Rotterdam, Netherlands-based online research firm MetrixLab has agreed to acquire control of 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

Chicago-based MR firm The Connell Group has opened an office in Montvale, NJ, and hired three former client side execs to work in it: former Pinnacle Foods researcher Phillip Barone, P&G insights specialist Ali Sheffield and Alcatel-Lucent exec Connie Torres. 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

Big data visualization and analytics provider Tableau Software has raised $254.2m in an IPO, which priced its shares at $31 each and has valued the company at $2 billion. More

New York-based full service agency Radius Global Market Research (Radius GMR) has acquired Profile Marketing Research (PMR) for an undisclosed sum. More

Canadian polling firm Leger Marketing has appointed Rachelle Deshaies as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of its Toronto office. The firm has also promoted Dave Scholz to the role of Chief Marketing Officer. More

In the US, predictive and behavioral ad targeting specialist Voltari has appointed former Axciom exec Shannon Denison as Vice President of Product & Insights, to oversee its product strategy while also building its Consumer Insights team. More

US big data specialist Alteryx has raised $12m in financing, which it plans to use to expand internationally with investment in its sales, marketing and product. More

US-based business intelligence provider RJMetrics has raised $6.25m in a Series A round of funding, earmarked for increased marketing efforts and growth in its sales and customer teams. More

In the UK, OnePoll, which specialises in conducting online polls for PR purposes, has acquired London-based opinion polling agency Response Fusion for �a six-figure sum�. 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

In the US, IMS Health and Remedy Informatics have partnered to deliver technology-based �real-world-evidence� (RWE) solutions, promising life science sector clients a complete picture of the patient experience. 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

San Francisco-based social media analytics specialist awe.sm has appointed Fred McIntyre as CEO, replacing Jonathan Strauss who has taken on the role of Head of Product Development. Strauss will continue to lead the company�s product, strategy and engineering efforts. More

Business intelligence and big data analytics firm EdgeSpring has launched out of stealth with $11m in Series A venture funding. More

UK marketing services and print group St. Ives has continued its recent buying spree, with the acquisition of London and Leeds-based digital agency Branded3 from co-founders Vin Chinnaraja and Patrick Altoft. The deal is valued at up to �10.7m. More

Ipsos has made several key appointments in its North American leadership team, naming Jeff Cail as Chief Operating Officer, David Parma as President of Ipsos Marketing, and Jim Meyer as CEO of Ipsos ASI. More

Havas Media Group has acquired pan-European data analytics firm ElisaDBI, in a move to extend its media measurement and data collection and analysis services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More

Kantar companies Dynamic Logic and Compete have teamed up with online media viewability firm Double Verify to launch a tool called Advance, which combines exposure metrics and effectiveness measures in a unified reporting and optimization system. More

Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with health and wellness consumer insights agency SPINS, to create a new segmentation offer in the natural/organic sector. More

Digital marketing technology provider Silverpop has launched a system called Universal Behaviors, which provides access to a live stream of real-time consumer actions which can be analyzed and then used to build individual targeted campaigns. 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

UK-based customer experience management (CEM) specialist Nunwood has promoted David Herron to the newly created role of Insight Director. More

US-based social media monitoring and analytics firm Crimson Hexagon has introduced a new feature called Live Stream, to enable real-time social media monitoring through its existing ForSight platform. 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

US media network ABC is participating in Nielsen�s �first-ever� trial expanding its Online Campaign Ratings (OCR) solution to the measurement of ads on mobile devices. More

Emanuel Maxl, the Chairman of Austrian MR body VM�, 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

Sales and marketing intelligence provider Radius has secured an undisclosed amount of funds from corporate investment firm BBVA Ventures. More

Social media giant Twitter has acquired Portland, Oregon-based big data visualization and analytics startup Lucky Sort for an undisclosed amount. 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

In the US, shopper insight specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions has launched a tool called AdVantics On Demand, allowing clients to link TV ads with appropriate audiences, based on actual retail purchase data. More

In the US, word-of-mouth consulting firm Keller Fay Group has appointed former ABI Research exec Tommy Crawford as Vice President of New Business and Development, and former NM Incite analyst Matt Phillips as an Account Director. More

Nielsen has issued a public offering of 35 million new shares of common stock at $35.01 each, which it says will generate nearly $1.3 billion for certain existing unnamed shareholders. More

In the UK, a partnership between Ipsos MORI and mobile phone company EE is in the public eye after the Sunday Times said data on EE customers was being offered to the Metropolitan Police. Both EE and MRS Code-compliant Ipsos MORI have confirmed that the data is aggregated and anonymised. 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

