, has made its first overseas acquisition, Dutch digital DM company TAPPS B.V., for up to £7.94m. More
Global pharma research firm IMS Health has announced plans to cut staff numbers by 10% during 2008 in an effort to save money and improve efficiency. More
Greenfield Online will be launching its Real-Time Sampling(TM) virtual panels in the UK and Canada later this month, and plans to launch in Germany and France in the first quarter. More
Israeli MR company The Market Watch Institute has been commissioned to conduct Internet rating surveys on behalf of a consortium led by the Association of Advertisers in Israel, 12 interactive agencies and a number of the country's leading portals. More
Recently launched online panel and community research consultancy Beehive Research has appointed former Confirmit Senior Solutions Consultant Rune Wennesland as Head of Operations. More
infoUSA-owned Macro International is to close its 60 seat St Albans, Vermont call centre at the end of the month, because it has been unable to recruit sufficient staff to warrant upgrading the facility with the latest software and communications innovations. More
The Newspaper Society (NS) has commissioned Millward Brown (MB) to conduct research into community life, to provide advertisers and agencies with a benchmark of life in the UK. More
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maine has granted the preliminary injunction sought by three research and information firms to block enforcement of Maine's Prescription Restraint Law, LD-4. More
Norwegian investment group Altaria Private Equity has purchased 93% of the shares of fieldwork group Norstat, reports Scandinavian research site SMRN. Altaria aims to buy the remainder and take the company private – it is currently listed on the Oslo stock exchange. More
Following TNS' major contract win with UK audience measurement body BARB earlier this week, Ipsos MORI has agreed a new six-year deal with the organisation, to provide its Establishment Survey. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released a 'final' version of its Rich Media Measurement Guidelines, following a 30-day public comment period. More
In the US, software firm Lidlow Worldwide Inc. has released Delve!(TM), a next generation platform which promises to 'bring many of the tools market researchers currently use in traditional discussion groups to online qualitative'. More
WPP's brand development business Added Value has acquired US-based consultancy Cheskin. Cheskin Added Value will retain a high degree of autonomy with Darrel Rhea maintaining his leadership role as CEO. More
Audience measurement continues to bring its share of legal problems for Nielsen worldwide. Today, the court in the Philippines 'bribery' case ordered a halt in TV audience fieldwork; while in Spain, a newspaper has filed a claim against the ratings giant for losing it '$1.4m' in ad revenue. More
CfMC has released an upgraded CATI and Web survey tool, Survent v8.1. New features include greater online and CATI survey capabilities and the first release of webSuper, a browser-based supervisory tool. More
Lightspeed Research has hired John Short as Director of Panel Operations in North America, reporting directly to regional CEO Michael Gazala. He joins from comScore, Inc. where he was Program Manager of Panel Operations. More
Pharmaceutical and healthcare insight firm Decision Resources, Inc. has acquired Arlington Medical Resources, Inc. (AMR), a provider of market intelligence for the pharma and diagnostic imaging industries. More
Research Now has added three more online panels to its global offer – in Mexico, Chile and Argentina. The firm already operates panels in the US, Canada and Brazil, as well as Europe and Australia. More
UK-based ORC International is to launch two new syndicated studies for the life insurance sector, measuring IFA feedback for the corporate protection and annuity markets. Both research studies will use face to face interviews with a range of intermediaries. More
The Nielsen Company and INVIDI Technologies Corporation have today announced a multi-year agreement to share data and explore ways to measure personalized television ads targeted at specific viewers. More
BARB has awarded the contract to provide UK TV audience measurement currency to TNS. Beginning in 2010 after a year's trial running in parallel with the current service, TNS will operate a 5,100 home meter panel. More
Never a dull moment in research in the Philipinnes. More details have been emerging about the suing of Nielsen by a major broadcaster, while the country's senate is to consider regulation of opinion polls at the bidding of a member who says the alternative is to 'allow the public survey firms to run the government and society.' More
US-based medical MR provider Verilogue has won a $4m investment from Edison Venture Fund. The proceeds will be used to expand development, marketing and sales. More
Bangalore-based offshore MR provider Markelytics Solutions India Pvt. Ltd is to offer its online MR services to the domestic market too – helped by an expansion of its operations including an additional facility housing a team dedicated to Indian customers. More
Filipino broadcasting firm ABS-CBN has filed a lawsuit against AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines for gathering and releasing what the firm describes as 'erroneous' TV ratings data, following the 'bribing' of respondents by one of its competitors. More
Under-fire Arbitron has had to reissue radio audience estimates to all 2007 County Coverage subscribers after discovering that some estimates were averaged based on broadcast hours that did not include weekend hours. More
The MrWeb site has had its first major overhaul and redesign in several years, including a new logo and frame-free html. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has promoted Debi Hart to VP Global Panel Solutions based in the Netherlands, and Jackie Lorch to VP Global Knowledge Management, working in the firm's headquarters in Fairfield Connecticut. More
Synovate has acquired SPSL, which provides retail foot traffic measurement data and publishes the UK's annual Retail Traffic Index. More
In Canada, Destiny Media has launched a version of its Clipstream software specifically for protecting clients' media content from theft, copying or reuse when embeded in surveys. More
Qual specialist the Consumer Insight Agency (c.i.a.) has teamed up with Synovate in a groundbreaking study of sociographic and psychographic trends in South Africa. More
Millward Brown has hired James Galpin, previously of Carat Insight, as Senior VP in its Global Media Practice, the specialist division which supports other Millward Brown companies. More
In the US, online research specialist MarketTools has applied to patent its Survey Fraud Detection System, which automatically identifies and removes fraudulent responses from data sets. More
FreshMinds was again named Agency of the Year at the MRS Research Excellence and Effectiveness Awards, the second biggest event in London last night. Essential, TNS and Firefish scooped other key awards and Nick Sparrow received the association's Silver Medal. More
Canadian online panel firm Vision Critical has expanded into the European market with the opening of an office in central London. The firm has also launched the latest release of its survey authoring, support, panel management and reporting and analysis system, Panel+. More
Times are good for independent research consultants in the UK. Representative body the ICG has been growing rapidly and this week announced the appointment of its first Professional Administrator, (Ms.) Andy Laing. More
Synovate India has promoted Paru Minocha to Executive Director with responsibility for overall management of its India business. Former MD Alok Shanker will be on leave until next April, and then hopes to take up a new role within the group. More
In the US, the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has announced its new board roster and appointed clinical psychologist Dr Sharon Livingston as its President. More
Facing pressure from clients, Arbitron yesterday said it would guarantee delivery of 80% of the target size for its panels, down from 90% previously. Meanwhile, minority broadcasters' association NABOB has reawakened memories of the Nielsen Media controversy of two years ago with talk of a Congressional Investigation. More
Sampling solutions provider Survey Sampling International (SSI) has appointed three new VPs to strengthen its global operations. Kim Giangrande will manage Global HR; Suresh Subbiah, Global Client Services and Delivery; and Harold Kelley, Global Marketing. More
In the US, GfK-owned Mediamark (MRI) has reported on tests using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as a means of measuring magazine readership in public waiting rooms. More
Greenfield Online has appointed Mark Shepherd as Director of Internet Survey Solutions, to establish the new Greenfield-Ciao office in Tokyo while helping expand the firm's Asia-Pacific operations. More
Social enterprise firm Votivation is to use its online voting system to canvass the opinion of 300,000 young people who are eligible to vote at next January's UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) elections. More
US translation and transcription technology firm Language Logic is to integrate the Verbatim Coding System (VCS) and text categorisation software developed by Italian body ISTI into its own verbatim management system, Ascribe(TM). More
Nielsen will be giving its client forum, the Council For Research Excellence (CRE) an additional $2.5m, to enable it to conduct its own methodological research on video audience measurement. The grant is Nielsen's third since the council was founded in 2005, and brings its total donations to $7.5m. More
The UK's 'Economist' magazine has rolled out its readership profiling survey, known as 'Ideas People', in Singapore, with Hong Kong going live next week. More
Online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now is aiming to raise £7m by placing 2.33 million shares with institutional investors. More
Technology researcher Springboard has opened a global research centre in Casablanca, Morocco, to serve its clients in the Middle East and Africa. More
Television marketing body Thinkbox and the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) are to undertake a joint research project in the UK, to look at the effectiveness of using TV and online ad campaigns in tandem. More
Roseville, USA-based private equity fund DCA Capital Partners is investing an undisclosed sum in online survey technology firm Decipher, Inc. More
Recovering Publicis ad agency Hal Riney has announced a strategic partnership with market intelligence firm, Peacock Nine, giving it access to the latter's BuzzSponge online community of more than 30,000 US consumers. More
In the US, GfK Mystery Shopping has issued another warning to consumers following a 'countrywide wave of scams' targeting would-be shoppers. The past twelve months have already seen warnings from both GfK and the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). More
WPP's insight division the Kantar Group is restructuring its media businesses, in response to 'a rapidly changing media environment'. A newly formed Kantar Media Research (KMR) unit will bring together the media audience measurement assets and talent from across Kantar. More
The BBC will look for 'willingness to innovate and adapt' in both survey methodology and the debriefing of its own employees, as it seeks agencies for its qual research roster covering radio, online and future media. More
In Australia, following a three-month review of how online audiences should be measured, the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has announced that a panel-based methodology should become the industry standard. Nielsen Online has branded the decision 'a step backwards'. More
The NPD Group has launched a consumer tracking service for the sports market in Japan. The service covers consumer purchasing, attitudes, and behavior for sports apparel, athletic footwear, and sports equipment. More
A new US company will profile members of social networking sites and provide market researchers with access to them. The firm, Peanut Labs, says the approach will deliver the 'sought after, but hard to reach' 13-25 year-olds known as 'Generation Y'. More
Harris Interactive has appointed Peggy Lebenson as Senior VP, to lead its Financial Services Research team. More
At the end of November, pollster Nik Nanos will rebrand his public opinion polling firm SES as Nanos Research, and launch the Nanos Research Group, a national consortium of 'like-minded' research professionals and organisations across Canada. More
Following last week's demands by US broadcasters that Arbitron takes 'immediate action' to resolve sampling issues with its Portable People Meter (PPM), the firm's President & CEO Steve Morris has acknowledged the need to 'revisit previous assumptions' and has suggested talks. More
UK-based Vox Pops International has launched its own Internet TV service, with access to an archive of filmed consumer interviews; and a youth service comprising video interviews conducted with 15-21 year-olds across China, Germany, Mexico, India, Russia and the USA. More
Four in ten Canadians have been approached by telemarketers masquerading as market researchers to sell products or raise money, according to the second VoxPop surveys by the MRIA. However, the association says the practise has declined slightly since 2005. More
European panel and survey technology provider Toluna has announced an exclusive cooperation agreement with b2b information provider Incisive Media Limited, to build panels across the latter's vertical markets including financial and professional services. More
As Toluna announces its agreement with Incisive, UK-based rival The iD Factor has announced the availability of 22 specialist panels covering 'a comprehensive range of niche markets', based on pre-profiling of 145,000 UK consumer members of its Home of Research panel. More
Photon, the Australian marketing services group which owns MR firms The Leading Edge and DVL Smith, is buying UK-based brand experience agency Sledge for $AUD 9.2m, or £3.95m, plus deferred, performance-related payments. More
Sports and entertainment marketing and MR firm The Bonham Group Europe is to be acquired after just over a year in business by AEG, the company which operates the O2 arena and owns David Beckham's US team LA Galaxy. More
UK agency FreshMinds has today launched a panel of owners and managers of SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises). More
In the US, J. Reckner Associates, Inc. (JRA) has added two Senior Vice Presidents, Cindy Ward and Steven M. Aukers, to lead the development of its global sensory and market research practices. Former Kraft researcher Beth Logan also joins, as an Account Director. More
Online agency MetrixLab has acquired web site and software usability research specialist 2C in the Netherlands. More
Ipsos has reported revenues of Euros 664.2m for the first nine months of 2007, and says it is expecting full-year growth of at least 9%. More
Online panel provider Lightspeed Research has strengthened its UK team with the appointment of Anna Morgan, Donna Franklin and Eunice Vicente. More
Some of the USA's largest broadcasters have petitioned Arbitron to demand that the firm takes 'immediate action' to resolve sampling issues experienced with its Portable People Meter ratings. More
Reports in the UK suggest that the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) could be about to award its next £10m TV audience measurement contract to TNS/Arbitron. The current contract runs out in 2010. More
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been accused of cronyism over contracts awarded to his 'personal pollster', Opinion Leader Research (OLR) founder Deborah Mattison. £1.4m of public money has been spent on citizens' juries conducted by OLR since June. More
Digital marketing group One to One Interactive has launched a new media research division to offer neuromarketing research for brands, agencies and publishers. More
GfK has announced organic sales growth of 6.7%., and a sales increase of 5.5% to €833.9m for the first nine months of the year. Meanwhile Dr Derek Allen is joining the group in the US as EVP of the GfK Research Center for Excellence. More
M:Metrics and BMRB have partnered to deliver a new set of metrics which will enable companies to evaluate mobile media consumption. The UK launch will take place in the first quarter of 2008 and a roll out in Europe is planned for later in the year. More
Online survey software firm and MarketTools subsidiary Zoomerang has launched a solution for researchers and marketers who wish to generate their own mobile phone surveys. More
In the US, Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) has launched a new online tool to help small and medium-sized companies assess the health of their customer relationships. More
In the UK, Swift Research has recruited a select team of Yorkshire women to help manufacturers assess the most attractive fragrances for their products. More
Toronto-based Acrobat Research plans to expand with the opening of a call center in Calais, Maine and the recruitment of more than 80 full-time and 130 part-time staff in January. More
Software giant Oracle has launched a 'Data Masking Pack', to help organisations who share information with researchers and others, to hide confidential or sensitive data. More
Radio ratings leader Arbitron has responded to a strong attack on its PPM device and methodology by the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB). NABOB points to 'significant flaws' and 'tremendous fee increases'; Arbitron says the PPM is tried, tested, audited and better than diaries. More
Online research software firm Confirmit has announced the release of its Confirmit 12 product, which includes what it calls 'the world's first engine for concurrent sampling'. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has issued a 30-day call for public comment on its Rich Media Measurement Guidelines. It has also hired three new executives for its management team. More
In the UK, The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) has unveiled plans to launch a fortnightly survey called RadioGauge to measure how radio ads drive brand awareness. More
London-based marcoms group Cagney plans to launch an offshoot of its consumer behaviour consultancy Tree, in the new year, focusing on analysis of user-generated web content. More
Greenfield Online has reported a 29.9% Q3 net revenue hike to $32.3m, and a 25.4% climb in profits. The firm's Chairman Peter Sobiloff will step down at the end of the year to be replaced by Joel Mesznik, who has served as a Board member since 1999. More
Ipsos has launched a proprietary online panel of veterinarians in North America, in response to client demand. Around 900 vets from the US and Canada have joined, with plans underway to increase this to 2,000 within the next year. More
Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) rating service has come in for fierce criticism from Bob Neil, President and CEO of Cox Radio, during his firm's third quarter conference call. More
Networked Insights, a company aiming to connect businesses with real-time customer-to-customer interactions, has launched after securing $4 million in venture capital funding. More
Canadian firm In-Touch Survey Systems has posted a 48% increase in revenue to $1.4m in Q3, citing new US-based customers and a change of business direction as major reasons for sales growth. More
Starfish Research has launched Online Customer Communities, a service enabling panel members to share experiences, offer advice, brainstorm ideas and comment on market trends. More
Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) has been selected as one of TIME Magazine's 'Best Inventions of 2007' alongside such icons as the Apple iPhone and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. More
Opinion Research Corporation ORC and US public relations firm The Hastings Group (THG) have announced PR PLUS(TM), which is described as 'a PR friendly survey in a box'. More
US-based Hispanic marketing agency Grupo Xela is to open an office in Bogota, Colombia. More
Synovate parent the Aegis Group has purchased New Zealand-based MR agency Research Solutions for an undisclosed sum. More
Harris Interactive has reported fiscal first-quarter revenue up 17% to $55.2m, mostly due to the inclusion of $6.1m from acquisitions made earlier in the year. Organic growth year-on-year was 4%. More
Ball State University's Centre for Media Design (CMD) has partnered with WPP-owned digital agency Schematic to open an eye-tracking and usability studies facility in the agency's New York offices. More
In the US, a coalition of nine privacy and consumer groups has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to implement a 'Do-Not-Track' list for Internet users who do not want their online activities tracked, stored and used by advertisers and marketers. More
Former EQ Chief Executive Bob Bond is planning to kick off the new year with the launch of a new consultancy Ganbatte Capital, providing investment and consultancy services to media, technology and marketing services firms both in the UK and US. More
The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has conducted the first in its series of 'VoxPop' surveys, which aims to promote the industry's high standards and encourage Canadians to participate in opinion research. More
TNS has announced a global quality programme for its panels, Six Degrees of Online Quality - to begin next year. More
From the end of the year, Nielsen Media Research will no longer collect data on remote control ownership in households in its metered panels. The ratings giant says 96% of its US sample have a remote control device and most new sets now come with one. More
Research Data Design (RDD) has closed its Fort Collins, Colorado CATI-equipped call center. The firm moved out of the location, which employed 115 people, at the weekend. More
Text analytics and social media monitoring firm Lexalytics has released Analytics Toolkit 1.0 (ATK), which pulls raw data from content sources to enable production of graphs and charts for use in presentations. More
Nielsen Media Research is commencing the Singapore launch of the Nielsen Personal Outdoor Device (Npod), and plans to launch the measurement system in Hong Kong in the near future. More
Global agency Fieldwork International Healthcare has launched an online panel in Japan, providing access to more than 150,000 physicians. More
Speech analytics software provider CallMiner and text analysis software firm Clarabridge are to offer a service combining their expertise to give a rounded analysis of customer communications. More
In the US, Forrester Interactive has appointed web strategist Jeremiah Owyang as Senior Analyst, focusing on social computing and interactive marketing. More
TNS Healthcare has appointed former Grey Healthcare leader Mark Duckham as MD of its UK International (UKI) division, supported by Head of Research David Hanlon. More
Online competitive intelligence service Hitwise is launching 'New and Returning Visitors', the latest feature for its Clickstream service. The new data will split web site visitors into new and repeat traffic, with information on where each type comes from and goes to. More
Two European online ad bodies, IAB Europe and the EIAA, are to collaborate to develop 'standard, comprehensive international definitions' for interactive audience measurement. The standards will cover site-centric, user-centric and combined measurement systems. More
Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) provider Vovici has launched SurveyNOW, a DIY online research solution using templates based on the firm's experience publishing and processing huge numbers of online questionnaires. More
Research agencies NPD, IRI and IMS have linked up to launch a twice-yearly study of the French beauty products market. More
America's National Football League (NFL) has underlined its commitment to understanding consumers, hiring former ESPN insight leader Alicia Rankin to head up its Research Department and help grow its 170 million-strong fan base. More
European-based panels firm Toluna has launched what it calls 'the world's first Web 2.0 online panel community'. The new 'widget' format system, available initially to UK panellists, enables them to conduct their own research including polls, opinion reviews and debates. More
Paris-based software firm Askia has released a new product, askiasurf, which aims to save researchers 'hundreds of hours of data processing work' on trackers and other multi-wave surveys, thereby cutting costs and reducing human error. More
IT and BPO outsourcing firm Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation is to acquire NJ-based Life Sciences analytics firm marketRx, Inc., for c.$135m in cash. More
Nielsen has announced a massive, ten-year outsourcing deal with India's Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The research giant's IT, operations and HR functions worldwide are among those covered by the $US 1.2 billion agreement. More
WPP has reported third quarter revenues up 4.9% to £1.48 billion – a rise of 8.1% in constant currencies. The Information, Insight and Consultancy division underperformed the group as a whole but grew a respectable 4.8% at constant currencies, to £218.5m. More
Sector specialist R. L. Polk & Co., together with partners The Cobalt Group and Yahoo!, has announced results for the 2007 Dealer eBusiness Performance Study, billed as 'the largest research initiative in the automotive industry'. More
Synovate China has launched a bi-monthly online omnibus to offer clients access to Chinese consumers' tastes, habits and attitudes. More
CSM Media Research – a TNS joint venture with Chinese MR firm CTR Market Research – is about to commence field tests of Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) to measure radio audiences in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. More
Texas-based Sentient Services has launched a Virtual Awareness(TM) market research solution and a second life research centre; while Connecticut's Kalypso Agency has introduced a second life omnibus service. More
Nielsen and TV sports network ESPN are collaborating to develop a model to measure consumers' use of media across a variety of platforms including TV, the Internet and digital mobile devices. More
Millward Brown (MB) has formed a joint venture with Kenya-based marketing services firm Scangroup, and will merge its Kenya office into the newly formed operation. More
US-based Survey Sampling International (SSI) has expanded its Respondent Experience (REX) function to become a worldwide group overseeing online projects and aiming to ensure both positive respondent experience and robust survey data. More
For those not satisfied with our recent Papua New Guinea coverage, here's news of an online tool to gather the opinions of tourists or residents on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. Bonaire Surveys(TM) is the latest from web site developer and consultancy NetTech. More
UK consultancy dunnhumby is to use the ultimate consumer panel – data from the Loyalty Clubcards of 13 million households visiting its key client, Tesco – to offer evaluation of the impact of marketing activity on shopper behaviour. More
In China, GfK has acquired Sino-MR and China Market Monitor (CMM) which both specialise in research into consumer electronics, domestic appliances and retail telecoms products. The firm has also taken over a contact lens and cleaning product panel from Nielsen in Japan. More
In a trading update prior to half-year results, the TMN Group says it expects 12.5% year-on-year growth, with research divisions The iD Factor and iCD performing 'particularly strongly' in the past two months. The Group will also have a new Chairman, Peter Harkness, at the end of November. More
In the third quarter of the year, MR software firm Confirmit has increased its revenue by 82% to $8.9m, while operating profits were $833,000, 50% higher than in Q3 2006. More
US firm MarketTools has appointed John Ouren as Executive VP and General Manager of its self-build online survey business, Zoom. More
Nielsen has combined its Nielsen//NetRatings division with BuzzMetrics to form Nielsen Online, and re-branded its recently acquired Telephia unit as Nielsen Mobile. More
At an extraordinary general meeting earlier today, shareholders of UK holding firm Optimisa have passed all resolutions relating to the acquisition of EQ Group, including the placing of 600,000 new shares at £13 per share. More
MR software and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has launched an online panel to provide insight into the consumer opinions of around 100,000 African-Americans. More
Online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has launched a US panel comprising 400,000 individuals who can choose to take surveys in either English or Spanish. More
Starfish Research has followed up its recent launch of Papua New Guinea's (PNG's) first syndicated consumer study with the opening of an office in the capital, Port Moresby. The location will serve as its regional office for research conducted in PNG and the South Pacific. More
In the US, Ford Motor Company has a new marketing supremo, Jim Farley, charged with 'bringing the voice of the customer in' to the auto giant. Meanwhile one of the company's ad campaigns has angered researchers by setting up a fake survey firm. More
TNS has announced two global leadership appointments. Leendert de Voogd is promoted to Global Sector Head, Political and Social, replacing Marita Carballo who leaves to pursue 'academic and other interests'; while former Dell man Renaud Collery is appointed as Head of Global Operations. More
B2b specialist Kadence has made ten new appointments, reflecting significant business growth across its worldwide operations. Two people join the firm's UK headquarters in London and eight more are added to offices in Boston, Malaysia and India. More
Internet data collection specialist Itracks has launched a new Mobile Survey tool for quant researchers, making online surveys accessible from 'virtually all mobile devices'. More
Online marketing agency Clear Ink has released Slogbase, a free service allowing companies to track visitors and measure traffic to their locations in Second Life and other virtual worlds. More
Synovate has announced three key promotions to leadership positions in its Global Qualitative function. Steve Hales becomes Head of Clients; Sue Phillips Training and Development Director; and Steve Wolf, Commercial Director. More
Arbitron and Nielsen are to extend the pilot period for their joint venture Project Apollo into the first quarter of 2008, to allow more time to demonstrate its benefits and to develop data delivery procedures. It was previously scheduled to complete this year. More
US life sciences specialist AlphaDetail is to open a new office in Horsham, Pennsylvania on November 1, and has appointed three directors - Eileen Henne, Mike Nestler and John Freeman - to lead it. More
In the UK, three former employees of Fieldwork International / FI Healthcare have launched a new medical MR fieldwork agency, KeyQuest Health Ltd (KQH). Directors Carol Faverger, Ruby Nanda and Rosalyn Twite have between them over 35 years' experience in international healthcare data collection. More
Software developer Noldus Information Technology has launched FaceReader(TM), a product billed as 'the first automated software system capable of automatically detecting and analyzing human facial expressions'. More
In the US, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has announced the release of final guidelines for ad impression measurement in Rich Internet Application (RIA) environments. It also published a report on the state of in-game advertising. More
GfK Starch® Communications, a division of GfK Custom Research North America, has launched the eStarch Ad Readership service, which uses new metrics to measure a print ad's impact on motivating consumer purchase behavior. More
UK ratings body RAJAR Limited (Radio Joint Audience Research) has appointed David Mansfield as its new Chairman, succeeding Lord Gordon of Strathblane, CBE, who retired earlier this year after four years in the post. More
Nielsen has stepped back from an experiment with combined ratings for shows airing twice. The new option, intended to pilot more flexible reporting to deal with new technology, gave NBC a single unduplicated rating for September's last Monday and Saturday showings of 'Heroes' but seems to have alarmed other subscribers. More
Research International has strengthened its US Board of Directors with the appointment of Marla Commons, SVP and Regional North American Qualitative Director. More
Arbitron / Nielsen joint venture Project Apollo has reached agreement with four major US radio industry firms, to add audience data for commercials broadcast on their network and syndicated programs to its offer. More
RONIN Corporation has promoted Massimo Manzoli to the role of Distributed Interviewing (DI) Operations Director, while John Buglass steps up to assume his responsibilities managing the firm's call centre and Global Control Centre. More
YouGov has announced results for the financial year ended 31 July, with group turnover up 51% to £14.3m, profit before tax and goodwill up 39% to £5.7m and both global acquisitions and launches in new sectors promising another buoyant year to come. More
Arab Internet portal Maktoob.com has launched a syndicated mobile study, polling 1,000 mobile users in each of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and 700 each in Jordan and Lebanon. More
India's audience measurement agency TAM has confirmed that its Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) survey will go ahead this month using Diary methodology, despite concerns expressed by the Media Research Users Council (MRUC) that the technology is not sufficiently robust. More
Synovate Healthcare has launched a new syndicated service which it says will provide clients with a holistic view of pharma companies' relationships with their key stakeholders. More
In London, consumer agency Future Foundation has promoted Barry Clark to a new role to lead development of its new global insight program. More
Synovate Censydiam co-founder and former CEO Jan Callebaut has left his part-time consultancy post with Synovate after just four months. More
Kantar-owned pharma / biotech consultancy Mattson Jack Group has released a new syndicated study to help with decisions surrounding commercial opportunities in the field of oncology. More
In the US, customer sat specialist Flake-Wilkerson Market Insights (F-W) has merged with competitor Market Strategies International (MSI). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
i-to-i Research, which became part of the Publicis Group in July 2006, has been acquired by its Chief Executive Claire Spencer in a management buy-out. More
Recruitment consultancy Pricejamieson, whose specialist teams cover marketing and digital communications in addition to MR, is expanding its research services to Asia Pacific. Senior Consultant Rowan Haylett moves from the London office to parent company Aquent in Australia. More
In London, youth research agency Q Research has launched what it says is the UK's first weekly omnibus to uncover the opinions, attitudes and behaviours of 11-25 year olds. More
In the UK the Market Research Society (MRS) has incorporated coverage of Social Networking and Web 2.0 into its training programme, to offer practitioners at all levels an understanding of the research potential of interactive online media. More
Kantar firm AMRB has launched a new business-to-business and industrial research division (BIRD) in a move to strengthen its presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. More
The Sri Lankan arm of brand evaluation and strategy firm Brand Finance has launched its 'Brand Ratings' scheme, which enables brands to benchmark themselves against top performing competitors. Partner TNS Lanka will provide the research component. More
The Nielsen Company has laid off 1,250 of its staff, but says the losses are probably 'the last for some time' and the total of c.4,000 redundancies originally planned for 2007 will not be reached, according to Reuters. More
Joseph Plummer has resigned his post as Chief Research Officer at US professional body, the ARF. In a separate recent announcement, the association named nine new members for its Board of Directors. More
US network NBC Universal has taken the first steps towards establishing a new council of ad agency research, strategy and media buying executives commissioning primary research of mutual benefit. More
Retail info giant IRI has appointed John Freeland, an Accenture veteran most recently President-Worldwide Operations for salesforce.com, as its new President and CEO. He succeeds Scott W. Klein, in the roles since January 2004, who moves up to IRI's parent, Symphony Technology Group. More
Nielsen and its partners have announced 'substantial progress' in their P.R.I.S.M. project, which aims to establish a global metric for evaluating the in-store environment. Initial results shed light on the relationship between traffic and purchases, and the level of in-store communuications with shoppers. More
Custom online panels firm Vision Critical has promoted Jason Smith, SVP Sales & Marketing since 2004, to the role of President and COO of its Panel Division. More
In the UK, TNS has acquired retail and shopper insight consultancy ID Magasin, which specialises in video-based research and eye-tracking for international in-store research. More
Plans for a joint venture between UK-based polling firm YouGov and Australian marketing services firm Photon Group have reportedly been abandoned, with Photon instead said to be buying social research specialist Auspoll. More
In the US, blog and social network tracker Visible Technologies has received a $12 million boost to its coffers in a second round of funding from WPP and venture capital company Ignition Partners. More
TNS will be merging its Media Intelligence and Media Research (iTRAM) units into one, in an effort to further develop its TV and online audience measurement services. More
Consumer psychology research specialist Synovate Censydiam has developed a suite of interactive tools. They include a panel of respondents with shared contextual motivations, and a tool for conducting pre-field interactive chat sessions. More
TNS India's Managing Director Mr R Suresh is to leave to pursue other interests outside the industry, after almost two decades with the company. More
In the US, contact management and speech analytics specialist SER Solutions has acquired call centre technology firm Strategic Communications Systems (SCS), rounding out its offer for customer interaction management. More
In the UK, OnePoint Surveys has launched SMS Surveys, a tool to capture real-time feedback through text surveys distributed to respondents' mobile phones. More
The Gfk Group has acquired ad campaign research firm Daphne Communication Management in the Netherlands and mystery shopping specialist SATISTEME in France. More
Nielsen has said that it intends to treble the size of its National People Meter (NPM) TV ratings panel by 2011, to include 37,000 US households and 100,000 people. More
Indian research and analytics firm Annik has opened an office in Florida, US and appointed Ron Brotherton to lead business development for its Analytical Processing Division. More
MR software and panels firm GMI has appointed legal and business veteran Dave Williamson as Executive VP and General Counsel. More
In Germany, defacto Research has hired Thomas Plennert as Research Consultant. He previously worked clientside at art supplies firm Faber Castell, and before this at home electronics manufacturer Grundig Intermedia. More
Online measurement firm comScore has introduced a new service to report on where display ads are viewed on the Internet, as well as the profile of those exposed to them. More
M/A/R/C® Research has created two new Executive Vice Presidents with the promotions of Amy Barrentine and Randy Wahl. General Manager Barrentine has been with the firm for 28 years and Wahl, who leads the Advanced Analytics group, eighteen years. More
Canadian data collection firm Itracks has launched the Bulletin Board Focus Group. Among the promised benefits are easier management of multi-media files, quicker identification of new posts, and a new language menu for global research. More
Nielsen Media Research has informed its TV network and syndication clients that its Monitor-Plus tracking system is struggling to identify some new forms of 'live' TV advertising; and asked them to work with it to solve the problem. More
Sydney, Australia -based market research firm MRA (Marketing & Research Associates) has been acquired by communications agency Daemon Group. More
Experian Research Services (ERS) has unveiled a platform providing local media, agency and advertiser sales and marketing professionals with detailed information about US consumers at the local market level. More
Environmental campaigner Greenpeace has challenged the UK government's nuclear power consultation process, claiming it is 'being fixed' by Gordon Brown's 'favourite market research company', Opinion Leader Research (OLR). The group has also formally complained to the MR industry standards body. More
Steven Fredericks is stepping down with immediate effect from his role as President and CEO of TNS Media Intelligence (TNS MI), and will be replaced as President by Bev Andal, who also takes overall charge of US Operations. More
Online qual firm iModerate has introduced a new tool, Optimum!nsight, promising immediate, real-time qual consumer feedback on 'opinion evoking stimuli', using short sessions which it says do not need to be integrated into a fully-fledged survey. More
Brazilian agency CNP Global has joined the Harris Interactive Global Network as its newest affiliate member. CNP works as a data collection agency for MR firms as well as a full service provider for client firms and government institutions. More
Business and consumer data firm infoUSA, which owns Opinion Research Corporation (ORC), is to compile a database of addresses for every business in the UK, updated by means of 2-3 million telephone calls per annum. More
Emotional reaction measurement firm The Dcypher Group has developed a new analytical tool to measure human emotions based on analysis of the written or spoken word. More
Online panel management firm Common Knowledge has promoted former Quality Director Matt Skawinski to the position of VP Quality Control. David Moon takes up the position of Production Director for the firm's survey programming operations. More
Researchers worldwide expect another year of increased use of online data providers and access panels, according to the Online Research Barometer conducted by Greenfield Online and Ciao Surveys. The firms also highlight the healthy state of the b2b research market. More
At the second day of the ESOMAR Congress in Berlin, two UK research veterans talked about the changing skill sets and training needs of research professionals. David Smith predicted a boom in online learning; while Phyllis MacFarlane gave some ideas about new ways of training graduates. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau has this week issued an update on progress with the auditing and accreditation of online measurement firms comScore and NetRatings, as promised after its Audience Measurement Summit on May 16. It also launched another advisory group. More
Ipsos has acquired a 70% stake in Markinor, South Africa's leading independent MR firm, and has confirmed its excellent first half results previewed on August 16th. More
Mobile comms giant Nokia has announced an agreement to acquire Enpocket, a specialist in mobile advertising solutions whose services include measurement and optimisation of campaigns. More
Deniz Ozerdil, formerly of GfK Turkey, has resigned and set up her own agency, Istanbul Research. The firm will focus on offering local field and tab services for international clients. More
Ziment has announced the worldwide launch of 'Benchmark Discrete Choice', its system for determining the market potential of pharmaceuticals compounds in early- and late-stage development. More
Swedish company Simstore International AB has received $2m in venture capital to develop SIMSTORE360®, an Internet based tool for the analysis of consumer decision-making at the point of purchase, using virtual store environments. More
Online specialist Toluna has launched the latest version of its online panel community management solution, PanelPortal, which 'for the first time' offers marketing and MR professionals 'an end to end online data collection solution'. More
The 60th ESOMAR Congress has kicked off at the Intercontinental Hotel in Berlin, offering an astonishing variety of fare including a children's choir, researchers both navel- and future-gazing, a very tall and celebrated film director, and three Scottish ladies on MR's contribution to the 'joy' of 'doing it with the lights on'. More
TNS has unveiled BriefScape, a research product for the early stages of brand communications development. The global agency says its range of offerings in the area now constitute 'a research solution for the complete brand communications lifecycle'. More
Software and panels firm GMI has taken the opportunity of the ESOMAR Annual Congress in Germany to launch a new online Gamer Panel, developed in partnership with leading video game web site GameSpot®. More
In the UK, holding company Optimisa has launched a cash offer for marketing services group EQ worth £6.4 million. More
Online customer satisfaction specialist ForeSee Results has acquired usability consulting firm Red Spade, to improve its ability to offer actionable web site user satisfaction analysis. More
Global fieldwork agency Fieldwork International Healthcare has opened a new office in Paris to house its qualitative unit. Anne Peyretout has been appointed as Senior Project Manager in charge of the new division. More
On Wednesday, US-based Survey Sampling International (SSI) celebrated the official opening of its new office in Canada. CEO Jim Follett says the new office will help local brands take better advantage of their market research. More
US-based Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) plans to launch a study next January to reach the top 1% of US investors, living in households with a minimum of $5 million of investable assets. More
With election time approaching, US polling firm Zogby is planning to take on at least 150 temporary workers to keep up with increased growth. CEO and founder John Zogby says most are likely to end up with permanent positions. More
From 1 October, Nielsen will be reshuffling its television ratings unit to give three of its most senior executives new responsibilities – they are Catherine Herkovic, Kevin Svenningsen and Tom Ziangas. More
In the US, Gongos Research has launched a new marketing research platform called metaCommunity, to help companies engage with members of social networking communities. More
In the UK, research consultancy Insight Engineers has launched a syndicated health and wellbeing study which seeks to uncover consumers' awareness of and attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. More
UK-based online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has developed a standard toolkit for quick and easy Flash survey enhancements. More
TNS has bought a 15% stake in Berlin-based usability research firm Eye Square, reflecting increased client demand for usability advice and consultancy. More
European online panel provider ToLuna has posted first half year organic revenue of £6 million, up from £3.6 million in the first half of 2006. More
Online measurement firm comScore has launched a new service to measure the audiences of blogs and social networking sites. More
Former Novartis Global Head of Consumer Insights Sandra McAuliffe has taken up the role of Managing Director with GfK HealthCare in the UK. More
European agency SKOPOS Market Insight has seen its turnover increase by 72% in the first half of 2007. The company says an extended high-end analysis offer, including the launch of 'Ultra-Analysis' and a new Kwal(TM) department, has contributed. More
MR software firm Confirmit will be releasing its new Confirmit 12 On-demand / Software-as-a Service (SaaS) upgraded products on November 3. The release promises improved methods for data collection, processing and reporting. More
Online survey technologist Decipher has opened a new office in New York and appointed Duane Joseph to lead it and build business on the east coast. More
Kent-based b2b specialist Westcombe Business Research has ceased trading. Administrators were called on 22rd August and the firm's employees have left: three of them have now set up a new fieldwork firm along with a former supplier. More
In the US, online marketing research firm InsightExpress has expanded its Customer Services team with the promotions of Jon Weinstein to Customer Service Supervisor and Annalisa de Lena and Courtney Brown to Senior Project Managers. More
Web-based US consumer researcher BuzzBack has opened in Europe, appointing Martin Oxley, formerly of Ipsos and TNS, as Managing Director for the region. More
In the UK, former Voxco and Pulse Group salesman Nigel Legg has formed Katugas Research Services Ltd, offering multi-lingual coding services. More
Nielsen's FMCG analytics unit Decisions Made Easy (DME) has partnered with France's first online supermarket Telemarket. The retailer's consumer profile data will be used to help suppliers gain an insight into the online supermarket sector. More
Following complaints from clients about the audience measurement firm's failure to meet in-tab sample sizes in Houston and Philadelphia in July, Arbitron has issued a client letter committing to issue 'sample guarantees' from 1 October 2007. More
Lynn Bolger has returned to Internet ratings firm comScore to take up the position of Executive VP of Advertising Solutions, focusing on helping clients maximize the return from their investments in digital marketing. More
Greenfield Online has launched two new concept testing products called Visual Concept Evaluator and Visual Copy Evaluator, aimed at delivering more enjoyable survey experiences for its respondents and improved data quality for its clients. More
Synovate parent, The Aegis Group has posted an 8.7% increase in first-half pre-tax profits, while confirming that Synovate continues to outperform expectations, having grown almost twice as fast as its market. More
US-headquartered online and mobile research technology specialist Invoke Solutions has opened a London office to serve its clients in the UK and throughout Europe. More
Software and panels provider GMI has partnered with Amsterdam-based MR firm DervalResearch to launch SLIC (Second Life Interview Corner), claiming to provide a new perspective on conducting one-to-one research interviews in a virtual environment. More
Canadian MR data collection firm Itracks has launched iMarkIt, a tool that enables survey participants to mark up video, web sites, images and text; allowing researchers to show their clients key findings containing visuals created by the respondents themselves. More
Harris Interactive has announced the rebranding of its German and French subsidiaries, MediaTransfer and Novatris, as of September 1 – both will now operate under the Harris Interactive name. More
London-based online market research firm BrainJuicer has appointed Eric Kenelm ('Ken') Ford as Non-Executive Chairman. John Kearon remains the agency's Chief Executive. More
Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has appointed former NPD Senior VP Operations Jean Marie Davis as Vice President – Global Integration, based in the firm's New York office. More
Synovate Healthcare has launched The Synovate Healthcare India Oncology Monitor, which it says is the first of its kind in the country. More
TNS has today released unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2007. The firm says underlying revenue growth of 5.9% and operating profit up 8.9% to £45.4m show the successful implementation of a strategy commenced last year. More
TNS Media Intelligence has acquired media monitoring and evaluation firm PressWatch GmbH, based in Hamburg, Germany. More
Toronto-based Acrobat Research is to open a call centre in a mall complex in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, providing jobs for up to 150 people. More
In the US, Ohio-based marketing consultancy Synergy International has acquired customer insight firm DecisionPoint Marketing and Research. More
