Obituary: Carlos Harding, Deputy CEO of Ipsos

Carlos Harding, the Deputy CEO of Ipsos, died suddenly of a heart attack last Friday morning. He was 69 years old.

He joined Ipsos in 1991, as International Manager, in charge of developing and strengthening the company's international network. In 1993 he was given responsibility for Ipsos' corporate development, and he became Chairman of Ipsos in Latin America in 1998. In addition, he was a member of the Ipsos Management Board, an L&T Participations Board member, and a shareholder of Ipsos Partners.

After graduating in Engineering from the University of Santiago in Chile, Carlos worked in the country's Ministry of Agriculture, and then in 1974 joined the Economic and Financial Bureau of the French Ministry of Transport. He later gained a PhD in Economics from Bielefeld University, Germany, and in 1977 he moved into the market research sector, first joining COREF and later CEGOS. By the end of 1978, he had joined forecasting business Novaction, where as Technical Director in charge of Europe and America he contributed to global development, prior to the firm's acquisition by Ipsos.

Didier Truchot, Ipsos Chairman & CEO, said the thoughts of the management team and employees of Ipsos go to Carlos' family and close friends. 'Carlos was a good and beautiful person. Respectful of others, competent and incredibly committed to the success of our company, he has been a formidable negotiator of hundreds of acquisitions, permitting Ipsos to become the great company that we know. We will not forget Carlos, the friend, colleague and partner who made us all better and Ipsos stronger'.

Web site: www.ipsos.com .