GfK has announced the acquisition of Australia-based agricultural insights firm Paterson Consulting, and the opening of new offices in Sydney and Melbourne for its Animal and Crop Health team. 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

Veteran pollster Charles Franklin is joining the Marquette University Law School on a full-time basis, as Professor Of Law And Public Policy, with a remit to boost the school's standing in the field of political polling. More

Search giant Yahoo! has acquired social media polling service GoPollGo and immediately closed down the service. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. More

Healthcare data collection specialist WorldOne has expanded Eva Laparra�s role to that of Managing Director for UK and Northern Europe, from her previous position as MD Southern Europe and LatAm. More

US-based analytics and research firm AbsolutData has opened an office in Dubai, where it has hired industry veteran Karan Dixit as Head of the Middle East region. The firm has also expanded its UK leadership team with the appointment of three senior execs. More

US-based mobile big data analytics firm Zettics has opened new offices in London and Singapore, where it has appointed Ken Parkinson and Paul Ash to lead sales in EMEA and APAC respectively. More

In the US, location-based mobile audience builder PlaceIQ has raised $6.75m in Series B funding, which it will use to expand its reach and ramp up its �Place Visit Rate� (PVR) metric, designed to measure real-world, in-store ROI. More

In the UK, marketing and customer analytics business Metametrics has appointed big data specialist Hector Vass as Chief Technology Officer, responsible for integrating Bayesian and adaptive modelling into the firm�s analytics platforms. More

Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby, the creators of the Tesco Clubcard, have invested an undisclosed seven-figure sum in theatre analytics specialist Purple Seven in a move set to unlock an estimated �250m of unrealised commercial opportunities across the arts sector. 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

IT outsourcing firm Wipro has bought a $30m minority stake in big data science and predictive analytics specialist Opera Solutions. More

US media measurement firm TRA, now a subsidiary of DVR pioneer TiVo, has expanded its ad targeting solution by adding access to Tivo�s 48,000-strong Power||Watch household panel. The firm says advertisers will now be able to target ads based on consumers' views about what they buy. 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, dunnhumby-owned price modeling and customer insight firm KSS Retail has introduced a new business intelligence tool called PriceStrat Analyzer, to enable retailers to tap into their data for decisions about pricing and promotions. 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

Bart Michels, UK MD of WPP's brand development and insight consultancy Added Value, will take on the role of Global Chief Executive Officer from 1st July, replacing Janine Hawkins who is leaving the company. 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

Online research community specialist Vision Critical has recruited four new execs for its Media and Entertainment team, and says it expects revenue from the division to nearly double in North America within the next year. 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

In the US, social media monitoring and analytics firm Crimson Hexagon has partnered with technology integrator MicroTech to analyse social media users� engagement with government organizations at the federal, state and local levels. More

Data-centric social media ad tech company Kinetic Social has raised $8m in a Series A round of financing, which it will use to extend products including its machine learning optimization engine and cross-channel analytics engine. More

Nielsen is selling its �non-core� tradeshow business Nielsen Expositions to Canadian private equity firm Onex in a cash deal worth $950m, in order to provide funds for its planned $1.3 billion acquisition of radio ratings giant Arbitron. More

TNS has appointed Doug Maclay as Head of its Qualitative practice in the Middle East, based in its Dubai office, from 19th May. More

UK company analyst Junction RDS (JRDS) has been acquired by Dealogic, which offers investment banks a platform through which they can optimize their performance and improve competitiveness. Terms of the buy were not disclosed. 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

Digital measurement specialist comScore has reported �record revenues�, with first quarter figures up 11% to $68.8m compared with $62.3m a year ago, driven by its Audience Analytics business and mobile and multi-platform products. More

In Australia, supermarket giant Woolworths has taken a 50% non-controlling stake in customer data analytics firm Quantium, which in return will gain access to Woolworth�s customer data and provide insights to the retailer�s packaged goods suppliers. 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

WPP�s out-of-home media planning and buying firm Kinetic has launched its �Aureus� planning and placement system in Malaysia, bringing together local market data, industry and proprietary research, and detailed inventory information. More

Technology research specialist Gartner has reported a 10% increase in first quarter total group revenue to $406.8m - with the Research division posting an impressive 13% increase to $310.3m. 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

Asian market research consultancy ABN Impact has appointed former TLE director Chris Richardson to launch its business in Singapore. 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

AOL has partnered with Nielsen to develop a tool to measure those audiences viewing the former�s library of more than 620,000 videos. More