Nielsen has announced it will shortly begin the syndicated measurement of professional healthcare web sites. The research giant says the move will create a new standard for measuring healthcare professionals' activity on the Internet. More
TNS Research Surveys is to design, recruit and manage a new viewing panel of 3,500 South African households equipped with digital satellite TV. More
In Canada, the Institute for Sport Marketing (ISM) has announced the on-campus launch of its new research centre at Laurentian University, and appointed Xiaoyan Xing as Associate Director of International Research and Ann Pegoraro as Associate Director. More
Measurement firm comScore has been suspended from online privacy organisation TRUSTe's Trusted Download Program (TDP), after a comScore distributor broke its rules on getting user consent for downloads. More
Branding specialist AcuPOLL Research has launched a new service, 'Germinator' to help brand executives gauge whether consumers believe their creative ideas are worthy of further development. More
Millward Brown has enhanced its LINK(TM) suite of advertising research tools to help advertisers understand the overall effect of their multimedia communications. The new LINK360 tools will help to measure the impact of online video, blogs, print, TV, radio, outdoor and online campaigns. More
In London, Ipsos MORI has hired Sarah Phillips to lead its healthcare division. She joins from Research International where she was European Healthcare Director and a Board Director; and worked previously at Harris Interactive. More
Harris Interactive has announced results for the fourth quarter and its full fiscal year 2007, ending 30th June. Fourth quarter revenue declined to $57.1m – down 3% from the same period a year ago – and full year revenue was $211.8m, similar to figures a year ago and well down on forecasts made then, of $230-240m. More
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is to get its 'first' annual syndicated research study, courtesy of Starfish Research (Asia-Pacific). More
Offshore MR and analytics provider Cross-Tab Marketing Services has appointed Dr. Russ Winer to its Global Advisory Board. The firm already taps Simon Chadwick for advice on business and corporate strategy. More
MrWeb has announced a partnership with the US-based association MRA (Marketing Research Association). The deal aims to give MRA members access to daily updates of global news and job vacancies while promoting MRA's services and programs to readers of Daily Research News. More
Eight supervisory jobs at Kantar Operations' Leamington telephone centre in the UK have been lost after it was decided to relocate the unit to its existing Warwick site based two miles away. More
Recently launched NielsenHealth has appointed Paul Coggin as VP, Healthcare Marketing and Sales and Ron Timmerman as VP, Health Panel Services. More
UK-based marketing services firm EQ Group Plc – which owns MR firms Buckingham Research Associates and Quaestor, as well as viewing facility Summit Studios – has posted a 95% rise in pretax profit to £598,000 for the first half of the year. More
UK-based pollster YouGov has signed a joint venture with Photon Group, owner of several MR agencies, to establish an online panel business, YouGov Australia. The partners hope to build a panel of 50,000 adults in time to cover the country's forthcoming federal election, in October. More
Emotional intelligence technology developer EmSense is using a high-tech brain-scanner to measure the brain waves, heart rates, and sweat responses of a test group playing an online military-themed game. More
Online panel management specialist Common Knowledge has hired Paul Kirch as VP Business Development for the firm's online panel and programming operations. More
Danish firm iMotions, whose software measures emotional response, has raised $2.7 million towards expanding its sales in the US and supporting the organisation worldwide. More
As promised to shareholders in July, panels firm Research Now has appointed a CFO, Nathan Runnicles – he will join the Board on 19th November 2007. More
Online researcher InsightExpress has announced three promotions and two appointments to its Online Media Measurement Group. Darcy Briggs, Junny Cho and Melissa Sherman become Senior Project Managers while Jamie Chang and Kelly Thomas join the firm as Project Managers. More
Online research is cheaper but more profitable, says WPP, and that's why its research division's revenues are stagnant while its margins are buoyant. The Group's information, insight and consultancy firms saw organic growth of only 1.3% in Q2, but gross margin improved 5.9%. More
London-based online survey firm Demographix is to pilot a hosted panel management system, which it says will help users overcome the problems they encounter when using ordinary email management software to circulate survey invites. More
New web site Sutori.co.uk has been launched to offer British consumers a real-time measure of opinion about companies and their brands, and enable them to 'take the pulse' of a brand before committing to buy. More
Ipsos and Nielsen have reported results for the first half of the year. Ipsos increased revenue by 8.7% over the year earlier period to €443.1m, while Nielsen's grew from $2,019m to $2,241m. More
Software and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has moved its headquarters to larger premises and brought its three Seattle operations under one roof. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has joined with six other associations to create the B2B Best Practice Alliance and raise the profile and standard of B2B marketing communications. More
German fragrance and flavourings manufacturer Symrise has opened a Sensory and Consumer Science Centre in Singapore, which includes rooms for focus groups, panel-training rooms and individual sensory-test booths. More
Greenfield Online has announced good second quarter results for its survey solutions and comparison shopping businesses, with the latter particularly strong. Both divisions saw double-digit growth in revenue, as did overall operating income and adjusted EBITDA. More
Former Synovate and Greenfield Online man Dave Plunkett is heading up a new specialist research provider, Precision Healthcare Marketing Intelligence (Precision-HMI), based in Toronto. More
GfK has reported first half results which are 'moderate compared with the highly successful prior year'. Business in two divisions, Custom Research and HealthCare, fell short of expectations, although others forged ahead giving respectable overall organic growth of 4.9%. More
Lightspeed Research has begun the roll-out of a global service offering consumer surveys via mobile devices, with initial launches in Great Britain and Australia. The firm says it plans to expand into the US and other countries in Europe and Asia Pacific over the next few months. More
UK convenience store chain Co-op Group is to conduct customer satisfaction surveys at the point of sale using its EPOS system. More
Simmons Research has announced two enhancements to its National Consumer Study (NCS): the extension of its data collection operation from nine months to a continuous 12-month period, and an increased frequency of publication from twice yearly to quarterly. More
Mark Cranmer, who replaced Roger Banks as Global CEO of Research International only last year, will himself be leaving the post by the end of 2007. Bob Meyers, currently completing his term as CEO of Millward Brown, will replace him. More
B2b specialist Kadence is boosting its Asia Pacific presence with the launch of new offices in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More
The Nielsen Company has launched NielsenHealth, offering clients 'consumer centric' analytical tools to more effectively understand and address the attitudes, behaviors and needs of patients and physicians. Matthew Dumas becomes its MD. More
In the same week as Nielsen, Canadian agency Angus Reid Strategies has also announced the formation of a new health practice. The new wing will be led by Senior VP Yola Zdanowicz who, like many of the firm's senior team, joins from Ipsos. More
MR outsourcing specialist and panel provider Pulse Group is launching a new qualitative division, including state-of-the-art viewing facilities for focus groups. Qual veteran Chan Choy Ping, previously of NFO and Synovate, will lead the division. More
Continuing a busy week, YouGov has agreed amicably to dissolve its YouGov Execution (YGX) joint venture with Execution Ltd after 18 months, in order to launch a fully owned firm developing the same idea, YouGovAlpha. More
Private equity firm SV Investment Partners has acquired FocusVision Worldwide, Inc., which provides video transmission and digital recording technologies for the qualitative MR industry. SV's partners include former NOP boss William 'Jay' Wilson. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More
Lightspeed Research has announced the launch of a new GB Sports Panel. The panel pre-identifies consumers on the basis of sports watched and participated in. More
Boston-based AMR Research has appointed Andy Sanfilippo as Research Director and Dawn O'Brien as Program Director, to boost its Retail Strategies Service team. More
BIGresearch has opened an office in New York and appointed Holly Williams as Vice President of Sales to manage it. More
In the US, the Advertising Research Federation (ARF) has announced the formation of The Online Research Quality Council, a body tasked with developing a set of standards for buyers of online research and led by a steering committee of senior figures from the industry. More
The world's pharmaceutical companies have been hiring market researchers at a rapid rate in the last year, according to a report from sector specialist Cutting Edge Information. Overall MR headcount is reportedly up an average of 21%. More
YouGov has announced a major expansion of its international presence, completing its buy of US-based Polimetrix and also acquiring Nordic agency Zapera, while raising around £27m by means of an institutional share placing. More
Comperio Research, the research arm of sports, entertainment and media vompany IMG, has opened an office in Melbourne, Australia, with a full-service quant and qual offering. Research Director Iain Barnett leaves the London HQ to head up the new operation. More
Burke has promoted Mike Webster to Vice President of Technology Solutions, the department responsible for all its inward facing and client facing research technology. More
Ciao Surveys has promoted Richard Thornton, currently VP Client Development Europe, to manage the whole of its European sales operation as Head of Client Development. More
In the UK iCD Research, sister company of The iD Factor and part of the TMN Group, has launched an online-only Readership Tracking survey with a 12-month contract from business daily City A.M. More
Nielsen Media Research has blamed technical problems for underreporting of ratings for the USA Network for five days last week, including WWE wrestling program 'Raw'; and says the system is now functioning normally again. More
Survey software and EFM specialist Vovici has acquired assets from survey software provider, Raosoft Inc., and will assume support for its EZSurvey and EZReport clients. More
Select Research, the UK agency working on a replacement for the 200-year old Body Mass Index, has set up a specialist division for user testing of Patient Information Leaflets. More
Fieldwork International Healthcare has hired Charlotte Solberger as Telephone Operations Director, based in the UK. She joins from Synovate UK where she was Group Field Manager. More
OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has announced the expansion of its International Film Tracking service to cover Russia and China, giving clients weekly reports on consumer awareness of and interest in feature film releases. More
Greenfield Online, through its subsidiary Ciao, has expanded its presence in the Asia Pacific region by adding Greenfield-Ciao in Shanghai to existing offices in Sydney, Australia and Gurgaon, India. More
Newly formed WPP company Safecount has launched two free services in the US – the first to ensure cookie transparency for consumers and the second, called Veranda, to manage live survey participation. More
UK-based Synovate subsidiary Fieldwork International Healthcare has launched a specialist Diary Team to focus on managing complex diary projects across all methodologies. More
Employee-owned Burke Inc has promoted Jeff Miller to the position of Chief Operating Officer, responsibility for both its marketing research arm and its training institute. More
Automotive research specialist R.L. Polk has agreed to acquire a majority interest in ROADTODATA, a supplier of real-time automotive price and specifications data with operations in Europe, South America and Australia. More
Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has launched a global division that will focus on research using client supplied or specialist sample data. More
In the US, online researcher MarketTools has appointed Scott Arnold as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) to head the company's corporate strategy on company-wide initiatives such as strategic ventures and business development. More
Israeli web search and research startup Omgili Ltd has obtained seed funding from Pitango Venture Capital, enabling it to pursue plans to commercialize its technology for the analysis of user-generated content. More
WPP subsidiary Ogilvy Healthworld has agreed to acquire 70% of South Korea's Pharmax Research & Consulting. More
Research Now has launched a proprietary online Brazilian panel, Opiniões de Valor, its first in South America. More
IT-focused Springboard Research has allied with Japan's Nork Research, specialist in the IT needs of small- and medium businesses (SMBs). The deal will result in a series of joint SMB-focused reports and client studies, and in Nork's working as a reseller for Springboard's syndicated research. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has opened a Beijing office and launched a service tracking sales of prestige beauty products in China, covering the fragrance, make-up, and skincare businesses. More
Asian-based outsourcing and online panel firm the Pulse Group has officially opened the doors to its New York City office with industry veteran John Saez at the helm, while in Kuala Lumpur the firm has made an additional seven senior hires. More
US-based online market intelligence firm BIGresearch has teamed up with Hispanic magazine company Televisa Publishing to provide marketers with in-depth information about the Hispanic market. More
Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) provider Vovici has added a new market research tool to its EFM Community product, exploiting its experience working with Nielsen on its Homescan panel. More
Online MR supplier Livra Panels has added eight new Latin American panels to its existing six, and says it can now reach more than a million active Spanish and Portuguese-speakers. More
The UK research industry's turnover grew just 2.4% during 2006, roughly the rate of inflation, to £1.353 billion. Figures come from the Annual MRS Survey, which continues the series formerly conducted by the BMRA. More
American Matthew Fagan, accused of killing Research Now Finance Manager Cathy Marlow, pleaded not guilty to the murder at the Old Bailey in London on Friday. His trial will now commence in the last week of February next year. More
Customer loyalty software firm Satmetrix has appointed Deborah Eastman as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO); and has established a new business line headed by former CMO John Abraham, dedicated to the continued development of Net Promoter®, the innovative loyalty measure it co-developed with Bain's Fred Reichheld. More
Later this month, Nielsen will be testing a new metering device which will plug in to iPods, MP3 players and other personal video devices (PVDs) to enable measurement of video-based programming wherever it is being watched. More
Web video advertising firm Tremor Media has joined forces with ad research specialist Dynamic Logic to bring video advertising research capabilities to the former's network of more than 800 sites. More
Second quarter profit at media research and ratings firm Arbitron has dropped by 49%, amid increased spend on its Portable People Meter system (PPM). More
Online panel specialist Lightspeed Research, and Millward Brown's operation in China – Millward Brown ACSR (MB-ACSR) – have formed a partnership to offer a global research panel and data collection service throughout the Chinese marketplace. More
MR software and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has appointed Matt Shepherd as Managing Director of UK Sales based at its EMEA headquarters in London. More
In London, online direct marketing organisation TMN Group plc has announced record revenue and profit levels. Its online panel specialist subsidiary The iD Factor experienced 90% growth. More
A Netherlands-based firm whose developers hit the headlines recently for a scientific analysis of the Mona Lisa's smile, is hoping to add to the toolbox of consumer researchers. Visual Recognition's software 'recognises' facial expressions to gauge the real feelings behind respondent comments. More
Nielsen has promoted Lisa Lee to the role of Senior Vice President, International Communications, where she will take responsibility for all corporate and marketing communications outside North America. More
US-owned shell company Cable & Co. Worldwide, Inc. has announced the forthcoming acquisition of 'several marketing and opinion research companies' under the new name of Marketing & Research Corp. At present, its only operating company focuses on development of OTC dental care products. More
US provider Survey Sampling International (SSI) is mourning co-founder Tom Danbury, who died last week while visiting family in Kansas City, Missouri. More
Kadence Asia Pacific has appointed Joseph Tan to its newly created role of Fieldwork Client Services Manager, to provide a central contact for international clients looking to undertake research in the region. More
GfK Consumer has launched a new regular survey of 'unacculturated' Hispanic Americans, whom it defines as 'not yet assimilated completely to their adopted country'. Around two fifths of the 42 million Hispanics living in the US are said to meet the definition. More
Spanish-language media company Entravision Communications Corporation (EVC) has signed a multi-year agreement to conduct electronic ratings measurement using Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM). More
In the US, MR firm MarketTools has launched 'Shopper Impact', which combines virtual shopping technology, advanced research methods and dashboard reporting to provide manufacturers with insights into retail consumer behaviour. More
MR and customer service call centre agency Datascension is the latest firm in the sector to relocate much of its activity to lower cost sites outside the US. With call center infrastructure now in facilities in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, the firm will sublet its Californian headquarters. More
US healthcare research and database provider SK&A Information Services will be recruiting an additional 50 staff at its call center, based in Irvine, California, to meet an increased client demand for custom research. More
Brighton-based b2b outward bound specialist The Telemarketing Company is refurbishing its 185 CATI seat offices to upgrade the working environment. More
In the US, public sector-focused research provider Abt Associates has acquired SRBI (Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc.), for an undisclosed sum. SRBI will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Abt, led by current President and CEO Mark A. Schulman, Ph.D. More
UK-based consultancy Nunwood has reported more explosive growth, with first half revenues at £4.6m, up 58% versus the same period last year. More
Damon Thomas has joined UK MR specialist RPCushing Recruitment as Head of its Analysis and Information division. The firm says it aims to double the division's size to eight consultants by the end of the financial year. More
Research Now has announced two new specialist UK panels, covering business and leisure travel habits; and sports and leisure, respectively. More
TNS has issued a trading update, ahead of reporting interim results on 3 September. The group says its previously troubled US custom business has returned to growth and expects underlying organic revenue growth of over 5% for the first six months of 2007. More
Nielsen Media Research has released the first electronic TV ratings for New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, but ad agencies and advertisers will have to wait another two weeks before they can see them. More
North of England-based Dipsticks Research will move to new offices in the Autumn to accommodate rapid growth; and has launched Radar, a new travel and tourism consultancy to track travellers' perceptions both before and during their holidays. More
Online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has reported a pre-tax loss of £235,000 in the first half of its financial year, but also a strong start to the second half with record sales in May and June. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of Australian agency Eureka, a specialist in public opinion, social and CRM research, headed by former AMSRS President John Sergeant. More
Synovate Healthcare has launched an online Psychoses Therapy Monitor, its first venture into coverage of psychiatric treatment. Initial waves in the five biggest European economies will be followed by a US launch soon. More
Sister UK agencies BMRB and BPRI are to link two regular surveys, BMRB's face-to-face Omnibus survey and BPRI's Political Opinion Panel, to give clients the chance to put the same questions to MPs and the general public. More
GfK NOP has launched a new brand, 'beyond', in response to client calls for greater ROI from insight. 'beyond' aims to use the experience of people who have 'been there and done it as clients' to ensure research is turned into actionable solutions. More
TNS has acquired Auckland-based Conversa Global, creating what it says is New Zealand's largest research consultancy. The global group's NZ business will be merged with Conversa Global to form a new company, TNS Conversa. More
Research Now has seen its share price plummet by around half in the space of two days, after a profits warning with the identification of further unrecorded costs of £0.6m in the first half of the year. More
UK-based consultancy Illuminas has announced quadrupled profits for the year ending February 2007, despite problems at its owner Media Square. Global fees rose to c.£9m in the year ending February 2007 from £8.5m a year earlier, while profits rose from £0.3m in 2006 to £1.3m in 2007. More
The Nielsen Company and Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) are to develop a new measurement system for game network advertising, with Nielsen given access to the games giant's user data. More
Panels provider Research Now has launched a multi-country online qual focus group facility, offering clients online groups in a chat-room-style environment similar to that seen in online communication tools such as MSN Messenger and Skype. More
In the USA, MarketTools, Inc. has announced the availability of a research solution for marketers targeting mothers, the 'Moms Insight Network'. The system combines input from the online conversations of millions of 'moms', an online community and a quarterly survey of 500 respondents. More
Chicago-based integrated sports marketing and media services agency rEvolution is to work with Knowledge Networks (KN) to develop the 'next generation of sponsorship research and consulting services'. More
Mumbai-based Ugam Solutions has hired former RONIN General Managers, Simon Glanville and Rafal Gajdamowicz, as Managing Director and Executive VP of its new multi-lingual data collection centre in London. More
In the US, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) is to work with Scarborough Research and The Newspaper Association of America (NAA), to roll out joint readership figures adding web site traffic and print circulation figures. More
Harris Interactive has launched its Advanced Strategy Lab (ASL) in Europe to provide simultaneous anonymous input from participants at any location. More
Rich media and digital video technology provider, EyeWonder is to lead a research consortium to analyse consumer perception of video-based advertising; research for the project will be managed by online MR firm InsightExpress. More
Nielsen is acquiring San Francisco-based syndicated telecom MR firm Telephia, in a move designed to accelerate measurement of consumer behaviour across the $350 billion mobile phone sector. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More
Financial information provider Xinhua Finance Limited (XFL) has launched a new barometer of Chinese consumer outlook, compiled by financial and consumer tracker eziData. More
Publicis Chief Strategy Officer Paul Edwards is to return to Research International (RI), where he began his agency career. He takes the role of UK Chairman and will report to RI Chief Executive Mark Cranmer. More
Following open criticism of the cost and viability of Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) technology, Clear Channel Radio has finally signed a multi-year deal to use the PPM ratings to track its listener habits. More
Denmark-based Anis Panduro Zouzou has been appointed Nielsen's European In-Store Manager, charged with leading the roll-out of its In-Store initiative across Europe. More
Harris Interactive, a major player in the US body establishing uniform standards of disclosure for the conducting of opinion polls, has taken up membership of its UK equivalent, the British Polling Council (BPC). More
UK-based agency Nunwood has added in-store video observation to its shopper insight offer, with the aim of more effectively evaluating subconscious behaviour traits. More
TNS has announced that the Arbitron Portable People Meter system (PPM), for which it is the licensee, has been adopted as the electronic audience measurement currency system by the radio industry in Denmark. More
Harris Interactive has introduced GlobalSynch(SM), an integrated, web-based platform giving fast and easy real-time access to research data collected anywhere via any method. More
In the US, MRA (the Marketing Research Association) has installed Colleen Moore-Mezler as President for the 2007-2008 term. More
The NPD Group has launched a point-of-sale tracker for office supplies superstores, covering the USA's three major office superstore retailers; Staples, Office Depot, and Office Max. Perry James will lead the unit as Director of Office Supplies. More
Nielsen has introduced Homescan® Total ShopperView, billed as 'the industry's largest panel created to capture feedback on non-bar-coded items'. The service covers 15 categories of perishables such as bakery items, meat, vegetables and coffee. More
GfK has launched a new monthly panel to track sales of sunglasses across Britain; a market which was worth £19.1 million between Jan - April 2007, with April accounting for 44% of these sales. More
A new UK-based research venture, People Portal, will collect data from airline travelers waiting in departure lounges prior to take-off. The company is part of marketing services and promotions agency The Rectangle Group. More
Mumbai-based research and data analytics firm Ugam Solutions is planning to open a London operations centre in mid-August, from which it will offer multi-lingual project management and data collection services. More
Seattle-based MR software and panels firm GMI (Global Market Insite) has appointed technology veteran Michael Brochu as its new Chief Executive Officer. More
Crawford Broadcasting has entered into a multi-year deal to use Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) audience measurement system, once it is in place in Chicago next January. More
Ciao Surveys has announced the launch of two rapid response products within its Express-It! Suite – the Express Incidence Checker and the Express Poll. More
WPP's online panel provider Lightspeed Research has appointed Olaf Siemen as Account Director for Germany, working from the Hamburg office. More
The newly formed Commercial Ratings Commission (CRC), brought together by the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (CAB) last month, held its inaugural meeting on Monday, to agree how it will develop ratings processes and standards for the US TV industry. More
Online audience measurement agency comScore, has launched its comScore Widget Metrix to track the usage of widgets across the web and drive advertising on social media. More
MR firm Synovate has appointed Thierry Pailleux and Georges Guelfand as co-Managing Directors of Synovate France. The firm aims to become as 'powerful in the French research sector as its sister [company] Carat is in French media.' More
US retailer Target has pulled an e-mail survey which made some respondents feel 'uncomfortable'. The questionnaire, which was designed by New York firm Mindset Media and distributed to Target customers on Friday by Nielsen, was canceled by Saturday morning. More
India's first syndicated audience measurement system for outdoor media has been launched by The Media Research Users Council (MRUC) and Hansa Research in the shape of the Indian Outdoor Survey (IOS). More
Online panels and fieldwork firm Research Now has appointed Falk Rehkopf, previously of SPSS and Forrester, as Head of Client Development in The Netherlands. More
US search marketing specialist Resolution Media has hired Eric Anderson as VP Project Management & Analytics. More
Polling firm YouGovSiraj has launched a new consumer confidence index for the Middle East, in partnership with Dubai-based job site, Bayt.com. More
UK marketing services group Creston has announced a 60% growth in revenue to £69.7 million, in its preliminary financial results for the year ended 31 March. More
Having announced its plans to go public earlier in the year, online audience measurement firm comScore has now confirmed its initial public offering of 5 million shares valued at an estimated price of between $14 and $16 per share. More
Recent UK start-up TwoMinds Research is growing already; its 'combination of applied neuroscience and Jungian philosophy' proving irresistible for the new arrival, sociologist Helen Light. More
London-based B2B MR firm BDRC has acquired the remainder of telephone and online research agency Perspective, buying out its joint venture partner Richard Sheldrake in an undisclosed cash and shares deal. More
London-based online research firm BrainJuicer has launched a test that measures creativity, and used it to compile a panel of 'brainstormers' who generate new product ideas. More
Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) has rolled out its Out-of-Box-Experience (OoBE) research service in the States to allow clients to view firsthand how their customers react to a new or existing product from the moment that they receive and open the box. More
London-based Cello Group has acquired public sector specialist Market Research International (widely known as mruk), in a deal worth an estimated £6 million. More
Former Opinion Leader Research Director Sarah Michell has joined Ipsos MORI in a new role as Operations Director, based primarily in the firm's Harrow office. More
A study sponsored by the Web Analytics Association (WAA) suggests that in most organisations (82% of those polled) the subject is poorly understood, and those who interact with web data do not understand what the data actually means. More
UK not-for-profit organisation Patient Opinion has launched a new web site for patients to share their experiences of healthcare and feed back comments and improvement ideas to the NHS. More
A new laboratory opened this week in Maryland, USA by a subsidiary of the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) is to offer market research services including roundtable discussions, focus groups, and interviews, alongside engineering tests and trade certification. More
Nielsen will launch the first product under its new Nielsen Wireless brand, Mobile Vector, in the US next month. The launch marks a major move by the measurement giant into coverage of mobile media consumption. More
Online survey technologist Decipher has acquired Hollywood-based MR software and tech provider Forefront Consulting Group, within a year of the latter's launch. Terms of the deal between the two privately held companies were not announced. More
TNS has launched a new survey tool, Revenue Growth Manager (RGM), to help clients evaluate which marketing investments are likely to reap brand revenue growth. More
In a week when one particular Olympic brand – the peculiar new London 2012 logo – has dominated many headlines, Nielsen Sports is expanding its FANLinks(TM) service to identify where Olympics fans shop and which brands they buy. More
Following the recent departure of Robert Tomei, Mitch Barns has been named Global President of Nielsen's consumer segmentation tools, Homescan, Spectra and Loyalty. The move continues the firm's reorganisation of its Consumer Product Leadership team. More
US MR provider Gongos Research has announced further rapid growth with nine new appointments since the beginning of the year. More
Social networking web site Facebook has launched a new polling feature called Facebook Polls, enabling marketers to pose quick questions to its vast user base. More
UK-based eDigitalResearch has launched eDigitalCommunities, a service offering help to businesses setting up interactive forums to collect feedback from their web site visitors. More
Indian media researcher TAM has moved into radio measurement, citing rapid growth in advertising in the sector, and is also considering an out-of-home service. More
Synovate UK has launched a media research offering based on the consumer motivation model developed by the global group's Censydiam practice. The company plans to roll out the offer across Europe and Asia. More
The membership of US professional body CASRO has overwhelmingly approved a revision to the Internet Research section of the organization's Code of Standards and Ethics for Survey Research. More
Japanese MR firm INTAGE has bought healthcare research specialist TM Marketing for an undisclosed sum. TM will absorb INTAGE's own medical research department and continue trading under its existing name. More
Synovate has introduced a suite of market potential models and simulators known as MVP – Market Value Potential; and has renamed its specialist Product Design & Development division 'MarketQuest'. More
US professional body MRA (Marketing Research Association) has launched an online rating system, the Exchange Evaluation Program (EEP), allowing researchers and client companies to rate their experiences with suppliers, products and services. More
US-based marketing firm inVentiv Health has acquired Addison Whitney Healthcare, a company providing research-based brand identity solutions to global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical clients. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More
Pennsylvania-based International Communications Research (ICR) has appointed Allen Khorami as its new President and CEO. More
The Nielsen Company has reported revenues for the first quarter of 2007 up 5% over the same period last year, helped by a strong performance (up 7%) from its Media Research division. More
TNS has launched Complete, a bureau based service offering an outsourced fieldwork solution for other market research agencies. More
Euroean-based online panel provider Toluna has announced the launch of its 15,000 strong Chinese panel community. More
In the US, the Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) has appointed Donna Neal, an insight specialist at the Miller Brewing Company, as the new Co-Chair of its Board of Directors. More
Communications watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has backed down on plans to prevent researchers from making calls on Sundays. More
Maktoob Research, an online specialist with offices in Dubai and Amman, will run a monthly online omnibus survey of 500 adult consumers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco. More
Joel Zaremby has joined Arbitron as Senior Account Manager on Project Apollo, the joint venture with Nielsen which is being developed to provide advertisers with a better understanding of the connection between media exposure and purchase behaviour. More
Online agency Research Now has launched a proprietary research panel to gather consumer opinion in New Zealand. More
Newly acquired TNS Research Surveys came home with three of the four available awards at last week's annual conference of SAMRA, the South African Market Research Association. More
London-based ORB has received the go-ahead to continue its annual tracking survey of public opinion in Iraq. Now three years old, the survey involves face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of Sunnis, Shias and Kurds. More
Greenfield Online has formally split its European subsidiary Ciao into two separate entities: the booming comparison shopping business will retain the short name Ciao, while the Internet survey solution wing, also growing fast, will be known as Ciao Surveys. More
Two software firms, Artafact and WebEx, have combined to launch 'Artafact Online Focus Groups', which replicates a traditional focus group environment online. More
US group Cox Radio has signed a five-year renewal contract with radio audience measurement firm Arbitron, to gather ratings and related services across the company's eighteen markets. More
In the UK, online marketing services group TMN has hired Tim Heald from ORB to take on a business development role with its research units, The iD Factor and iCD Research. Heald will take up the new post on 1st June. More
Online survey software firm and MarketTools subsidiary Zoomerang has upgraded its zPro software with enhanced reporting and survey creation tools, and the introduction of open online user forums. More
Call centre company Global Hotline has launched a new data mining and market research service, through its network of call centres in Japan. More
Canadian CRM company Database Solutions has launched a new online survey management tool called eCRM Survey, to measure customer satisfaction levels or employee feedback. More
MR software companies Confirmit and Pulse Train are to consolidate their businesses and product portfolios. More
London-based FMCG specialist, MASMI, has opened a full service MR firm in Warsaw, Poland, and appointed Tomasz Jakubowski, formerly of Synovate, to lead the team. More
The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) will work to 'educate' the marketplace about the different ways of measuring web site traffic, the body revealed this week. The commitment was made as NetRatings and comScore both agreed to audit timetables at their recent closed doors meeting. More
Customer management and BPO group ICT has announced a co-marketing partnership with customer speech analytics intelligence firm UTOPY. The companies say the deal will improve the service, operating efficiency and performance they can offer their clients. More
A London-based polling agency and Christian news provider have joined forces to launch an online service gathering opinion from UK Christians. Communicate Research and Premier Christian Media say Cpanel will include all denominations and age groups. More
Nielsen has partnered with research firm Phoenix Multicultural, to launch a national Homescan Consumer Panel which will tap in to the $1 trillion Hispanic consumer market. More
LRA Worldwide, a customer experience management firm which conducts mystery shopping exercises in the hospitality sector, has promoted seven staff to the post of Senior Consultant or Account Manager. More
MCorp., a strategic brand and marketing consultancy based on the US West Coast, has bought researcher Touchpoint Metrics, owner of the proprietary research methodology and analysis system Touchpoint Mapping®. More
TNS Media Intelligence has named Dwight Green Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, headquartered in New York City. His role includes identifying new ventures and opportunities for the firm in value-added competitive intelligence. More
Synovate is to relocate all its UK research teams to a single location, Minerva House in London Bridge, SE1. The move is expected to take place late this year or early next. More
Only around half (51%) of US companies formally ask their employees about their views of the workplace, according to findings from Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) - and almost half of these (46%) fail to use the response to change things. More
In the US, MRSI (Marketing Research Services, Inc.) has launched Concept Highlighter (SM), an online concept testing tool enabling respondents to react directly to visuals. More
CRM outsourcing group, ICT, has announced that it will be closing its Woodstock call centre on 15 July, in response to 'changing business conditions'. More
The Nielsen Group has launched Brand3 – 'Brand Cubed' – linking retail market measurement data, household panel information and customised survey results to provide clients with a holistic perspective of a firm or product's brand equity. More
Online measurement firm NetRatings says it will move ahead with the full Media Rating Council (MRC) Accreditation process, having completed a pre-audit. More
Babel Media, a quality assessment outsourcing company for games developers, has launched a new international gameplay testing service. More
Online competitive intelligence agency Hitwise has launched Hitwise Dashboards, a reporting system enabling marketers to compile and view a customised page of information pulled from its various competitive intelligence sources. More
Internet specialist Greenfield Online has posted strong revenue growth to $27.5m for Q1 2007, up from $21.5m in same period last year. The group's comparison shopping business led the charge, but online survey revenue grew an impressive 14.3%. More
European-based online panel provider ToLuna, which last month announced it had trebled its revenue and profit, is to launch a panel in Brazil. More
Business processing and contact centre outsourcing firm, Foxgate Solutions, has opened a new call centre in Cebu City in the Philippines, to service clients in the US, UK and locally. More
Online marketing services group TMN has promoted Paul Dixon to the position of Managing Director of its research units, The iD Factor and iCD Research. More
Ipsos has announced a strong first quarter with revenues up 8.9% to Euros 204.7m. Organic growth was 10.3%, the highest for a first quarter since Ipsos' IPO in 1999. More
The GfK Group has announced healthy first quarter results with sales up 5.2% to Euros 261.3m, with organic growth of 6.8%. Margin was up from 8.5% a year previously to 9.5%, and adjusted operating income rose by 17.3% to Euros 24.8m. More
Ipsos has agreed to buy Turkey's second largest MR agency, KMG Research, beginning with 51% of the share capital and with an option to acquire the remainder in the future. More
California-based TV ad technologist REVShare has announced the launch of CPA Metrics, a service promising to link ad spend with actual consumer responses like phone calls and site visits. More
Nielsen has launched the first suite of products under its much-heralded NielsenConnect banner, integrating information from dozens of its collection, analysis and reporting services. More
Kantar has confirmed that its Illinois-based MR call center will close on 23 June, making 252 people redundant. More
In the week Microsoft achieved MRC accreditation for its ad impression counting, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has produced a set of guidelines for measuring rich media web sites, and is inviting comment and public debate. More
NetRatings has reported revenues of $22 million for the first quarter of 2007, compared with $18.3 million for the same period in 2006. More
Einat Offer has joined research and analytics firm, Evalueserve, as its Client Executive based in Israel. Offer founded and led research agency Siterix Communications. More
Online specialist Lightspeed Research has named Michael Gazala CEO of its North American business. Gazala has spent the last nine years at technology research firm Forrester. More
The UK's Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is to partner with MR consultancy Wine Intelligence, to offer members a free quarterly consumer insight report based on monthly online surveys. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has launched a new syndicated measurement service dubbed VideoCensus, which combines panel and census methodologies to gauge audience size, demographic composition, engagement and competitive activity for video content. More
The man accused of murdering Research Now Finance Manager Cathy Marlow appeared briefly today at London's Old Bailey. US citizen Matthew Fagan entered a plea, the case for which will be heard on June 29th. One count of burglary was added to the murder charge. More
In the US, the Nielsen Company and the In-Store Marketing Institute have begun the expansion of their in-store measurement service, known as P.R.I.S.M. (Pioneering Research for an In-Store Metric), to encompass all forms of merchandising activity. More
Harris Interactive CEO Greg Novak has apologised to shareholders as the company reduced its earnings projections and reported a mere 1% rise in Q3 revenue totals. However, he told DRNO this afternoon that 'Our strategy is working' and outlined the well-targeted acquisitions he believes will help. More
Online measurement firms comScore and Nielsen//NetRatings have agreed to a meeting on May 16th to discuss their plans with the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) and other groups, following the exchange of open letters last week with IAB CEO Randall Rothenberg. More
Online panels firm Research Now has made an interim financial statement reporting sales growth on target. Operating profit missed its target due specifically to the £500,000 cost of relocating after the murder in January of Finance Manager Cathy Marlow. More
US-based online tips and advice publisher Modern Mom has formed an Insights & Action division to delve into the key drivers of the 'mom market'. Its products have been developed with the help of MR consultancy, Noesis. More
Nielsen Media Research is to enhance the weighting of its National People Meter (NPM) ratings sample, with the aim of making it more representative of the US population. More
AIM-listed marketing services holding company Optimisa PLC has agreed to acquire Report International Ltd (RIL) for up to £2.2m. Optimisa is already the owner of UK research agency Andrew Irving Associates (AIA). More
Shares in pharma MR leader IMS Health have risen to an eight-year high after a US federal judge overturned a New Hampshire state law banning the commercial use of physician prescription pattern data. More
Offshore MR services agency Markelytics has announced plans for expansion into Europe. Former ESOMAR and Nestle research chief Fredrik Nauckhoff joins to lead the expansion as Head of Sales in France. More
DraftFCB, the Interpublic marcoms agency formed last summer by combining Draft and Foote Cone & Belding units around the world, has hired Jackson Young for the new position of Senior VP / Director of User Experience Architecture. More
The Nielsen Company is to acquire the remainder of word-of-mouth media tracking agency BuzzMetrics, of which it already owns 58%. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
After a 13 year career with ACNielsen, Robert Tomei has joined TNS as Global Head of Access Panels to establish, lead and deliver a growth strategy for the firm's global access panel business, 6thdimension(TM). More
In the UK, Kantar has announced the launch of the 'Institute for Insight in the Public Services', a joint initiative between two of its companies, BMRB Social Research and Henley Centre HeadlightVision (HCHLV). More
US data collection specialist, Interviewing Service of America (ISA), has appointed Jennifer Holland and Jennifer Burlington as Account Executives, to assist with sales growth and data collection and processing services. More
Global news and information company Reuters has enhanced its machine-readable news service to include analysis of news sentiment, driven by linguistics software created by text analytics firm, Corpora. More
Media ratings firm Arbitron has decided to suspend its recently launched e-Diary, which was trialling in markets where introduction of its PPM system is not imminent. More
Bangalore-based ACNielsen ORG-MARG, part of the Nielsen Group, is recruiting online consumer panels to target the Indian youth audience and upper income groups. More
Consumer, shopper and retail market intelligence agency IRI has opened its new BehaviorScan media testing studio in Colorado, USA, where retailers and manufacturers will be able to test the impact of their TV ad strategies. More
UK-based Cello Group has paid £150,000 in cash for a 21% share of London-based online qual agency, Nqual - its fourth substantial investment since the start of the year. More
Harris Interactive has promoted David B Vaden to the new position of President North America & Global Operations, responsible for all North American research, sales and operations units. More
Panels and MR software firm, GMI, has made nine appointments including two senior hires - Daniel Fitzgerald as MD Sales, Central USA, and Christopher Spaniac as VP of Tax, both based in Seattle. More
Swedish eye tracking firm Tobii Technology has launched a new analysis tool, Tobii Studio(TM), to collect and analyse 'gaze' data. More
Responding to the results of recently conducted consumer and market research, IBM has opened three 'Banking Centers of Excellence' (BCOE) software labs, where it can test consumer opinion on banking application systems and CRM practices. More
Asian-based MR agency marketSHARE is moving to new offices in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay area, in preparation for a fourfold increase in its business in the city. More
Information Services Group (ISG), the acquisition firm chaired by former VNU man Michael Connors, is to buy outsourcing advisory firm TPI for $280m in cash. As part of the agreement, TPI's management team will invest 30% of the proceeds in ISG stock. More
UK recruitment consultant pricejamieson is to be acquired by Boston-based Aquent. The combined firm will be a global force in the marketing and communications staffing arena and plans to grow its already substantial MR division. More
Podcast audience and ad measurement firm Podbridge has raised $8.5m in a second venture capital deal, which will provide cash to strengthen both its technology and business. More
Asia-based research and analytics firm, Evalueserve (EVS), has launched an 80,000 strong US Physician Panel, to provide data across categories including oncology, neurology and cardiology. More
Ipsos has brought its Quebec operations together in a newly-renovated central office, in a move which the firm says will generate increased project and team collaboration and improvements in client service. More
David Botkin has been appointed to the newly created post of Senior VP, Research & Audience Analytics of CBS Interactive, charged with establishing the division's metrics and analytics. More
comScore and Nielsen//NetRatings have issued positive responses to the call by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) for them to submit to a third-party audit; but the Bureau has challenged them to back up their promises by setting and sticking to a scheduled timetable. More
Denver-based MR technology firm, iModerate, has launched nine new research tools under the 'Research>iMpact' banner, designed to help clients add in-depth qualitative insight to online quantitative surveys. More
US trade association the Interactive Advertising Bureau has sent an open letter to two of the major Internet audience measurement firms, comScore and Nielsen//NetRatings, asking them to submit to a third-party audit of their measurement processes by the MRC. More
Harris Interactive is looking for a bigger trophy cabinet after taking six gongs at the 2007 ARF Ogilvy Awards Gala. The US-based agency was also picked last week as one of SmartMoney magazine's long-term investment portfolio 'Ten Stocks for the Next Ten Years'. More
AGB Nielsen Media's contract with Australia's TV ratings data supplier OzTAM has been extended for a further seven years from January 2008. More
Marketing giant WPP has reported first quarter revenue growth of 4.3% on a like-for-like basis, excluding acquisitions and currency. Due to an 11% decline in the US dollar against sterling, group revenue fell 0.7% to £1.366bn and that for the Information, Insight & Consultancy division fell c.5% to £204m. More
