MApps CEO Takes Reins at dataSpring

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'.

dataSpring, which was previously known as Research Panel Asia (RPA), offers market researchers and end clients global sample (four million plus panellists in more than 35 countries), full service, and tools for proprietary survey programming and tabulation. Panel coverage includes Japan, China, Korea, the US and the UK.

Hagino (pictured) is currently the CEO of consumer panel and online survey platform MApps, which acquired dataSpring in a stock swap last year. The firm provides B2C and B2B panel reach across Asia, while offering a range of services from programming and hosting to sample delivery, scripting and online reporting.

Takanohashi tendered his resignation in September after serving as dataSpring's CEO for the past eighteen months. The firm says Hagino's appointment is the next step in the merger process between dataSpring and MApps, and Hagino will now serve as CEO of both firms. Hagino comments: 'On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to express my gratitude to Mr. Takanohashi who has worked tirelessly and has established a strong foundation for a dynamic global business. My goal is to build upon dataSpring's strengths and propel the company forward to meet the ever-evolving climate of the market research industry'.

Web site: www.d8aspring.com .