Nick Mawditt, Global Director of Insight and Marketing at WPP�s out-of-home agency Kinetic Worldwide, is set to join rival Talon Outdoor in July, as the agency�s new Director of Research and Insight. 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

North of England-based company Dollywagon Media Sciences has launched a new business called Colourtext, which offers a dashboard providing semantic analysis of content on social networks. 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

The UK government has launched a competition to find a commercial firm to help spin out its Behavioural Insights Team or �Nudge Unit� into a separate joint venture. The resulting unit will be part-owned by Whitehall, with the partner putting in new investment, and employees becoming shareholders. More

London-based mobile research tech specialist Lumi Mobile has expanded to Asia with the opening of a subsidiary in Hong Kong. More

Big data management specialist Actian has acquired ParAccel, which offers a proprietary platform through which users can run big data analytics programs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 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

Global information giant Experian has launched a platform integrating real-time data and customer insight to help marketers create materials for campaigns across on and off-line channels. 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

In the US, the University of Southern California's Norman Lear Center has received a $3.25m grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which it will use to develop a system for measuring the social impact of the media. More

Big data predictive analytics firm Skytree has raised $18m in Series A funding, as fuel for its �aggressive growth strategy�. 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

UK-based business-to-business agency B2B International has posted what it describes as its �best ever� start-of-year figures, with first quarter revenue of �1.7m, up 108% from Q1 2012. More

US research giant IMS Health has acquired social media analytics firm Semantelli for an undisclosed sum. More

US-based video analytics firm Visible Measures has partnered with Publicis agencies VivaKi and Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) to develop Contagion, a platform for planning and measuring video campaigns. 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

Israeli web user experience specialist ClickTale has secured a $17m Series B round of investment, which it will use to fund product development and accelerate its global growth. 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

Protagonists in the US debate about the protection of online consumer data appear to be pursuing at least three conflicting strategies, with ad industry trade group the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) deflecting criticism from senators onto browser makers Microsoft and Mozilla (Firefox). 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

Emerging market digital audience specialist Effective Measure has officially launched in Pakistan, after more than a year sounding out this �booming online media market�. More

Google has announced that its viewability measurement tool Active View has won accreditation from the Media Rating Council, and has released stats revealing that - perhaps predictably - viewers are considerably more likely to click on an ad if they can see it. More

UK firm SecondSync, which analyses the relationship between conversations in social media and TV programmes and audiences, has integrated overnight TV ratings from audience measurement body BARB into its dashboard system. 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

California-based CoreLogic, which provides information and analytics about the real estate and mortgage sectors, has acquired home price monitoring firm Case-Shiller in a deal valued at $6m. More

Nielsen has reported a 3% increase in Q1 revenues to $1.38 billion, despite performance in Europe which CFO Brian West said in a conference call continues to be a �pretty big drag� on the company. 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

TLE (formerly The Leading Edge) has launched a new methodology called �TLE Social�, designed to help organisations measure how their brand is impacted by their reputation in areas such as sustainability, community fabric, climate change, child labour and animal welfare. More

US-based online / off-line purchasing data firm Datalogix has closed a $25m Series B round of funding, and says it will help to accelerate the adoption of its audience and measurement solutions across display, mobile, video, social media and search channels. More

In the US, online behavioral marketing technology specialist Silverpop has raised $25m in venture debt funding, for use in accelerating growth globally. 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

In the US, Thumbspeak founder Dean Wiltse has joined online �tween� fashion insights community FashionPlaytes as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. More

Technology specialist Forrester Research has announced a slight increase in first quarter revenues to $71.5m, compared with $70.3m in the prior year period. Net income meanwhile fell from $2.3m to $0.9m. More

Digital analytics specialist Webtrends is relocating its headquarters to downtown Portland next February, consolidating its operations onto a single floor in the skyscraper known as �Big Pink�. 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

Ad targeting technology specialist Nanigans has closed a $5.8m Series A.1 round of funding, which it will use to enhance its existing mobile products, and expand into verticals including retail. The funds will also enable it to hire new staff in Boston, New York, San Francisco and London. More

Salt Lake City-based marketing intelligence firm Foretelligent has reintegrated its big data / predictive analytics arm Foredeus and its marcoms /strategy division 44ounces, under the latter brand. The two were split out just six months ago. 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

UK-based consumer insight and strategic consulting firm Future Foundation has expanded its international operations to Stockholm, Sweden, with the opening of a new office led by former GfK leader Anders Brogren. 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