The USA's Marketing Research Association (MRA) will be commemorating its 50th birthday with an impressive line-up of industry leaders speaking at its annual conference in June. More
A fortnight after the announced flotation of rival comScore, online audience measurement firm Hitwise is to be acquired by information giant Experian, in a $240m cash deal which will close in May. More
Arbitron, Confirmit and IMS Health have all reported buoyant first quarters, with revenues up 7.9%, 14% and 35% respectively. More
Synovate has agreed a worldwide partnership with GMI giving the former access to over six million panellists across the globe. The move reflects changing attitudes to panel 'ownership' according to Synovate Global CEO Adrian Chedore. More
Marketing, technology and media agency One to One Interactive (OTOi), has acquired web development firm Ceonex's Quantemo Usability Lab, to measure web user experience across emerging digital platforms. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Financial services group MCF has acquired online medical research agency, MedPanel; renaming it Panel Intelligence and announcing plans to expand its services across additional markets including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and financial services. More
Catalina Marketing has agreed to be acquired by private equity investment firm Hellman & Friedman for $32.50 per share in cash. The agreement means the termination of an earlier deal with its major shareholder ValueAct Capital, which in consequence will receive an $8.4m fee. More
Consumer products giant Unilever plans to increase the use of the Internet as an MR tool in the UK, following the success of its web-based research programmes in the States. More
San Francisco-based KDA Research has launched Revelation – an online qual application combining the rich media data collection capabilities of blogs with user-friendly analysis tools. More
Online panel provider Lightspeed Research has hired James Riley as VP of Operations, based in the agency's London office. More
Boston-based enterprise data management provider, Key Survey, has appointed Alan Farias as Director of Professional Services. Farias will head the firm's newly launched Professional Survey Services division. More
Sports Marketing Surveys has announced a partnership with Sponsor Statistik, the largest sponsorship research house in South Africa, which will henceforth operate under the Sports Marketing Surveys brand name. More
Last week DRNO covered a report looking at Google and the 'threat' it poses to the publishing and information industry. This week the concern is even closer to home, as the world's biggest research firm ponders the intentions of the search giant. More
Stamford, CT-based RTi has launched an online omnibus focused on the 50+ market. The 'Mature Market Omnibus' (MMO) talks each month to a national sample of 1,000 respondents between the ages of 50 and 74. More
In the US, Alloy Media and Marketing has launched a multicultural operation called Alloy Access, which will use customer knowledge to design marketing and media strategies across Hispanic, African American and urban consumers. More
US-based Lucid Systems has unveiled Prism(TM), a new research tool using techniques from neuroscience to gauge consumers' real response to advertising. The launch took place at the ARF Conference in New York City. More
The Nielsen Company has announced results for the full year 2006, with pro forma unaudited revenues of $4,174m, up just 2.8% on the previous year, but up 5% at constant currencies, the firm said. Four acquisition-related items totalling c.$316m affected operating income which was down to $212m (2005: $373m). More
Iceland has adopted the Arbitron PPM system, under licence from TNS, as its audience measurement currency for both radio and television – the first instance worldwide of a meter system being used for electronic collection of data on both audiences. More
Online researcher Invoke Solutions has hired Josh Mendelsohn as its new Director of Marketing. He joins from Chadwick Martin Bailey, and takes over from Joanne Manley who moves to manage the company's Europe's strategic alliances in London. More
Millward Brown's Bob Meyers has relinquished his CEO responsibilities to the firm's President of Global Development, Eileen Campbell. Meyers will remain as Chairman for the rest of 2007, and is likely to take another role within Kantar. More
Two global agencies have issued statements about legal issues. GfK Mystery Shopping's name was used by a third party defrauding consumers in North America, while Ipsos' IIS division has reacted to 'defamatory' assertions of breaches of employment law on a Romanian web site. More
B2b specialist Kadence has hired Fory McCandless as its new Field Services Director, based in its Boston office. More
YouGov has announced interim results for the six months ended 31 January 2007, with turnover up 61% to £6.1m year-on-year, mainly through organic growth, and operating profit up 57% to £2.2m. It also announced a JV with networking guru Carole Stone. More
Harris Interactive has revised its forecasts for the second half of the year following sales bookings around $8m lower than expected in the third quarter of its financial year. The firm also chose today to announce a new loyalty tool, the Commitment Model. More
UK marketing services group, Creston plc, has moved Stateside with the opening of a New York Office and the appointment of agency veteran Steve Blamer as CEO in charge of the new operation. More
Communications Minister Helen Coonan has asked the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to exempt pollsters from the forthcoming ban on making Sunday calls. The ban, due in force from 31st May, has been strongly opposed by the MR community. More
Ann Arbor, Michigan-based ForeSee Results has secured $20 million in financing, to accelerate its growth as a provider of online customer satisfaction measurement. More
Business intelligence provider SNL Financial has acquired media research and analysis firm, Kagan Research, for an undisclosed sum. The move means the dissolution of year-old partnership JupiterKagan, Inc. - JupiterResearch returns to independence. More
Hi-tech researcher OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has added five senior executives, apparently the prelude to a major offensive. The hires include Bruce Grey Tedesco as Chief Research Officer and four others at VP level or above. More
TNS has announced the launch of its '6thdimension' online services in the Middle East, including access panels and other solutions. The first phase will cover Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with other markets likely to follow soon. More
Leeds-based agency Quaestor is to launch a branded qualitative panel of 50 to 65 year olds, 'Think 50', combining a focus group format with an omnibus approach to client buy-in. Two sessions of two hours each will be held on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning on 1st May. More
Internet ratings firm comScore is going public, with an IPO aimed at raising up to $86.25 million. The company filed yesterday in the US with the Securities and Exchange Commission to list on the Nasdaq National Market. More
Greenfield Online, Inc. and Frost & Sullivan have announced a partnership to create a new business-to-business panel. Respondents will be offered access to the latter's research reports as an incentive for sharing their own business expertise. More
Online panel firm Toluna has announced the launch of a research-only Russian panel community, currently at 50,000 active members. More
Harris Interactive has bought Hamburg-based online FMCG MR firm, MediaTransfer AG Netresearch & Consulting, for a cash price of EUR 9 million (c.$12 million). More
UK marketing services group TMN – which includes online fieldwork agency iD Factor and online research consultancy iCD Research – has been named 'Online Business of the Year' in the inaugural T-Mobile Fast Growth Business Awards. More
Online panel provider ToLuna has announced full year results ahead of market expectations. Pretax profit for the year to 31st December 2006 is up 220% from £0.7m to £2.2m, while revenue grew 180% versus pro forma figures for 2005, to £8.4m. More
The U.S. Census Bureau has passed to Congress plans for subject areas for the 2010 survey, which it says will be one of the shortest and easiest to complete in its 220 year history. The bureau also released more information about the forthcoming American Community Survey (ACS) and a new study of consumer spending. More
The UK's Association for Qualitative Research has delivered findings from its enquiry into qualitative excellence, announced in the autumn. The Association says analysis of the study revealed a common set of values and beliefs and identified three distinct skill sets. More
WPP-owned online panel provider Lightspeed Research has acquired global employee research firm, Foresight International, for an undisclosed sum. More
US research body CMOR has launched the 'State Capitol Network', a new volunteer committee created to monitor and respond to state legislative issues affecting the survey research profession. More
In the US, Arbitron is to provide measurement data for a network of independent online radio stations, in aggregated form, to help open up online broadcasting to advertising dollars. The move has been orchestrated by Ronning Lipset Radio, which also represents broadcasters such as AOL Radio, Live 365, and Yahoo! Music's LAUNCHcast. More
The BBC is inviting submissions for its new Quantitative and Tracking Roster, a shortlist of agencies which can then bid for projects including ad hoc quant surveys and some major tracking studies. The Pulse contract, currently with GfK but due to expire in March 2008, will also be included in the current tender. More
Swedish eye tracking firm, Tobii Technology, has received a $14m injection from venture capital firm, Investor Growth Capital. The investment will be used to aid the company's growth, enhance product development and expand global sales and marketing. More
A survey released by home technology MR specialist, Park Associates, has revealed that around one-third of US households, or 31 million homes, have no access to the Internet and do not plan to subscribe in the next 12 months. Meanwhile, broadband usage is once again on the up, underlining the so-called 'digital divide'. More
Two online specialists have announced expansion into new Central London premises this week, UK-based YouGov and the UK office of Survey Sampling International (SSI). More
The UK's eq group plc, parent of MR firms Quaestor and Buckingham Research, has reported on 'a difficult year'. Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2006 show turnover down 8% to £10.50m and adjusted operating profit down 21% to £1.30m. More
Researchers are always worrying about the client / agency relationship, an old Conference chestnut if ever there were one; but they're only just getting to grips with Web 2.0 and 'Research 2.0'. Our conference correspondent Phyllis Vangelder reports on these two key sessions from Brighton. More
In our third and final article reviewing the Golden Jubilee MRS Conference in Brighton, Phyllis Vangelder reviews papers looking forward at the future of research, and the future of the planet. More
Birmingham, UK-based Select Research has launched the initial phase of a study which it hopes will lead to the creation of a new computer-based system for measuring obesity. The system is designed to improve on Body Mass Index (BMI) which doctors have used since 1830. More
The MRS returned to its old haunt, the Metropole in Brighton – for its 50th Annual Conference last week. By its own admission – or that of a speaker charged with analysing the content of other papers – it was thin on clients and on international content, but DRNO's special correspondent Phyllis Vangelder came away suitably inspired nonetheless. Part 1 of 3. More
Millward Brown, bruised by recent comments from a client about relevance in the multiplatform age, has underlined its digital credentials with the release of the 'CTV-1 Study'. Among other findings, it shows the benefits, in terms of viewer engagement, of supplementing TV ad spend with placements in TV shows viewed online. More
Melbourne, Australia-based research software developer QSR International will launch what it claims are 'the world's first qualitative research software programs in Japanese', later this year. Japanese versions of the company's flagship NVivo 7 and XSight software are being developed in partnership with Tokyo based Hulinks. More
Panel and software provider, GMI (Global Market Insite), has increased the size of its panels in China by 65% and in India more than fivefold. Meanwhile senior Board member Larry Schack has left the company and the west coast, reportedly to work for his previous employer, PSB. More
US MR associations CMOR and the MRA have opened an additional office in Washington, D.C. The move will enhance collaboration between the two to promote training, education, government relations and the image and reputation of the industry. More
US-based telecoms and mobile media researcher Telephia has announced a technology agreement with software firm Penthera Technologies, to track and measure consumption of content on mobile phones and other wireless devices. More
Global group Ipsos has published results for the full year 2006 showing organic growth of 6.5%, above the industry average but below its own high expectations. Revenue increased 19.4% to Euros 857.3m, with the majority of the rise due to acquisitions. More
TNSSport has launched an Asian version of its syndicated football-tracking product, currently available in Europe. Asia Soccercope will measure league popularity and sponsorship impact in both domestic and international football competitions in China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea. More
The Nielsen Company has announced the launch of a new web-based software tool for evaluation of past and present product placements; and the integration of consumer purchasing behaviour into its multi-country Global Track analysis tool. More
Research Now has extended it online fieldwork service OmniTaxi(TM) to the Scandinavian market. The Research Now Nordic OmniTaxi can be hailed in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland and promises a faster and more flexible alternative to traditional omnibus. More
London-based MR and consulting organisation, the Cello Group, has posted a 40% increase in pre-tax profits to £5.9m in the year to December 31 2006, with turnover rising 43% to £74.7m from £52.1m. More
In the US Authentic Response, the MR division of Return Path, Inc., has announced a partnership with publisher TechTarget, pooling global panelists to give researchers access to a total of more than 3 million IT professionals. In addition, online MR specialist Mike Billingsley has joined Authentic Response as VP of Sales. More
In the UK Peter Bowman, a veteran of joint industry initiatives including the NRS and BARB, has been appointed as the inaugural General Manager of JICIMS, the Joint Industry Committee for Internet Measurement Systems. More
Research Process Outsourcing specialist Pulse Group has acquired a new facility close to the Petronas Towers in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The building is expected to house a state-of-the-art CATI centre and an additional 30 research professionals. More
UK-based research consultancy Nunwood claims to be enjoying its 'most successful year yet' with first quarter 2007 revenues up a massive 78% vs a year previously. More
NetRatings has released financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2006. Full year figures show a profit for the first time, with a net income of $2.8m in 2006 vs a loss of $8.4m in 2005. Revenue rose 20% from $68m in 2005 to $81.8m in 2006. More
Synovate subsidiary Fieldwork International Healthcare has formed a new team to focus on conducting patient studies. More
Aegis Group Plc has announced strong results for 2006, including rapid organic and other growth for its MR arm Synovate which grew its share of Aegis' total revenue from 38 to 40%. Synovate revenues were £401.2m and operating profit £30.8m, both up more than 20%. Group CFO Jeremy Hicks is leaving on this high note, to be replaced by Alicja Lesniak. More
The Nielsen Company has announced a new category management solution for suppliers of Wal-Mart, for whom it is the sole provider of consumer panel services. The new package combines Nielsen's Spectra consumer segmentation and targeting with its Decisions Made Easy sales tracking software. More
Internet audience measurement provider, comScore Media Metrix, has designed a new set of metrics to measure the frequency with which a person views web content. The launch of 'visits' comes as reliance on page view stats declines among Internet properties and advertisers. More
In an exclusive interview with DRNO, Mike Connors admits the quarter billion dollars raised last month for his new acquisition company is 'burning a hole in our pockets' and that ISG will base its strategy on buying one information services firm worth $200-700m, within eighteen months tops. More
Indian offshore MR firm Cross-Tab has appointed Dr Kumar Mehta to the newly created US-based position of Global CEO. Mehta worked with the outsourcing company as part of his previous role at Microsoft. More
US-based Survey Sampling International (SSI), has launched an online Chinese panel, to be managed from its SSI Asia HQ in Beijing. More
US-based online qual provider Itracks has announced a new platform for online focus groups, designed to give qualitative researchers greater flexibility and control. More
UK marketing services group Chime Communications has released preliminary results for the year ended 31 Dec 2006, with organic growth of 11%; and has simultaneously announced the proposed acquisition of sports marketing agency Fast Track Sales Limited. More
In the US, the TV Advertising Committee of the Association of National Advertisers' (ANA) has released a positioning paper, calling for the television industry to offer brand-specific commercial ratings. More
Bateleur Research Solutions has sold half its shares to the directors of Khanya Research Solutions. Bateleur helped establish Khanya only two years ago with the express intent of making the 50% transfer of ownership to a black shareholder, in line with the country's BEE initiative. More
Vodafone marketing leader David Wheldon has used a conference speech to question the relevance of current copy-testing techniques in the 'multi-platform age', singling out Millward Brown. Bob Meyers, the agency's Group CEO, told DRNO he thinks the remarks have 'to some extent' been taken out of context. More
TNS has announced the purchase of US MR consultancy Retail Forward, boosting the research giant's newly established Retail and Shopper Insights division. More
Online polling firm YouGov has launched two new healthcare research initiatives: online survey system NHSOpinions, which draws on a panel of 350,000 NHS staff; and PatientsOnline, which enables patient polling from their hospital beds. More
US publishing industry resource and intelligence firm R.R.Bowker has unveiled PubTrack Consumer, a service providing publishers and retailers with data on consumers' book purchases, combined with demographic and behavioural profiles. More
Arbitron has today begun its March survey period for radio ratings in Philadelphia – the first to rely on the firm's PPM technology - with recalcitrant media giant Clear Channel on board. Clear Channel had earlier refused to join the new system but signed a multi-year deal just in time for the change. More
WNS, a provider of offshore business process outsourcing (BPO), has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Bangalore-based offshore analytics firm Marketics Technologies, for a total enterprise value of approximately $65 million in cash. More
Colorado-based blog research specialist Umbria Inc. has launched Tribe Analysis(TM), a tool aiming to provide marketers with a new approach to understanding the consumer motivation behind publicly posted online discussions. More
UK fieldwork specialist QRS Market Research has appointed two new Associate Directors. Raymond Lindley will take charge of call centre operations and Sarah Hobley will manage the Consumer Qualitative Division. More
Internet audience measurement and analysis firm, Nielsen/NetRatings, will expand its online advertising measurement service AdRelevance in Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand in the third quarter of 2007. More
Mitchell J. Habib has taken up Nielsen's newly created post of Executive VP, Global Business Services, where he will have overall responsibility for all operational and information technology functions throughout the group. More
Norwegian MR software business, Future Information Research Management (FIRM) has changed its name to Confirmit, matching its flagship web-based survey, feedback and reporting software product. More
TNS has released full year results for 2006, showing revenue almost flat at £1,004.2m (up 0.5% from £999m in 2005). However the firm, whose US custom business has been restructuring since reporting problems a year ago, said results in other divisions were good. More
Truth, Andy Dexter's new insight consultancy, has opened for business, with 'significant backing' from a private investment partner, College Group. Truth has an initial team of four partners including Leanne Tomasevic and Toby Matthewson who joined in February. More
Austin, Texas-based word of mouth research and promotion specialist Bazaarvoice is opening a London office, its first venture outside the USA, and has appointed Shareen Campbell to lead the office as Sales Director. More
GfK Custom Research North America has announced a new structure based on five industry-specific sectors and six practice areas. The move completes the integration of its companies in the US and Canada. More
Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has merged its North American and European organisations into one global online research body, to be managed by CEO Andrei Postoaca. More
Online agency YouGov has announced a 50:50 joint venture with Marketing Week publisher Centaur Media plc. YouGovCentaur will develop specialist panels covering Centaur's key sectors including marketing, legal, financial services and engineering. More
Healthy preliminary figures indicate that GfK Group's 2006 organic growth of 5.4% was again ahead of the estimated industry average of 4-5%. Declining sales in Japan meant overall Asia Pacific growth was nil, but the firm's operations in Central and Eastern Europe continue to boom. More
ACNielsen Homescan & Spectra – the Nielsen unit that examines shopper attitudes – has unveiled its new Consumer & Shopper Insights Suite, promising in-depth syndicated analysis of actual consumer buying behaviour. More
Denver-based online survey software firm, iModerate Research Technologies, has appointed Marc Silberstrom as VP of Strategy and Business Development. More
TNS has launched TNSInsightTvLive(TM), an interactive online platform which allows respondents to see a survey moderator via a real-time video link, and enables him or her to demonstrate visual material while at the same time, analysing survey responses. More
Jon Cruddas, a contender for Labour's deputy leadership, is one of the latest in a long line to criticise the government's 'over-reliance' on focus groups. Neither is he the first, we suspect, to dislike its 'direct marketing techniques'. But can he seriously be down on 'using research on the Internet' as well? More
SKY Television has partnered with TNS and pay TV solutions provider NDS to launch a new audience measurement service, based initially on a panel of 6,500 viewing households. More
In the US, the Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) has formed a Latino Special Interest Group (SIG), dedicated to serving QRCA members who work with Latino and Spanish-speaking markets and a response to what it calls 'the growing global influence and buying power of Latinos'. More
TNS Media Intelligence (TNS MI) has acquired market influence analytics company Cymfony, giving the research giant access to expertise in tracking and analysing the intersection of traditional and social media, such as blogs and social networks. More
Ambitious online agency MetrixLab has announced that its revenue and profit before tax more than doubled in 2006, to Euros 8.2m and Euros 3.3m respectively. The firm hopes to use strong organic growth and acquisitions to hit the Euros 50m revenue mark by 2009. More
Markelytics, an off-shoring MR agency based in Bangalore, says it will more than double its manpower in the next year, from 100 to 250 staff, and broaden its offering to cover the research process from questionnaire design to analysis and reporting. More
WPP, parent of MR agencies including Millward Brown and Research International, has announced preliminary results for 2006. Reported revenue is up almost 10% to £5.9bn and like-for-like revenue up 5.4%, while profit before tax is up more than 15% to £682m. More
In the US, the TAB (Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement) is developing a new integrated audience measurement system for outdoor advertising, with the help of agencies GfK Custom, MRI, Telmar and Transearch. The system promises groundbreaking data on numbers likely to see a given ad. More
Informa Research Services has announced two senior promotions in its Field and Tab Division, based in Seattle. Both Jackie Weise and Mitchell P. Thornburgh worked at Market Trends Inc. before its acquisition by Informa. More
Agency side pharma researchers are more comfortable using the Internet for their studies than their client side counterparts, according to analysis of the 2006 Pharmaceutical Market Research Trends Study from Medefield. More
Government and business research consultancy Abt Associates has announced that its Senior VP, Dr Richard A Kulka will now oversee the firm's Survey Methodology and Data Capture Group. His focus will be on strengthening quality, innovation, and flexibility. More
Web-based survey provider, PeriscopeIQ, has launched Survey Translation Mapping (STM) to provide multi-language translation of survey questionnaires, and Survey Response Mapping (SRM) which translates the responses to open-ended questions. More
Nielsen challenger erinMedia LLC has laid off a majority of its employees as a hoped-for $25m investment failed to materialise. Boston-based Spark Capital said late last week that it was dropping attempts to build a consortium of investors. erinMedia will begin its antitrust suit against Nielsen in early 2008. More
Canada's Decima Research is to grow its online panel eVox rapidly via an agreement with the country's automobile association, CAA. CAA's five million plus members will be invited to join the 14,000-strong panel whose size Decima expects to more than double in the coming months. More
UK fieldwork firm The Wire, part of Illuminas, is launching new products to complement its 100 CATI station facility. Features include real-time progress checks and interim analysis on data; and a package integrating telephone and online contacts with individual respondents. More
TNS has acquired US shopping behaviour specialist Sorensen Associates for an undisclosed sum, and created a global practice, TNS Retail and Shopper Insights. More
Ipsos MORI has promoted Sarah Castell, 31, to lead its Qualitative Hothouse unit. She began her career at Flamingo International and was named one of 'Campaign' magazine's 'Innovative young researchers' in 2002. More
GfK has acquired and retained several TV research contracts around the globe, increased the size of a number of its TV panels, and developed and installed new metering technology. More
Another piece of hard science aiming to open up new possibilities for research... Tenafly, NJ-based agency PreTesting has launched 'e-Motion' technology which it claims 'will revolutionize marketing' by measuring the vibrations in consumers' eyeballs when they view ads. More
Ipsos has acquired most of Peruvian agency, Apoyo Opinión y Mercado S.A., which commands a 30% market share of the country's MR and public opinion polling business. The global group has also announced preliminary results for 2006 with organic growth of 6.5% and revenues of 857.1m Euros. More
Founder Barbara Lee has sold Kent-based Facts International to Chime Communications and private investor, Nick Lamb. Chime's research group already includes social research specialist, Opinion Leader Research, and luxury brand consultancy, Ledbury Research. More
Sports Marketing Surveys and SponsorMetrix have formally announced a partnership to provide robust valuations of sports sponsorship opportunities. SponsorMetrix's valuation model, based on both media return and intangible assets, will be enhanced with its new partner's survey and media data. More
Philip Kleinman, The MR Journalist, has died in hospital following heart surgery. He was well known in the industry as former editor of 'Campaign' and a regular contributor to Admap, before founding the pioneering web site MRNews in the late 1990s. More
Pulse Group, the Asian-based provider of panels and research process outsourcing (RPO), has today announced the receipt of 'significant' venture capital funding from JAIC, whose Hideaki Fujiyama joins the Pulse Board. More
The Gallup Organization has announced a partnership with online research technology provider Invoke Solutions, to launch a new offering blending qual and quant research capabilities in live Internet sessions with large, targeted groups of consumers or employees. More
A US-based company claims to have released 'the first mobile advertising platform that can intelligently predict and influence consumer behavior'. Enpocket 6.1 offers operators and publishers the ability to put their consumer data to immediate use for sales and marketing purposes. More
Continuing a recent trend among public sector organisations on both sides of the Atlantic, five authorities in the English county of Bedfordshire are to establish their own panel of consumers, BedsVoice, to assess public services. More
Founder and CEO Rob Monster is to leave the helm of panels and software provider GMI, to pursue other interests. Monster will continue to serve as a board member and will participate in the selection of a new CEO, while the Chairman's role is taken by Enrique Godreau III, current GMI board member and MD of one of its major investors Voyager Capital. More
Nielsen has announced the consolidation of its digital television set top box measurement activities into a new service, Nielsen DigitalPlus. The system will take data from both cable system operators (MSOs) and satellite providers and integrate it with other Nielsen information. More
US digital marketing agency iCrossing has bought UK-based Spannerworks. Both firms specialise in search engine marketing (SEM) but both have a growing interest in insight and analytics, including the measurement of online 'buzz' surrounding brands and its impact on client firms. More
Synovate has announced a deal to provide 24-hour news and information channel BBC World with global surveys based around aspects of the global news agenda. The firm will conduct six opinion surveys across 21 markets in 2007. More
Panel company Greenfield Online has reported quarterly and annual financial results, showing a profit of c.$8.5m in 2006. President and CEO Albert Angrisani says the firm has re-established growth for its Internet survey solutions business and is in 'the last stages of solidifying its overall turnaround.' More
Jon Harding, a former President of TNS US Client Services, is to work with Indian MR outsourcing firm Annik Technology Services Pvt. Ltd as a Chief Strategist, providing guidance, training and strategic input to Annik's sales and operations teams. More
Michael Connors, until recently Chairman and CEO of VNU's MMI Group, has resurfaced at the head of an acquisition company with almost $260m in funds. Information Services Group, Inc. (ISG) completed its IPO oversubscribed this week and boasts a strong line-up including several former Nielsen and VNU Execs. More
Eight firms have been selected from more than 380 applicants for the UK government's 'Catalist' shortlist of suppliers in the marketing and MR consultancy category. They include agencies ORC International, Ci Research and Quadrant / BMG Research. More
It's the 'year of the amygdala' according to UCLA's Dr. Joshua Freedman. Nothing to do with the Chinese calendar – the amygdala is the brain's 'threat detector' and many of this year's Super Bowl commercials stirred it into action, according to tests in the University's high-field fMRI scanner. More
Direct marketing firm Interactive Prospect Targeting (IPT) has bought a majority stake in online MR group RealWorld Customer Experience Ltd (RWCE), the parent of research firm Tpoll. More
Research International has this week added Peter Bürgi and Rebecca Severson to its qual division, Qualitative Space. More
The Nielsen Company is to buy the remainder of online audience specialist NetRatings, for a total purchase price of $327m cash, or $21.00 a share. It already owns 60 per cent. More
WPP has acquired data collection company All Global Ltd, for an undisclosed sum. The London-based firm, whose services include healthcare panel research, telephone recruiting and qual interviewing, employs 44 people and had revenues of £7.3m for the year ended 30th April. More
Harris Interactive has announced the retirement of Dr. Richard B. Wirthlin, Reagan campaign strategist and founder of Wirthlin Worldwide, which Harris acquired in 2004. Harris also announced quarterly results showing strong growth in European business balancing a dip in US revenues. More
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) has announced the acquisition of Turkish advertising intelligence company Bilesim Medya. Financial details were not disclosed. More
Indian MR outsourcing firm Ugam Solutions has announced an exclusive partnership with Pennsylvania, USA-based MRoperations, Inc. to provide the industry with integrated operations and project management services. More
Partners Arbitron and The Nielsen Company have formed a company to oversee the completion of 'Project Apollo', the single-source, national research service based on the former's Portable People Meter system and the latter's Homescan technology. More
Internet information provider comScore Networks has announced that its pharmaceutical division has hooked up with pharma e-marketing specialist Evolution Road, to provide a service benchmarking the effectiveness of e-marketing to patients. More
MR software firm Pulse Train is the latest to announce a mobile survey solution. A partnership with Embrace Mobile will bring the Bellview® data collection suite to mobile phones. More
Software and panels firm GMI has promoted two senior execs at its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Sydney, in addition to making two senior appointments in Seattle and a raft of others worldwide. It has also upgraded its Research Analyzer tables tool, with enhanced weighting and data manipulation features. More
CMOR has hired a new Director of Government Affairs to replace Christopher Lee, whose departure was reported yesterday. Howard Fienberg, formerly legal advisor to Congressmen Christopher Cox and Cliff Stearns, started work at the survey research body this week. More
Panels company Research Now has announced the acquisition of Samplenet e-Research Solutions, which trades as OpenVenue. The price for Canada's largest specialist online fieldwork company is a maximum of C$47.5m (£20.5m), subject to performance. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) has announced a number of senior promotions to support its worldwide expansion, following the recent appointment of Jim Follett as CEO. Among them, MD Europe Kees de Jong is promoted to Director of Globalization with COO Europe Michel Guidi stepping up to fill the MD Europe role. More
Christopher Lee has resigned as Director of Government Affairs and Counsel for CMOR, the US industry body, saying that 'the call to return to public service and the Federal government was too strong to resist'. The news comes as the organisation launches its 'Your Opinion Counts' (YOC) initiative to improve public perceptions of research. More
GfK and entertainment sales data firm Media-Control, have announced the formation of a joint venture, GfK M², to track mobile content sales. The company will get its data direct from content and network providers, and hardware and component manufacturers. More
Synovate has acquired Amsterdam-based Interview-NSS, The Netherlands' largest independent full-service market research company – and its European Data Collection Centre (EDCC). The buys will be integrated with Synovate's existing operations in the country and led by MD Carlo Stokx. More
On schedule, Nielsen Media Research has commenced its inclusion of the viewing of college students living away from home in its National People Meter (NPM) ratings. The company also released stats from November hinting at the kind of impact the addition may have on overall viewing figures. More
US online research specialist InsightExpress has hired Elise Neel from Cars.com as its new Director, Online Media Measurement. Her remit will include setting strategy and building a client service team for the West Coast; and developing the advertiser-direct segment. More
Arbitron has won Media Rating Council® (MRC) accreditation for its Portable People Meter(TM) radio ratings data in Houston, after a tough two-year process which has seen deadlines pushed back and plans changed for the audience measurement firm. More
Media planning and buying company Starcom USA has become the first media agency client for TiVo Stop||Watch(TM), the new second-by-second ratings service recently announced by the DVR pioneer. More
Chicago-based channel marketing specialist Frank Lynn & Associates has launched a research division, Insight Research, to be led by its Principal, Jeanne Fec and Director Roxanne Lenny. More
Pharma and healthcare research giant IMS Health has promoted Gilles Pajot to COO and Leslye Katz as Senior VP and CFO. The firm has also been in a federal court this week, defending the right of companies to see prescription data from individual physicians. More
A trading statement from online panel firm ToLuna suggests sales and operating profits for 2006 will beat market expectations. The firm anticipates turnover of not less than £8.3m, almost trebling versus a pro forma £3.0m for 2005. More
Online survey software provider, FIRM (Future Information Research Management), has reported 2006 revenue up 26% to $21.8 million, and a 13% EBIT margin. More
Angus Reid Strategies has announced a Canadian online panel, Angus Reid Forum. Tools and technology from sister company Vision Critical will manage the panel and provide rich media applications to engage participants. More
Kantar has announced the merging of its Japanese businesses into a single unit. The Japanese offices of Research International, Millward Brown, ICM/Added Value and Lightspeed Research will henceforth function as Japan Kantar Research (JKR). Kantar says it has no plans to replicate this approach elsewhere in the world. More
VNU today continued its radical overhaul following its return to the private sector, by changing its name to 'The Nielsen Company'. The firm says the move 'emphasizes its best-known brand name and underscores its commitment to create an integrated, streamlined global organization'. More
Sixteen to twenty-four year olds are not only much more likely to respond to surveys conducted via mobiles, they also respond more quickly, according to Lightspeed Research's analysis of its pilot cell phone panel. More
The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has told staff it plans to close the London office at Drummond Gate, Pimlico, by 2010. Staff would either be relocated – most of them to Newport, Wales - or made redundant. Unions have reacted angrily to the news. More
US-based Online Survey Solution (OSS), part of M/A/R/C® Research, has appointed Meg Ryan as Director of Client Development, responsible for selling online data collection services to fellow market research agencies. More
Lightspeed Research has launched a business-to-business panel in the US, ELITEOpinion. Composed of purchase influencers in industries including telecoms, finance, insurance, corporate travel and IT / technology, the panel operates as an exclusive online community. More
Online audience specialist comScore Networks has agreed a multi-year licensing agreement with behaviorally-targeted online advertising network TACODA®. TACODA CEO, Curt Viebranz says the deal 'integrates two of the largest repositories of knowledge about online consumer behavior'. More
Richard Catrone has replaced Joe Viglianti as Senior VP, Operations at Knowledge Networks (KN). Vigilanti retires after 35 years at KN and predecessor firm Statistical Research, Inc. More
The body of Cathy Marlow, Finance Manager for panel firm Research Now, was discovered in the shower cubicle of the firm's London head office on Saturday night. Police say the 28-year old was murdered in a 'frenzied attack', and are questioning a man in connection with the inquiry. More
Opinion Research Corporation, recently acquired by infoUSA, has announced the establishment of a formal polling partnership with news and information network CNN. The two firms have been working together on individual contracts for around nine months. More
TNS has announced its acquisition of a controlling interest in South African company, Research Surveys. More
US provider Evolution Research has announced a deal with online gaming destination FiringSquad.com to create North America's largest panel of online gamers. The deal aims to provide faster and better research results for game publishers and developers. More
A recent survey conducted by business-to-business research consultancy, Kadence, has shown that in half of all Asian SMEs the decision-maker in the key financial role is a woman. More
US provider MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc) has boosted the team at its Cincinnati headquarters with three new hires – Jay Bigler joins as Senior Research Analyst, and Kate Muehlfeld and Jan Arthur as Senior Project Directors. More
UK-based Marketing Sciences has appointed Danni White to its Board, and promoted both Eileen Sutherland and Chris Peach to Research Director roles. More
YouGov has hired Dr. Andy Brown as Director leading a new Organisational Consulting offer. Meanwhile its Middle Eastern subsidiary YouGovSiraj has announced an online Omnibus Service covering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Morocco and Egypt. More
Online fieldwork provider Research Now has announced its Final Results for the year to 31 October 2006, with turnover nearly trebled to £9.6m (2005: £3.6m) and profit before tax more than trebled to £1.6m (2005: £0.5m). More
The MRS is agency dominated and will work hard to get research clients more involved, according to Chairman Simon Lidington. The UK association must also broaden its base to include emerging professions and techniques on the edge of the sector – 'if we don't represent them, somebody else will'. More
MRS Chairman Simon Lidington talks to DRNO about the challenges facing the organisation and the industry, and about the recent decision to join the international association of MR associations, EFAMRO. Today, the prospects for international co-operation; tomorrow a look at the MRS' domestic plans. More
Jim Follett, former COO of NOP World, is to replace Bev Weiman as Chief Executive Officer of panels firm Survey Sampling International (SSI). Weiman, who co-founded SSI along with Tom Danbury in 1977, cited personal reasons for her departure. More
Online survey professionals need to choose the right day and time to send invitations to potential respondents, according to a study by Lightspeed Research. Invites sent on a Monday afternoon got the best response rates (up to 39%) while for Friday afternoon mailings the rate fell to 28%. More
Research software firm Globalpark UK has moved to larger London premises following rapid expansion in 2006. The company, which recently launched a new version of its Surveycenter package, has also boosted its sales team with the appointment of Diana Dawkins. More
UK research guru David Smith has revived his old company name and is back in business just days after vacating the Chairman's seat at Illuminas. The new DVL Smith Group already has offices in London Docklands and, thanks to a partnership with Australian financial specialist John Marinopoulos, in Melbourne. More
Market research supplier, Mintel, and retail and consumer information provider, Information Resources Inc (IRI), have paired up to launch a new tool which they claim could reduce the cost of new product development by up to 80%. More
US provider Burke, Inc. has promoted Steve Clark to Senior VP in its operations and technology unit, Data Acquisition and Processing. The company also appointed Judithe Andre as an Account Manager. More
Greenfield Online has launched the first of a series of specialist online communities, taking advantage of its recently announced next generation panel management system. Curizon(TM) provides a custom portal page and other features for the firm's panel of physicians and other healthcare professionals. More
With eight days to go until Arbitron launches its first PPM service in Philadelphia, two groups representing more than a quarter of the market's radio ad spend are still not on board. Media agency comments suggest the problems may jeopardise all radio ad buying in the market. More
US-based software and panels firm GMI has announced the opening of a new technology center near the Sri Lankan capital Colombo; plus three new appointments from December. More
ACNielsen has announced a new classification system for the Middle East and North Africa region. The Living Standards Measurement (LSM) system will initially be introduced in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco and Egypt. More
US-based provider Greenfield Online has followed up recent announcements of 'Real-Time Sampling' and panel management technologies with the launch of a mobile survey respondent panel, Text2Express(TM). More
Maritz Research and interactive technology provider Invoke Solutions have joined forces to develop Invoke Ping, a platform that will deliver consumer research via mobile devices. More
TNS has further boosted its North America Custom management team under Kimberly Till with the appointment of Enzo Micali as Chief Information Officer. Micali previously held the same role at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. More
A dozen research suppliers have submitted a total of 24 proposals to UK audience measurement body BARB in response to its invitation on next generation measurement. More
India-based research outsourcing firm Dexterity is to expand its range of offers with Finalyzers, a division specialising in financial research and analysis. More
VNU has begun what it calls a 'major corporate transformation' including the phasing out of its existing group structure and the cutting of up to 4,000 jobs in 2007. NMR CEO Susan Whiting is promoted to a new group-wide EVP role while Frank Martell and Steve Schmidt will leave the company. More
IMS Health is to buy the Life Sciences practice of US-based Strategic Decisions Group (SDG), which focuses on portfolio strategy consulting for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. More
Arbitron has unveiled a preview of a new version of its electronic diary, which enables radio ratings surveys to be conducted through mobile Internet-capable devices. More
GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) has announced a strategic partnership with Media-Screen, an online consumer research specialist based in San Francisco. GMI will provide panel access and technology to power Media-Screen's Netpop(TM) syndicated research series. More
Yankee Group and Chinese technology advisor Analysys International have announced a partnership agreement. The exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed today, commits the firms to working together on research reports, consulting projects and the hosting of industry events. More
Research Process Outsourcing (RPO) company Pulse Group has added social networking features to its 'Planet Pulse' online panel community, in line with the explosive growth of sites like MySpace and Bebo. Members in twenty countries can now interact with each other via a live forum feature. More
Mobile media researcher Telephia has announced it will partner with software firm Roundbox, Inc., to develop on-device audience measurement for mobile broadcast applications, including television, using technology on the subscriber's handset. More
In the US, BIGresearch has announced a partnership with The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA). The association will use BIGresearch's proprietary SIMM (Simultaneous Media Usage Study), which connects media use and purchasing, to help members monitor ROI for word-of-mouth campaigns. More
Nielsen Media Research has agreed to develop its TV ratings along two lines, following a meeting last week with more than 100 clients. Parallel with the development of more flexible minute-by-minute data, the firm will offer a simpler 'average commercial minute ratings' service. More
Trade body the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) has alerted consumers to a number of new scams across the US, offering a quick profit in return for evaluating service received when cashing checks and wiring funds. More
Lightspeed Research has boosted its North American sales team with two appointments. John Tanzola joins as Vice President, Business Development and Greg Stevens as Business Development Representative. More
Hi-tech agency Metrixlab has announced 'sensational' results for an 'online eye tracking' tool which uses mouse movements to measure the attention paid to a web page by users. The firm says large scale validation of the method at Groningen University shows a 0.9 correlation with 'traditional' eye tracking. More
In the UK TMN plc, which owns panels firm The iD Factor and newly launched online research consultancy division iCD, has announced record revenue (£8m) and profits (£1.4m) in its half-yearly statement to the stock market. iD Factor grew fastest of its three core divisions, with sales up 122%. More
UK agency SKOPOS Market Insight has been chosen as the official partner of Research Conferences and will provide research services for all 2007 and 2008 MRS conferences including the 2007 Jubilee Conference in Brighton. More
VNU and partner the In-Store Marketing Institute are to launch a global service measuring customers' in-store influences and purchasing decisions. The service will be offered by Nielsen In-Store, a new unit within the recently announced NielsenConnect, which aims to 'follow the consumer'. More
TNS has appointed two Executive Vice Presidents for its North America Custom Research leadership under Kimberly Till. Michael O'Keeffe joins to lead Operations and MCP, and Larry Levin to head up U.S. Consumer Goods & Services. More
Lightspeed Research has strengthened its North American executive team with the addition of Nancy Kienzler as VP of Research Operations and Francesco Colbertaldo as Senior VP of Business Development. More
Business to business specialist Kadence says it will double its turnover to $8m in 2006. UK business has leapt by 70% year-on-year and turnover in the US has grown by 66%, while the firm's newer Asian offices also report good growth. More
The Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO) has appointed Dr. Larry Ponemon, Chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute, to serve as Chairman of its Government & Public Affairs (GPA) Committee and GPA Director. He succeeds Jim Robinson, creator of the GPA function, who died in September. More
Online survey firm Ciao has launched a 'Career Profile' option. The new data allows clients to use job categories to select samples from its panelists in 23 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. More
The Internet has become the number one medium for data collection for quantitative physician studies, used for 43% of studies according to research by specialist US provider Medefield. Online research made strong gains versus face-to-face and telephone research for the third year running. More
Software and panels firm GMI has announced a partnership with DNSstuff.com, which will enhance its ability to recruit IT panelists for its TechSay.com online IT panel. Meanwhile another sixteen staff have joined GMI this month, including Anthony Milano and Peter Grove as US-based Vice Presidents.
