Tony Cowling Foundation and Fund Launched

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.

Cowling (pictured) co-founded healthcare research specialist Taylor Nelson in 1965, and after a number of sell-offs and buy-outs led the business as CEO, until it became Taylor Nelson Sofres and he was named its Chairman. During his career spanning more than five decades, Cowling was also an active member of the MRS Professional Standards Committee, helping to upgrade the Code of Conduct and guidelines on best practice, and he also helped build the Association of Market Survey Organisations (AMSO).

Named in his honour, The Tony Cowling Foundation will aim to foster the values that its namesake encouraged throughout his career. It has been set up by his son Didier Cowling and former TNS colleagues Bruce Mcpherson, Chris Goard, Mike Kirkham, Pedro Ros, Penny Briki and Paul Wright, in partnership with Cambridge University's the Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS). The foundation's aim is to work with research organisations such as ESOMAR to create and develop international standards for research issues such as artificial intelligence, and to help fund training for researchers around the world.

As part of the launch, the organisers have also set up a fund-raising initiative with a target of £250k, which it will use to make awards to PhD students to fund research across a variety of subjects. Christop Loch, Director of CJBS and Professor of Management Studies, comments: 'Tony was a successful entrepreneur in the market research industry and created a world leading global business. Together CJBS and the Tony Cowling Foundation are partnering to build on Tony's vision'.

The organisers have invited those who knew Tony Cowling, or those who want to support his values, to register at: www.tonycowlingfoundation.org to be kept up to date with developments.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.