Maritz Research has expanded into the food service industry through the launch of �Capella Restaurant�, a mobile survey tool designed to capture feedback about diners� experiences. More

Facebook has set up a UK Advisory Board comprising eleven representatives from major brands and agencies who will meet four times a year to discuss insights, campaign measurement, product development and marketing best practices. More

New York-based SIS International Research has appointed Thomas Fuller as Managing Director of the Asia Pacific region, based in the firm�s Shanghai offices. More

Palo Alto and Bangalore-based big data analytics specialist Qubole has closed a Series A funding round, which brings its total investment to $7m. More

US company Infer, which offers a predictive solution based on the mining of historical customer win/loss data, has secured $10m in Series A funding, which it plans to use to grow its team of engineers and scientists and broaden the application of its solution. More

US business intelligence and analytics firm Pentaho has acquired Portugal-based user experience (UX) and dashboard specialist Webdetails, enabling it to offer richer data-driven visualization tools to its clients. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 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

Howard Briskin, the COO of Washington, DC-based polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (GQR), is stepping down from his position at the end of the month. CFO Ismael Savadogo will take over the COO responsibilities while continuing in his existing role. More

US-based research consultancy THREE has opened an Asia Pacific division, and appointed Jeff Lee for the newly created position of Research Director, working from the Los Angeles area. The firm says that it is also planning to open South American and European units in the coming year. More

Rayid Ghani, the former Chief Scientist for the �Obama for America� data analytics team, has joined the University of Chicago, in a role which will involve exploring the use of data to solve complex social problems. More

In the US, Silicon Valley-based social media intelligence platform Swipp has raised $2m in investment funding, while also launching a product called Swipp Plus to provide real-time customer insight around products, brands and offers. 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

CEO Tony Hale has left Australian newspaper industry body The Newspaper Works and is replaced from today by Mark Hollands, who previously led PANPA, the Pacific Area association which merged into it. 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

Customer analytics specialist dunnhumbyUSA, the joint venture between The Kroger Company and London-based dunnhumby, has announced six promotions to Vice President: Brian Higdon, Dawn Valandingham, Megan Moglia, Sean Hannon, Susan Visconte and Dawn Shirley. 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

The Editor of The Guardian newspaper�s Datablog and Datastore online resources, Simon Rogers, has quit his job to join Twitter in the US as the firm�s first Data Editor. James Ball will step into his shoes in the UK. More

The team behind start-up Behavio, which collects and uses mobile phone data to predict users� future behavior, has joined search giant Google. 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

Big data predictive analytics specialist Gainsight has raised $9m in Series A funding, which it plans to invest in product development and roll-out. The firm has also appointed Nick Mehta as Chief Executive Officer, while founder Jim Eberlin has moved to a dedicated product strategy role. More

Just three months after raising $30m in an investment round, big data analytics firm Guavus has secured a further $9m from new investors, which it will use to continue to expand its core products, scales its operations, and pursue �select� acquisitions. More

Cello-owned co-creation agency Face has launched a social media research platform called Pulsar TRAC, designed specifically to handle large volumes of data. 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

WPP-owned Kantar Health has launched a new solution called �CancerMPact Future Trends and Insights�, which can be used to explore the potential changes in oncology treatment practices in the US, Western Europe and Japan. 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

Nielsen has integrated its Online Campaign Ratings service with the Velocity measurement solution of digital video specialist SET Media, allowing advertisers to forecast Gross Rating Points (GRPs) by program type and by individual video, while also delivering post-impression analytics. More

Ipsos Healthcare has given Jackie Ilacqua the additional role of Global Head of Syndicated Services, alongside her existing position as President of Global Oncology. More

Social media analysis firm Synthesio has opened an office in Singapore, adding to its existing operations in New York, Austin, London and Paris. More

In Canada, research software firm Voxco has spun off its social media monitoring and analytics arm Acuity4 Social as a separate company, and renamed it Semeon Analytics. 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 the US, the company known for the last three years as SymphonyIRI is now once again just IRI (Information Resources Inc.). 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

New York-based social media marketing agency SocialFlow has secured $10m in Series B funding, which it will use to expand its product portfolio. More

London-based video ad distribution and tracking platform Unruly has released an analytics dashboard through which brands and agencies can measure the impact of their social media video strategies against those of their competitors. 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

Digital measurement specialist comScore has promoted Victor Cheng and Yosuke Maekawa to head its China and Japan regions respectively. 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

Online analytics pioneer Webtrends has launched a platform called �Action Center�, through which users can integrate in-session and historical customer data into their marketing systems. More