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Pharma research giant IMS Health has announced it has successfully integrated anonymised patient-level data (APLD) across its global portfolio of information, analytics and consulting; and established a new global team of health economics and outcomes experts. More
Farmers in Iowa have helped establish a new online market research company, AgSpeak. The launch was led by a group of agri-business professionals aiming to improve information flow to agricultural suppliers, while 'fairly compensating' farmers for the information they share. More
Offshore outsourcing and panel services firm Cross-Tab has been named as the 4th fastest growing technology company in India, in the latest Deloitte Fast 50 rankings. The ranking makes it the fastest growing firm in the country's thriving BPO / KPO sector. More
Canadian online panel specialist, Vision Critical, has appointed Bryan Mavrow as Senior Vice President, Services to oversee the team which administers its 150 proprietary panels. More
US-based Survey Sampling International (SSI) has announced the opening of a new office in Sydney, Australia. More
Jon Mandel, one of the highest profile media buyers in the US, has joined VNU as CEO of newly formed business unit, NielsenConnect. More
Synovate has announced with considerable fanfare the forthcoming launch of a new modelling system which it claims will be 'the first to accurately predict what people will buy.' The Brand Value Creator is the brainchild of Jan Hofmeyr, co-creator of The Conversion Model, who joined the agency in the spring. More
Greenfield Online will announce a new Real-Time Sampling(TM) capability at two major US conferences this week. The firm says the new technology will widen the industry's 'pool' of respondents and create 'Virtual Panels(TM)' of respondents from its own Global Survey Network of affiliated web sites. More
Research software firm Nebu has found a new UK Managing Director from a familiar source; released new versions of its panel management and web interviewing systems; and announced a partnership with Embrace mobile to facilitate mobile phone surveys using text messages. More
InsightExpress has expanded its Media & Custom Panels group with the appointment of Peter Zsamboky, formerly of Ipsos and OTX. This latest hire means the company has doubled of its head count in the past 18 months, to over 100 employees. More
The UK's Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) is to conduct a study designed to pin down what constitutes excellent qualitative research. The 'Excellence Project' will use Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) to study the work of six highly rated qualitative practitioners. More
Digital media and panels firm Ciao has appointed ex-TNS Director, Ross Broadbent, as New Product Development and Product Management Director. More
Can results from online panels be trusted? Gian Fulgoni, Chairman of US-based comScore Networks set alarm bells ringing at this year's CASRO Conference with statistics about three-a-day survey respondents; but panel firms say the industry is taking a mature approach to the issue. More
Canadian and US firms Itracks and The Dcypher Group have joined to launch an analysis tool called Qualmetrix, which enables researchers to assess respondents' emotional reactions from any piece of written text. More
Online MR software company FIRM will pre-launch version 11 of its Confirmit MR suite at the ESOMAR Panel Research conference in Barcelona next week. The new release includes a new Community Panel module which promises to enhance panellist engagement and response rates. More
Panel and research technology provider Toluna is to expand into the Asia Pacific market with the launch of an Australian panel community, currently at 30,000 members. More
Arbitron has updated its rollout schedule for the PPM ratings service, pending settlement of two outstanding issues with the Media Rating Council's audit committee. Meanwhile Interep, the US's largest independent national radio representative, has signed up to use the PPM service when launched. More
European online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has opened a Chicago office and appointed Mike Gray, Vice President – Client Development, to build the Chicago team. Nine other staff join the agency's US team. More
TNS Media Research has signed up a first agency client for its new digital audience measurement service based on anonymous set top box data. Media and communications agency Starcom USA will receive information from 300,000 digital subscribers in LA. More
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) will launch a service to measure nationally distributed Video On Demand (VOD) content, on December 11th. The service will use the National People Meter sample used for television ratings, and 'watermark' content for detection by its new Active/Passive meter. More
GfK Custom Research North America has appointed Steven Maskell as Vice President, Senior Account Executive, leading the client facing side of its Mystery Shopping division. He joins from Shop 'n Check Worldwide where he was Director of Sales and Marketing. More
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) has today announced findings from its first ever Product Placement Valuation Study, part of its A2/M2 initiative. The research demonstrates and quantifies the value that product placement contributes to traditional TV advertising. More
Pioneering Australian agency The Leading Edge (TLE) has launched a new strategy called '20/10 Vision', and hinted at expansion in 'Northern Europe, the US and North Asia' in the coming months. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has launched two new initiatives, 'i*Communities', a custom platform that encourages online interaction between consumers; and 'Active Intercept', which offers moderators the chance to inject qual questions for specific respondents completing a quant online survey. More
India's MR outsourcing industry continues to flourish: Dexterity Business Analysts, a firm providing technology services for research and analysis, has been singled out as one of the country's fastest growing tech firms by Deloitte. More
UK research employers are at last showing a little more flexibility in their attempts to find candidates for hard-to-fill positions, according to feedback from specialist recruiters, quoted in the forthcoming MRWho. More
Audience measurement partners Ipsos and The Media Audit have this week confirmed that they will start installing encoders for their phone-based measurement system in Houston radio stations in December, and will conduct an 'Expert Witness' test the same month, to help validate the methodology. More
Telephone or hybrid surveys can offer greater convenience, relax respondents more and elicit longer open-ended answers than pure online methodology, according to a comparison by US provider Anderson Analytics, working with automated phone survey firm Big Ears. More
Greenfield Online has reported results for the third quarter of 2006, ended September 30. The figures show improvements over those for the previous year and President and CEO Albert Angrisani says there has been progress 'in many areas of the business' but that the management are 'not satisfied'. More
Arbitron continues to promote long-serving employees in senior positions: this week, 27-year company veteran Dottye Gould-Smith becomes Senior Vice President, Respondent Acquisition & Compliance Operations. More
Online measurement specialist comScore Networks has launched Plan Metrix, an upgraded version of its media planning tool AiM (Audience insight Measures). comScore says the new tool offers 'improved usability and broader insight into consumer preferences'. More
Nielsen Media Research has created a further body to advise it on ethnic audience measurement issues, an African American Advisory Council (AAAC) consisting of 12 industry, community, and business leaders. More
Two agencies tied for the top award at last night's 'Research Excellence and Effectiveness Awards', hosted by the MRS in London. Judges could not choose between FreshMinds and Flamingo International as Best Research Agency 2006. More
David Smith, current Chairman and CEO of UK-based Illuminas Global, has announced he will leave the company at the end of 2006 to focus on training and personal development interests. John Connaughton will become CEO. More
Online research software company FIRM has announced third quarter results with organic revenue up 32% year on year, from £3.7m to $4.9m. EBIT margin rose to 11% from just 2% in Q3 2005. More
Hong Kong, Madrid and Singapore are among the best cities for underground train travel, while New York and Paris are friendly but otherwise lagging behind, according to Présence Mystery Shopping. The quality of the welcome and service was measured from the perspective of foreign tourists in 12 cities, with London not included. More
Technology specialist JupiterResearch has announced the launch of its new Mobile Media & Marketing Research service and released initial results, forecasting a total advertiser spend on mobile messaging and display advertising of $2.9bn in 2011, up from $1.4bn in 2006. More
Three former Accounts Directors at BPRI have set up Circle Research, a new UK-based B2B research agency. Circle will offer both qual and quant with all employees skilled in both. More
Enterprise feedback provider NetReflector has released VantagePoint, an online survey software solution offering a customer and employee feedback system tailored to the complex needs of global corporations. More
MarketTools, Inc. has launched a new end-to-end online focus group solution, Zoomerang Online Focus, at this week's Market Research Event in LA. Participants can be recruited from the firm's ZoomPanel(TM) of more than 2.5 million US consumers. More
Pioneering UK consultancy FreshMinds has launched its own viewing facility in Central London. '1view' is located near Holborn tube. More
In the US, Greenfield Online and custom researcher Turnkey Sports & Entertainment have announced an alliance to give sports marketers real-time access to the opinions of sports fans worldwide, to measure sponsorship effectiveness and build audience. More
Andy Dexter, former CEO of Incepta Marketing Intelligence, has announced the forthcoming launch of a new strategic insight-based consultancy, named Truth. The agency, with the guiding principle 'maximum insight, minimum data', will provide 'a complement to mainstream marketing research'. More
In the US, an investigation into VNU's proposed buyout of the remaining shares in majority-owned subsidiary NetRatings has been launched by Kahn Gauthier Swick, LLC (KGS), specialists in stock market fraud and shareholder suits. More
Arbitron has announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006. Revenue of $90.7 million is up 6% on Q3 2005, but planned spending on the PPM and Project Apollo initiatives have contributed to increased costs and expenses, with earnings before tax still trailing 2005 figures. More
Audience measurement specialist Nielsen Media Research has a new division, Nielsen Wireless and Interactive Services, headed by VP Jeff Herrmann; and has announced the launch of GamePlay Metrics, a new rating service for video games. More
Nielsen Media Research has announced that its Local People Meter (LPM) technology will be launched in the five key centres of Phoenix, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Miami and Denver, in 2008. More
Delhi is the latest new location for fast-growing b2b research specialist Kadence, which already has companies in Boston, London, Singapore and Sydney. Kadence Research India launches with a senior team of three directors, headed up by Aman Makkar, who becomes MD. More
Arbitron has underlined the link between its people and its overall business success with the promotion of Marilou Legge to Senior VP, Organization Effectiveness. The new role builds on her former duties as VP for the company's Talent Acquisition and Development group. More
Leeds-based RBA Research is in administration and will cease trading at the end of October. The public sector specialist has seen margins eroded by aggressive competition from larger agencies. More
Audience measurement giant Nielsen Media Research has established five new Client Advisory Committees, consisting of almost 90 senior clients, to guide the company's Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement (A2/M2) initiatives, aimed at moving measurement into the integrated media age. More
News of another advisory body established by Nielsen Media Research: the Council for Research Excellence, the firm's independent forum established last year, is commissioning a pilot study on consumption of traditional and emerging video platforms inside and outside the home. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has launched its online advertising measurement service, AdRelevance, in Japan. Initial results show a market worth 19.2 bn Yen or US $160m for display ads in September, with beauty the highest spending sector and Vodafone-Softbank the top advertiser. More
Two companies providing services for research firms have scooped high profile awards in Asia Pacific: RPO specialist Pulse Group winning an APICTA 2006 Award, and software developer QSR International a top Australian Export award. Meanwhile in the UK, GfK NOP's Field Marketing team has also carried off a number of prizes. More
GfK has announced that, with the integration of NOP World running well and reduced net debt, it has arranged syndicated credit facilities of EUR 430 million and US$ 170 million. The Group has also launched a home shopping tracker, covering orders made through the Internet, digital TV, mail order and the post. More
Scarborough Research and Arbitron have announced the launch of a new data set giving detailed information about mall shoppers in the US. The Scarborough Mall Shopper Audience data will be integrated with reach and frequency models for mall ads and promotions. More
Audience researcher Arbitron has promoted Thomas F. Mocarsky to Senior Vice President, Press and Investor Relations. Mocarsky has worked at the firm since 1982 and was most recently VP, Communications. More
UK agency HPI Research has been bought by its management from communications group Interpublic, for an undisclosed sum. More
Harris Interactive has launched a European unit for its Service Bureau. HISB Europe will offer MR firms in Europe a range of services including telephone, face-to-face and online data collection, the SynTrack Online survey transitioning service and Integrated CATI-WAPI (ICW), among others. More
New product development consultant ACNielsen BASES has this week launched introSCAPE(TM), described by President Mitch Barns as 'the most significant improvement we've made to our core services in years.' The analytical framework is based on a proprietary model that describes the process by which consumers adopt new products. More
Ipsos Insight has released 'Line Evolution' a proprietary tool aimed at helping consumer products manufacturers make better decisions about which products to include in their product lineups. More
Nielsen Media Research has announced a start date - January 29, 2007 – for the inclusion of students at college in National People Meter (NPM) audience estimates. The system, known as 'Extended Home viewing', is part of the firm's drive to 'measure television viewing wherever it occurs.' More
Baltimore is the slowest city in America, according to a recent survey conducted by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). And we're not talking here about downshifting and the 'Slow' movement, we're talking more generic slow movement – waiting in lines at the grocery store, banks, clothes shops and restaurants. More
Pioneering UK-based agency Nunwood has made two appointments to its Film Productions team, launched a year ago to offer clients documentary-debriefing, vox pops and other video options - and growing ahead of expectations. More
Newly-private VNU is proposing to acquire the remainder of the shares in NetRatings, Inc., a company it majority owns (60.5%) with the rest publicly held. The firm is offering $16.00 per share in cash. The NetRatings board is meeting this afternoon to discuss evaluation of the proposal. More
A total of 173 people gathered in Chicago last week for The Research Industry Summit: Improving Respondent Cooperation. Among the key messages emerging: the need for clients to play their part in promoting the benefits of research; and support for the idea that one MR organisation should take ownership of the problem. More
Project Apollo, Arbitron and VNU's proposed marketing information service linking advertising exposure and consumer purchase behaviour, has received the official endorsement of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). More
Ciao, the European company of online survey solutions provider Greenfield Online, has hired a new Director of Panels, Cyril Stern, and promoted several key sales and marketing executives within its European organization. More
Lightspeed Research has acquired the 'Ultimate Consumer Panel' business of US-based technology researcher Forrester. The business uses tools developed in-house to analyze consumers' financial services behaviors using credit card, banking statement and transaction data. More
Canada's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) has launched what it calls 'the world's first Charter of Respondent Rights', setting out the industry's commitment to respect respondents' time and privacy, and to honour the contribution they make to society. More
Full service agency ORC International and MMR division UK Fieldwork Services have announced a joint venture company, ORC Fieldwork Services, which will conduct ORC's field data collection and will be managed by directors from both companies. More
UK-based TMN plc has announced the formation of a new online research company, ICD Research. The new division will sit alongside panels specialist The iD Factor one of whose Directors, Paul Dixon, leaves to head up ICD. More
VNU has announced results for the three months ended June 30, dominated by an adjustment of Euros 71m for costs relating to the sale of the company in May. Excluding this, pro forma operating revenue was up 6% year on year in constant currency to Euros 943m, and operating income up 11% to Euros 114m. More
UK-based panel specialist The iD Factor has recruited five new members of staff, three as business developers. The firm says the expansion programme, which has already doubled its headcount to 34 in just 12 months, is ongoing. More
US-based panels and software firm GMI has passed another busy month, with the opening of a Netherlands office, seven appointments including an MD, Business Development, and the news that its Chinese panel now includes roughly 1 in every 1,000 of the population. More
In the US, MarketTools has announced the launch of a fully-integrated mobile phone-based market intelligence solution, MarketTools Mobile, allowing live data collection and rapid access to up-to-date results via a web portal. More
Lightspeed Research has named Darren Fifield as its new CEO, Asia Pacific. Fifield, currently MD of the Synovate company Aztec Information Systems, SE Asia, takes up the new role on November 1. More
Online competitive intelligence provider Hitwise UK has announced the addition of paid and organic search term data to its Search Intelligence(TM) 4.0 product. The new data will allow online marketers to analyse their competitors' paid and organic search strategies at a keyword level. More
Forrester Research has promoted Charles Rutstein to the new role of COO. Rutstein has worked at the technology specialist for seven years, and is currently President of Forrester Americas, the firm's largest operating group. More
UK agency B2B International, which plans to open a Beijing office in January 2007, has produced a detailed analysis of the Chinese MR industry. The White Paper identifies the main characteristics of the Chinese market for market research and highlights the great potential for research buyers. More
In the UK, AIM-listed MR owner Cello Group plc has acquired SMT Consulting Limited, a strategy and research firm specialising in business and competitive intelligence. Cello is paying up to £6.2m in cash and shares up front with further performance-related consideration of up to £8.8m. More
Arbitron has further postponed its reporting of individual satellite radio channels and HD radio, pending more work to develop standards. It has also announced the inclusion of public and non-commercial radio stations in its local market ratings reports, beginning with the Fall 2006 release. More
Qual recruitment and fieldwork agency Criteria chose the occasion of its tenth birthday party at the London Aquarium last Friday to announce its independence from former parent Discovery Research. MD and founder Elaine Francis has bought Discovery's 50% stake with the aim of sharing ownership with others at Criteria. More
Online survey software company FIRM (Future Information Research Management) has announced the formation of an advisory board for its Confirmit product. The Board is made up of prominent executives from research providers, including TNS' Tony Cowling. More
GfK Mystery Shopping and disability consulting firm Butler New Media this week announced a joint venture giving GfK clients access to Butler's ABILITY Mystery Shopping Panel. The result is claimed to be 'America's first national panel for individuals with disabilities'. More
Our review of this week's ESOMAR Conference continues with Phyllis Vangelder's look at Tuesday's papers. They include suggestions for reconstructing research for the 21st Century, and a review of the challenges of opinion polling in Iraq. More
Two global agencies have this week released latest results from elite surveys. Ipsos Media reveals that European business leaders are compensating for increased time away from home with gadgets, cars and holidays; while hybrid methodology is helping Synovate's Media Atlas get past the security gates to chart the rise of AsiaPac's urban affluent. More
ESOMAR drew to a close its 59th Congress in London yesterday, and announced the winners of four prizes. A new overall award for the best paper 2005-6 went to speakers from Australian agency The Leading Edge and client Carlton & United Beverages. More
It may be another six years before London hosts the Olympics, but we've limbered up with this year's ESOMAR Congress... The annual flagship event of the worldwide association of research professionals has just concluded, sampled by our correspondent Phyllis Vangelder. More
Digital video recorder (DVR) pioneer TiVo Inc. has continued its recent spate of research-related announcements with news of a partnership with US retail info giant IRI. The IRI TiVo Consumer Insights Suite will link DVR consumer viewing patterns with subsequent product sales. More
US-based direct and targeted marketing company Harte-Hanks, Inc. has agreed to acquire technology researcher Aberdeen Group, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. More
Italian online research specialist Nextplora is the latest in the booming sub-sector to announce international expansion. The Milan-based company has launched sites in English, French, German and Spanish and will offer analysis and advice covering Europe's five largest economies. More
Arab Internet portal Maktoob.com has announced the launch of a dedicated commercial research unit to exploit its online consumer database - the region's largest. Maktoob Research will apply international online research standards to help the region's marketers target consumer segments in more than 30 countries. More
MR software and panels provider GMI has launched an initiative aiming to protect the online research industry from fraudulent panelists. PureSample.com offers online MR firms the opportunity to match panelists against a database of 'known offenders', and report offenders of their own. More
Global MR turnover topped US$23.3bn in 2005, according to ESOMAR's Industry Report, launched at its annual Congress today. France overtook Germany to become the third biggest world market, while China grew at 25% and will break into the global top 5 markets in 5-6 years if current growth continues. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has announced the official support of the American Marketing Association (AMA) for its Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) program. The program already has the endorsement of the ARF, CMOR, IMRO, the MRII and the Burke Institute. More
Starfish Research & Strategy has launched BluRay Select, a virtual concept testing tool for new product development, allowing consumers to interact with three dimensional concepts or prototypes. More
Online specialist Research Now has added a Hungarian panel to its range, brining its total international coverage to 20 countries. More
TNS Media Research has entered an agreement with US digital television service provider DIRECTV, Inc. to launch audience measurement services that will focus on the latter's interactive subscriber households. More
Leading Canadian pollster Angus Reid is to launch a new full-service strategic consultancy with an emphasis on online research solutions. Angus Reid Strategies has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto and expects to open US offices in the coming months. More
European online panel specialist ToLuna has announced strong results for the six months to 30 June. Revenue for the six months is £3.6m, already twenty per cent up on full year pro forma 2005 figures. More
Arbitron is field testing the addition of an audio matching capability to its Portable People Meter (PPM) which would allow it to track the audience of radio stations that choose not to encode their signals. Existing PPMs can be upgraded over a phone line. More
Research faces a future of constant change, but recent legislation is unlikely to hinder its continuing growth, according to the 2006 Research Industry Trends Report. Last week we looked at data collection methods and world regions - this week, legislation, changing suppliers and the general outlook. More
Online health information provider MDLinx has announced the expansion of its market research panel to 240,000 global healthcare experts. Following its recent merger with Sony Group company So-net M3, MDLinx says it has 'exceptional reach into the Japanese and Korean physician markets' with 50%+ and 86% respectively. More
The Internet is leaving CATI far behind as the research industry's main data collection method, but also contributing to a move towards 'richer and more rewarding interactions among clients, providers, and the public', according to the 2006 Research Industry Trends Report. More
TNS has appointed two key North American managers to support new President Kimberly Till in revitalising the business. Rob Wengel joins as Executive VP, Client Services and Nancy Narraway as Corporate VP, Marketing. More
US shopping, media and lifestyle analyst Scarborough Research has announced the full accreditation of its core syndicated services by the MRC (Media Rating Council). These include its 75 Top-Tier Local Market Studies and its Multi-Market Study, beginning with the 2006 product year. More
Data Collection specialist Schlesinger Associates, operator of a dozen US facilities and purchasers earlier this year of The Research House in London, has added new group venues in Phoenix, AZ and Rosemont, IL, near Chicago O'Hare. More
Greenfield Online subsidiary Ciao has announced the launch of a global media panel, which will give clients the ability to target survey respondents based on their preferences for various media including television, radio, newspapers and magazines. More
Another European-based panel provider is expanding across the Atlantic: ToLuna PLC has today announced the opening of a New York office, to act as the hub of its US and Canadian operations. The news follows ResearchNow's announcement yesterday of a new US office and staff. More
UK-based online fieldwork company The iD Factor has announced a series of deals with local panel providers, giving its clients access to a network of panels in 41 countries on five continents. More
Research Now has followed up news of multiple UK appointments with the announcement of a new San Francisco office, the expansion of its existing US office in New York, and four senior hires. More
Following yesterday's appointment of a new head for its Public Sector research, ORC International has announced the arrival of Andy Waller, previously of GfK, as Head of Operations at its European Information Centre based at the Angel, Islington. More
Ipsos Australia has announced it is in discussions with the country's Radio and TV industries to trial its MediaCell smart phone technology for audience measurement. The system is already in trials in the US and UK. More
GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) has acquired London-based interactive survey specialist Media Intelligence. The buy gives GMI access to leading edge animated graphics and interactive techniques which will enable its clients to create simulations including product designs and store layouts. More
TNS has announced its unaudited interim results for the six months to 30 June. Unspectacular overall revenue growth of 4.5% (underlying growth 3.0%) reflects a decline in US custom business, while the rest of the group achieved organic revenue growth of almost 6%. More
UK-based SKOPOS Market Insight & Consultancy Ltd has relaunched its services under the banner of 'Full Circle'. Features include dedicated sector-based research teams, and fieldwork support agreements with IFF, ORC Direct, Sparkler and Consumer Profile. More
US-based data collection provider Schlesinger Associates has appointed a Director of Client Development. Kimberly White joins from Eastern Research Services, LLC (ERS) where she was VP of Sales. More
UK-based online specialist Research Now has announced senior appointments for its London team, with Chris Dubreuil joining as Client Development Director and Paul Botje as COO. Also arriving are twelve staff for the client development, panel analytics and delivery teams. More
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) has announced it will include data for Azteca America, the newest Spanish-Language TV network in the US, in its National People Meter ratings service, the NTI. Nielsen has also released stats showing the growth in ethnic TV household numbers at the national and local DMA levels. More
Panels and software specialist GMI has announced five new hires at Director and VP level – including two HR Directors; plus another twenty-two appointments this month, as it continues its rapid expansion. More
Live video transmission of focus groups is taking off, with one third of end clients in a survey by FocusVision Worldwide saying they use it on a majority of their qual projects. Well over 400 focus facilities are installed with the technology worldwide. More
JupiterResearch has launched a new 'Social Marketing research' service which will specialise in online social networking and user-generated media, otherwise known as consumer-generated media or CGM. More
Carmaker Audi AG has announced the funding of a new research centre at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland. The 'Audi Lab for Market Research' will be headed by leading MR and marketing academic Prof. Dr. Andreas Herrmann, who will work with a core team of six scientists. More
TNS has today announced the launch of a Global Interactive business unit, led by Arno Hummerston as MD, and bringing together three co-ordinated areas – commercial, development and Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) support. More
Following its acquisition of Gantz Wiley Research last week, Kenexa has announced that it has founded the Kenexa Research Institute, to focus on 'advancing the science of employee research'. More
Global Market Insite (GMI) has announced two senior hires. Jake Sedlock joins as Vice President of Enterprise Sales for North America and Michael Allenson as Vice President of Syndicated Research. More
Figures out this week from Nielsen Media Research show changes in the US TV audience including an overall rise in television households of 1.1% and a 16% decrease in the number in the New Orleans area. More
David L. Calhoun, previously Vice Chairman of General Electric Company (GE), was announced today as the new Chairman and CEO of VNU, based in New York. He succeeds interim CEO Rob Ruijter, who will revert to concentrating on his role as CFO. More
In late September an industry summit bringing together around 30 of the most influential people in US research will attempt to break new ground on the perennial issue of respondent co-operation. Have we been here before? MrWeb's Michael Kenyon asks the event's convenor Bob Lederer what makes it special. More
Harris Interactive has released its financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter (Q4) and fiscal year ended June 30, 2006. Revenue for Q4 was up 11% year-on-year to a record $60.0m and for the fiscal year up 10% to $216m. Net earnings leapt almost 500% to $9.5m or $0.15 per share. More
ToLuna has announced a dedicated panel for European mobile telecommunications, to be drawn from its core European panel of 1.1 million active members. TolunaMobile(TM) is described as 'Europe's most highly profiled online mobile telecoms research panel'. More
Jon Beaumont has left Continental Research, where he led the media division, to join online consumer generated media (CGM) specialist WaveMetrix. His role as Chief Research Officer will include development of the firm's fast-growing client roster. More
TNS has appointed Andrea Mezzasalma as global head of its Internet, Television and Radio Audience Measurement sector (iTRAM) - he will relocate from Milan to London. He takes over from Mike Gorton who will retire from TNS this year but function as a consultant. More
WPP Group has reported half yearly results. Headline profit before tax rose over 24% to $566m (£316m) and like-for-like revenue was up a respectable 5% year-on-year. The Group's Information, Insight and Consultancy companies performed well although slightly behind other sectors on some key measures. More
West London-based research provider EMS has recently opened three new viewing studios, including what is claimed to be 'the largest in England, capable of housing two cars or seating up to one hundred respondents.' More
Research Now has announced the launch of four more of its proprietary research-only panels. The addition of Portugal, Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands brings the online specialist's total coverage to eighteen European countries, plus Australia. More
Ipsos has reported an excellent first half for 2006. Revenues are up 26.7% to Euros 407.7m, due mostly to organic growth of 8.6%, while the acquisition and integration of MORI, Understanding Unlimited and Camelford Graham contributed most of a 'scope of consolidation' rise of 14.1%. More
New product forecasting and consulting specialist BASES has launched DecisionPoint, a tool which models key market factors in the context of a simulated retail shelf, in order to estimate consumer response to a wide variety of marketplace scenarios. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), the association whose remit includes standards and guidelines for online ad measurement, has announced the departure of its CEO. Greg Stuart will leave the association at the end of 2006 to pursue new opportunities, with a successor to be sought immediately. More
CATI fieldwork provider Global Data Collection Company (GDCC), is expanding its CATI facility in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from 105 to 150 seats. The company expects to take on at least six new permanent staff to support the growth, which it says is due to increasing demand for international CATI fieldwork into the EMEA markets, mainly b2b. More
Minneapolis-based employee research specialist Gantz Wiley has been acquired by Kenexa, a provider of recruitment and retention software and services. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. More
Two recent reports from ABI Research discuss the rapid expansion of the market for RFID, the tagging technology that promises a mass of detailed data for retail and other sectors. The agency has reduced its market forecast for 2007, and highlights particular problems establishing standards for RFID in China. More
Yahoo! has recruited comScore Media Metrix President and CEO Peter Daboll as its new Chief of Insights and Head of Global Market Research. The role involves drawing together all the Internet giant's internal and external data sources. More
GfK's first half sales rose 54.6% to Euros 534.4m and adjusted operating income was up 76.3% to Euros 63.8m. Organic sales growth was a healthy 6.2%, ahead of the industry as a whole. The company has also extended the contract of its CEO Professor Dr. Klaus L. Wübbenhorst to 2012, ahead of schedule. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has launched a new training and development programme aimed at broadening researchers' business and leadership skills. The schedule incorporates elements of the programme of the BMRA, which was absorbed into the MRS in April. More
UK panel operator and online research provider The iD Factor has recruited six new members of staff and relocated to new central London premises. It now shares a building with the other divisions of its parent group TMN plc, TMN Media and email ad agency EDR. More
BMRB has launched TGI Europa Elite, a survey identifying upmarket European consumers, using a sample of 40,000 adults across France, Germany, Great Britain and Spain. Separately, the firm has also announced a new version of its Compose channel planning tool. More
Second quarter results for online survey solutions provider Greenfield Online show net revenue down to $24.5m from $26.3m in Q2 2005, and operating income down to $3.7m (15.1% of revenue) from $4.5m (17.2%). However, the firm's 'turnaround' is said to be underway and some forecasts have been raised. More
Vision Critical, supplier and developer of customer advisory panels, has launched a panel of online healthcare information seekers, and has announced a partnership with Feldman Research Lab. More
Synovate has announced a restructure to reflect its recent growth. Smaller business unit groupings will replace the current regional structure; functions such as IT, HR and Operations will work more globally; and senior management will be grouped in more focused leadership teams. More
Three-year-old US analysis firm ClickStream Technologies has launched ClickSight(TM), promising software companies primary information on usage. Computer users opt in and install the technology, which then feeds back anonymous reports about their overall application usage. More
Audience measurement partners Ipsos and The Media Audit have announced the market rollout plan for their Smart Cell Phone system. If the method is selected by the radio industry, a full market test in Houston would be followed by launches in New York, LA and Chicago, with plans to roll out 12 markets in 2007. More
Michigan-based custom MR firm Gongos Research has moved into a custom-built office in Auburn Hills, reflecting rapid growth this year. At the same time, it has changed its name from Gongos and Associates, Inc. More
Indiana-based ad research firm ARSgroup has launched a suite of online solutions for brand assessment, ARS Impact(sm), designed to merge the best from current industry copy testing systems into one solution. More
VNU has named Michael Marchesano to lead its Project Forward business transformation program, a major three-year initiative to reduce costs and enhance its margins and competitive position. Five leaders for specific initiatives within the program have also been named. More
Nielsen Media Research has announced that cable service provider Insight Communications has signed up to its new NORA(TM) on-demand transactional reporting service, which began testing only this year. More
US provider MarketTools has announced a new market intelligence solution called Insight Networks, promising users the ability to build feedback from a variety of online resources, including message boards and blogs, into their insight strategy. More
Global top twenty agency Opinion Research Corporation has been bought by consumer and business database and marketing firm infoUSA Inc., for $12 per share in cash, valuing the research company at around $134.3 million, including the assumption of debt. More
GfK Group has acquired a majority stake in two custom MR businesses, Consumer Research China (66%) and Indian company Mode (51%). Total turnover for the two is expected to be around Euros 4.7m in 2006. More
Fresh from its purchase of Dubai-based Siraj, YouGov has announced plans to introduce a comprehensive brand indexing scheme for the Middle East region, based on the successful UK system. More
TNS has renewed its partnership with CNN and TIME magazine, supplying an up to the minute public opinion barometer on the issues of the day, from twelve Asia Pacific countries, via methods including its 6thdimension access panels. More
Brand development and consulting firm Icon Added Value (IAV), part of WPP's Kantar division, has relaunched its offering in South India and appointed Praveen Ramachandra, Business Services Director, as head of the region based in Bangalore. More
Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, has signed an agreement designating ACNielsen as its sole provider of consumer panel services, with the aim of tailoring its offer at an individual store level. ACNielsen already provides Wal-Mart with Spectra segmentation and targeting applications and insight. More
Greenfield Online Inc. and its European subsidiary Ciao have announced the establishment of an Indian panel. 24,000 panellists are already recruited and is planned to reach a target of 75,000 respondents by the end of the year. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) is to collaborate Media Rating Council (MRC) to produce a set of Click Measurement Guidelines. The Click Measurement Working Group will lay down the definition of a 'click', together with standards for their measurement and the exclusion of invalid and fraudulent clicks. More
NetRatings has announced results for the quarter ended June 30. Revenues were $19.9m, up 17% on Q2 2005. Net income for the quarter was $931,000, turning round a $2.3m net loss in Q2 2005. The company has also appointed Louise Ainsworth as MD of its European business. More
MR software and panel provider GMI has announced a worldwide restructuring, gearing up for further growth following its recent closing of $35 million in venture capital. The moves include senior promotions for Dr. Larry Schack in the US and Dietmar Walter in London, and a new Asian leadership team chaired by Tatt Chen. More
UK audience research body BARB has issued a Request for Proposals for measurement contracts for 2010 and beyond. The request highlights the need to measure 'all audiences to televisual services within the UK' – underlining BARB's interest in coverage of out-of-home viewing and new media. More
UK-based pollster and MR firm YouGov Plc has made its first international acquisition, buying Dubai's Siraj Marketing Research and Consultancy Boutique for approximately $2.2 million (DHS 8 million). The new firm will be known as YouGovSiraj. More
At an EGM on Friday, VNU changed its legal name, formally converted to a private company and welcomed new board members including Lord Hollick, following shareholder approval. Today the firm has named R. Ford Dallmeyer as the new legal chief for its MI Group. More
Digital TV and DVR pioneer TiVo Inc. has announced the creation of a research division, TiVo Audience Research and Measurement (ARM). TiVo ARM will offer advertisers and advertising agencies second-by-second data and analysis on DVR viewing of advertising content. More
ESOMAR has revealed top line results from its 2005 Global Market Research Report, showing global MR turnover up 4.3% to $23 billion in 2005, with Europe cornering 45% of the global market. Meanwhile, online research's share of data collection revenue has grown from 11% in 2004 to a staggering 20% in 2005. More
ACNielsen announced yesterday that it has formed a new global unit, ACNielsen Loyalty. The unit will be headed by Tom Markert, currently Senior VP and CMO of VNU MI and ACNielsen; and Laurence Michael, currently Senior VP, Global Retailer Services Marketing. More
In the UK Ray Poynter, MD of The Future Place, has launched a blog looking at the leading edge of innovation in Market Research. Poynter is a regular conference speaker and workshop leader and well known among online researchers. More
Arbitron has released audience data from Houston supporting its claim that its Portable People Meter (PPM) measurement device 'consistently captures more listeners to sporting events on radio, especially those with afternoon and early-evening start times'. More
The two MDs of Ciao, Max Cartellieri and Gunnar Piening, have resigned and will be replaced by Nicolas Metzke. Ciao's parent company, Greenfield Online, Inc. also announced that it will begin the formal separation of Ciao's two main businesses, Internet survey and comparison shopping operations. More
US-based IT and Telecommunications specialist Rockhopper Research has appointed Karl Buchholz as Director of Data Analytics, further enhancing its advanced analytics services. More
Mandy Pooler and Lucy Gill have joined Rosi Ware in charge of developing WPP's research division, Kantar. The two new arrivals replace Fiona McAnena, who has joined PepsiCo in a senior innovation role. More
TNS has today launched a Travellers' Panel, the fifth sub-panel of its 6thdimension service. The new panel provides access to 500,000 international respondents across 6thdimension's half dozen European countries. More
TNS has announced agreements with the two leading broadcasters in the Philippines, ABS-CBN and GMA, to set up a new PeopleMeter service in the country. A representative panel of 1200 households reporting their viewing daily from the beginning of next year. More
Maritz Research has opened a new survey center in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to support its expanding North American business and its Toronto office. The decision should bring over 300 jobs to the area, mostly conducting customer satisfaction interviews. More
US-based firms Interpret LLC and IGA Worldwide, Inc. have announced what they claim is the first independent ratings system for in-game advertising. IGA Worldwide's in-game ad network will be measured by Interpret's proprietary third-party measurement currency, Gameasure. More
Audience specialist Arbitron has announced results for the second quarter of the year, ended June 30, with revenue of $74.2m, up 6.2% versus the same period in 2005. However, costs and expenses for the second quarter increased sharply - by 21.4% from $55.4m in Q2 2005 to $67.3m. More
Ipsos Insight, the global group's flagship US division, has unveiled a new tool, Innotrack, which measures how well a new product has performed in the market versus expectations. The process includes identification of consumer motivations and deterrents to trial and repeat. More
Rich media presentations specialist Brainshark, Inc. has announced a tie-in with online survey firm Zoomerang to deliver voice-enabled, feature-rich surveys. 'Brainshark Express for Zoomerang' promises users the ability to easily embed a survey within a presentation or online course. More
Online MR software specialist FIRM has announced second quarter revenues up 31% on the year. Sales totalled US $4.6m in the second quarter of 2006 compared to $3.5m in Q2 2005. More
Indian-based MR support firm Dexterity KPO Services has boosted its Business Analysts team with the appointment of two former Frost & Sullivan analysts, Sankara Jambulingam and Poornima Vijayan. More
SSI Asia, Survey Sampling's Pan Asia operation hub, has announced that it will officially launch the company's Beijing office in August. The office will provide Internet and telephone sample and project management, and build a broad panel community for Pan Asian survey research. More
In the US, the Marketing Research Association (MRA) has announced the recent installation of Merrill Shugoll as President for the 2006-07 term, which will include celebrations for the association's 50th Anniversary, at its Annual Conference in San Francisco in June 2007. More
Online fieldwork specialist Research Now has announced the launch of a sub-panel screener creating a detailed automotive profile for 900,000 selected consumer panel members. The screener has been designed to be used in a consistent manner across the five biggest European markets. More
In the UK, the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has launched cross-media research with Carat Insight to measure the effectiveness of different media in encouraging consumers' engagement with automotive brands. More
Nielsen Outdoor has this week announced the support of Publicis Groupe Media for its GPS based ratings service measuring outdoor advertising in Los Angeles. Publicis includes brand communications group Starcom MediaVest and advertising giant ZenithOptimedia. More
US research provider Invoke Solutions has launched an online portal, 'MyInvoke', giving the company's research agency partners direct control over designing, delivering and executing research project work. More
Research International is to move its London office south of the Thames from its long-established home in Grosvenor Place SW1. The new location is off Tooley Street, near London Bridge. More
Independent European online agency MetrixLab has acquired London-based QuickWise Ltd, a specialist in high quality ad hoc brand research. More
The worldwide qualitative fieldwork market passed the equivalent of half a million focus group sessions for the first time in 2005 according to the Focus Group Index 2005, compiled by FocusVision Worldwide. The firm says that around $2.44 billion was spent on groups and depths. More
Global fieldwork agency Medefield has completed the first stage of an aggressive expansion in its UK-based fieldwork and operations group. Meanwhile Synovate Healthcare has announced the launch of online physician panels in key Asian markets. More
Ipsos MORI has become the first agency to be awarded the new international process Standard ISO 20252, within two months of the standard's launch. More
Synovate has hired Stephen von Bevern as Vice President of Online Data Collection. The move will support the growth of ViewsNet, the company's online and panel division. More
Synovate has announced an expansion of its media research services and the promotion of Asia Pacific boss Steve Garton to lead a new global group, based in London. In addition, Craig Harvey joins from Publicis as Director, Media Research - Asia Pacific. More
TNS' UK share price looks more stable today after a dramatic fall on Thursday and Friday last week. The drop followed a warning on full year operating margin and comments by Chief Executive David Lowden, who blamed problems on the 'unacceptable' performance of the American custom business. More
FDS has joined the International Research InstituteS (IriS), a worldwide network of independent research suppliers, as its UK member, replacing MORI. IriS members have a turnover of €200 million and are in more than 30 countries worldwide. More
The USA's Direct Marketing Association has announced that it will begin to phase out its Telephone Preference Service, following the rise of Do Not Call. The TPS service, introduced in 1985, was created so that people could opt out of receiving telemarketing calls. More
TNS has formally recognised the success of its Conversion Model(TM) business tool by giving it its own Global Centre of Excellence, with an operational hub in Cape Town. The Model played a part in projects bringing TNS over US$120 million in revenue in 2005. More
M/A/R/C Research has announced that Paul Kirch has recently joined as Director of Client Development for Online Survey Solution, a separate operating unit of the company. He will be responsible for selling online data collection services to MR firms and consultants. More
US MR supplier Knowledge Networks has named Simon Kooyman as its new CEO. Kooyman is a former leader of Ipsos North America and also held key leadership positions at VNU. He succeeds John Lewis, who left in December 2005 to become President and CEO of AC Nielsen USA. More
European online fieldwork agency Research Now has announced that its proprietary online consumer research panels are now available in the Nordic region. Alex Sunnerstam will lead the team, supported by Victor Bergh who joins from Lightspeed Research. More
A stellar line-up of North American and Global MR chiefs will gather in Chicago on September 28-29 to discuss ways of improving respondent co-operation, and to formulate an action plan. More
GfK has announced a co-operation agreement with media analysis software provider DAP Systems. The deal will help GfK to develop and market audience research software for the international market, based around its forthcoming Evogenius system. More
UK online marketing specialist themutual.net plc has announced results for the year ending April 30 2006, including a trebling of its annual turnover to £9m and operating profit more than doubled to £1.70m. The group is the parent of online fieldwork agency the idFactor. More
Unica Corporation has announced that it has settled a dispute with online measurement company NetRatings, inherited when the former acquired technology company Sane Solutions on March 22 this year. Unica will license a number of NetRatings' patents on a non-exclusive basis for a one-time fee of $1.5 million. More
TNS has announced a major expansion of its FMCG consumer tracking Worldpanel service in the Republic of Ireland, from 1,350 households to 3,000 by August 2008, along with the launch of a new data delivery platform. More
US-based panels and software specialist Global Market Insite (GMI) has announced the hiring of fifteen new staff this month. They include David Chichester as Interim Chief Financial Officer, Matt Gore as Programme Management Director and Darren Magot as Sales Director LA. More
The Dallas based Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) has this week announced that it has reached a new milestone with 50,000 silver and gold certifications awarded to mystery shoppers. More
One year after the acquisition of NOP World, GfK held its AGM today and reported healthy business growth in the first quarter of 2006. Dividend payments increased once again and revenue rose sharply as have orders for 2006 to date. More
Research International has appointed Logic Market Research as its Associate in Egypt, with the aim of strengthening its network in Africa. More
Mobile phone and mobile data markets continue to expand and diversify, giving rise to a large number of published reports and top line results releases. Here DRNO covers a few, from cellphone feature requirements to MR opportunities, to the challenges facing corporate Blackberry managers. More
European agency SKOPOS has opened an office in South Africa, based in the Johannesburg/Pretoria area. Susanne Reese, previously head of the company's field and tab offering SOS Bureau UK is named as its Director. More
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Quepasa.com, an online community of Hispanic and Latino users, has launched a research wing, Quepasa Market Intelligence (QMI), to give clients panel-style access to the opinions and preferences of its community of users. More
Online panel specialist Ciao has announced the opening of a new base of operations in Sydney, on July 3; and has appointed Chris Herbert, formerly Business Group Director at GfK Australia, as its Research Director and David Fernandez as its Director of Client Development. More
European online fieldwork provider and panel specialist Research Now has announced its Interim results for the half year to 30 April 2006. Sales nearly trebled, profit before tax doubled and operating profit has already passed the figure for the preceding twelve months. More
Edinburgh-based user experience consultancy User Vision has introduced new 'eye tracking' technology to help with its evaluation of web site and product usability and accessibility. More
US provider Simmons Research has announced the launch of an online group, which will link custom online research with its National Consumer Study (NCS) and other data from parent company Experian. More
UK research agency FDS has been acquired along with sister company acefieldwork, by a new company, Munro Global Limited. Financing comes from venture capital partner Electra Kingsway and a management buy-in team, with Charlotte Cornish and Richard Hepburn as the new MD and CEO respectively. More
Gregg Peterson, formerly Executive VP at Millward Brown, has joined Indian MR outsourcing company Ugam Solutions, with the same title. Peterson will be responsible for building and managing the company's international operations capabilities. More
Texas-based VC firm Austin Ventures has acquired and will merge two leading online survey software firms: Perseus Development Corporation and WebSurveyor. Former Greenfield Online CEO Dean Wiltse becomes Chairman and CEO of the combined entity. More
Mobile measurement firm M:Metrics has responded to the filing of a lawsuit against it by Telephia, Inc, last week, calling its case 'totally without merit'. Telephia alleges patent infringement in connection with the development and distribution of smartphone metering software. More
Arbitron has announced an increase in the sample size for its RADAR network radio ratings service from 100,000 to 125,000 diarykeepers. Linked to this, the firm's Market by Market Reporting tool will expand its coverage from the top 25 to the top 50 DMAs by September. More
Following Nielsen Media Research's TV ratings announcement yesterday, sister company NetRatings has announced the expansion of its Internet measurement capabilities to address the growth of online audio and video content as well as the convergence of Internet and television content. More
Nielsen Media Research has announced that it will provide integrated, all-electronic ratings for television regardless of the platform on which it is viewed, under the 'Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement' initiative (A2/M2). More
Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) in India will soon overtake IT-related Business Process Outsourcing as a revenue source, according to comments by a leading figure in the country's outsourcing industry. MR processes form a major component of KPO. More
Audience measurement firm Arbitron has announced the signing of multi-year agreements with four of the USA's largest radio groups for its Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings service. However, the PPM's launch in its first market, Houston, will reportedly be delayed after it failed to get accreditation from industry body the MRC. More
Global online provider Lightspeed Research is offering researchers more effective access to children (under 12) and young people (ages 13-17) online, using a new pre-approved system. The company secures parents'/guardians' permission and works to ESOMAR and COPPA guidelines. More
Online agency RSM is once again running its annual 'State of the Industry' survey of UK research professionals, with fieldwork for the fifth wave underway. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has issued a Call for Contributors for its 50th Anniversary Conference in Brighton next year, also announcing that the event will be its first to claim 'carbon neutral' status. More
Research Now has announced the appointment of Charles Pearson, formerly VP at Greenfield Online, as Senior VP, Business Development. Pearson will relocate from San Francisco to London, for a role which includes bringing top US techniques to Europe, and building North American business for the European-based online agency. More
VNU and Valcon announced yesterday that the consortium now has more than 97% of shares in the MR and media giant, and confirmed that the process of delisting and of 'squeeze-out' of remaining shareholders will proceed. More
Harris Interactive has announced a reorganisation of its UK operations including the closing of facilities in Macclesfield and Stockport, and the loss of between ten and fifteen jobs. The company also announced the resignation of its UK Managing Director Aled Morris. More
Britain's terrestrial TV broadcasters have selected TNS to recruit and monitor a panel of 450 households to trial the latest High Definition (HD) technology on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services. More
Application developer Embrace Mobile has debuted MSurvey, a new mobile survey application, at the Online Marketing Show in London. The technology promises researchers data collection on the spot, at the time of the customer experience. More
ABI Research has added RFID analyst Michael Liard to its team studying the booming retail technology. He joins from Venture Development Corp (VDC), where he was practice director for RFID/Automatic Identification. More
Online panel and software company GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) announced today that it has raised a further $35m to fund its expansion, leaving it 'well-positioned to reinvent the market research industry' according to Chairman and CEO Rob Monster. More
Cincinnati-based Marketing Research Services Inc. (MRSI) has added online concept screening and testing services ConScan(SM) and ConSelect(SM) to its PRISM® system for product development. More
European online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has appointed Marc Smaluhn as Managing Director for Central Europe. Smaluhn was previously VP Client Development Europe at rival provider Ciao. More
UK agency ORC International has launched OmniPanel, an opinion panel to track consumer usage patterns, behaviours, preferences and buying intentions in the mobile telecoms industry. More
US-based online researcher InsightExpress has appointed Michael Tsavaris as VP, Chief Financial Officer. Tsavaris was the company's VP of Finance once before, when it was newly launched and part of NFO. He leaves TNS where he had been CFO for the Global Healthcare Sector since 2004. More
Research International has appointed Julian Bond as CEO of its UK company, effective from tomorrow (June 1st). Bond has until now been Global MD of the firm's Marketing Science Group and is already a Group Board Director. More
Online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has opened an office in Melbourne, Australia, and appointed Brad Wilson to lead it. The firm already has an office in Sydney, and an Australian research-only panel giving access to over 100,000 household members. More
Janet Eden-Harris, formerly Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer for Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has joined Umbria, Inc., a company analysing the content of Consumer Generated Media (CGM), as Chief Executive. More
The Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) has elected its first Board of Directors, with researchers well-represented. They include Laurent Flores, CEO of crmmetrix; Ed Keller, CEO of The Keller Fay Group; and Pete Blackshaw, CMO of Nielsen BuzzMetrics. More
TNS is to launch its 6thdimension online access panels in Malaysia and Thailand. The panels, which will be introduced in August and September this year, will cover the major cities in each country. More
In the US, Telephia has announced the launch of a mobile television user panel. This longitudinal research panel will provide the mobile industry with detailed measurement of attitudes and behavior among the rapidly growing mobile TV audience. More
Global ratings supplier AGB Nielsen is adding rural viewers to its Chinese TV audience service, reports the Financial Times. The move should help it to compete with rival firm CSM Media Research, and reflects growing purchasing power outside the cities. More
Ed Keller, CEO of the Keller Fay Group and author of 'The Influentials', has joined the board of word-of-mouth specialist Bazaarvoice Inc. More
The Operations Centre, Kantar's combined ops service organisation for its various research companies, has changed its name to Kantar Operations with immediate effect. Meanwhile Fieldwork International, the field division of the Synovate Healthcare, has unveiled a complete global re-brand. More
US consultancy Anderson Analytics has launched AA-Projective, a tool which combines psychoanalytic projective techniques from the social sciences with the latest text mining capabilities to allow clients to probe the subconscious motives of customers. More
RAJAR has awarded contracts to Ipsos MORI, RSMB and TNS covering radio audience measurement for two years starting January 2007. Ipsos MORI will continue to operate the core survey with a redesigned diary, while TNS will trial a PPM-based electronic measurement panel in London, providing both radio data for RAJAR and TV for co-sponsor BARB. More
Private equity consortium Valcon has declared its offer for VNU unconditional, and intends to take the group private as soon as possible. Only 78.7% of VNU's share capital was tendered or committed by the deadline last Friday, missing even the revised target of 80% set just over two weeks ago. More
VNU's acquisition by the Valcon consortium looks likely to go ahead after Knight Vinke Asset Management (KVAM), hitherto the loudest opponent of the deal, said it would tender its shares at the new bid price, before the deadline for acceptance passed this afternoon. More
CBS Radio has agreed a seven year deal with Arbitron for Portable People Meter (PPM) radio ratings. The deal will take effect once the new technology is deployed in the 35 CBS Radio markets in Arbitron's PPM rollout plan. More
TNS has announced its withdrawal from the LAA-JIC tender for TV audience measurement in Latvia, criticising the process which it says is not 'transparent, open and fair'. Terms included in the tender could compromise the business interests of its existing clients, the firm says. The tender covers 2007-12. More
Synovate is planning further acquisitions, with Internet panel companies and analytics & modelling specialists among the possible targets. Global CEO Adrian Chedore talks exclusively to DRNO about buying companies, keeping people, and how a fast-growing top ten agency can stay 'small'. More
Synovate Healthcare has announced the extension of its Tandem Global Oncology Monitor into China, Korea and Australia. The Monitor is already established in Japan. More
American consumers mention specific brands, on average, 56 times in their week's conversation, according to new findings from The Keller Fay Group. Perhaps surprisingly, nearly two-thirds (62%) of it is positive, and less than 1 in 10 conversations feature negative discussion of products. More
Nielsen Entertainment has announced the building of a mobile phone panel, as well as an agreement with two other firms to launch a mobile phone-based consumer opinion survey service. More
Ipsos has announced revenues of Euros 188 million for the first quarter of 2006, a 31% increase on the first quarter of 2005. This represents the company's strongest quarterly growth in the past five years – and it includes organic growth of just over 9%. More
The final year's figures from the outgoing British Market Research Association (BMRA) reveal that overall industry revenues grew by just 2.5% in 2005 to a value of £1.32 billion, delivering at best a flat year against inflation. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society has just unveiled six new awards, which are to join the line-up for the Research Excellence & Effectiveness Awards 2006. More
European online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has launched three online panels in Eastern Europe. The panels in Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic are all stand-alone, locally recruited propositions, with their own local country incentive choices. More
GfK will switch to new metering technology for its German TV research contract, from mid-2007 onwards. The AGF, an organisation representing 4 major TV stations, commissioned the replacement in order to cope with technological changes in viewing. As a result the value of the deal has risen to around Euros 100m. More
Panel provider Greenfield Online has announced results for the first quarter (Q1) of 2006, ending March 31. The results show the beginnings of 'tangible results from our turnaround efforts' according to President and CEO Albert Angrisani - but also 'a considerable amount of hard work in front of us, particularly in North America'. More
B2B direct marketing firm DM2-DecisionMaker, part of Reed Business Information, has announced it will work with Harris Interactive's Service Bureau division (HISB), to develop online panels of expert decision makers. More
Australian consultancy The Leading Edge (TLE) has developed a blueprint for the use of mobile phone blogging in research. TLE says the method will result in 'in the moment' consumer insights 'as they occur'. More
Harris Interactive has announced results for its fiscal third quarter 2006, ended March 31. Total revenue was $52.2m, up 3% on the same period a year previously. Strong US growth of 9% (revenue now $42.4m) was counterbalanced by poor figures for Europe, where revenue was down by $2.0m / 17% to $9.8m ($0.8m due to exchange rates). More
Media intelligence solutions firm Video Monitoring Services (VMS) has announced an agreement with Nielsen Media Research's Monitor-Plus division, which will supply it with near-real time, automated identification of breaking television commercials. More
New approaches in market research are rewriting the rules of engagement with respondents, according to Angus Reid, Chief Executive of Vision Critical and perhaps Canada's best known pollster. Reid will address the forthcoming MRIA Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta. More
Data solutions company Datascension has started work on its new state-of-the-art facility in San Jose, Costa Rica. The site will contain around 700 new interviewing, training and management support stations. More
Synovate has announced the rapid expansion of its global opinion panels across Europe and in the Asia Pacific region; and has appointed Emiel van Wegen and Shaun Griffin to help guide the process. More
More than US$1.2 billion was spent on online research in 2005, according to last month's issue of 'Alert!' magazine, published by the Marketing Research Association (MRA) in the USA. More
MR panels and software company GMI has added a youth panel to its range of offerings. In partnership with several companies including kids' web giant Neopets.com, the panel promises 'one of the most highly profiled sources of youth sample on the web'. More
US firms InsightExpress and Marketing Evolution have launched ADI Plus, an online advertising measurement platform. The system links together creative testing, online campaign tracking, campaign reach and frequency reporting and market mix model input. More
UK-based agency Nunwood has launched a 'Project Operations web portal' designed for use solely by its external supervisors and interviewers. More
Another partnership announcement on two well-worn recent DRNO themes, word of mouth (WOM) marketing, and web analytics. WOM marketing specialist Bazaarvoice has announced partnerships with all four of the leading web analytics firms: Coremetrics, Omniture, WebSideStory, and WebTrends. More
Over 50 research specialists and consumer insight managers from top agencies and retailers recently met at the IPA headquarters in London to discuss how using video can modernise market research methodologies and make data more easily accessible. More
Research providers Online Testing eXchange (OTX) and Market China, Inc. (MCI) have announced they will collaborate to offer surveys via 120,000+ Internet cafes in urban and suburban areas throughout mainland China. More
Online competitive intelligence service Hitwise has announced an upgrade to its online audience targeting system, Lifestyle V2.0. The new release promises marketers easier identification of top performing and niche sites that attract their most desirable customers, as well as faster visitor profiling. More
Ethnographer and MR columnist Hy Mariampolski and his co-MD Sharon Wolf, of QualiData Research Inc., are featured in a book of 'Unusual Occupations' just published in the US. A taxidermist and an expert in dinosaur dung also feature. More
In the USA, The Council for Research Excellence has announced that it will soon begin its first detailed study into one of the fundamentals of television audience measurement – the quality of the research samples from which the ratings are drawn. More
Arbitron has announced first quarter results for the three months ended March 31st, showing that revenues increased by 7.4% to US$85.1 million. Net income for the quarter fell by 8.3% to US$18.2 million. More
Pharmaceutical information giant IMS Health has announced a strong start to the year reporting first-quarter 2006 revenues of US$446.2 million, up 9% on the previous year. More
Britain's ICM group of companies has been acquired by Creston PLC, already the owner of MR agencies Marketing Sciences, CML and MSTS, for a maximum consideration of £37.2 million. The group includes ICM Research, ICM Direct and Fieldwork UK. More
Online survey software specialist FIRM has launched a new complementary online analysis and insight collaborative platform, Confirmit Rapid Results, for users of its flagship Confirmit product. More
In the US, Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI) has announced an experimental research program to assess the gathering of a new kind of readership data. A weekly web-based consumer survey will attempt to gauge how quickly specific issues of magazines accumulate their audiences. More
BIG, the UK's association for b2b research professionals, is gearing up for 4 weeks of activity with its AGM, a comprehensive review of b2b panel providers, and the annual Conference all scheduled. More
Survey Sampling International has appointed Pete Cape, founder of TNS Interactive, to head up a new unit to be known as the Knowledge Department, Internet Sampling. In addition, the company is to open its first Asia Pacific office, in China, and has made two key hires for it. More
In the USA, The Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) has hired Christopher S. Lee as its new Director of Government Affairs and Counsel. Lee will co-ordinate the profession's policies and objectives regarding Federal and State government affairs. More
In the USA, Invoke Solutions and EMERGE International have teamed up to deliver a new assessment tool to measure the health of an organisation's culture. The product, called CHI LIVE, uses Invoke's real-time research platform and EMERGE's Cultural Health Indicator (CHI) methodology. More
European online specialist Research Now has opened an office in Paris – its first in France – and recruited a new executive team for it, led by Jean-Luc Daurelle and Emmanuel Probst. More
Media owner Frank S. Maggio has set launch dates and ambitious targets for his interactive television company ReacTV. Maggio's erinMedia, a challenger to Nielsen Media Research, will provide advertisers with its own second-by-second TV viewing data, plus web ratings from NY-based 24/7. More
MR sampling solutions provider Centurion Marketing Systems has released a new version of its sampling tool, MARSC. Enhanced features improve respondent targeting and give new panel management options. More
Broadband entertainment and comms firm Charter Communications, Inc. has entered an agreement with TNS Media Research, to launch a video audience measurement service in the Los Angeles area. More
UK-based research buyers want agencies to understand and help ease the pressures they are under from internal clients, according to a survey for the latest MRWho. Many are still making scant use of online data collection, and those that are face new challenges finding time to be thoughtful in much-reduced project timetables. More
The Australian Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts has given the go-ahead for a national Do Not Call Register similar to that in operation in the US. Senator the Hon Helen Coonan said the scheme would protect consumers from nuisance telemarketing phone calls. 'Legitimate' MR calls will be among a number of exempt categories. More
AIM-listed online MR company ToLuna has reported results for the year 2005. The figures suggest that like YouGov (see today's news), ToLuna has seen revenues almost treble during the year. More
Harris Interactive has hired Richard Goosey as Senior VP, Marketing Science and Methodology. Based in London, he will lead the firm's Knowledge and Advanced Methodologies teams in Europe. More
Synovate India has recruited Sarabjit Singh, previously of DHL Worldwide Australia, as an Associate Director. At DHL, Singh was responsible for research and planning for the Oceania region. More
Pulse Group has announced that is has established an online panel of approximately 245,000 members in India. With the rise of Internet use in India, recruitment drives have been carried out to encourage Indian web surfers to actively participate in online surveys. More
Just a week after the return of Robert Knapp to the MR scene, Dean Wiltse, former CEO of Greenfield Online, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of online consumer education company Powered. Both men left on the back of disappointing results at their online firms last year, albeit with very different histories. More
Dallas-based Kinesis Survey Technologies has announced the incorporation of new multimedia features into its Web-based survey software offering, and the appointment of Jason Ehler-James, previously of Millward Brown as Senior Account Executive. More
Australia and Asia-based research process outsourcing company Pulse Group has hired several new executives to boost its project management team and support an expanding client base, with entry into China planned. More
Information services giant Experian, which owns MR businesses including Simmons Research and Vente in the US and FootFall Ltd and The Future Foundation in Europe, is likely to be demerged from parent GUS plc under plans unveiled today. More
Papers on online research generally draw good audiences, and the session on Friday afternoon was no exception. Despite the difficulty of finding the theatre and the sessions being held in complete darkness, a capacity audience attended, according to our reporter Phyllis Vangelder. More
Two of Synovate's senior executives have announced their retirement. Bill Pegram and Laurence Curtis, both well known figures in the industry, will be leaving in the next few months. More
The papers in this third Friday morning session were particularly interesting: they looked beyond the techniques of market research, applying them in different societal contexts. Our Conference reporter Phyllis Vangelder brings you the highlights. More
The former head of Arbitron's radio group services unit, Les Tolchin, is to work with its competitor The Media Audit. Tolchin's Doneraile International consultancy will assist the firm, which says it is talking to 'lots' of other potential senior hires, as it gears up its electronic media ratings offer. More
The IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) in the UK has just revealed the results of its groundbreaking TouchPoints Survey: a week in the life of a representative sample of the GB adult population during the latter part of 2005. More
TNS has agreed a five year contract with the Kazakhstan television Joint Industry Committee (JIC) to provide trading currency TV audience measurement using Arbitron's PPM system. More
Incepta Marketing Intelligence, the MR group which includes Citigate DVL Smith and Hauck Research, has been rebranded as Illuminas. The company was bought by Media Square Group from Huntsworth Plc last November. More
The UK's Independent Consultants Group (ICG) has relaunched its web site. The new-look site offers an enhanced 'Find A Consultant' feature helping MR buyers and suppliers to locate specialists from among the ICG's 250 plus members. More
Arbitron has announced new signings for its radio measurement device the PPM, as rumours suggest two more major corporations may join Project Apollo, its joint venture with ACNielsen. Meanwhile the ARF's Annual Conference has been told that the media industry 'needs to work cooperatively to provide advertisers with effective research' in the face of the media explosion. More
US provider Return Path, Inc. has changed the name of its Market Research Solutions division from Survey Direct to Authentic Response. The new name stresses its commitment on the controversial question of validating panelists before allowing participation in online surveys. More
Investment company Dacke Group Nordic AB has acquired quant fieldwork specialist Hermelin Nordic Research. Dacke specialises in acquiring and developing companies within the Nordic marketing communications industry and is listed on the Stockholm stock exchange. More
Robert Philpott, CEO for Synovate Americas, has added the post of Global COO to his current responsibilities. He will now oversee all of the company's business unit profitability, business systems and processes, as well as quality control. More
CMOR, the US association acting as an advocate for survey research, has announced the appointment of Patrick Glaser as the new Director of Respondent Cooperation, responsible for efforts to strengthen respondent relations. More
Media investment manager MindShare and research BPO company Pulse Group are joining forces to launch mPulse, a Pan-Asian online research panel study to provide insights into Asian consumer and media behaviour. More
US panels and software firm GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) has opened new offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta, and announced two appointments to support them. Thyra Lees-Smith joins as Sales Director for the L.A. area and Barry Morsillo for the Southeast Region, based in Atlanta. More
Custom business research specialist FIND/SVP, Inc. is changing its name to Guideline. The change reflects a shift of emphasis, integrating the secondary research in which it made its name with a growing portfolio of primary research services. More
Arbitron has announced that it will begin the rollout of the Portable People Meter (PPM) system as its radio ratings service in the top 50 markets, beginning with Houston in July 2006. More
Surprise - researchers at the drinks 'n' donuts giant are not obsessed with coffee wars and dietary health. They set their own agenda, and it's creative to say the least. Paying loyal customers not to use your stores? Regina Lewis, Ph.D, VP of the Consumer and Brand Insights Group, talks in the latest MRWho. More
Forget e-bay (just for a while?) - this year's auction for the UK research workers' charity, the MRBA, is being held online. Lots range from a new Apple iPod nano and a 'framed painting of a nude torso' to a week in a holiday home in Port Charles Coromandel, New Zealand. Bidding stays open until 2pm on Friday 24th March. More
MR software company FIRM and US-based consultancy The NPD Group have announced a partnership to develop a new panel management and sample selection platform. The move, described by FIRM's CTO as 'sure to change the entire MR industry', reflects researchers' fast-growing use of external panel providers. More
US radio measurement service Nielsen Monitor-Plus has announced a major increase in its spot radio coverage, to almost 60% of all radio advertising spending. The company now monitors radio in the top 39 markets, up from 26 markets last year. More
Two of VNU's major shareholders could scupper the US$10.3 billion private equity buyout backed by the group's Board earlier this week. Fund manager Fidelity International, which owns 15% of VNU, said it was 'unlikely to support this offer', while FT reports suggest 2% holder KVAM is 'actively looking' for a Chief Executive to run VNU. More
US research provider Schlesinger Associates has added two viewing facilities in London to the twelve it already operates in the US, via the purchase of UK firm The Research House Ltd. More
Experian has this week announced the launch of Mosaic Japan, the company's latest consumer classification solution. The system classifies every Japanese household according to 11 main groups and 50 different socio-economic types. More
In the USA, the Federal Trade Commission this week announced its decision to retain unchanged the Rule which implements the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Among other areas, the Rule affects the collection of data from children. More
VNU, parent of ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research, has announced that it has agreed to a public offer from a private-equity consortium including AlpInvest Partners, valuing the company's equity at approximately EUR 7.5 bn in cash, or EUR 28.75 per common share. The option of breaking the company up has been rejected. More
VNU has announced 'better-than-expected results' for 2005. The Media Measurement & Information division (MMI) showed 11% organic growth, led by a strong Nielsen Media Research (NMR). Group-wide, organic growth was only 5%. VNU says favourable settlement of tax audits 'more than offset' the $55m cost of the recent IRI settlement. More
MR software company FIRM has announced plans to launch Confirmit Kiosk, a new module of Confirmit which it says will 'revolutionize market research activities such as mall interviewing and onsite product testing'. More
Ipsos has announced a number of senior promotions in its growing Western Business Unit in Canada. Promotions include Steve Mossop to President, Market Research Canada West, and Tim Olafson to President, Ipsos Observer. More
Online data collection specialist Ciao, the European subsidiary of Greenfield Online Inc., has announced the completion of a major reorganization of its Client Service Department. Around 40 project managers, translators, DP and survey scripting staff have been hired, and a shift system provides client service 16 hours a day. More
An MR outsourcing provider will appear in FORTUNE magazine as one of the outsourcing industry's top 100 providers. Indian-based Cross-Tab Marketing Services made the 'rising star' category in the ranking, compiled by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP). More
TNS has announced results for the year ended 31 December 2005. Revenue is up 5.7% (adjusted 4.1%) to £999.0m and adjusted operating profit up 9.5% to £112.6m. Strong growth across syndicated services and in custom business in continental Europe and emerging markets contrasted with 'challenging conditions' in the US and UK. More
Connecticut based Survey Sampling International (SSI) has announced two major appointments designed to support the company's worldwide expansion. Peter Milla joins as Chief Information Officer and Michael Newman as VP, Business Development. Both appointments are effective from March 7th. More
In the UK, GfK NOP Media has been appointed as ITV's research partner to run its new online panel, ITV Vision, for an initial contract of 2 years from April 2006. The panel will enable ITV to measure audience reaction to its programmes within 36 hours of broadcast. More
Nielsen Media Research has declined its option to work with Arbitron in developing the latter's PPM technology as the primary measurement tool for US media ratings currency. Nielsen has spent millions of dollars on assessing the technology since signing an agreement in 2000, but will now pursue a multi-stranded 'portfolio strategy'. More
Simon Lidington is the new Chairman of the UK's Market Research Society (MRS). Lidington, UK CEO of Research International until last November and now at The Insight Exchange, beat off a strong challenge from Age Concern's Leslie Sopp by 35 votes. More
UK regulator Ofcom has announced the implementation of new measures designed to strengthen consumer protection from silent telephone calls. Most such calls are not generated with malicious intent but occur when call centres using automated calling systems generate more calls than their available agents can deal with. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) and comScore Networks have announced they will work together to offer clients improved product and advertising testing. The offer will combine IRI's BehaviorScan(R) in-market testing solution and comScore's advanced MR and targeting capabilities. More
TargetN Research LLC has launched a 'Notification Tool' (TNT(TM)) which it claims will be 'of special interest to market research firms as an alternative distribution channel to reach their survey panels'. The company says spam filters and ISP restrictions on bulk emails make email 'increasingly dysfunctional' as a means of reaching survey panels. More
UK research and TV production company Vox Pops International is to broadcast a series of three research video programmes on television, in association with Information TV Ltd. The programmes, aimed at bringing video MR to a wider audience, include interviews about finance with Over 50s and Young Professionals. More
Massachusetts-based data analysis and MR firm DataMind Research, LLC has announced a strategic partnership with Bloomfield, CT-based PERT Survey Research. PERT has taken an equity stake in DataMind, which will use PERT's field services to conduct its EVA studies. More
Online consumer-generated media tracker BuzzMetrics, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Intelliseek, and appointed around a dozen key executives. The integration of the two firms is backed by BuzzMetrics owner VNU, and results in the launch of Nielsen BuzzMetrics. More
RAJAR, the UK's radio audience research body, has given an initial thumbs up to the Smart Cell Phone technology developed by Ipsos in collaboration with The Media Audit in the USA, clearing the way for it to join Eurisko and Arbitron meters in ongoing trials. More
London-based agency SPA has launched a new qualitative research approach called Lifestyle Tours, aimed at giving clients a broader understanding of a range of lifestyle issues for a given target audience. The service is offered on a syndicated basis. More
The membership of the British Market Research Association (BMRA) has voted in favour of proposals to integrate its services into the Market Research Society (MRS), with effect from April 2006. The BMRA will cease to exist as of April Fools' Day. More
UK agency Quaestor has created a new Board position, Operations Director, to head up and oversee the development of teams including CATI, DP, Field and IT. Steve Hulmes will add the role to his existing job as MD of sister company Broadnet. More
VNU and IRI have settled their ten-year antitrust case, with VNU agreeing to pay IRI US$55m. The case was recently valued at around $650m but was on appeal following judgement in favor of VNU and its co-defendants. Both sides appear to have preferred the settlement to the possibility of the case rumbling on for a number of years more. More
Amsterdam-based research agency INTERVIEW NSS increased its turnover by 17% in 2005 to more than 18m Euros, and EBIT to more than 1.9m Euros. This is the third year of growth above the market average for the firm, which runs the high profile European Media & Marketing Survey (EMS). More
US-based agency Global Market Insite (GMI) has announced plans for a major expansion of its Vancouver-based technology headquarters in the next six months, due to increasing demand for MR software solutions. More
The company at the heart of the machine is trying harder to get into the heads of its users. In the latest MRWho, MrWeb's Michael Kenyon talked to Ken Anderson, Manager of People and Practice Research at Intel and one of the company's small but growing band of ethnographers. More
From next year, Nielsen Media Research will include the viewing of college students living away from home in its national television ratings. The addition is likely to increase ratings for young adult viewing by as much as 12%. More
US-based Venture2 is offering marketers the opportunity to attend parties at the homes of wealthy Florida families - all in the name of research. The parties, part of the Exclusive Luxury Market Study, are designed to provide a glimpse into the lives, opinions and desires of luxury consumers. More
A group of VNU shareholders is pressing the Dutch company to break itself into three divisions and sell each separately rather than agree to the proposed 7.3bn Euro buyout deal with private-equity firms, according to reports today in the Wall Street Journal. More
Research International has appointed Sonia Bueno, formerly of ACNielsen and IBOPE, as the company's CEO in Brazil and Latin America. More
Synovate has appointed Joel Rubinson, formerly of the NPD Group and Vivaldi Partners, as General Manager of its Americas Solutions team. The role involves overseeing solutions such as BrandVision, AdCheck and ViewsCast, as well as managing the Decision Systems team. More
Greenfield Online and its European subsidiary, Ciao, have established native-language MR panels in Japan, South Korea and China. The news follows Friday's announcement of disappointing financial results for Greenfield, particularly in North America. More
TGI, BMRB's continuous survey of the UK population, is introducing 'word of mouth' questions to help marketers make the most of viral marketing, by enabling them to target and understand the most influential and knowledgeable consumers. More
Survey Sampling International (SSI) is introducing Australia Random Digit (RDD) telephone samples to provide Australian researchers with easy access to a comprehensive telephone sampling frame. The samples are designed to provide fewer diallings and faster survey completion. More
London-based online survey provider Demographix Ltd has joined forces with Telmar, a supplier of media information services and software, to offer Telmar-Demographix - an online survey tool for media companies. More
Knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) firm exëvo, has invested more than $0.5m in new MR tools and technologies for its Delhi-based research facility. The investment covers analysis and data processing tools; in-house survey designing and programming solutions with multi-lingual capabilities; and a project management tool. More
Greenfield Online President Albert Angrisani has described the company's financial performance in 2005 as 'not acceptable', particularly in North America. He says the figures, which show an operating loss of $88.6m in the last quarter, reflect the company's problematic year, and vows to turn the company around. More
US web analytics firm WebSideStory has responded to the patent infringement lawsuit filed earlier this week by NetRatings, stating that the claims are without merit, and saying it will defend itself vigorously against the complaint. More
Arbitron is nearing the end of its efforts to achieve Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its Portable People Meter (PPM) radio and TV ratings system. In a process costing the company $1m, the system has undergone a two-year audit, and results have been delivered for approval by the MRC. More
US-based Nielsen Entertainment and cable firm Comcast are to collaborate on a trial of Nielsen's new On Demand measurement tool. The tool will measure the use of video-on-demand services, provide details of viewing trends, and analyse the impact of Comcast's own ON DEMAND service. More
UK online polling firm YouGov is joining forces with Execution Ltd, a European stockbroker, to establish a 50:50 joint venture company, YouGovExecution Ltd (YGX), offering research services for fund managers. More
UK online MR specialist eDigitalResearch has launched a survey translation feature for its online survey tools. Surveys can now be programmed in one language (usually English), and professionally translated into multiple languages, before returning the results to the home language. More
US Internet audience measurement specialist NetRatings has filed a lawsuit against WebSideStory, alleging infringement of five patents owned or controlled by NetRatings. The patents in question relate to the collection, analysis and reporting of computer usage activity. More
Decima Research in Canada is working with web publisher the 50Plus Group to conduct research into consumers aged 50+. Meanwhile, the UK's Age Concern Research Services has joined forces with magazine publishers and media agencies to launch quarterly surveys of the 50+ market. More
The Market Research Society of India (MRSI), which recently opened a new chapter in Bangalore, is planning to introduce a new system of consumer classification to reflect the country's changing consumer landscape. More
US firm Global Market Insite (GMI) has expanded its Hispanic online panel through a partnership with search marketing firm the iHispanic Marketing Group. The company plans further panel expansion, building on iHispanic's web presence among the US Hispanic population and its network of affiliates in Latin America. More
US Call measurement and monitoring firm Who's Calling has completed its acquisition of ClickPath, a provider of online and offline analytics. The companies have jointly developed the ClickPath tool, which measures the effectiveness of online campaigns in achieving offline purchases. More
US online behaviour analyst comScore Networks is partnering with marketing company Catalina Health Resource to offer a new research solution for pharmaceutical companies. The new tool, Behavior Activated Research (BAR Rx), is designed to help marketers access consumers who take particular drugs. More
Nielsen's Local People Meter (LPM) audience measurement system, closely scrutinised since claims last year that it under-represented people of color, actually counts a higher proportion of African-American viewers than traditional diary systems, according to the company's latest stats from trials in Dallas and Detroit. More
US-based Survey Sampling International (SSI) has announced an integrated approach to providing sampling services in Europe. The company has appointed Andrew Moffatt as Sales Director for Europe, is planning new offices in Madrid and Frankfurt, and is developing a panel in Ireland. More
UK online research specialist Virtual Surveys has introduced VirtualTURF, a new product designed to help clients maximise the potential of their product range. It uses the power of the Internet to enhance the classic Total Unduplicated Reach and Frequency (TURF) technique. More
A new healthcare division at US mystery shopping specialist Corporate Research International is launching a program to evaluate the brand recommendations made by retail pharmacists about over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. More
The UK's Product of the Year awards ceremony took place last night. The 26 winners - who include Häagen-Dazs Cream Crisp, Gillette M3Power Razor, Flash Car Wash and Elastoplast's silver healing plasters - were chosen following a TNS survey of 12,500 consumers throughout the UK. More
In the US, CBS Corporation has created an expanded research division, CBS Vision, with research expert David Poltrack as President. The division will provide research and market intelligence on new technologies and media consumption, and will share information with CBS's businesses and advertisers. More
Marketers should target single adults - a group set to make up 45% of the UK population by 2010, according to Singledom, a new research study from Carat. Meanwhile, a study from Deloitte & Touche USA advises retailers to meet the needs of another growing group - older consumers. More
NetRatings Japan is to use its web analytics service, SiteCensus, to measure and analyse the 10m monthly users of Yahoo!'s Japanese shopping site. Yahoo! will also make use of NetRatings' customised analytics services to understand what visitors are doing on its shopping and auction sites. More
US radio measurement specialist Arbitron achieved $310m in revenues in 2005, up 4.5% on 2004. However, costs and expenses - mainly on its Portable People Meters (PPMs) and Project Apollo multimedia measurement pilot - rose by 5.2%. The company expects ongoing investment in PPMs to 'negatively impact' next year's financial results. More
MR software company FIRM is launching a Contact Center Quality Application to allow contact centres to automatically measure the quality of customer experience and to act on customer dissatisfaction. The new application builds on FIRM's survey reporting software, Confirmit. More
UK-based online fieldwork specialist Research Now is due to launch its first German office in Hamburg on 1st February, and has appointed Oliver Wölfel as its Client Development Manager. The office will provide access to the company's German online panel of 118,000 consumers, built up over the last year. More
Last week saw the launch of two agencies offering word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing research, Keller Fay and me2u marketing. Meanwhile, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating complaints that some WOM marketers are misleading consumers. More
A new Netherlands firm, SmartCoding, is offering coding services for multilingual research projects. The company, which has entered a strategic partnership with MR outsourcing firm Pulse, promises to save time and reduce errors by directly coding verbatim answers in any language - without the need for intermediate translation. More
More than half of organisations using word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing are unable to track WOM performance, and two thirds do not have faith in measurement systems for WOM marketing, according to a new study from Osterman Research and BoldMouth.com. More