In the US, public sector-focused research provider Abt Associates has appointed James Gribble as Senior M&E Strategy and Business Development Lead, to oversee the Evaluation practice within its International Health Division. More

US-based consumer intelligence specialist The NPD Group has appointed four new market research analysts at its flat panel display specialist NPD DisplaySearch in the US, Korea and Taiwan. 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

Reports in the UK press suggest that Andrew Cooper, co-founder of polling firm Populus, is leaving his position as an advisor to PM David Cameron, possibly as a result of differences with Australian election specialist Lynton Crosby. More

Liz Musch has been appointed CEO of ad, brand and communications research division Ipsos ASI, succeeding Alex Gronberger who moves to the new role of regional CEO of Ipsos Latin America. She joins the Ipsos Management Board and will report to founder and CEO Didier Truchot. 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

Online targeting specialist BlueKai has teamed up with mobile marketing and ad technology company Velti to give clients of the former�s Data Activation System access to the latter�s data and allow targeting of consumers on mobile devices. More

US company Blab has introduced a platform which it claims can predict the content of future social media conversations. More

Shangahi-based qual and quant agency Insight Focus has appointed two former employees of WPP's brand development and insight consultancy Added Value - Alvin Huen as General Manager in the General China Region, and Isabella Chan as a Director. More

Sticky, which uses web-cam based eye tracking technology to measure ad effectiveness, has raised $3m in new funding. More

US-based business intelligence company HG Data has appointed former JupiterResearch CEO Tim Baskerville as President, with a remit to scale its data science operation. More

Retail and healthcare specialist SymphonyIRI has added the title of Chief Client Strategy Officer to former P&G exec Beverly Grant�s existing role as President of Retail Solutions. More

Miami-based healthcare analytics company QualMetrix has named co-founder Adam House as its Chief Executive Officer. 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

TiVo Research and Analytics - a subsidiary of digital video recorder (DVR) firm TiVo - has added data from Nielsen to the media measurement and analytics services offered by its recently acquired TRA business. 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

US information and analytics provider IHS has announced that current President and COO Scott Key will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer on June 1, when Chairman and CEO Jerre Stead will move into the role of Executive Chairman. More

Online privacy and compliance specialist Evidon has introduced an app called �Ad Control�, that enables Apple users to opt out of �cross-app� behavioral advertising served on their mobile devices. Later this month, the tool will also be available in the Google Play App Store for Android users. More

In the US, audience targeting specialist eXelate has appointed former WPP Xaxis digital data and analytics specialist Eugene Becker as Senior Vice President of Product Management. More

US consultancy Web Analytics Demystified has appointed former Omniture exec Josh West as a Partner, to manage the firm�s tag management, core technology, and custom development practice. 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

eBay has hired Zoher Karu, formerly VP of Marketing Analytics at Sears, for the new position of Vice President, Customer Optimization & Data, tasked with using analytics to target customers. More

Shopper marketing specialists Jim Cusson and Jared Meisel have set up a new agency called Theory House in Charlotte, North Carolina. More

Facebook has teamed up with analytics software firm Acxiom to launch a tool called �Partner Categories�, which will enable its advertisers to select and target specific audiences based on Acxiom�s interest and behavioral data. More

WPP's media investment management group GroupM has expanded its line-up of multicultural insights services and brought them together in one until called GroupM Multicultural, led by Hispanic media specialist Gonzalo Del Fa. More

In Singapore, competitive intelligence specialist Current Analysis has appointed former IDC leader Amit Gupta as Managing Director, APAC, to further expand its operations across the region. More

MarkLogic, which has developed a database platform for big data applications, has raised $25m in growth capital, and says it will use the cash to meet demand for its enterprise NoSQL technology. 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

UK consumer specialist Incite has launched a dedicated Behaviour Change practice, which will use multiple disciplines - including behavioural economics, neuroscience, health psychology and CRM - to help brands influence the behaviour of consumers. 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

Multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak has partnered with SintecMedia to integrate a performance tracking and revenue management solution for TV and movies into its Digital Download Essentials service. More

Claraview, a subsidiary of big data specialist Teradata offering business intelligence consulting and data warehousing services, has launched Integrated Marketing Management (IMM), a new offer for companies looking to measure the results of their marketing strategies. More

WPP�s digital investment arm has joined a third round of funding for Leading Smart Holdings, giving it further involvement in Chinese digital advertising measurement company Miaozhen Systems. 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

Australian-based insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has added (yes) five new consultants to its team in response to what it calls �a continued increase in demand� for its strategic consulting services. 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

UK-based BrainJuicer Group has hired Maria Spinelli as Vice President, BrainJuicer Southeast Asia, based in Singapore. The company launched offices in Mumbai and New Delhi in 2012 and Shanghai in 2010. 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

Michigan, US-based research and consulting firm RDA Group has announced 2012 revenue growth of 9% to $19.1m. More

Digital audience specialist comScore has suffered a legal setback in Illinois, where a federal judge has ruled it could be open to a class action suit over claims of privacy violations. More

App measurement and advertising platform Flurry is to make its Flurry Analytics service available for apps and mobile-optimized web sites, in the next few weeks. 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

New York-based online audience targeting firm [x+1] has signed a new $17m debt facility with Ares Capital Corporation, and says it will use the funds to further its growth strategy including targeted acquisitions and overall market expansion. More

US firm ALM Legal Intelligence is adding to its range of business information and market data for the legal industry with the launch of a new database of the billing rates of attorneys across the country. More

Big data firm Indix has secured $4.5 million in funding from two venture capital firms. Founded in 2010 and operating from late 2011, the company says it will remain in �stealth mode� until later this year. More

WPP-owned healthcare panel and data collection agency All Global has appointed former Schlesinger Associates exec BJ Kirschner as Director, Research Operations - Qualitative. More

Technology specialist Forrester Research is planning to repurchase up to $130m of its common stock through a �modified Dutch auction self-tender offer�, at a price of between $32 and $36 per share. More

US-based online data collection specialist Schlesinger Interactive has launched an online community service, which it says will support clients� needs for both online community recruiting and �industry-leading� technology platforms. More

In New York, ad and marketing effectiveness specialist Dynamic Logic has upgraded its AdIndex for Mobile solution, to enable clients to identify ad exposure across the entire mobile �ecosystem�. More

Israeli business intelligence software developer SiSense has closed a $10m Series B round of funding, aiming to meet what it describes as �intense demand� for its big data analytics solutions. More

In the US, B2B data provider ReachForce has acquired cloud-based big data management and predictive analytics firm SetLogik. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More

Nielsen has rolled out its ad measurement service Online Campaign Ratings to four new markets - Germany, Italy, Australia and Canada. More

Management consultancy Accenture has acquired Australian change management analytics specialist ChangeTrack Research, as it looks to improve its measurement and progress monitoring for clients� change programs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 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

GfK has fully integrated its custom research division GfK Blue Moon into its global structure, and renamed it GfK Australia, Consumer Experiences. 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

US-based Collective Bias - which operates a community of 1,400 �shopping-focussed influencers� - has raised $10.5m in a Series A round of investment, which it will use to expand its model internationally. 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

David Thorpe, the VP of Strategy and Analysis at marketing agency network SapientNitro, has taken a one-year secondment to join the UK Cabinet Office, where he will serve as Deputy Director of Digital Policy in the Government Digital Service (GDS) team. 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

In the Tuesday pre-lunch slot at the recent Conference, speakers addressed the issue of how location-specific information can help us with business planning. DRNO News Editor Mel Crowther reports on how these technologies are being used to help us understand transportation issues. More

In Belgium, NGDATA, which provides solutions for customer intelligence management, has acquired data management and business analytics specialist ENQIO for an undisclosed sum. 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

In Germany, Maritz Research has completed the integration of Wiesbaden-based stakeholder feedback management specialist Imagin AG, which it acquired eighteen months ago for an undisclosed sum. Imagin will now trade under the Maritz name. More

Californian enterprise software firm TIBCO has acquired French location intelligence provider Maporama Solutions, in order to add geolocation capabilities to its big data analytics service. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 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

UK consumer specialist Incite has hired four new members of staff, including Ipsos MORI�s former Head of Travel Rosemary Bayman, who joins as Principal in the firm�s Financial Services team. More

Online community engagement platform MindMixer has acquired VoterTide, which uses social media insight and news analysis technology to activate audiences around political campaigns, non-profits and special interest groups. More

US-based business intelligence and predictive analytics specialist Rapid Insight has appointed software entrepreneur Ric Pratte as President and Chief Operating Officer. 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

Customer satisfaction and loyalty specialist Paul Szwarc has rejoined Ipsos MORI, working in the firm�s UK Loyalty division as a Director in the Financial Services team. More

Trucking industry analyst Randall-Reilly has introduced a tool called RigDig Business Intelligence (BI), to help truck manufacturers, dealers and aftermarket providers analyse customer buying cycles, purchase behavior and market share. More