US Association the MRA has selected a dramatic growth of online market research and the rise of a new breed of consultant researchers, as two of its key predictions for the coming year. Executive Director Larry Brownell also spoke of the dangers of poor quality online research, and the continuing strength of the more traditional focus group. More
Project Apollo, the US trial of Arbitron's Portable People Meter media measurement tool together with ACNielsen's Homescan technology, is now up and running with 5,000 households participating. The project is using technology to collect details of consumers' multi-media exposure and resulting shopping behaviour. More
Nielsen Entertainment is partnering with MovieTickets.com to launch the Movie Advisory Board (MAB), a panel of 750,000 keen US moviegoers. The companies plan to track panellists' online behaviour as well as seeking their views on why they chose a movie and whether they liked it. More
VNU is to buy a majority interest in BuzzMetrics, a US-based firm that measures and analyses online consumer-generated media such as blogs. At the same time, VNU itself is the subject of a takeover bid and BuzzMetrics is due to acquire rival firm Intelliseek. More
GfK Turkey has launched the country's first specialist online medical panel. The panel offers access to the opinions of 3,650 healthcare professionals working in a variety of specialisms. More
The Local People Meter (LPM) TV audience measurement system records higher viewing figures than traditional diary and set meter systems, according to new data from Nielsen Media Research. During its trial of LPMs in Detroit and Dallas, recorded viewing figures rose by as much as 18%. More
exëvo has become the first MR outsourcing firm in India to receive the ISO 9001:2000 quality management system certification from the British Standards Institute (BSI). More
TNSSport is planning to measure the impact of World Cup sponsorship on the sales of sponsors' brands. The new service will use TNS Superpanels across Europe, Asia and the Americas to conduct continuous measurement during the World Cup. More
WPP Group, which owns MindShare and Media Marketing Solutions, has followed Interpublic in signing up to use Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) radio audience system as soon as it is available. Publicis Groupe and Aegis have also signed deals with Arbitron. More
Legislation proposed by the state of Missouri poses a threat to opinion polling, according to US industry body CMOR. The state wishes to modify its telemarketing Do Not Call list to allow consumers to opt out of phone calls not just from marketers - but also from companies conducting political polls. More
The Chairman of US TV ratings company erinMedia says he is considering a takeover of its rival Nielsen Media Research if Nielsen's parent company, VNU, is sold. erinMedia has also announced a second lawsuit against Nielsen Media for false advertising, countering Nielsen's claims that it measures 'millions of viewers'. More
Greenfield Online, through its subsidiary Ciao, has launched new online panels in Europe, Latin America and Australia, offering access to 200,000 new panellists. The launch follows news last month that Greenfield Online was cutting 39 jobs in a bid to save $7m a year after disappointing financial results. More
Advertising and media company the Interpublic Group (IPG) has committed to using Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) measurement of radio audiences. The group says it will be the first to switch to PPM audience estimates as soon as the service becomes available. More
London-based research agency Tpoll Market Intelligence has launched a new division - Tpoll Direct - to focus on online fieldwork and reporting. The division will manage the whole data preparation and collection process from questionnaire design to sampling, project management and reporting. More
TNS is renaming its various continuous consumer panels in Asia Pacific and the Middle East 'Worldpanel', in line with the panels used in 50 countries worldwide. The rebranding is designed to provide clearer and more co-ordinated services to international clients. More
US-based Internet research agency OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has opened its first European office in London. Ian Wright, a former board director at Ipsos UK, will lead the company's European operations. More
Online survey management and fieldwork services agency iD Factor has been bought by themutual.net (TMN), a leading UK online direct marketing company and rewarded shopping portal, in a deal worth up to £2.86m. The buy gives TMN a foothold in the fast-growing online survey market. More
Information solutions giant Experian has acquired FootFall Ltd, a European supplier of customer counting technology and retail information integration services; and has appointed Mark Parise, previously IRI's President of Global Content Operations, as President of its Marketing Services business unit. More
European online panel provider ToLuna has acquired German panel company Speedfacts, a subsidiary of the major ISP Freenet, for a total consideration of £2.06m. It has also agreed a five-year strategic co-operation agreement with Freenet, giving it access to 7 million potential panellists. More
Opinion Research Corporation has sold the teleservices part of its business to a management group, and announced the closure of its market research operations in South Korea and Mexico as well as one of its US call centres. More
Research process outsourcing (RPO) provider Pulse Group has announced the launch of its first European office, in Amsterdam. Pulse has offices in Sydney, Australia and an international RPO centre in Malaysia. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has announced the signing of the seventieth member for its Company Partner Service. The scheme is a variation on corporate membership for an association which previously allowed only individual members, and is likely to have underscored the forthcoming merger with the BMRA. More
US online research firm Knowledge Networks has partnered with interactive publisher morefocus to launch KnowledgeCommunities - a new service offering ongoing marketing feedback from consumers in niche groups such as ailment sufferers, home improvement buffs, and wine enthusiasts. More
US media measurement firm Arbitron is reorganising the responsibilities of two key executives - Owen Charlebois and Pierre Bouvard - in order to speed the commercialisation of its Portable People Meter (PPM) audience measurement system. More
The Kantar Group, whose companies include Research International and Millward Brown, has acquired the UK's Retail Marketing Services (RMS), a specialist shopper research agency. The company's services include the MultiTrack and IC Scan systems, which film shoppers' in-store behaviour. More
Media company Univision Communications is to become the first Spanish language television network to join Nielsen Media Research's national TV ratings service, the Nielsen Television Index (NTI). The service provides television ratings for all the major US networks. More
Shops have not improved their level of customer service over the holiday season, according to a survey of more than 1,100 mystery shoppers conducted by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). The Association says retail staff need to be more helpful, and take more advantage of opportunities to up-sell. More
US-based Marketing Management Analytics (MMA) has joined forces with Yahoo! to evaluate the offline sales impact of online marketing programs. The assessment, based on an existing MMA model, builds in Yahoo! data about users' exposure to online graphic and search advertising. More
WPP's media investment arm GroupM has launched a new knowledge process outsourcing company in India, in collaboration with consulting and technology firm Covansys. The new company, known as Meritus Analytics, will focus on data analytics for healthcare, financial services and retail clients worldwide. More
A newly launched US MR company plans to use text-mining software and data mining tools alongside traditional online qualitative and quantitative techniques to help clients improve returns on their marketing investments. Anderson Analytics' services include web-based surveys, discussion boards, concept/copy tests and focus groups. More
US-based Clear Channel Radio has picked seven finalists to provide a new 'state-of-the-art' radio audience measurement system. Details of one of the chosen proposals - a joint submission from Ipsos and The Media Audit - was released by the companies yesterday. More
German-based online survey software firm Globalpark has agreed to license its Online Panel Site Tool (OPST) software to TNS Worldpanel. TNS will use a specially tailored version of OPST, which is used by 30 panel providers worldwide, for its continuous consumer panels. More
Aegis Group, owner of Synovate, has acquired Univero - the largest independent market research network in Scandinavia - for £10m. Univero is the holding company for MMI Univero (Norway), TEMO Univero and LUI Univero (Sweden), Vilstrup Univero (Denmark) and Fieldwork Scandinavia. More
Online specialist MarketTools has introduced a new service - Hispanic Reach - designed to understand the opinions and purchasing behaviour of the US Hispanic population, which has an estimated buying power of $600bn. The service will use a 100,000-strong online panel, together with offline respondents to ensure a representative sample. More
UK-based online fieldwork specialist Research Now has launched a new Spanish client service team to offer domestic and international clients access to the 110,000 members of its Spanish consumer panel. The news follows last week's announcement that Lightspeed Research is introducing a Spanish online panel. More
The International Mystery Shopping Alliance (IMSA), has expanded its coverage with the addition of a Mexican partner, Big K Mystery Shopping. This brings the total number of IMSA members worldwide to 17. More
German-based online survey software firm Globalpark has agreed to license its Online Panel Site Tool (OPST) software to TNS Worldpanel. TNS will use a specially tailored version of OPST, which is used by 30 panel providers worldwide, for its continuous consumer panels. More
VNU has appointed John Lewis, CEO of Knowledge Networks, as President and CEO of ACNielsen USA. Lewis, who previously worked in marketing for ACNielsen, will report to Steven Schmidt, recently named President and CEO of VNU Marketing Information, on top of his existing role as global head of ACNielsen. More
Synovate Diversity - Synovate's growing multicultural research business in the US - has hired a team of four researchers from TNS Market Development. Everett Hernandez joins as Senior VP and General Manager; Steve Moylan as VP; Denise Marks as VP, Research Studies; and Anna Marie Lopez as In-person Project Field Services Director. More
US customer measurement and analysis specialist Keynote Systems has bought the GómezPro business unit of Watchfire, which specialises in a heuristics-based approach to benchmarking web site effectiveness. The division will be renamed Keynote WebExcellence. More
More than three quarters of market researchers worldwide are planning to increase their use of online research in the next six months, according to the Greenfield/Ciao Online Research Barometer. Fifty per cent of European researchers say they have replaced face-to-face studies with online research over the last year. More
Arbitron's media measurement device, the Portable People Meter (PPM), is being honoured as a technological innovation, alongside TiVo, the Blackberry and the USB flash drive. Ron Kolessar, who led the development of the PPM, joins a list of innovators being recognised by the Great Minds, Great Ideas project. More
Online MR agency Lightspeed Research has launched a consumer panel in Spain, currently providing access to 50,000 members. The company already has proprietary panels in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia. More
Online panel specialist ToLuna has reported a pro forma pre-tax profit of £0.56m for the first nine months of 2005 - compared with a loss of £0.13m in 2004. The company, which floated on the UK's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in May, now has 650,000 panel members across 13 European countries. More
ACNielsen U.S. has this week announced the completion of the major program to expand its Homescan(R) consumer panel. In two years, the panel's size has more than doubled to 125,000 households providing insights and information for the CPG industry. More
Two of the UK's top client side research and insight professionals who left their jobs earlier in the year have resurfaced as independent consultants. John Markham was until recently Director of Global Business Insights at Nokia and Gaye Myatt spent nine years as Director of Consumer Insight at GlaxoSmithKline. More
VNU has announced a major program to co-ordinate the business units of its Marketing Information (MI) group and centralise marketing, IT and NPD functions. Steven M. Schmidt becomes President and CEO of the group, which includes ACNielsen, BASES, Spectra, Claritas and ACNielsen HCI. More
US healthcare specialist G&S Research has launched a new business unit - G&S Xchange - to provide access to key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the biopharmaceutical industry. The new unit will use medical meetings, rather than traditional MR methods, to get insights from influential yet hard-to-reach professionals. More
Nielsen Media Research has added an extra 2,000 households to its National People Meter TV measurement sample. This is the first step in a plan to increase the effective sample to 10,000 homes by next year, in order to improve accuracy and allow for more in-depth analysis. More
MR trade body ESOMAR is working with the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) on next year's World Research Conference, taking place in Shanghai in June. The event, entitled Worldwide Multi Media Measurement (WM3), will focus on how to develop a consumer-centric vision of cross-media consumption. More
Online MR firm Global Market Insite (GMI) has appointed four former employees of SPSS Europe to expand its European management team. The company has also appointed a Director for Russia, and several new project management staff, and recently announced the opening of a new Los Angeles office. More
India's Karvy Global Services Limited, which provides oustourced MR analytics services, is expanding its operations into Canada through a partnership with Sol-Core, a consulting firm based in Toronto. More
Arbitron and VNU have announced good progress with Project Apollo, which aims to co-ordinate their collection of multimedia exposure and purchase information. Over the past few weeks more advertisers have signed up, and the steering committee will meet for the second time in January to set the direction for next year's project pilot. More
Just 10% of marketing executives say their teams are 'highly influential and strategic' and less than half that they are 'well regarded and respected', according to research from the USA's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council. The study identifies particular weaknesses in customer insight, and in analytics and measurement. More
The US mystery shopping industry grew to nearly $600 million in 2004, as the number of mystery shops increased by 12.2% to 8.1 million. These figures come from the US Mystery Shopping Providers Association's first attempt to quantify the industry. More
US data collection provider Innovative Concepts Market Research (ICMR) has acquired A La Carte Research, a 'boutique' agency that offers focus groups, telephone and online surveys, and product testing, as well as mock trials for law firms. The name A La Carte will be dropped. More
Insight Research Group, a subsidiary of UK marketing services group Cello, has bought UK fieldwork agency Field Management Ltd in a deal worth £865,000. This is Cello's third MR buy in the last five months. More
US-based Internet survey sample provider Sample Czar has partnered with Chinese loyalty program SmartClub to develop consumer and business panels for online surveys in China. More
On its 20th anniversary, US-based SRA Research has acquired another Florida MR firm, On The Mark (OTM) Research, in what is described as a 'multi-million dollar merger'. OTM's eponymous President Mark Sandler will become VP of Client Services for the combined company. More
International marketing company dunnhumby has appointed Adrian Sanger, formerly of Millward Brown, to a new Insight Director role, designed to increase the agency's research capabilities. This follows last year's appointment of Martin Hayward to the new position of Director of Consumer Strategy and Futures. More
As search engine competition reaches China, US-based Keynote Systems is launching a study of users' experience of the country's leading search engines: Alibaba/Yahoo!, Baidu, Google China and Sohu/Sogou. The study will take the same form as Keynote's annual North American search studies. More
erinMedia's antitrust lawsuit against Nielsen Media Research is set to proceed to trial, after a US District Federal Court ruled yesterday against Nielsen's attempt to dismiss the suit. The judge deemed erinMedia a viable potential competitor, whose business could be at risk, but dismissed co-plaintiff ReacTV. More
The UK's ORC International is due to deliver the first results from its new syndicated study - ORC Protection Track. The rolling six-month study is designed to assess what drives financial advisers' satisfaction with protection products and suppliers. More
ACNielsen has become the full owner of ACNielsen Chile, purchasing the 49% stake previously held by Cadem, its partner in the country since 1993. The company says the acquisition is part of its commitment to develop its services in key Latin American markets. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) and the Social Research Association (SRA) have launched joint guidance to help social researchers navigate the complex requirements of the Data Protection Act of 1998. More
Just weeks after its purchase of Display Search, US retail specialist the NPD Group has acquired ACNielsen's IT tracking business in Canada. NPD will now provide both retail and commercial sales tracking of computers and peripherals in Canada, as it does in the US. More
Survey software provider QuestionPro is launching a free online survey tool, designed for small businesses and bloggers. Called MicroPoll, the tool allows anyone with a web site to poll readers with simple multi-choice questions and display the results. More
VNU's CEO Rob van den Bergh is stepping down, following the announcement that the company's planned takeover of IMS Health has been terminated due to strong resistance from VNU shareholders. Under the termination agreement, VNU will reimburse IMS $15 million for out-of-pocket costs. More
UK-based agency Holden Pearmain Research has announced the opening of its third office in Surrey. The expansion follows the recent appointment of a dedicated Director for the Customer Loyalty sector, and the launch of a Qualitative Research division. More
Nielsen//NetRatings is introducing AdRelevance - its online ad measurement tool - to Australia. The service, already available in the US and Europe, will now track 250 Australian web sites and 4,000 URLs to gather information about who is advertising, where and how, and how much they are spending. More
Nielsen Media Research is stepping up its evaluation of the use of Portable People Meters (PPMs) for TV audience measurement - a joint venture with Arbitron. Meanwhile, Arbitron has been meeting with radio industry executives to discuss electronic audience measurement, and has appointed a technology expert to its Board. More
The GfK Group has announced results for the third quarter of 2005. The integration of NOP World is said to be proceeding according to plan, and the group has already achieved 95.6% of its order volume forecast for 2005. Sales for the first 9 months are up 28.8% vs Q1-3 2004 to EUR 627.5m. More
US MR associations including CMOR are celebrating victory in convincing a House and Senate conference committee to approve around $812m in federal spending for the U.S. Census Bureau in Fiscal Year 2006. Budget cuts adopted in September were seen as damaging to the Bureau's capacity to collect and report information. More
Publishing and advertising specialist Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI) has announced a joint venture with podcasting service company Podtrac to provide audience data for the new medium. The partnership promises podcast media buyers 'the same demographic research that advertisers have in traditional media'. More
European online fieldwork provider Research Now is following up its recent Australian launch with a sales office in New York. The office, supported by two new Directors, will sell survey data from the company's European online panel of over 700,000 potential respondents to the US market. More
Indian MR outsourcing company Ugam Solutions has opened a 2nd operations centre in Mumbai, increasing its capacity from 425 to more than 1,000 staff. The company has launched a CATI service and announced its entry into the high-growth arena of marketing analytics. More
The Monster Employment Index, which measures online recruitment activity, continues to show rapid growth. The European index is now 113 - up from 94 last December, while the US index is 143 - its highest ever level, and 29 points higher than a year ago. More
Arbitron has promoted John Snyder to the newly created position of Vice President, Portable People Meter Sales. He was formerly VP for National Group Services, handling the Clear Channel and Citadel accounts, for which he will retain responsibility. More
For the first time, Nielsen Media Research is to provide direct access to its database of minute-by-minute TV ratings. Clients will be able to access and analyse full information from Nielsen's National People Meter sample via an electronic file, to be updated each week. More
Harris Interactive has announced its financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2005. Revenue for the quarter (classed as Q1 2006) was $48.9m, up 24% from $39.3m in the same period last year. This was in part due to the acquisition of Wirthlin Worldwide. Growth in European Internet research revenue was particularly strong at 29%. More
Online MR software provider FIRM yesterday submitted an application for public listing at the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE). Chairman Bengt Thuresson says the goal is 'to consolidate FIRM's equity capital in order to finance further profitable growth'. More
European online fieldwork specialist Research Now has launched Irish Opinions - an online panel for the Republic of Ireland. The company has already recruited 20,000 panel members for what it claims is the first research-only panel in the Republic. More
Software firm SPSS has achieved record revenues for the fourth consecutive quarter. The third quarter of 2005 saw a 9% revenue increase, driven by a 22% growth in new license revenues. Thanks to climbing revenue and falling expenses, net income for the quarter increased almost five-fold to more than $4m. More
Business intelligence software provider Business Objects has completed the acquisition of California's Infommersion in a deal worth $40m. Infommersion specialises in providing interactive and visual solutions for data presentation and analysis. More
UK-based agency Holden Pearmain Research has appointed Tom Worth to head up its Customer Loyalty practice. He previously worked at Tarp, an agency that specialises in measuring customer satisfaction and loyalty. More
European online research agency MetrixLab added another 1 million Euros to its turnover in the third quarter of this year, representing a 71% increase compared with the same period last year. The company's net profits grew by 44% over the same period. More
US-based customer identity management specialist Purisma has launched Customer Registry, a tool designed to provide organisations with in-depth, accurate pictures of their consumers based on data gathered from across the business and from external sources. More
A quarter of US computer users have stopped buying online in an attempt to avoid identity theft, according to a study of 1,500 US consumers by Princeton Survey Research Associates for Consumer Reports WebWatch. At the same time, Jupiter Research and comScore both report significant online shopping growth. More
A thousand members of the UK public took part in 100 facilitated group discussions about the future of health and social care at the National Citizens' Summit in Birmingham on Saturday. Opinion Leader Research ran the unprecedented MR exercise as part of the Department of Health's 'Your Health, Your Care, Your Say' public consultation. More
US-based technology and finance research specialist Doxus has appointed Dr Steven Struhl as head of its Marketing Sciences and Methodology team. Struhl was previously Senior Methodologist at Harris Interactive, and Director of Market Research at SPSS. More
Ipsos UK is taking inspiration from reality TV with the launch of its new conflict-based qualitative approach. The process - known as Krisis (from the Greek word for the moment of truth) - encourages disagreements among group participants, in an attempt to encourage greater honesty and disclosure. More
US online specialist GMI has launched new panels of physicians, nurses and chronically ill patients. It has also entered an agreement with Sawtooth Software to sell Sawtooth products in Asia and South America, and to share its online panel with Sawtooth. GMI has also made four new Director-level appointments. More
US Hispanic research group ¡Hola! ResearchPAYS, co-founded by MR firm Alternative Technology Corporation (ATC), is planning to build the largest Hispanic panel in the US through an alliance with non-profit group the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). More
The UK's independent Statistics Commission is calling for clearer quality standards for the production and dissemination of official statistics, in order to engender public trust. The Commission's new report also concludes that - to meet users' needs - there should be 'greater emphasis on fitness for purpose'. More
US Internet measurement specialist Nielsen//NetRatings has settled its lawsuit against Visual Sciences, by entering into a licensing agreement with the company. NetRatings launched the lawsuit earlier this year, alleging infringement of some of its data collection and analysis patents. More
US data collection company Interviewing Service of America (ISA) has acquired the Opinion One visual interviewing software suite. Opinion One's Corporate Operations Director Peter Blair and two technical members of staff are joining ISA as part of the acquisition. Meanwhile, Dina Paglia joins as Account Executive. More
What do companies mean by insight? How does it differ from traditional MR outputs? And how can researchers ensure they are recognised for providing it? All these questions - and more - were addressed in the Association of Users of Research Agencies (AURA) panel discussion at yesterday's Insight Show in London. More
A study from the US Online Publishers Association (OPA) has found that different methods of compiling online audience figures lead to significantly different estimates of visitors to local web sites. The research is based on an analysis of measurement tools from Nielsen//Net Ratings, comScore, Scarborough and The Media Audit. More
The International Journal of Market Research (IJMR), produced by the Market Research Society (MRS), has provided new guidance for potential contributors, encouraging case study-based articles from MR practitioners. The Journal's new Viewpoint section also allows practitioners to have their say about burning issues in around 500 words. More
Information Resources, Inc (IRI) has announced details of the third CPG and Retail Summit, taking place in San Francisco in February. Programmes are also available for ESOMAR's Healthcare and Brandmatters conferences, happening in New York in February, and ESOMAR is inviting papers for May's Global Diversity and Innovate events. More
US research firm McPheters & Company has worked with magazine publishers to develop readership.com, an audience measurement tool for magazines. The product is designed to provide 'near real-time' data about print audiences in a way that is comparable with measurement systems for other media. More
European MR software firm Nebu has released a new version of Dub Knowledge - its panel management and sampling tool. The latest edition allows for easier exclusion of respondents from future surveys, and offers several new features. More
UK online polling firm YouGov is using its Internet panel to compile BrandIndex, an evaluation of more than 11,000 consumer brands. Initial findings, based on 30,000 interviews, put Tesco as UK consumers' leading brand, while McDonalds and Sunny Delight are both in the bottom ten. More
Frank Maggio, CEO of Erin Media, is poised to announce details of a new ratings service - VAST Ratings - designed to compete with Nielsen's audience measurement system. Earlier this year, Erin filed an antitrust lawsuit against Nielsen Media Research in a bid to break up its ratings monopoly. More
Adult Internet users are increasingly going online to learn, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. Its latest figures show that use of educational reference web sites, such as encylopaedias and dictionaries, grew by 22% this year. Other new data from the company includes the top ten web sites, and top ten online advertisers. More
UK retail research firm ESA is teaming up with MR software provider Pulse Train to conduct the on-site research at this week's Insight show. The show, designed for buyers and users of market research, is taking place tomorrow and Wednesday at Earls Court in London. More
Norwegian survey software company FIRM achieved revenues of US$3.69m in the third quarter of 2005 - an increase of 35% on Q3 2004. Revenues for the first nine months of the year were up 30%. The announcement coincides with the launch of a new version of the company's Confirmit survey tool. More
Dan Foreman, formerly Planning Director at ad agency WFCA, has been poached to spearhead the launch of FocusVision Europe. The US-based company, which specialises in video recording technologies for market research, opened its first European office in London in July. More
US survey provider Itracks has released a new web-based reporting system for all its surveys, whether conducted on or offline. Also announcing new products this week are Nunwood, with a new application to facilitate business information sharing, and IRI, which launched a new retail space planning tool. More
US-based CorporateSurvey.com has entered into a partnership with XToolsCRM, a Chinese provider of customer relationship management technology to provide its ZipSurvey application to XTools' 1,000+ clients in China and Taiwan. In addition, both companies will join each other's alliance and partnership programs. More
Healthcare data collection specialist Fieldwork International (FI) has promoted Jen Lumsden to Telephone Unit Operations Manager. Emmanuelle Desnos and Carola Fornari have both been promoted to Project Managers in the International Telephone Centre. More
Market Insight, a US online market intelligence firm, has received $1.25 million in Series A financing from San Francisco venture capital company WaldenVC, which believes Market Insight will 'change the face of market research'. Founded in 2003, the company collects consumer data from a product recommendation web site. More
Informed Medical Communications (IMC) has launched MRxHealth, a new MR and consulting firm focused on non-traditional, personalised pharmaceutical marketing. The company will be led by Nancy Adams, formerly President of The Peer Group, which joined with disease information provider HealthTalk earlier this year to form IMC. More
WPP's Kantar Group has joined two venture capital companies, Prism Venture Partners and founding investor i-Hatch Ventures in a $7m Series B round of funding for mobile media measurement firm M:Metrics. More
The annual conference of the British Market Research Association (BMRA) is four weeks away. Delegates will get the chance to debate the future of MR with the leaders of TNS, Synovate and YouGov, and to hear from clients ranging from Microsoft to the Islamic Bank of Britain. More
Media measurement specialist Cymfony has launched Orchestra, a market intelligence dashboard application that integrates data from mainstream media (MSM) and consumer-generated media (CGM) including blogs. Meanwhile Intelliseek has entered into an agreement to provide AOL with daily blog data and trend analysis from its BlogPulse search engine. More
UK media company Emap has bought London-based online fashion and retail information firm Worth Global Style Network (WGSN) for approximately £140m. The subscription-based WGSN web site provides online intelligence about the fashion and clothing industries to companies around the world. More
US online MR firm Compete, Inc has promoted T.J. Mahony to MD of Intelligent Reach Products, and Adam Guy to MD of its Wireless Practice. The announcement coincides with the launch of Voicebox, Compete's communications and loyalty platform, designed to help marketers extend and deepen customer relationships. More
The newly created Synovate Motoresearch division in Australia is to launch Synovate24, an automated customer loyalty tool for car dealers. The service uses technology to monitor customer feedback the day after a transaction, and provides dealers with an immediate analysis of customer satisfaction. More
CEOs and senior managers at the recent Annual Conference of CASRO (the Council Of American Survey Research Organizations) were optimistic about continued growth and emerging opportunities for research - both in America and overseas. More
Independent consultants Richard Horswell and Roger Wheatley are commencing the 2005 round of their annual survey of UK MR agency prices. The £quotecheck 2005 survey is designed to help companies find out how their rates compare with the competition. More
Chicago-based agency Pipal Research has introduced PipalAnswers - a new online custom research service designed to offer fast, low-cost access to business research. The service gives access to a team of professionals who search for and collect relevant data from subscription and industry databases and the Internet. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has launched its Internet audience measurement tool Market Intelligence in South East Asia. MSN in Singapore is currently publishing visitor data as compiled by Market Intelligence, and several Hong Kong publishers have also committed to using the service. More
European agency SKOPOS market insight has appointed Rhaynukaa Soni, formerly of Ipsos UK, as Senior Research Consultant for international projects, and Abdi Mohamed as Head of Data Analysis. Both will be based in the company's London office. More
UK online survey specialist YouGov has announced 48% turnover growth, and 47% growth in profit before tax, for the year ending 31 July 2005. The company, which floated on the UK's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in April, saw turnover increase from £1.9m to 2.9m between 2004 and 2005. More
The results of the 2005 British Business Survey (BBS) announced today by Ipsos reveal a UK business elite that watches far less TV than the rest of the country, continues to rely heavily on traditional print media, but also leads the way in the use and ownership of technology. More
Global research group Ipsos has acquired MORI, the UK's largest independently owned MR agency, in a deal worth £88m. Ipsos UK and MORI will combine to form a new company to be known as Ipsos MORI. The purchase will almost double Ispos' UK revenue. More
Indochina Research Ltd (IRL), a research agency with offices in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, is celebrating its tenth anniversary by launching i-track - the region's first ever consumer and small business confidence index. More
A new service developed jointly by New York-based online customer satisfaction specialist iPerceptions and software solutions provider Repindex will provide 'quantifiable insights' based on analysis of free-form feedback from web site visitors. Land Rover and Reebok are among the first clients. More
Bernhard Witt, a former employee of SPSS, has launched his own consultancy - 2x4 Market Research Consulting - based in Mattenheim Germany. The company will specialise primarily in the SPSS Dimensions range of products, offering various training and consultancy services. More
The US DISH Network satellite TV service has signed an agreement with Nielsen Media Research for a national TV ratings service. The deal allows DISH to use Nielsen's data for marketing, programming and sales purposes - for example to guarantee companies a specific number of viewers for their ads. More
Ad and brand research specialist Ipsos ASI Canada has launched Ad*Graph Express, a new quick-turnaround tool to help companies measure the impact of an ad or campaign, without the cost of continuous tracking. More
US agencies Knowledge Networks (KN) and Harris Interactive are arguing over KN's claims that Stanford University research demonstrates the superior accuracy of its online surveys. Harris believes KN's reporting of the study is inaccurate and selective, and claims that KN's founders were closely involved with the Stanford research. More
UK agency BMRB has announced the results of the first ever national survey of adults with learning difficulties. The survey involved innovative techniques to maximise involvement and response rates. BMRB has also announced a new contract to study understanding of medical information. More
TNS has worked with academics to develop a panel of 'intuitive and analytic' thinkers, to provide creative input into new product development research. Creative Minds is the second sub-panel of the company's '6thdimension' access panel, following the Sports sub-panel launched last month. More
The latest Consumer Intentions and Actions (CIA) survey from BIGresearch finds US consumer confidence falling, with shoppers picking budget brands, planning lower holiday spends, and using their cars less. However, although consumers are spending less on everyday goods, purchase intentions for cars, computers and major home improvements are on the rise. More
Greenfield Online's President and CEO Dean Wiltse has left the company, to be replaced by former Harris Interactive President and business troubleshooter Albert Angrisani. The announcement comes as the company reduces its revenue forecast for the third quarter by $4m, due to 'lower than expected win-rates in North America'. More
The US Bureau of Census has awarded a six-year contract, worth approximately $500m, to US technology systems provider Lockheed Martin. The company will be responsible for developing and operating the Decennial Response Integration System (DRIS) to capture data for the 2010 Census. More
The US Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) announced its new Board of Directors, which includes a new President and Vice President, at its annual North America Conference this week. The new President is David Rich, who works as President of ICC/Decision Services. More
Harris Interactive Service Bureau (HISB) is making its new SynTrack Online service available to MR firms across the US. The service, which makes use of the HI global online panel, is designed to facilitate the migration of traditional syndicated and tracking studies to the Internet, while preserving historical data and analysis of trends. More
Online survey provider QuestionPro has added a 'Market Research Toolset' to its data collection and analytics services. The tools offer online panel management features, conjoint and TURF analysis, and real-time notification of satisfaction scores. Meanwhile, Creative Research Systems has launched a PDA Module for its survey software package. More
The Asian MR market is growing by 10 to 11% a year and is 'the hottest market worldwide for the market research industry', according to Tony Cowling, Chairman of TNS. Cowling today announced the company's rollout of its 6thdimension access panel to China and Japan. More
ACNielsen is to provide its 750-strong MR field force in India with handheld terminals for data collection, representing an investment of INR 100 million ($2.5m). The company hopes the time saved collecting and processing data will speed up the delivery of market information from sixteen days to nine. More
US-based Insights Research Group has appointed Michael Rollosson, formerly President of MR and database analysts Rollosson Analytics, as VP, responsible for the day-to-day management of the company. More
US online word-of-mouth research specialist BuzzMetrics has been acquired by Trendum, a provider of Internet search and linguistic analysis. Together, the companies hope to create a global standard to measure online consumer 'buzz' about brands. VNU is a minority shareholder in the new company, which will keep the BuzzMetrics name. More
Alina Serbanica, former VP Business Development of Gallup Romania, is joining Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) as Access Panels Director, responsible for all the company's European panels. IIS specialises in online market research, with more than 550,000 panellists across Europe. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has become the first online audience measurement provider to apply for Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its methods - throwing down the gauntlet for others in the industry. The Council currently accredits measurement systems for all other major media, including TV, radio and print. More
'... the finance guys have taken over' according to Christian Majgaard, former Senior Director of Lego, in the final keynote address at this week's ESOMAR Congress. Majgaard called for a change to CEOs' salary structure in order to bring marketing research 'back into the boardroom'. More
African market information agency the Steadman Group has been appointed to provide audience measurement for radio, TV and print in Kenya. The TV and radio research will be conducted using the Arbitron Portable People Meter (PPM) system licensed by TNS. More
At this week's ESOMAR Annual Congress, two papers focused on ways to overhaul or reinvent Internet-based consumer research. A joint paper by agencies Ciao and Fat Planet called for increased innovation in online surveys, while Dutch agency Blauw discussed its use of an online qual panel to aid new product development. More
ESOMAR wound up the 58th Congress in Cannes today and announced the winners of its awards. Speakers from The Leading Edge agency and Carlton & United Brewers, Australia, won the Best Paper Overall Award, while employees of Brainjuicer, Maritz and LG Electronics were also recognised. More
In his award-winning ESOMAR paper, John Kearon, CEO & Chief Juicer of BrainJuicer, explains his attempts to apply academic thinking on 'research markets' and the 'wisdom of crowds' to concept testing. The results, while still inconclusive, threaten conventional MR techniques - suggesting that a diverse, non-target group can predict success as well as a target sample. More
In Tuesday's second keynote speech at the ESOMAR Congress, Ted McDonnell, Manager of Interactive Marketing Innovation at Procter & Gamble, explained the rationale behind the World Advertising Federation's recent call for reform of audience measurement. More
Online MR solutions company GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) has announced the acquisition of three companies -- Seattle-based NetReflector, Insight in Shanghai, China, and MI Pro AS in Drobak, Norway, which will operate as wholly owned subsidiaries of GMI. GMI has also formed a new strategic alliance with ARO Sistemas in Sao Paolo, Brazil. More
Speakers from ACNielsen and the Asia Foundation told today's session at the ESOMAR Congress about the far-reaching implications of research to help voter education in Afghanistan. Other papers looked at MR's role in rebuilding democracy in the UK, and regenerating a South African township. More
UK business information company Datamonitor has acquired retail analysis specialist Verdict Research Limited for a maximum consideration of £4.7 million in cash. More
ESOMAR's 2005 Congress, Making a Difference - The Impact of Powerful Research - opened today in Cannes, attended by 1000+ market and social professionals from 75 countries worldwide. The Congress also heralded ESOMAR's rebrand, and its renewed commitment to improving the image of MR - a theme touched on by several of the day's speakers. More
This morning's main session at ESOMAR Congress gave delegates an update on major companies' attempts to put customers' views and needs at the heart of their business. Some like it hot - watching consumers in their kitchens - while others take a cool look at customer loyalty stats. DRNO News Editor Tessa Russell reports live from Cannes. More
Harris Interactive is dropping the separate identity of its European subsidiary, which will no longer be known as HI Europe but will share the parent's name. The company says the alignment will achieve 'considerable synergies in its marketing, data collection and client management programmes'. More
Arbitron has promoted two company veterans to strengthen its Portable People Meter (PPM) research team. Beth Webb becomes Director, PPM Research, and Dan Ames Director, International Research. More
Conference season in the MR world is also product launch season. With ESOMAR Congress next week, and other major events imminent, new or expanded services announced in the last few days include the NPD Group's 'Technology Track', Synovate ViewsNet for Western Europe and a new version of FIRM's ConfirmIt software. More
SSI/Bloomerce, the European arm of Survey Sampling International, has hired Michel Guidi as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Europe. Guidi leaves online panels specialist Ciao, where he was VP for Operations. More
GfK Turkey has announced a new access panel of almost 4.2 million members, providing samples for online research in the country. The panel members represent a high proportion of the c.11 million people online in Turkey (population 72m and Internet penetration around 15%). More
The ICG, the UK's professional group for independent research consultants, has announced a new Chairman. As of yesterday's AGM, Tim Williams takes over from Steven Bairfelt, who has led the organisation for more than five years. More
Online pharmaceutical market research is growing at the expense of 'phone interviews, according to an international survey of pharma researchers by medical research agency Medefield. More
The Australian Market & Social Research Society (AMSRS) is launching its first Research Effectiveness Awards as part of the organisation's IMPACT: conference next month. The awards are designed to illustrate the contribution of research to business success. Conference papers will also address the impact of research in the real world. More
Australian online agency i-Link Research Solutions will for the first time offer an online participant research panel for MR and social research, via an alliance with Qualified Opinions Research Panel. More
US agency Simmons is to apply parent company Experian's 'TrueTouch' classification system to the results of its Spring 2005 National Consumer Study. The tool is designed to provide a clear picture of the best audience, message, channel and timing for marketing campaigns. More
European online panel specialist Ciao is launching an Internet omnibus service for the UK, Germany and France. The survey will run bi-monthly, using Ciao's existing panel, and will complement the existing US omnibus services provided by Ciao's parent company Greenfield Online. More
US-based MR outsourcing firm exëvo has created a new 35,000 square foot research facility in New Delhi, India, expected to house 1,000 research professionals by the end of next year. More
Two international products have made their French debuts. MR and information giant Experian has launched its consumer classification system, Mosaic, in the country, categorising consumers into 14 social groups and 52 types; and movie tracker Online Testing eXchange (OTX) is another recent arrival. More
TNS has announced a commitment to raise US$387,000 by the end of 2007 to fund a pre-school educational project in Cambodia, supported by UNICEF, the United Nation's Children's Fund. The 'Imagine...' initiative kicked off today with a 'Walk to Work' day. More
A group of MR agencies have joined forces to produce Asia Research, a quarterly print publication covering MR in the region. Sponsors include Kadence Asia, Citigate DVL Smith, SoHealthAsia, Asia Pacific Research, Hankook Research, Firestar Research, Opinion Research Taiwan and Indochina Research. More
Montreal-based data collection and analysis software provider Voxco is launching a new MR software package, with previews at the ESOMAR Congress in Cannes later this month, followed by displays at MR conferences in Boston, Toronto, Warsaw, London and Paris. More
IT specialist agency Mindwave Research has launched RQM(Relationship Quality Management), a new online customer questionnaire tool. The product delivers real-time feedback about where improvements are needed, and allows clients to make immediate contact with dissatisfied customers. More
UK-based research and usability consultancy User Vision has opened a new research 'lab', focus group and training facility in Edinburgh. 'User Vision Focus' offers remote online viewing of focus groups and usability tests in real-time. More
Market research and media communications group Aegis has acquired Market Equity, an Australian MR business, in a deal worth up to £11.7 million. Market Equity will now become part of Synovate, the Group's MR network, which has offices in 46 countries. More
As the US-based Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) publishes a study critical of current audience research methods, the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has launched a blueprint for the industry's evolution. The latter urges the development of 'consumer-centric holistic measurement' to allow for increasingly complex media consumption habits. More
US agency MediaAnalyzer Software & Research is joining an international project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), to map and explain brain processes such as emotions and human will. The study will make use of the company's AttentionTracking web-based 'eye tracking' technology to conduct large-scale visual tests. More
US agency M/A/R/C Research has hired healthcare expert Will Leskin as VP, responsible for the company's qualitative division. The company has also appointed two new Account Directors, both experienced in the medical and pharma research field. More
Ad-ID, a universal ad coding standard that paves the way for digital ad measurement and tracking has now been adopted by more than 300 US marketers, plus major TV networks. The system has the support of and media associations including the advertising industry's ANA and AAAA. More
US-based Genesee Survey Services is extending its range of syndicated employee opinion norms surveys to provide international data as well as US, migrating mail-based data collection to the web with the help of the Harris Interactive Service Bureau (HISB). More
With effect from today, GfK is merging NOP Research Group (the UK arm of NOP World) and GfK Martin Hamblin UK to form a new combined company - GfK NOP Ltd, based in London. This follows GfK's acquisition of NOP World in June, and the establishment of GfK Custom Research North America in July. More
Arbitron has established a new forum to facilitate collaboration with the advertisers and agencies that use its media and marketing research services. The new Advertiser/Agency Advisory Council will provide insight into advertisers' research needs, and involve advertisers in decision making. More
The US Marketing Research Association (MRA) has launched a Researcher-to-Researcher Relief Assistance Blog to help marketing and research professionals affected by Hurricane Katrina. The blog allows research professionals to exchange information online about what they need, or can provide for colleagues in need. More
Asians' political views of the West have little impact on their consumption of Western brands, according to Millward Brown. GMI's latest research reaches similar conclusions: while a third of consumers worldwide boycott at least one brand, this is mainly due to unfair practices and unhealthy products rather than country of origin. More
September's relaunch issue of our MRWho supplement will be looking at changes in the UK MR jobs market, and in salary levels, in the last 12 months. This excerpt looks at the jobs market and the growth of new functions such as Panel Managers, Account Managers and pure 'Bus Dev' roles; next week, we'll examine salary levels. More
You wait ages for a taxi and then two come along at once... Research Now's OmniTaxi has been joined on the list of new MR releases by Quali-Taxi, a service from Brainjuicer using its 'MindReading' technology to replicate the qualitative insights from a focus group – but using large, nationally representative samples. More
Media ratings company Arbitron has promoted Robert Patchen, formerly VP of Research Standards and Practices, to the new position of Chief Research Officer. He will oversee all Arbitron's research, including radio diaries and Portable People Meters (PPMs), and will help to identify new techniques. More
Mystery shopping providers from the US and around the world will gather in Long Beach, California, from September 21st to 24th for the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) North America annual conference. More
Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) in Singapore has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Motorsport Asia to provide marketing research and analysis of next year's Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) motorsport event. More
ACNielsen is rolling out its Homescan consumer panel service, together with its ScanTrack retail measurement technology, in Thailand. ScanTrack automatically measures sales and their relation to promotions, while Homescan tracks consumer purchases and trends. More
Ever more coverage for Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) system: the latest trials have involved measuring audiences listening to radio via podcasts, and tracking store visits by encoding in-store radio broadcasts. More
Tony Harper has been promoted to Senior Director in Ipsos UK's Observer division, which is responsible for the company's European omnibus services including the Capibus survey. More
Nielsen Media Research and software producer Anystream are working together to automatically encode Video On Demand (VOD) content, so that it can be easily incorporated into audience measurement systems. Nielsen is due to include VOD in its TV ratings service from next year. More
The University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research (ISR), together with Peking University, has established a new program in Quantitative Social Science. The venture involves a bi-annual population survey of two Chinese provinces with a combined population of 150 million people. More
A new study from US-based ABI Research focuses on ways to integrate information from radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging technology with retailers' systems to aid decision-making and improve profitability. More
UK-based agency Starfish Research & Strategy is conducting a computer-assisted choice modelling project in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The project, commissioned by British American Tobacco, covers very remote areas that are rarely involved in market research of any type. More
The annual conference of the BMRA (British Market Research Association), taking place this November in Brighton, will assess what the future holds for the UK industry, what part technology will play, and the opportunities and challenges presented by the evolving roles of media and advertising. More
US solutions company Survey Sampling International (SSI) has appointed Tom Brophy to the newly created role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The company, which bought Bloomerce Access Panels Europe earlier this year, says Brophy will be heavily involved in evaluating possible future acquisitions. More
The Council of American Survey Organisations (CASRO) has announced its support for self-regulation in the media ratings industry. It states that the proposed FAIR Ratings Act, which would require Media Ratings Council (MRC) accreditation of TV ratings services before launch, is too restrictive of business development. More
Inquisite Inc, a US-based provider of web survey technology, has appointed Pathway Consultants to market and sell Inquisite products in Australia and New Zealand. More
Research International (RI) has appointed Analysis Indian Ocean as an associate, as part of its ongoing strategy to develop its network in Africa. The company is based in Mauritius, and provides market research and consultancy services across the islands of the Indian Ocean. More
Data from more than 1,000 monthly visits conducted by NOP Field Marketing will now be collected via personal digital assistants (PDAs), offering clients more flexibility and faster reporting. More
US-based mystery shopping specialist Bare Associates International is opening a new corporate office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ronaldo Carlos de Oliveira, Director of Business Development, will head it up. More
ORC International has launched a new secure web portal, AccessPoint, which allows clients to store and manage all their research material in one central repository, and to monitor the progress of surveys. The system is available to all clients of the UK agency. More
Ipsos UK's Public Affairs unit has won a major new research project for Sport England to explore participation levels and attitudes to recreation and leisure. The 'Active People' survey is described as the largest CATI survey ever commissioned. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has opened a Brisbane office to complement its Sydney headquarters and its research and development centre in Melbourne. Greg Chamberlain, newly appointed Business Development Manager, will head the new office. More
UK agency BMRB will carry out the 2005 Childcare and Early Years Providers survey for the Department for Education and Skills, and will also contribute to the Health and Safety Executive's survey of workplaces. The agency has also been appointed to compile a panel of premium-brand consumers for Red Media. More
The latest TNS Promocar study shows that European car manufacturers spent 1,100 Euros on sales promotion for each vehicle sold last year – a 10% rise since 2003. TNS says it is now 'practically unheard of' for a car to be sold without some sort of incentive or discount. More
Cannons Health and Fitness has appointed UK-based agency Grass Roots to undertake a 'mystery journey' programme to measure service standards in its network of 52 gyms. More
Arbitron has been awarded three new patents for its Portable People Meters (PPMs), allowing the TV audience measurement system to collect data about the origin of a broadcast, when it is viewed, and any accompanying ads. The company has also appointed Anthony Sciulli to a new position to oversee PPM manufacture. More
jra Research, UK-based field specialist, has launched an online research service and appointed Simon Cheshire, formerly of NOP, as Head of Online Research. More
European online research agency MetrixLab is opening a new London office, with Roy Patel, formerly of Nielsen//NetRatings, as its UK Commercial Director and Nathalie Vaandrager from Kraft Foods as a Senior Business Consultant. More
Opinion Leader Research (OLR) has been recruited by the UK's Department of Health to conduct an unprecedented series of nationwide 'public engagement' events, which will shape future health and community care services. More
Research leaders from six continents have accepted a number of amendments from US association CASRO at a meeting to discuss the ISO draft international standard for market, opinion and social research. Amended areas include information sharing and the primacy of national laws. More
Trading in the shares of online agency Research Now plc began yesterday on the UK's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) with shares at 130 pence each. The company raised £9.2 million from its flotation, well in excess of the previously given public estimate of £5m. More
The USA's Marketing Research Association (MRA) this week added a specialist qualitative track to its Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) program, launched in February this year. It offers three levels: Associate, Practitioner and Expert. More
TNS has added to its recent successes in SE Asia with a five-year TV audience measurement contract from MediaCorp, Singapore's largest broadcaster. The agency recently won a similar contract in Hong Kong, and announced the 'Power of Print' study to analyse print media ad campaigns in the same two states. More
TNS has made several new senior appointments in an attempt to increase integration between its Hong Kong and Singapore business centres. More
California News Tech has introduced a new index to measure how companies are portrayed in the media and perceived by the public. The aim is to provide investors and others with up-to-date information about a company's reputation. More
Healthcare and pharmaceutical agency Fieldwork International (FI) has announced three senior staffing changes, as its online panel of physicians reaches 30,000 members. Changes include the appointment of a Global MD, Peter Boyle who will concentrate on extending FI internationally. More
TNS has been appointed to conduct a new syndicated study in Asia to help media professionals better understand the role and effectiveness of print advertising. More
SafeHarbor Technology, a US provider of business intelligence services, is joining forces with web site satisfaction agency ForeSee Results, to provide customer satisfaction analysis. More
This week has seen a rush of activity in the controversy over Nielsen Media's LPM introduction and Senator Conrad Burns' FAIR Ratings Act. Leading associations of US advertisers declared their members' opposition to the bill on Tuesday, while Nielsen's critics spoke out before a Senate Committee on Wednesday. More
The Interpublic Group has created the Marketing Accountability Partnership (MAP) to bring together marketing analytics tools and techniques from across its companies. Neil Canter, former Marketing Sciences Partner at Accenture, will serve as MD. More
IFF Research has promoted Stacey Charlesworth to Interviewing Services Director. The company, based in London, has recently been commissioned to conduct two large-scale surveys on behalf of the government's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department for Education and Skills (DfES). More
Online agency Lightspeed Research has appointed Karen Rabinowicz, formerly of Harris Interactive, as its North American CEO. She reports directly to Global President & CEO, Anne Hedde. More
Maritz Research is partnering with US research technology firm Invoke Solutions to launch 'Dynamic Insights' - a tool that provides companies with quick, in-depth feedback from their customers. More
The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF), the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) are working to develop an industry-wide measurement of how well consumers engage with adverts. More
Online agency Vision Critical recently celebrated five years in business with the announcement of major new clients and the forthcoming launch of an upgraded version of its flagship Panel+ web survey software. More
Research released by the US Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) indicates that the use of Portable People Meters (PPMs) to gather radio ratings will increase advertising spend. The study, funded by PPM developers Arbitron, estimates that switching to PPMs could bring in an extra $696m a year. More
Russian company Nextep Promotion is the latest addition to the International Mystery Shopping Alliance (IMSA). Nextep's field force includes more than 1,000 mystery shoppers covering the whole of Russia, as well as the Ukraine and Kazakhstan. More
Michalis Michael, former MD of Synovate in Central Europe and Russia, is now head of the company's online and panel business, and former Western Europe CEO Peter Huijboom is the company's new CEO Global Client Relationships. Meanwhile, Bruce Wells and Paul Cooney have been appointed as Chief Information Officers. More
The Television Viewer Protection Bill, introduced in the US last week, is calling for increased regulation of TV ratings methods. The Bill is the latest step in the controversy surrounding Nielsen's local people meter (LPM) ratings system and its coverage of 'people of color'. More
A study by the UK's Critical Research suggests that agencies need to work closely with businesses to improve falling BtoB response rates. The study found senior decision-makers were often unclear about the purpose or benefit of research, and wary about being hooked into a sales call. More
Euro PQN, the readership research organisation for French newspapers, is merging with the magazine readership body AEPM, to form a new association, Audipresse. More
Arbitron is demonstrating new Portable People Meters (PPMs) which automatically distinguish between in-home and out-of-home viewing and listening, as well as detecting recorded programmes. The panel, based in Houston, represents the diverse local market, with 20% black and 31% Hispanic members. More
GfK has formed GfK Custom Research North America, an umbrella body for GfK Arbor, GfK CRI, GfK Schiappa, Caribou Lake, GfK NOP and GfK Automotive. Dr Martin Lautman, formerly President of GfK Arbor, will be the new group's CEO. More
US research agency MarketTools has appointed Amal Johnson, founding partner of Lightspeed Venture Partners, as CEO. Johnson, who has more than 20 years' experience in technology and services companies, plans to use technology to enhance the company's research offerings. More
Geoscape International has incorporated Arbitron radio ratings data into its geodemographic database. The new edition of the Geoscape Intelligence System (GIS) maps signal coverage against in-depth demographic and ethnic data for more than 14,000 radio stations in nearly 300 metropolitan areas across the US. More
BIG, the UK's B2B research association, held its summer party and annual presentation of conference awards last night in a hotel in Bloomsbury, central London. Adam Blunt from NOP World Business won Best Paper for a talk on bulletin board groups and BPRI's Anna McAvoy won for Best Presented Paper. More
Millward Brown has appointed MR company Customer Insights (CI) as its licensee in Vietnam, having worked with its fieldwork team for the last 18 months. The new agreement will allow CI to benefit from Millward Brown's tools and knowledge, and will give Millward Brown access to an increased market in Asia Pacific. More
The US-based Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) has released a Terminology Framework to specify reliable ways of tracking and quantifying the effects of word of mouth (WOM) marketing. The Framework will be discussed at WOMMA's conference in Chicago tomorrow – an event that managed to sell out entirely by word of mouth. More
ESOMAR is paving the way for some super-efficient networking at this year's Congress, with the new 'Spotme' information service. All delegates will be offered a Spotme handset, which then alerts them when they are near one of their identified 'targets': a colleague or potential client. More
An MRS-sponsored debate in the House of Commons last night voted against the motion 'Voting, unlike market research, changes nothing'. The motion was proposed by Lord Lipsey, Chair of the Social Market Foundation, who failed to convince the audience that elections had had their day. More
Mo Rice has been appointed as Client Service Director at pharmaceutical online fieldwork provider Medefield Europe. She joins the company from GfK Martin Hamblin, and has seven years' experience conducting international online projects. More
The MR landscape is to undergo a seismic shift as VNU, the world's biggest research provider, buys IMS Health, the next biggest in the US, in a transaction valued at 5.8 billion Euros ($7.0 billion). VNU's CEO is confident that the deal will quickly lead to major cost savings and new revenues. More
UK-based online fieldwork company Research Now has announced its intention to list on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), with approximately £5 million of new and existing shares. The flotation will finance Research Now's continuing growth: in the eighteen months to 30 April 2005, the company's turnover increased by an average 53% each quarter, and staff numbers grew from four to 35. More
TNS today announced 'weaker than anticipated' growth in UK and US custom research. It expects overall revenue growth for this year to be line with the market at about 4% - a more cautious prediction than earlier in the year, when the company said it hoped to outpace rivals. More
Audience researcher Arbitron Inc. has expanded its Portable People Meter (PPM) marketing team by promoting Jennifer Huston to the newly created position of Director, PPM Implementation. She was previously the leader of the team co-ordinating the launch of the Houston panel, which reached its 2100 person target at the end of June. More
A new report from US research and consulting firm Best Practices identifies a lack of training and development for MR professionals working on the client side. According to'Developing the High-Performance Market Research Function', key skills such as negotiating and influencing are neglected. More
US agency Cymfony has secured $7 million venture capital to expand its business intelligence products. In particular, it hopes to focus on tracking brands and businesses across 'consumer-created' online media such as blogs and message boards. More
European online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has launched the OmniTaxi - an online alternative to the traditional omnibus. The service, which it is claimed will be more flexible, cost effective and targeted than an omnibus, will be available in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. More
CSM Media Research, a joint venture between TNS and Chinese agency CTR Market Research, has won the Hong Kong TV audience measurement (TAM) contract. The contract comes at an important time, with Hong Kong gearing up to transfer to terrestrial digital TV transmissions in 2007. More
Insightful Corporation, a provider of analysis software, has appointed Martin DeBono as VP of Worldwide Marketing, reporting to Jeff Coombs, the company's CEO. As well as gaining an MBA from Harvard and marketing experience in several software companies, DeBono previously served as a nuclear submarine officer. More
Consumer and retail specialist the NPD Group today announced its acquisition of STS Market Research, a US company serving the fashion industry. NPD will take over the STS longitudinal AccuPanel to provide clients with tracking research. More
It's high season for UK conference calls and awards announcements, so if you've done anything you're particularly proud of lately – MR-oriented that is – take note. The Worshipful Company of Marketors wants entries for the first ever marketing book prize, the MRS has called for papers for its 2006 conference, and the IGD is looking for examples of consumer insight. More
Aegis Group Plc, owner of Synovate, has announced that the company is on course to meet its 2005 targets despite a 'patchy' spend on advertising, and an uncertain outlook for the global economy. More
New appointees and promotions at GMI include the man who brought kiwi fruit to the USA, and a former consultant who advised Microsoft and Bill Clinton. The company has made six senior appointments in the US and Brazil, as well as recruiting some more junior project management staff in Seattle. More
UK agency Leapfrog Research & Planning has been acquired by marketing services company Cello Group plc, for a total £6m in cash, loan notes and new ordinary shares. Cello listed on AIM in November 2004 and already owns four other companies including healthcare specialist Insight Research Group. More
Millward Brown has become a licensed member of the Walker Global Network in Asia Pacific. Under the licensing arrangement Millward Brown will offer stakeholder relationship measurement and management products developed and provided by stakeholder research specialist Walker. More
India's television audience measurement agency Tam Media Research is planning to increase its panel from 4,800 to 10,300, following news that the number of Indian homes with access to cable and satellite TV has doubled since 2002. More
Caroline Plumb, 26-year-old founder of research and graduate recruitment company Fresh Minds appears for the second time in Management Today's '35 Under 35' list of Britain's highest-flying young businesswomen. More
Nielsen Media Research has implemented staff training, translation services and other measures recommended by last year's Independent Task Force on Television Measurement. The services are part of a string of measures aimed at better representation of the ethnically and culturally diverse TV audience. More
In the latest episode of the Local People Meter (LPM) controversy, US TV ratings company Nielsen Media Research claims that its new measurement system is actually giving higher ratings to shows with an African-American theme or cast, countering critics' claims that they 'under-represent people of color'. More
A new UK recruitment and training agency is to focus on the operations side of MR. Gina Moore has set up and run field and ops functions for several agencies and worked most recently at Kantar's Operations Centre. manstonmoore's expertise will include operational, project management, front of house and admin staff, as well as programmers. More
ACNielsen has announced the launch of a new Global Consumer Panel Services (CPS) unit to enhance its growing international panel capabilities. Robert Tomei, formerly the General Manager of the US Homescan panel, has been appointed as President of the unit. More
Nielsen Media Research has announced an extension of its collaborative relationship with Time Warner Inc. The existing TV audience estimate contract ran for seven years from 1998 – it will now run until at least 2008. More
British entrepreneur Ian Lancaster has launched Twenty, an investment vehicle looking to acquire companies in the marketing services sector, including MR and customer intelligence. Lancaster is known for setting up Virgin Cars for Richard Branson, and also helped found the IT consultancy Ultimate Perspective Group, sold in 2000 for £50m. More
Australia's Association of Market Research Organisations (AMRO) has changed its name to reflect its broadening role. The country's professional (individual) membership organisation the AMSRS added the word 'Social' to its name last year, and AMRO has followed suit, becoming AMSRO. More
London-based agency SPA has set up a fieldwork only division called SPA Field Direct. Qual and quant fieldwork services will be provided to agencies, consultants and client-side companies by a team headed by Balbir Punia. More
US media group Clear Channel Radio this week issued a request for proposals for an upgraded radio ratings system. Current ratings-system provider Arbitron will be invited to participate in the RFP and says it is 'not worried' by the development, although Clear Channel says it is frustrated with the speed of current improvements. More
Following yesterday's appointment of a new CEO, software company FIRM has announced the election of Bengt Thuresson as Chairman of the Board, plus two new Board members, Øystein Moan and Berit Svendsen. More
Oslo-based survey and reporting software provider FIRM (Future Information Research Management) has appointed Henning Hansen as its new President and CEO. He previously held the same titles at data security company Norman, which he joined in 2001. More
The switch to Voice over IP technology (VOIP), combined with outsourced workflow models will 'shake the foundations of the market research industry' according to new research by software supplier VOXCO. More
The UK's Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) has launched a consultation process aimed at steering future developments in measurement of the increasingly advanced UK television market. For the time being, the complexity of TV measurement means that BARB will not be prioritising calls for cross-media measurement. More
US agency MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc.) has been bought by MVL Group, owner of QuickTest and Target Research Group, with the help of a $27.4 million finance line from its majority owner, commercial lender Allied Capital Corp. More
Synovate parent Aegis has agreed the acquisition of Italian quant and qual ad hoc agency AMT Consulting. The deal should be complete before the end of June 2005, when AMT will become part of Synovate. More
Online survey specialist FIRM has announced that its Confirmit software will power 'Asia's largest online panel', the new AIP mega panel of up to 1 million active respondents. More
Norway has become the first country to use Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) for commercial radio ratings. A Steering Committee of the Norwegian National Radio has signed a five-year contract with TNS Gallup, a member of the worldwide TNS group, to install a panel of 400 people from Q1 2006. More
The 2005 ESOMAR Congress will introduce two new features: 'Masterclasses' offering individual skills development ideas for delegates, and debating sessions. ESOMAR says the new features are designed to 'refresh and reinvigorate the market research contribution'. More
GfK has acquired the remaining shares in US pharmaceutical specialist GfK V2, of which it bought 51% in summer 2003; and is integrating its US activities in the healthcare sector into one unit. The group says recent purchases make it world no.1 for custom research in the sector. More
Surveys by London-based agency HI Europe will provide the backbone for a new Channel 4 comedy series, '8 Out of 10 Cats'. Two teams led by comedians will debate the results and the issues they highlight in a light-hearted style. More
Ipsos UK has announced that it is entering a mobile phone-based measurement system to compete with devices from Arbitron, NOP/Eurisko and GfK in the ongoing trials conducted by UK radio body RAJAR. Trials will use the Nokia 60 Series. More
Paris-based ARTeam, the holding company for agencies QCG and Socioscan, is to become part of Synovate following its acquisition by Aegis Group. More
Saying 'Non' is not the only thing the French have been queuing up to do. The longest and slowest moving queues in Europe are to be found in Sweden and France, according to a new survey by Research International and the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association). More
Retail specialist ESA has added two to its Head Office team. Michael Virks joins as Data Processing Manager and Melanie Banks in the newly created role of Business Improvement Administrator. More
Synovate has launched 'Asia's first local upscale media survey', tracking the spending patterns and media habits of Bangkok's most affluent people. The 'Media Atlas' survey is supported by the Media Agency Club (MAC) of Thailand and by leading publishers, Advance Agro. More
US agency SIS International has opened a new operations center in the heart of New York City, including a global call center and expanded focus group facilities. More
Audience researcher Arbitron has announced a two-phase program to cement radio audience estimates in all but four of the 114 small markets in its 'condensed market' service. Year round measurement and quarterly rolling-sample reports will begin with the release of Spring 2007 reports. More
The value of the online research market is set to triple in three years, reaching $4 billion by 2008 and introducing a large number of smaller users, according to a new study conducted for solutions provider GMI by Simon Chadwick of Cambiar. More
NOPWorld has announced that its Mystery Shopping division will monitor sales of UK rail tickets for ATOC, the Association of Train Operating Companies. The contract runs for up to 5 years. More
Pulse Group, whose launch was announced just two weeks ago in DRNO, has formed a strategic partnership with IT solutions company Basis Bay and set up a 40 seat, state-of-the-art VOIP CATI Centre for surveys in the Asian market. Expansion into Europe is planned for later in the year. More
Daily Research News has appointed a full-time News Editor, who will start in June. Tessa Russell joins from Which? magazine where she has worked for the last eight years, most recently as an Assistant Editor leading the food and health team. More
Synovate has acquired CORAL Pacific Inc., a Tokyo-based research business servicing CPG, primarily in the areas of brand and advertising tracking studies and product testing. More
An influx of news in the UK retail sector. NOPWorld has today announced the winning of a contract for mystery shopping for Kwik Save supermarkets, and ESA has this week retained its mystery shopping contract for Tesco Ireland. Meanwhile MINTEL reports Britain's tea-drinking on the wane and IGD says convenience store takings are set to grow. More
Yet more activity involving a major research group in Latin America: El Salvador's Jabes Market Research is the latest company to join the Harris Interactive® Global Network. Jabes was established only in September 2002 but is already planning to spread its operations to Guatemala and Honduras in the next few years. More
Arbitron Inc. has announced an increased sample size for its RADAR network radio ratings service from 80,000 to 100,000 diarykeepers. Among other benefits the growth will allow the expansion of the Market by Market Reporting tool from the current top 10 DMAs to the top 25 DMAs by June 2005. More
The UK's MRS has published a Code of Practice covering Automated Dialling Equipment, the source of much recent controversy due to the 'silent calls' made to consumers as a result of its use. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of the Colombian company Napoleón Franco S.A., noted for its public affairs research but also big in mainstream MR. The buy gives the global group 20% of the country's MR market and a powerful all-round presence in Latin America. More
Qual research should only be done by specialist quallies, according to the ever-controversial Neil McPhee of Nuance Research, addressing a workshop at last week's BIG Conference. However, the excellent afternoon and evening programme subsequently proved that tennis should not be left to tennis players, and that good things come in threes... More
UK agency Quaestor has launched a separate fieldwork company, Field Direct, to be led by Senior Field Executive, Julie Gibson. More
Online survey & reporting software provider FIRM has released first quarter results, showing revenue up 34% on the year to $3.9m in Q1 2005. During the quarter, FIRM added two new modules to its flagship package Confirmit: conjoint-based product and ad optimizer Confirmit IdeaMap, and multi-mode survey system Confirmit CAPI. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has developed a service for telecoms providers enabling them to measure and analyse mobile content usage. Three major carriers are already using or trialling the system – Optus, Hutchison 3 and Telstra. More
'I think the industry is ultimately making a bet on hydrogen' 'The US will move like the European or Western European markets... where c.50% are diesel engines' 'Asia ... will drive more and more future product development' - J.D.Power CEO Steve Goodall on what's in store for automotive, in part 2 of our exclusive interview. More
ESOMAR will be holding its 58th Annual Congress in the glamorous setting of Cannes from 18 – 21 September 2005, with around 1,000 MR and marketing professionals in attendance. This year's theme is 'Making a difference. The impact of powerful research'. More
Bob Chua, formerly MD of Sales, International at online MR solutions provider Global Market Insite (GMI), has left to head up a new company, Pulse Group, with GMI's backing. Pulse Group is headquartered in Sydney, Aus and offers Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) for the MR industry. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has appointed Peter Mouncey as Editor-in-Chief of its International Journal of Market Research, and increased its frequency of publication from quarterly to six times a year. More
J.D. Power and Associates, perhaps the world's best known name in automotive research, was recently acquired by publisher McGraw-Hill. In April, CEO Steve Goodall talked in-depth to MrWeb's Michael Kenyon about the new owners, the road ahead for the company and the future of the automotive industry worldwide. [first of three parts] More
UK agency Holden Pearmain has announced a suite of dedicated decision-making tools for NPD and sales forecasting. re:New, re:Formulate and re:Develop use conjoint analysis, build statistical models from the results and deliver forecasts using customised electronic reporting. More
Arbitron Inc. and VNU have agreed to deploy a pilot panel of c.14,500 participants in 6,250 households by the end of this year, as a demonstration of the 'Project Apollo' national service collecting multimedia and purchase information from US consumers. More
US-based Opinion Research Corporation and Sweden's Observer Group have announced financial results for the first quarter of 2005. ORC's rising revenues from social research offset a slight decline in market research and a bigger fall in teleservices, while Observer reports continued positive development in the US but a weak quarter in Europe. More
The USA's Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has added four new Directors to the 35 already on its Board: Steven Fredericks of TNS Media Intelligence, Stephen Kim from MSN, Brian McAndrews, head of aQuantive and Jessica Pantanini of Bromley Communications, who is the Board's first Hispanic member. More
Nielsen Media Research has publicised disclosures made by its opponents in the LPM debate, confirming the heavy involvement of News Corp in the Don't Count Us Out campaign. The lobbying firm involved also admitted directing a campaign of calls to Nielsen execs which shut down their corporate switchboard. More
The BMRA has published its league table of UK research agencies for 2004. Whilst we remain cautious given problems in previous years with interpretation, there are some notable highlights. Total turnover for the sector was just under £1.3bn (up 5.4%), with international business in particular recovering strongly. More
Specialist international B2B research consultancy Kadence Asia Pacific has launched KadBUS®, described as 'the first Pan-Asian business omnibus'. Decision-makers from up to 3,000 SMEs across the region will be interviewed on a quarterly basis. More
TNS Media has been appointed by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) to undertake the main survey work for its 'TouchPoints' UK media study. TNS says the research will be the first to 'connect single media channels such as TV, radio, print media and online through an industry-wide measurement system'. More
Fieldwork agencies JLRS and Select Research are merging to form JLRS-Select. The new company will be one of the UK's most experienced qual recruitment agencies. More
UK retail and trade research specialist ESA has announced turnover growth of 8% in its 25th anniversary year, 2004. Although well below the 35% achieved in 2003, when it was the fastest growing large research agency in the UK, the 2004 figure is still well above the industry average. More
UK radio audience research body RAJAR has agreed a further £500,000 to fund the next stage of its extensive testing and analysis of two audiometers, the Arbitron Portable People Meter (PPM) and the Eurisko Media Monitor. TV research body BARB will piggyback its own test of the PPM on the RAJAR study. More
Audience measurement specialist Arbitron Inc. has announced results for the first quarter of 2005, 'on track despite a challenging economic environment' for its customers. Revenue of $79.2m is up 3.4% on the same period last year. More
ACNielsen has launched its Your Voice online research panels in Korea and Japan, bringing its total in the region to five (including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore). The company says it has been recruiting in 14 markets across Asia Pacific and should have panels in Hong Kong and China fully operational by the end of 2005. More
German-owned GfK has won the bidding for NOP World, acquiring it from United Business Media for £383 million (c.EUR 550m) in cash. The transaction remains subject to approval of the competition authorities in the United States and in Germany, but GfK says approval is expected at the end of May. More
TNS has announced an agreement of intent with the Norwegian National Radio's Steering Committee to launch a panel of 200 individuals using Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM). The Committee represents NRK, P4, Kanal 24, Radio 1, Nordic Web Radio and the Association of Local Radio Companies. More
United Business Media (UBM) will offer exclusive talks to one of the three remaining bidders for NOP World, according to the UK's Financial Times. The three are GfK, Ipsos and the WPP Group - Aegis and TNS were recently eliminated from the bidding. More
Eighty-seven percent of Canadians believe that market and survey research serves a valuable purpose, according to a poll by the country's Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA). However, sugging calls are widespread and remain a threat to this goodwill. More
GfK has announced 'a year of extraordinary success' with sales up 12.8% to EUR 671.7m and a margin of 13.6%, putting the Group 'top of the market research sector in terms of profitability'. EBIT including income from participations increased by 31.2% to EUR 91.1m and the dividend by around 43% to EUR 0.30. More
America's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has told Congress that it will not be formally monitoring the accuracy of media ratings, and that it believes Nielsen did not misrepresent its Local People Meters or fail to disclose 'material facts' about the system. The Commission says self-regulation via the Media Rating Council appears to be working. More
eQuesta, the online division of healthcare and pharmaceutical field agency, Fieldwork International has appointed Lyndon Woods, formerly of RI, to oversee the expansion of its physician panel, and has announced the availability of video-streaming at its viewing facilities in Fulham, London. More
MORI is celebrating ten years with a permanent presence in Scotland by doubling the capacity of its telephone research centre in Edinburgh to 300 dedicated CATI stations. It will also recruit additional research and support staff. More
Greenfield Online has announced the completed acquisition of fellow online survey specialist Ciao AG for cash plus shares to a total value of c.$150 million. The move creates a major new global force in Internet panel research. More
Ethnic investment specialist Hispania Capital Partners has acquired a controlling interest in US telephone fieldwork company Eastern Research Services, Inc, for an undisclosed sum. Hispania says Eastern provides a platform for development and its aims include the development of a major full service offering, among others. More
US agency MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc.) has launched ENFOQUE(SM), a 3-step solution designed to guide the research process for companies marketing to Hispanics in the US. More
Media measurement specialists will be gathering in Montreal, Canada in June for WAM 2005 (World Audience Measurement), jointly organised by ESOMAR and The ARF. In addition to its established format, the Conference will for the first time dedicate a day to the evaluation of Branded Entertainment and Sponsorship. More
VNU has announced a number of new services and initiatives at the Consumer 360 event in the USA. They include CBI, a proprietary integrated data solution for CPG companies; new methodologies with the ambitious goal of 'tracking retail sales across all outlets', globally; two new consumer insights services based on Homescan®; and a tracking service and consumer panel for ethnic consumers. More
Survey Sampling International is to work with panel management software supplier Vision Critical to build 'next generation' custom Internet research panels. More
IMSA, the International Mystery Shopping Alliance, has added another member this week. Hoed Mystery Shopping is one of the leading agencies in the field in Australia and New Zealand. More
Lightspeed Research has launched a Consumer Panel for Italy, with access to 64,000 household members at start-up and the aim of growing to more than 200,000 by the end of 2005. More
Nielsen Media Research yesterday made public, and welcomed, the content of the report of The Independent Task Force on Television Measurement. The Task Force was established last year as an independent body, amid the controversy over Local People Meters and their measurement of the viewing behaviour of people of colour. More
It's boom time for panel-based research, and many of the field's leading figures will be assembling next month at ESOMAR's Panel Research Conference, 17-19 April, in Budapest, Hungary. More
The UK's MRS has elected Eamonn Santry of Network Research as its new Chairman and Raz Khan of IT services firm Cobalt Sky as Deputy Chairman, following an Extraordinary General Meeting. The meeting was required because – for the first time in the Society's history – no nominations were received for the post. More
'Reconstructions', the MRS Conference 2005, continues on Friday at London's Barbican Centre. Here's our own interpretation of Thursday afternoon's papers, with not a little opinion thrown in. More
Rapid-rising UK-based agency Nunwood Consulting has announced five new appointments this month, in its quantitative, qualitative and brand communication teams. More
Colmar Brunton New Zealand (CB NZ), the country's fastest-growing agency, is to merge with Millward Brown New Zealand. Colmar Brunton Australia has issued a separate statement saying it is not involved in any way with the merger, is committed to employee ownership and has already rejected offers from multinational groups. More
Ipsos UK opens a new telephone centre in Lowestoft, Suffolk, this week. The new facility will support the existing international CATI centre in Harrow, North London in coping with growing demand, especially via the company's Public Affairs division. More
Online survey and software specialist FIRM has announced that it is working on its first multi-mode solution, Confirmit CAPI, which it says will 'dramatically change the Market Research industry'. More
TNS has today announced extensive development plans for its global consumer panel service Worldpanel, including the expansion of its UK FMCG consumer tracker, Superpanel, from 15,000 to 25,000 households. More
Nielsen parent VNU has released its full year financial statements for 2004, showing 'solid' growth in 2004. Strong results from the Media Measurement & Information (MMI) group and most of the Marketing Information (MI) group were offset by ACNielsen Europe's protracted move to a new data factory. More
They may sound cheerful (sometimes) but the UK's call centre employees are the least satisfied of any occupation according to ORC International. The agency's latest benchmarking study found only 25% satisfied with their pay, compared with an overall UK average of 41%. More
TNS has announced its results for the year ended 31 December 2004, the first full year since the acquisition of NFO WorldGroup, Inc. (NFO) in July 2003. Revenue increased 17.4% to £945.3m and underlying revenue up 4.1%. Operating profit is up 28% to £102.0m while operating margin increased 0.9% to 10.8%. More
The UK's Incepta, owner of a number of MR brands and companies including Hauck and DVL Smith Ltd, is to merge with PR group Huntsworth. The resulting group will have an estimated market capitalisation of c.£195.4m, around two thirds from Incepta and one third Huntsworth. More
VNU has announced that its subsidiary Nielsen Media Research International has successfully closed its 30-country joint venture TV ratings deal with WPP's AGB Group, announced on 5th August last year. More
US custom researcher ROCON Analysis has announced a formal partnership with software developer Estco Medical, to provide online medical focus groups and depth interviews. More
The Australian Market & Social Research Society (AMSRS) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with its 2005 National Conference at Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour from 9 - 11 October. 'Impact 2005' will examine the effect the profession has had on Australian communities, government and the private sector. More
Online survey software provider Zoomerang, owned by California's MarketTools, Inc., has reported the launch of its one millionth survey, a customer satisfaction review by a multinational corporation. Zoomerang debuted in the fall of 1999. More
MrWeb posted its 20,000th vacancy ad on Tuesday this week. The site, which was launched in 1998, has been the UK's busiest medium for MR recruitment since the year 2000, but the rapid recent rise in the number of postings is evident from the fact that ad number 10,000 went up in mid-2003. More
Following RAJAR's announcement this week that the GfK Telecontrol MediaWatch had been dropped from its next wave of audiometer trials, the Group has issued a statement saying it is 'highly astonished' and questioning the scientific basis of the tests. More
The USA's Marketing Research Association (MRA) will launch its long-awaited Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) program on February 28, 2005 in Chicago. The program covers all segments of the profession, 'from End User to Interviewer'. More
UK radio audience measurement body RAJAR has announced the result of its Audiometer Validation Test which took place in November 2004. The Arbitron PPM and the Eurisko Media Monitor have been selected for further fieldwork tests, while the GfK/Telecontrol MediaWatch has, for the time being at least, dropped out of the running. More
Centurion Marketing Systems has launched a module integrating their panel management system, MARSC, with the MI Pro Research Studio. The new product automates data flow between the sample selection and questionnaire generation packages. More
Advertising tracking specialist Nielsen Monitor-Plus has extended its coverage to provide brand-level detail for spot radio in the US. The system now reports on more than 500 radio stations, representing a growth of 68%, and measures more than 50% of all US advertising spend. More
Nielsen Media Research will launch a branding advertising campaign in the US in February, promoting its accurate reporting of TV viewing by all different kinds of people, led by the slogan 'Every View Counts'. The move follows a year of controversy over the launch of its Local People Meters. More
Mean salaries for UK research positions recovered strongly in 2004 and particularly in the second half as confidence returned to the industry, according to figures just released by MrWeb. Particular gains were made at the two extremes, JRE level and Directors & above, with senior salaries generally buoyant. More
Internet survey solutions company Greenfield Online, Inc has completed the acquisition of Durham, North Carolina-based Rapidata.net, Inc for $5.5 million in cash, substantially increasing its health care research capabilities. More
Arbitron has announced good results, amid industry speculation about a possible sale. The US-based audience measurement specialist increased its revenue by 8.4% in 2004, from $273.6m to $296.6m. More
Less than three months after the demise of UK agency Strategic Research, its co-founders Steve Wills and Sally Webb have launched a new agency, Customer Insight Solutions (CIS), to continue both their research / consultancy and promotion of their IBEX benchmarking tool. More
The TRBI brand, for a decade one of the UK's best known names, has disappeared with the New Year as the agency continues its integration into Synovate, which acquired it in January 2004. More
A recent study by GfK Martin Hamblin suggests that UK consumers do understand the difference between market research and telephone sales calls, and are still happy to respond to MR. Around 1 in 5 of those interviewed for the Britbus survey were registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) but had completed the interview happily. More
Audience measurement giant Arbitron Inc. has signed a four-year license agreement with Clear Channel Radio to provide radio ratings and software services up to and including the Fall 2008 survey. More
The US Federal Trade Commission's Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) requires telemarketers to access the National Do Not Call Registry and purge newly-registered numbers from their call lists every 31 days, beginning on 1st January 2005. More
DRNO has learned that Ivor Stocker has narrowly defeated Peter Hodgson in the first ever contested election for Chairman of the British Market Research Association (BMRA). Stocker was Chair in 2001-2, handing over the reins to IDA's Peter Jackling from whom he now resumes the title, thus completing a neat one-two. More