B2B targeting and personalization platform Demandbase has closed a $15m round of funding, which it plans to use to fuel �triple figure growth�. 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

Tuesday�s lunchtime keynote speaker Simon Rogers is Editor of the Guardian newspaper�s online data resource, and he and his team generate editorial through a combination of raw numbers and the insight journalists bring to it. DRNO�s News Editor Mel Crowther watched with her pen poised. More

Scott Laing and Chris Robson, the co-founders of MR and data science firm Parametric Marketing, have joined the new Product Strategy and Analytics division of customer and employee research agency ORC International. 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

In the UK, M&C Saatchi-owned brand research specialist Clear has appointed former Ipsos MORI exec David Baxter as Head of Marketing Sciences. More

UK-based web management software firm Decibel Technology has introduced an analytics tool called Decibel Insight, to provide information on the value and behaviour of clients� web site visitors. More

Digital audience measurement giant comScore has officially launched its MMX Multi-Platform service in the USA, combining and deduping audience across PCs, smartphones and tablets. 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

Japanese advertising giant Dentsu is close to completing its acquisition of London-based Aegis Group, having finally received clearance from China�s Ministry of Commerce. More

Last week�s MRS Conference in London featured two sessions focused on big data. Interesting, high powered... and ultimately frustrating, but perhaps only because it�s too large a topic, already, not to have its own conference. Nick Thomas reports. More

Enero Group has launched a Data Sciences Unit, in response to growing client demand for data driven marketing solutions. The unit will initially be launched in Australia and the UK, and will then be rolled out to Brazil and the US �over the coming year�. 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

MR industry marketing and sales consultancy Harpeth Marketing has announced two new services: the Lead Builder Program, offering outsourced lead generation and nurturing; and The Seller�s Reality, which gathers insights from current clients, past clients and competitors to help users keep their perspective. More

In the UK, Simpson Carpenter has recruited two client side qual researchers: Tony Comerford joins as Account Director after seventeen years at Procter & Gamble, and Joanna Zukunft joins from the Marketing and Audiences team at the BBC, as an SRE. More

US-based social media analytics firm Klout has released 'Klout for Business', a portal and suite of tools available free and promising to help businesses measure the impact of online influencers on their brands. 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

US-based research software firm Revolution Analytics has opened a London office, to be led by former Accenture exec Neil Miller. 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

In the UK, Dave Stevinson, former Sales Director of parts and peripherals distributor VIP Computers, has launched a new analytics and business Intelligence (BI) firm, GNR Corporation, focused on clients in the IT distribution �channel�. More

Yahoo! has acquired social media recommendation firm Jybe, as it looks to expand its own ability to personalize and target content and ads for users. More

M&C Saatchi-owned brand research specialist Clear has reported a �very tough year�, with revenues slowing as nine of their top ten clients cut spending by 50%, resulting in a headline operating profit drop from �2m to �0.3m. More

Mobile behavioral targeting firm Sense Networks has introduced a tool called �mClick-to-Visit Analytics�, which reports when a mobile user who has clicked on an ad makes a visit to the retailer�s physical store. More

San Francisco-based Internet ratings firm Quantcast has introduced an app to provide insights into cross-platform usage by digital audiences. 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

Analytics and modeling firm Alpine Data Labs has appointed Joe Otto as President and CEO, responsible for the overall strategic direction, growth and management of the company. He replaces Tom Ryan, who joined the company just over a year ago. More

Big data firm Pursway, which tracks the influence of opinion leaders on purchasing, has named technology sector veteran Dave Ellenberg as its new Chief Exec, replacing company co-founder Elery Pfeffer who has moved into the role of Chief Science Officer. 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

Microsoft has acquired Swiss social listening and analytics specialist Netbreeze, for an undisclosed sum. The firm�s services include data mining, transactional and text/language analysis capabilities. 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

Social media analytics firm Dachis Group has raised $7.5m in Series C funding, which it will use to accelerate the development of its core platform, and meet increased demand for its solutions. More

UK-based telephone research specialist Facts International has expanded into the APAC region, with the opening of an office in Sydney, Australia. More

Facebook has launched a tool called Lookalike Audiences, to enable marketers to reach individuals who share similar characteristics with those of existing customers who they are targeting through the social network. More

Business intelligence specialist Axxess Unlimited is to acquire brand and business outsourcing management businesses TDG Inc. and TDG Brands Inc (TDG). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More