Just two and a half weeks after announcing a new venture in Australia Survey Sampling International (SSI) has announced a partnership with Larry Greenberg of Tokyo-based Urban Connections to establish and rapidly expand a new Representative Office in Japan. More
EQuesta, the online division of pharmaceutical and healthcare data collection agency Fieldwork International, has announced that its European physicians panel has doubled in size over the past year to 19,000, and is currently growing at a rate of 2000 members per month. More
The Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) has named Harry E. Heller, Ph.D., as Director of Respondent Co-operation. More
Canada's three industry associations for market intelligence and survey research have announced a merger, creating a new national association to be called the Marketing Research & Intelligence Association (MRIA) and due to operate from 1st Jan 2005. More
Nielsen Media Research and NBC Universal have announced the signing of a seven-year contract for audience measurement services covering all of NBC Universal's national and local television businesses, the largest ever of its kind. More
Independent healthcare data collection agency All Global has launched a 5-room viewing facility in Central London. All Global Viewing offers leading edge technology and a full range of office services. More
Another Pat on the back for UK agency Nunwood Consulting, which has won a major continuous contract to measure customer satisfaction for the Post Office. The project aims to develop an end-to-end understanding of customers' service experience, taking soundings at various lifecycle stages. More
'We are a research and consulting organization first. The Internet and telephone are a means to an end'. Gregory Novak, President and COO Harris Interactive talks in depth to MrWeb's Michael Kenyon about Internet research, Sesame Street strategy and 'the perfect acquisition'. More
Information Resources, Inc (IRI) has announced a new service designed to measure ad effectiveness among households using Digital Video Recorders (DVRs). The pioneering system has been developed in close co-operation with California-based DVR technology company TiVo, Inc. More
UK agency Strategic Research has ceased trading as of Monday 1st November. Despite rapid recent growth and a high profile in the industry, the company says it was unable to recover from the loss of one very large client. More
ACNielsen has completed the first phase of its US Homescan MegaPanel initiative, expanding the panel by thirty thousand households to a total of 91,500 and launching the 'Shopper Trends' segmentation service and other new features. Nearly fifty companies have signed up as MegaPanel clients and the first results are due next month. More
Online competitive intelligence provider Hitwise has expanded its demographic sample to include more than 2 million UK households, allowing better profiling of online audiences using basic demographics and/or lifestyle data. More
It's party time for UK researchers, many of whom went straight from the Insight Show in London's Earl's Court to the MRS Awards Dinner at the Café Royal last night. The Show looked better, if still fairly quiet; the Awards were a shade off last year's success, but still pretty good. Does our opinion count? Well here it is anyway. More
A very enjoyable Awards dinner at the Café Royal last night saw some familiar and some new faces carrying off the major gongs. Two were carried off to a noisy Nunwood table, including the 'Best Agency' Award for which they were pipped last year by Flamingo – and two went to the team of Robert Heath at the Value Creation Company and Pam Hyder from Standard Life. More
US technology trade group the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) says that polling companies may be leaving as many as eight million US households out of their calculations due to consumers changing to cellular phones as the sole means of taking calls. More
Internet-based panels provider Ciao AG has added seven new execs to its international project management team. The new staff, mostly based in Madrid, will allow the company to continue its policy of using a dedicated project manager and account manager for each project despite a rapidly growing volume of work. More
With two weeks to go before the US election, President Bush has either an eight-point or a two-point lead, depending on the definition of 'likely voters', according to the Harris Poll. However, the closeness of the race along with social and technological changes make the result very hard to call. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has formally launched its new introductory qualification in market and social research, in partnership with City & Guilds, the UK's leading awarding body for work-based qualifications. More
Eurisko, the Italian arm of NOP World, has been formally invited to take part in RAJAR's Audiometer Validation Trial in November 2004. Eurisko's passive portable radio and TV metering system is said to rival those currently on offer by Arbitron and GFK. Further details of the trial format have also been released. More
This year's MRS Research Excellence and Effectiveness Awards will be hosted by the UK Society on 26th October at the Café Royal in London, and for the first time feature an award for Public Policy & Social Research. Competition is fierce – and with work among litter louts, railway vandals and (other) young offenders on the short list, some of the respondents may not exactly be kittens either. More
CMOR, the body formed in 1992 by four US trade associations for the promotion and advocacy of MR, has responded to DRNO's 3rd August interview with Simon Chadwick, CASRO Chairman, and outlined its own approach to the FTC's 'Do Not Call' legislation. More
Radio audience measurement body RAJAR has committed itself to a 'roadmap' with a timetable for up-grading the current system, including the possible introduction of electronic measurement. The tender process will be launched in April 2005 and the new contract awarded as early as September 2005. More
*More* friendly behaviour from the leaders of the UK's research associations: the BMRA has announced that six of them will share a platform at its Conference in November, and outline their visions for the future of the industry. The six represent the MRS, BMRA, AURA, AQR, BIG and the ICG. More
UK research associations the MRS and BMRA have announced another attempt to establish closer, more formal links, this time including the client side organisation AURA. The three councils are preparing detailed proposals for the creation of 'a single federated structure reflecting the needs of the whole MR sector'. More
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is for the first time seeking civil penalties for violations of the Do Not Call (DNC) register. It claims that a Nevada-based telemarketing group has made more than 300,000 calls to consumers who registered their phone numbers on the list. More
The British Market Research Association (BMRA) has announced just two shortlisted contenders for its Best Agency 2004 award: Flamingo International and Nunwood Consulting. Both won awards last year and Flamingo claimed the overall title. More
Online fieldwork and panel specialists Research Now! have added four new employees including former Red Sheriff boss John Caldwell as Director of Client Services. More
Internet survey solutions provider Greenfield Online, Inc. has recently signed an agreement to acquire all 1.1m households from The Dohring Company's OpinionSurveys.com panel. This is expected to bring the size of Greenfield's Online panel to c.3.1m households and 8m individuals. More
Chris Wood, formerly Director of Qualitative Services at Perspective Research, has launched a new fieldwork company, Raw Research. The company specialises in telephone, web and field based data collection, from recruitment and interviewing to first stage data analysis. More
MrWeb has launched a directory of US-based recruitment consultants specialising in the MR industry, along with other features on a new-look US-tailored Home Page. More
ESOMAR and EMAC (European Marketing Academy) are to co-host a Marketing Conference on October 10-12 in Warsaw, Poland. Under the theme 'Where Science Meets Practice', topics will include brand management, understanding consumers, advanced uses of the Internet, and research in emerging markets. More
International healthcare and pharmaceutical field agency Fieldwork International has announced three new appointments, including a new manager for its MedTran translation service. More
US MR association CASRO has drawn members' attention to recent legislation which constitutes 'a powerful tool to combat 'frugging' (fundraising under the guise of research)'. It has also published letters to and from the FTC clarifying research's status under 'Do Not Call' and CAN SPAM legislation. More
Top salaries in UK research are rising steeply, judging by advertised remuneration on MrWeb and reported in the forthcoming MRWho supplement. The supplement's 'Director+' jobs page, which selects the most senior positions, consists for the first time entirely of ads offering 80k (pounds) and above. More
E-Tabs, provider of delivery, portal and automation software for the MR industry, has opened an office in New York and recruited Aaron Benedict from CRM Metrix to head it up. Existing offices are in London and Chicago. More
The AGB Group and Nielsen Media Research International have today announced a 50/50 joint venture that will offer television ratings in 30 countries. AGB Group's TV audience measurement services will merge with those wholly owned by Nielsen Media Research International. The deal does not include Nielsen's US TV ratings service. More
BBM Canada, the Canadian industry consortium for audience ratings, has adopted the Arbitron Portable People Meter (PPM) as the official ratings system for buying and selling commercial airtime on French-language television in Quebec and Montreal. More
Nearly half the UK's sixty-five biggest agencies showed double-digit growth last year, according to league tables published by Marketing magazine in association with the BMRA. More
In the latest exchange of the long-running controversy surrounding PPMs, LPMs and their supposed under-representation of certain groups, Nielsen have issued a statement responding to Fox Television's appeal for government regulation of television ratings. More
Arbitron and Nielsen Media Research have announced substantially improved results in their recruitment and maintenance of panels for the PPM. More
A review commissioned in May by Nielsen Media Research but conducted by an independent body has concluded that criticisms of Nielsen's methodology for measuring ethnic audiences made by Rincón and Associates 'Latino Television Study' were not solidly supported. More
Synovate has selected SPSS Dimensions, an integrated market research platform for survey design, data collection, data management, analysis and publishing of market research results, as its technology of choice throughout its worldwide operations. More
MrWeb's Career Clinic has been running since 2001, with a series of leading MR recruitment professionals answering questions on how to get into, ahead in and occasionally out of market research. This week the Clinic is relaunched with more than 60 of the more interesting questions divided into easy-to-browse topics and a team of experts ready to answer your questions. More
The USA's Marketing Research Association has announced a new President, Joe Ottaviani. Already strongly involved in MRA's Partnership initiative with other MR associations, Ottaviani sees progress towards 'a single voice representing the profession' as a key objective. More
SPSS has announced the launch of a new product, Text Analysis for Surveys, which aims to provide an efficient way of mining key information from open ended responses and is claimed by one user at least as the 'Holy Grail' of survey text analysis. More
Research firm MRCGroup Research Institute has announced an expansion in one of MR's more glamorous locations. The company's national research test facility, located in the Grand Canal Shoppes of The Venetian Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, has added a 36-station screening room test theater, confounding some early sceptics. More
Recent figures released by the US Census Bureau show that the nation's Hispanic and Asian populations continue to grow much faster than the population as a whole, while non-Hispanic whites have the oldest age profile. More
UK supermarket chain Iceland has developed a nationwide panel of 300 'Supermums', using the organising expertise of Brahm Research. The panel will be called upon frequently to test promotions and new product lines, in addition to helping the retailer understand its key audience. More
GfK has unveiled a wristwatch which it claims measures 'whatever mass media the wearer comes into contact with, wherever the wearer may be'. MediaWatch made its debut at the international 'Week of Audience Measurement' organized by ESOMAR and ARF in Geneva, beginning yesterday. More
As reported in Research News, the monthly newsletter of the Market Research Society of Australia, this month sees the launch of the new AS4752 in Sydney on 17 June by Standards Australia. The country joins the UK, Spain and France as the fourth nation to introduce an official quality standard for its market and social research industry. More
With online questionnaires growing in importance, industry commentators are advising researchers to brush up their (sometimes rusty) self-completion survey techniques. Aussie researcher Philip Derham has analysed responses to open-ended questions in a number of paper and Web-based surveys and drawn some interesting conclusions. More
From today (June 3rd), Nielsen Media Research is offering Local People Meter (LPM) data in New York. The new system will run in parallel with the old Meter/Diary system for a transition period of three months, with either set of data allowed for commercial use. More
Research clients from Woolworths, the Cabinet Office, Defra and FOCUS DIY will be among those addressing ORC International's ninth annual employee research conference in London this month. More
Three of the men who founded and pioneered geodemographics in the UK will be leading a seminar to celebrate its 25th anniversary, hosted by the Market Research Society's Census and Geodemographics Group on 1st July. More
Sample provider Survey Sampling International LLC (SSI) has announced rapid sales growth for Q1 2004 and has appointed Steve Flanagan Vice President for Global Development. More
Finding the right kind of people is the biggest challenge facing fast-growing research agencies of all sizes, according to the next edition of MRWho, out shortly. The issue looks in detail at 6 UK-based success stories with turnovers from £1 million to £50 million, and finds most in buoyant mood. More
The BIG Conference, the UK's flagship b2b research event, is in full flow in Chepstow, Wales. In this first feature article we look at highlights of the first day's papers, with topics including 'Innovation' and research's contribution to the spread of broadband. More
FIRM (Future Information Research Management) has released a new version of its flagship software system Confirmit. Online and offline reporting capabilities are enhanced, survey generation is faster and overall performance improved by up to 1200%. More
Further moves in the saga of Nielsen's local people meters and their representation of ethnic audiences. Nielsen Media Research has announced that it has contracted with the University of Southern California's Tomás Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI), to review the findings of a Latino Television Study which questioned Nielsen's techniques. More
Retail specialist ESA, recently revealed as the fastest growing of the top 20 UK agencies in the BMRA table with a 35% year-on-year turnover increase, has appointed Malcolm McKessar as Operations Manager and Linda Pini as Field Manager. More
From this week, MrWeb is offering free advertising of vacancies for interviewers and coders for agencies with full entries in its directory. The service will be trialled in the UK before rollout to Australia, the US and elsewhere. More
YouGov has announced that it will work on a large-scale project funded by the American National Science Foundation (NSF) and centred around a monthly tracking study of the British electorate, administered online. More
Three promotions are announced at fast-growing Little Rock-based agency Flake-Wilkerson Market Insights LLC, following the opening in February of its new 'Midwest' call center and other recent appointments. More
MORI Scotland, already boosted in January by the launch of an expanded specialist CATI telephone centre in Leith, has announced the appointment of Steven Hope, formerly UK Head of Social Research at NFO World Group / System Three. More
Trouble - of rather different sorts - for audience measurement providers on both sides of the Atlantic. The UK's radio audience research body RAJAR is being sued for £66m, while in the US Nielsen Media Research has been criticised by News Corporation over its imminent launch of People Meter technology in New York. More
Youth researchers will be offered new insight into American kids' values, attitudes, and lifestyles, along with tips on how to get into the classroom to talk to them, at a series of forthcoming seminars hosted by iYAM. More
Issues and challenges familiar to offline researchers are becoming more dominant online, according to some of the UK industry's best known Internet specialists. An article in next week's MRWho looks at trends in online research, touching on panel recruitment, accompanied surfing, 'inclusion' regulations and skills needs. More
Today sees the official launch of a home page for Australian researchers. MrWeb has attracted a significant audience of MR professionals Down Under for most of its 5 years, without much specific targeting, but from today is providing specific feature content, a job search and recruiter index, and directories with a more Australian focus. More
Kantar is to consolidate its UK Operations capabilities – including quant field management, scripting questionnaires, data collection and DP - under a single management structure, headed by Mike Leigh. The new unit will be known as The Operations Centre. More
Harris Interactive® will close its Rochester, NY telephone research facility by June 30 this year. The decision to close the last US Center reflects the growth of Internet data collection, compared to which telephone work is 'too costly and too slow'. More
UK agency ORC International treated clients and the press to a glimpse of its Vision for the future of MR last week in Central London. The company's survey management, analysis and reporting will all be Web-based on most projects, giving clients continuous access to project progress and often to results as they emerge. More
UK research agency Marketing Sciences has just launched PanelWizard, an innovative new consumer omnibus service. PanelWizard mixes telephone and online interviewing meaning that costs per question can be reduced, whilst still reaching a nationally representative audience. More
The latest quarterly results from the British Market Research Association (BMRA) in the UK suggest that the market research industry is showing signs of modest but real growth after a flat year in 2002. More
A major survey, involving 110 of Europe's largest companies, has revealed the Top Companies for Leaders in Europe. The study, which was carried out by global HR outsourcing and consulting firm Hewitt Associates, identifies the leadership practices that differentiate the most effective organisations for developing talent and which can be linked to financial success. More
The MRS Awards Dinner continues to gain momentum as an annual event - it's posh, it's popular and it now has more sponsors than Elton John doing a charity marathon. DRNO's reporter was privileged to sit only 27 tables from the front and watch Flamingo International carry off the BMRA's Best Agency Award. More
Fast-growing US agency Knowledge Networks, which like MrWeb is currently celebrating its 5th birthday, has released a white paper documenting the differences in online sample quality and their effects on marketing decision making. The paper discusses theory, gives background statistics and looks at two case studies to help analyse sampling bias. More
Online survey software specialist FIRM have announced a successful first 6 months for their first Asia Pacific partner-reseller, Australian-based Information Research Management Pty Ltd (IRM). IRM was founded in April 2003 and offers Confirmit software, training, consultancy, and support services. More
Three American research associations have gone on the record supporting the FTC's National Do-Not-Call Registry, which allows US citizens to opt out from telemarketing calls. The heavily subscribed list has been ruled unconstitutional by the Denver federal court, with further hearings scheduled for November 10th. More
Sports Marketing Surveys and Eurosport have announced the launch of the Eurosport Poll, a joint venture using online research to deliver rapid feedback to sponsors, event organisers, consultancies and federations on an omnibus basis. More
Nunwood Consulting is using personal digital assistants (PDAs) alongside software developed in-house to enable the uploading of interviews as they are completed, allowing researchers 'back at base' to instantly monitor, collate and view quantitative results, 'real time'. More
The Association for Survey Computing has announced four nominees for the MRS / ASC Joint Award for Technology Effectiveness, which aims to promote excellence in creating software or technology aiding the practice and delivery of research. More
CATI specialist The Wire has reported record sales for the first six months of its financial year, up 75% on the same period in 2002. Turnover for the period March to August 2003 was £1.4m. More
The total value of the worldwide MR market remained flat in 2002 according to ESOMAR's latest global market research study. The 2002 figure of US$16.6bn (Euro 17.6bn) is up in dollar terms but down in Euros due to exchange rate movements. The USA and the EU each accounted for 38% of the total world market in 2002. More
According to the FTC, around 42 million telephone numbers have already been registered on the US' new National Do Not Call Registry, which aims to regulate unsolicited telephone calls to the public. The latest findings from Harris Interactive® estimate that c.60m households will sign up eventually, but show confusion about the extent of its coverage to areas such as canvassing, fund-raising and of course, research. More
UK-based consultancies Citigate DVL Smith and Hauck Research Services, both owned by the Incepta Group Plc, are to be merged to form Incepta Marketing Intelligence. The various businesses and company brands within the group will continue to be run separately, reporting to the new Board, of which David Smith will be Chairman and Liz Hauck Deputy Chairman. More
The Market Research Society will be showcasing its training courses and professional development qualifications at the Insight Show in London in November, under the banner of the 'MRS Academy'. Visitors will be able to get a taste of some of the more popular training courses available, from a series of thirty-minute presentations. More
The US computer industry continues to enjoy the best image of any of the countries business sectors, although most segments have seen an improvement in the last year, according to Gallup. The restaurant and grocery sector is second, while accounting, suffering last year from scandals and failures, has jumped back 14 points. More
MrWeb has today launched the first four of its new 'Sector Focus' pages. Each page brings together the site's news, desk research links (UK-based) and listings of suppliers for researchers working in a particular vertical sector. More
Australian research specialist Pricing Decisions has announced the launch of a proprietary technique called 'eValuator', which uses advanced choice modelling methods to understand the value that customers obtain from new and modified products. More
Responses to a survey conducted online may suggest sharper opinions than a paper equivalent, with more high and low ratings and strong agreements / disagreements, as opposed to fence-sitting or moderate answers, according to a paper at the recent ORC International 8th annual employee research conference. More
ESOMAR will be hosting its 56th annual congress on September 14-17 in Prague. This is the first time that the congress will be taking place in a former soviet bloc country. About 1200 delegates will attend, from over 70 countries. More
Leading Australian online MR company Whetstone are claiming extraordinary success for an open-ended online discussion technique named 'The Research Confessional'. The system runs open-ended email discussions using a bespoke software package and makes use of a panel of 21,000 people. More
Consumers in most countries feel closer to their own culture than they did a few years ago, and more distant from American culture, according to the recent Roper Reports 2003 Worldwide study. Some of the likely causes are short-term and results vary with region, but generally consumers are more likely to be thinking as well as acting local. More
UK market research salaries have remained fairly flat in the past 12 months, according to the first statistics from MrWeb vacancies for Jan to June '03. Full details will be in this month's MRWho. The number of jobs posted (and specifying salaries) has risen by 27% in the last 6 months. More
Web site competitive intelligence provider Hitwise has published lists of top performing UK sites for the year June 2002 - June 2003. The stats are arranged by sector and are interesting both from the point of view of individual battles and the whole dotcom vs High Street saga. More
Taylor Nelson Sofres plc has announced the completion of its acquisition of NFO WorldGroup, Inc. (NFO), from The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (Interpublic). The acquisition, which was announced on 14 May 2003, consolidates TNS' position as one of the top three global companies in its industry. More
Prices charged by UK research agencies will be investigated over the next few weeks by UK Consultancy RHMR - this is the 6th year in succession that the price check has been carried out. Between 1998 and 2002 the average quotation received from participating agencies has risen by only around 10-15%, reflecting very competitive conditions in the industry. More
ESOMAR has been pressing ahead with its 'Quo Vadis project' to promote the convergence of worldwide MR standards, despite recent setbacks in the creation of a Federation of Research Associations. More
In what will undoubtedly be the MR Event of the Year, BMRA Chairman Peter Jackling and fieldwork guru Jill Lonsdale completed their planned merger in a ceremony in Chalfont St Peter in June. More
US CPG research giant Information Resources Inc. has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a newly formed corporation owned by Symphony Technology II-A, L.P. and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC. IRI's Board of Directors has unanimously approved the acquisition. More
The Market Research Society will be holding its annual Field Conference at Keele University on 7th and 8th July. The theme is 'Recruitment, Retention and Maintenance of a Field Force', and delegates will be discussing issues including how to motivate and communicate with a remote workforce, and how to reduce staff turnover. More
A typical survey will cost over a third more to conduct in the USA or Japan than it does in the UK, France or Germany, according to new research from ESOMAR, the World Association of Research Professionals. The 2003 Research Prices Study invited 407 member companies worldwide to quote for six different types of project. More
The MrWeb site, combining news, jobs, directories, diary and link libraries for market researchers, enjoyed a busiest-ever month in May with record numbers of jobs posted, pages viewed, recruiters advertising and subscribers signed up. On three occasions in the past four weeks, more than 10,000 site pages have been viewed in one day. More
The Board of MORI, the UK's largest independent MR agency, is entering discussions with a number of potential buyers. The company was the subject of an MBO 3-4 years ago and the decision to invite bids is reportedly in line with the original plan under the venture capital model. A price tag of £100m has been mentioned by the FT, but has not, according to MORI, come from anyone within the company. More
Results are in from MRWho's June poll of over 200 UK research professionals, and the shock news is that only thirty per cent think that MR is 'Not Very Well Paid'. We had certainly feared worse, and the 1% who think it is 'Very Badly Paid' are a drop in the ocean. Hours worked are also less off-putting than they might have been, with a mean of only 43 a week. Nevertheless, many researchers dream of dropping out and 'doing some good for society'. More
For those conference enthusiasts out there already planning next year's schedule of events, The Market Research Society in the UK has released the first details on its annual conference for 2004 entitled 'Welcome to the Dream Economy'. The conference, for the first time in its history, is to be held in central London. More
Leaders of market research associations from the Americas, Europe and Asia have decided to join efforts initiated by industry leaders during the RELEAS process aimed at strengthening the market research industry. More
CASRO's 8th Annual Technology Conference is a forum that will identify and address the latest issues in technology for research to be held in New York on 19 and 20 June. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) and the Association for Survey Computing (ASC) in the UK have announced a new award, the MRS/ASC Joint Award for Technology Effectiveness. More
Europinion (part of the Virtual Surveys group) is running a free seminar on the subject of online research on 17th June in central London. The seminar will aim to provide a thorough understanding of the issues and best approaches for conducting conventional research online. It will also provide an update on the latest trends in the area of website research. More
Early booking for the ASC (Association for Survey Computing) International Conference entitled 'The Impact of Technology on the Survey Process' closes next week on the 30 April. The conference itself takes place in September at Warwick University. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) and Pearson Education in the UK have this week launched two books which broaden the learning resources available for prospective and new entrants to the market research profession, and for marketing professionals seeking to extend their skills in market research. More
US based Marketing Systems Group and Computers for Marketing Corporation of San Francisco, CA have recently released a new interface between CfMC's WebCATI and the PROøTøS researchPredictive Dialer. This revolutionary interface allows interviewers, physically located away from the centralised interviewing facility, to operate as if they were in the facility itself, using a centralised web-based interviewing system linked to a computerised dialing system. More
A first 'World Industry Network (WIN)' meeting is to be held on 22-23 May 2003 in Brussels. More
'Reality Research', organised by research agency SKOPOS and the Market Research Society in the UK, is gearing up for action this Friday, 7th March. The event will turn the tables on market researchers and offer the public a chance to put them under surveillance, 'Big Brother' style. More
Global brand design agency Enterprise IG has set up a new specialist practice area to advise organisations on internal brand engagement. Three WPP Group companies, Enterprise IG, MCA Communicates and Added Value Internal Communication , are joining together to launch 'Babe'. More
MrWeb, the publisher of Daily Research News and MRWho, has appointed Michael Kenyon to the new post of Director, US Operations. The move follows a successful year in which the company has consolidated its no.1 position in the UK research job ads market and broadened out into new areas. More
The British Market Research Association (BMRA) is teaming up with the Market Research Society (MRS) and Marketing Week to create the first awards to cover the market research industry in a single event - The Market Research Effectiveness and Excellence Awards. More
Delegates meeting in Geneva this week at the Third Market Research Leaders Summit (Releas) have decided to support a new worldwide initiative to represent the market research industry at the legislative level in all major world markets to promote laws that protect consumer privacy while assuring the freedom to perform market and opinion research. More
Chameleon, Pulse Train's innovative R&D project, which facilitates the sharing of data and scripts between different data collection and analysis systems, is billed as data migration made easy. More
What are the legal requirements of film and video images? How to preserve respondent rights? How to conduct observation amongst children and young people? How to ensure the well being of respondents? These are just some of the issues which will be tackled in new draft guidelines on the use of observational research, announced this week by The Market Research Society (MRS). More
In a new agreement, 150 part-time data collectors and three area coordinators in the UK are to have their employment contracts transferred from ACNielsen to ESA, the St Albans based retail research specialists. ESA is currently ACNielsen's first-choice supplier for outsourced fieldwork and will be contracted to supply much of the regular pricing and causal data collection. More
Brazilian agency Enfoque Pesquisa has opened an in-house call centre in Rio de Janeiro using state of the art technology from GMI ideally suited for conducting cross-border research studies. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) has this week announced the launch of new guidelines on Employee Research, aimed at reinforcing The MRS Code of Conduct in this sensitive area of research. More
The most recent annual statistics breakdown of the UK industry from the BMRA (British Market Research Association) shows total industry turnover for the year 2001 was £1.15 billion, up from £1.07 billion in 2000. Although lower than the 9.3% increase over 1999, when turnover was £1 billion, last year's increase still outstripped inflation. More
The latest edition of Research News from the Market Research Society of Australia reports that the next Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey of the domestic market research industry will go into field in August. More
Two pioneers of Internet research, Ray Poynter and Pete Comley, have teamed up to launch a new company called Europinion Ltd to specialise in conducting conventional research online. More
Online data collection agency Itracks has launched its new Online Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) service allowing the company to seamlessly integrate online and telephone interviewing, which will enable the client to watch survey participation online in real-time. Itracks clients will have a range of survey data collection options, from phone to web to a hybrid approach. More
'Count the beats of your heart not the fingers on your hand' is the message Kevin Roberts, Worldwide CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi will give to the world's market researchers in his keynote speech to the ESOMAR Congress in Barcelona this September. More
For those readers experiencing conference withdrawal symptoms as the summer season approaches, The Market Research Society in the UK has just unveiled radical new plans for its annual Conference, 'Research 2003'. This will take place between 19-21 March 2003 and will run at a new venue, the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. More
Global Market Insite (GMI), Cunningham Research, and Field Facts Worldwide have this week announced the further expansion of the global network of central location testing facilities. The expansion increases the number of US mall locations to more than 125 unique sites across the USA, and extends the network globally via Field Facts' Worldwide offices and partner sites. Both companies have licensed GMI's Net-MR suite of Net-centric software tools for market research management. More
ESOMAR is holding its 54th Annual Congress from 22 to 25 September in Barcelona with the conference returning to Spain for the first time in ten years. Entitled 'Consolidation or Renewal? From Research to Customer Insight', the congress will examine the impact of consolidation in business and include papers on important areas such as innovation, branding, segmentation, new technologies and market research methods. More
Figures for job postings and mean salaries from MrWeb for the first six months of the year show an industry returning to normal. Mean salaries are higher than in the first half of 2001 and numbers of jobs advertised are very similar. There has been a significant shift towards recruitment of senior people and away from junior, and a steep rise in client side hirings since March. Detailed stats will appear in MRWho later this week. More
A polite reminder from the MRS has just reached the offices of DRNO. Apparently, the annual researchers' Golf Tournament, sponsored by NOP, is set for Thursday 27th June, at the Wyke Green Golf Club in Middlesex. More
As a research provider, do your know how your prices compare with the market? Are you charging your clients too much? Could you benefit from greater marketplace intelligence? Independent consultants Richard Horswell and Sally Donovan are possibly able to help you with these difficult questions. More
The Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) has recently published new guidelines on recruiting respondents for qualitative research. The guidelines - the first of their kind on this issue - are intended to maintain and increase professional standards throughout the industry. More
A new official body representing European market research is to be launched later this year. The brainchild of ESOMAR and EFAMRO, the organisation, entitled the 'European Marketing Research Alliance' (EMRA), will primarily lobby against any negative legislation across EU member states. More
Marketing and opinion research appears to be a growth industry in Brazil, with a turnover of US$ 197 million in 2000. This is according to information released in ESOMAR's new global market research study. The sector grew by 11 percent overall during 2001 and continues to show steady growth into 2002. More
Most researchers believe that response rates have declined steadily over the past 20 years. Many are gloomy about the future as well, with rates set to continue falling. In the face of this, the CMR Group are running a seminar for all concerned researchers offering some smart solutions to this serious problem. More
Reflexions Communication Research has launched a new interview engine capable of 'chat room' style conversation over the Internet. The system is specifically designed to collect qualitative data from interviewees online. More
In a further move towards concentration in the Internet panels sector, NetRatings has acquired ACNielsen eRatings.com and in a separate transaction, Jupiter Media Metrix's contracts for European Internet audience measurement. More
'Pitch Stick' has just been launched by youth consumer insight team, Fat Group to provide marketing clients with a cost-effective rapid tool for gaining a deeper insight into the attitudes and motivations of the ever-changing youth market. More
QualiQuant International and CRAM International have just launched The QualiQuant Toolkit on the market. This innovative web-centric technology allows interviewing to be carried out online or offline using Computer Assisted Interviewing and is thought particularly useful for finance, pharmaceutical, B2B sectors, employee research and youth markets. More
Voxco UK and Data Capture Handheld are joining forces to promote a new feature developed by Voxco as applied to M-CAPI Express. In order to enhance the M-CAPI Express service offered by Data Capture, the data collected can now be viewed online, using Voxco's Interviewer Web Online Field Reporting tools. More
Latest data from the British Market Research Association shows the UK MR industry is holding up well economically. It appears to be showing better returns than other marketing disciplines, such as advertising, and has fair prospects for the present year's trading in total. More
Already the FT and Economist of the research industry rolled into one, DRNO now launches its bid to be the Hello! magazine as well… In what pundits are already calling the MR wedding of the year, we can exclusively reveal today that MRS stalwart and IDA boss Peter Jackling and JLRS MD Jill Lonsdale are to marry. More
Just published, Excellence in International Research 2002, the third in the series, contains a collection of the best papers from ESOMAR events in 2001, selected for their major contribution to excellence and best practice in international research. More
Ivor Stocker, Chairman of the British Market Research Association, has been appointed to the council of the Market Research Society in the UK. More
ACNielsen Burke Institute and Burke, Inc. have entered into a joint venture to combine the ACNielsen Burke Institute and Burke's The Training & Development Center under one organization to be named The Burke Institute. This joint venture will bring together the faculty and course content from both organisations, combining over 70 years of marketing research knowledge. More
The Independent Consultant's Group (ICG) in the UK has this week launched its website at http://www.indepconsultants.org More
Quancept Web and Quancept CATI users can now use a recently released online survey results package from IT supplier ATP. Developed in the form of Topline software, this latest web resource allows users to view their survey results as data is created. More
At the recent Net Effects 5 Conference, the ESOMAR Programme Committee met to select the nominations for the John and Mary Goodyear Award of Best International Papers. More
Itracks has just released version 3.03 of its Online Focus Group software which allows market researchers to hold focus groups in an online environment. More
MRS Conference-goers among us will probably remember that the annual Brighton event approaches soon. As ever, the events will include an auction for the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA), to be managed this year by NOP. More
The latest version of the Entryware MCAPI (Mobile Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) software features a host of new functions for market research applications. The 3.0 release has now been finalised and is available immediately. Entryware Pro is developed by Techneos Systems, and SPSS MR is the authorised global distributor for the market research industry. More
As of today you can register for a free, regular email with details of market research *events* of relevance to you - conferences, seminars, courses, speaker meetings, training, interest groups and others. Select the types of event you want and choose from weekly, fortnightly or monthly emails. Register at www.mrweb.com/input/evt-not.htm or read more details first... More
Research2002, this year's Annual Conference of The Market Research Society (MRS), is now approaching fast, to be held in Brighton on 20th to 22nd March. The central theme of this year's event is 'Insight into Action' with the aim of demonstrating to attendees how, in an increasingly competitive market, consumer insight has clear implications for marketing activity in both the public and private sectors. More
Following the closure of NOP Numbers, Kevin Wilks has been appointed DP Development Director at MTS (MORI Telephone Surveys). More
Leaders of the market research industry, meeting last week in Geneva for the second consecutive year, to discuss ways to strengthen the position of market research, agreed to take action on a number of key priorities. The 50 leaders attending the global Research Leaders Summit, also called RELEAS 2, organized by ARF and ESOMAR, have decided to establish a global lobbying body for the market research industry. More
The Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) has released new views on Internet respondents and their views towards surveys. According to Jane Sheppard, Director of Respondent Co-operation, many now find the research process a positive experience. More
The British Market Research Association (BMRA) is hosting a free directors' briefing on 31st January in central London with the aim of helping to benchmark your company's performance. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) has just completed a deal with publishers Pearson Education to develop a textbook and website for The MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice. More
ORC International has announced the introduction of two new online tools for HR managers. Launching at the end of this week, the new tools in particular should greatly aid research into employee pay and benefits. More
Marketing and opinion research is a fast growing industry in Hungary, and shows more dynamic growth than the economy itself. According to ESOMAR and PSMZ data, turnover in the sector reached roughly US$30 million last year, showing an annual growth rate of 20%. More
In a bold new move, the MRS and the BMRA in the UK have decided to rationalise their directory publications. This is in place of the previous publication of the two separate listings of research suppliers and services. More
The Annual Research Industry Angling Competition will take place at the Willinghurst Estate Fishery near Cranleigh, Surrey on Friday 2nd November. Once again, the day will be generously sponsored by the New Fieldwork Company with tackle prizes and trophies being presented to the winners. More
Peter Hutton, deputy managing director of MORI and BMRA Council member, has reported on the recently conducted survey of BMRA members in the organisation's newly launched newsletter. The results show an overall desire for the MRS and BMRA to work more closely together. More
The opening address at the recent ESOMAR Annual Congress by President John Kelly neatly summed up the transformation of the market research industry. As we are all aware, globalisation and developments in ICT are transforming international business on an unprecedented scale. The swing to a different economy is producing profound and unexpected changes in the structure of society, business and ways of working. More
The Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) in the US has appointed Larry Mock as its President and CEO, effective immediately. More
French agency Ipsos has reported strong first half results with revenues up 64% and net income up a considerable 106% as well as an improvement in operational profitability. More
The MRS in the UK (Market Research Society) has announced the launch of its Accredited Interviewer Training Scheme (AITS), a cross-industry initiative designed to enhance professional standards of interviewing throughout the market research industry and improve the experience for interviewees. More
The European manufacturing sector is now thought to be firmly in economic recession. This is according to the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September as measured by Reuters, September 2001, and reported by NTC Research. More
TNS Interseach has successfully completed a nationwide CAPI study in the USA using Net-CAPI(tm), Global Market Insite's Net-CAPI, an advanced Internet-based CAPI solution. More
International fieldwork Company Field Facts Worldwide has enhanced its global data collection capabilities via the purchase of Marlin Research Ltd. More
Youth research agency, 2cv:research (2cv), has launched txtsurvey - a new survey method which uses text messaging on mobile phones to target selected audiences at specific times. More
The Market Research Society (MRS)in the UK has just received accreditation from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). This move makes The MRS the sole official UK awarding body for qualifications in market research. More
American agency Greenfield Online has renewed its commitment to maintaining its position as the leading provider of online data collection and infrastructure services in response to recent trends in the marketplace. More
ESOMAR's 54th International Annual Congress takes place in Rome on 23-26 September, entitled 'Marketing Transformation: Research for the Bottom Line.' More
Harris Interactive is launching an aggressive programme to grow its respondent panels in the UK, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, and Italy, followed quickly by Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and China. This is to reinforce its presence in the international online research sector. More
MrWeb will shortly be offering interviewers and coders the chance to find work via the same kind of search / index facility as that now serving the exec side of the industry. Advertising of vacancies is free for the first two months and the search should be operational as early as next week. More
London-based research agency RDSi have announced the opening of a new northern office and a viewing facility in Leeds city centre, plus the completion of a programme of research seminars. More
The BMRA has now provided members with new guidance on Stakeholder pensions for the market research industry. This outline replaces that released in their October 2000 Bulletin and the various updates posted since then on the website. More
News has just been released that Harris Interactive Inc. and Total Research Corporation are to merge, forming one of the world's largest research companies. The two companies expect to report approximately US$115 million in combined revenues for their 2001 fiscal years. More
GfK eSolutions, the online segment of GfK's Ad Hoc Research division, is expanding via three new strategic alliances with IBEXnet AG, CIAO.COM AG and Global Market Insite Inc in order to step up the group's online market research activity. More
Opinion Research Corporation's application for listing on the NASDAQ National Market System has been approved. Upon listing, the common stock of Opinion Research Corporation will trade under the symbol 'ORCI' More
Miami-based SIL Group USA has launched a new division called "Grupo Hispano", headed up by veteran Hispanic researcher Donna Russell Arguedas as Director. More
New research from UK research company Dynamic Logic and interactive agency eBrands shows that Internet advertising builds brands without the support of offline advertising. More
Ipsos has launched a new omnibus-style service called Select which offers several added value benefits. More
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