Otto Hellwig, CEO of sample and panel provider respondi, has been elected Chairman of The German Society for Online Research (Deutsche Gesellschaft f�r 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

Point-of-sale data giant Nielsen Marketing has launched a mobile ad targeting solution called BuyerVision Mobile, through which CPG brands can deliver relevant ads to consumers, based on their previous in-store purchasing history. More

Cello-owned co-creation agency Face has appointed Matt Arnold, formerly of The Nursery, as its first European Head of Qualitative Research. More

Online ad targeting specialist Phorm has raised �3m in funds through the placement of convertible secured loan notes - with �1.5m available immediately, and the balance payable once the company�s Turkish operations become profitable. More

US ad measurement specialist MSW Research has acquired the non-health copy-testing and non-health equity tracking assets of comScore�fs ad research arm ARS for an undisclosed sum. comScore will retain the health-based copy-testing/equity tracking assets following the divestiture. More

Australian market and opinion researcher Roy Morgan has acquired the ABIX business news service from intelligence provider Lexis Nexis, and will offer clients financial information services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 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

Global PR consultancy Porter Novelli has introduced a monitoring and analytics system called PN Sonar, which it claims captures the entire conversation taking place about a brand or organization - across print, broadcast and digital media. More

Online sampling and technology company uSamp has appointed former Pepsico insights exec Robert Clancy as Senior Director of Insights and Strategy. More

San Francisco-based predictive employee analytics firm Evolv has closed a $15m Series D round of funding, earmarked for further development of its solutions and continued vertical market and geographic expansion. More

Research software company Survey Analytics has rolled out a new capability called MediaBunker, which will help ad and digital marketing agencies test their creative materials via mobile devices. More

Business intelligence software developer Pyramid Analytics has raised $11.5m in funding, which it plans to use to further develop its products and scale the business. 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

Insights consultancy Greenberg Brand Strategy has hired former Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) Asia leader Tatt Chen as Global Head of Client and Market Development. 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

In the US, Omniture founder Josh James�s business intelligence firm Domo has secured a $60m Series B round of funding, bringing the total raised since its 2011 launch to more than $125m. More

Venture capital firm Spectral Capital Corporation has acquired an 8% minority stake in Canadian firm Kontexto, which provides real-time data collection and analysis services for digital media and data intelligence teams. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More

IAB Turkey has awarded online measurement agency Gemius the country�s official Internet audience metrics contract for a further two years. More

US newspaper and Internet publisher The McClatchy Company is to acquire media measurement and analytics firm Tru Measure. Financial terms were not disclosed. More

Australian marcoms group STW has acquired a minority stake in the Australian arm of UK-based behavioural insights firm Beyond Analysis. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. More

Semantic content analysis firm Sophia Search has closed a $3.7m Series A funding round, which it will use to increase marketing and sales efforts in North America, and to accelerate product roll-out. 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

GfK has rolled out its Market Opportunity and Innovation (MOI) service in the UK, with a team led by the firm�s former Director of Insight Richard Matthews. More

US text analytics specialist Clarabridge has opened an office in San Francisco, to serve the needs of its clients on the West Coast. The firm plans to double staff numbers in the region during the next year. More

German online ad visibility measurement specialist Meetrics has opened an office in the UK, and appointed Eyeblaster founder Anant Joshi to lead it. The firm is also opening a South East Asia HQ in Thailand, led by recently appointed Nutchsara Cayir. More

Big data firm HG Data has raised $2m in funding, which it plans to use to increase the coverage of its cloud-based business intelligence database and to expand into the Asia Pacific region. More

US-based product innovation specialist InsightsNow has appointed research industry veterans Joel Rubinson, Bob Woodward, David Neal and Kevin Sheridan to its Advisory Board. 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

Healthcare research giant IMS Health has acquired Seattle-based technology firm Appature, which offers clients a patented cloud-based marketing software platform called Nexus. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 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

In Germany, forecasting specialist Ipsos InnoQuest has appointed sensory and consumer insight expert Josef Zach as Director, Research & Development, Product Testing. More

After nearly a year in stealth mode, Santa Cruz, CA-based Looker Data Sciences has launched a query-based business intelligence software platform called Looker, with $2m in funding. 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

In London, the University of Westminster has launched a Centre for Social Media Research (CSMR), through which it will conduct research into the social, cultural and political-economic aspects of social media, while exploring how it might transform the practice of research. More

Global marcoms network Publicis has acquired Convonix, a Mumbai-based digital marketing agency whose services include a brand monitoring and social media listening platform called IrisTrack. More

New York-based mobile ad targeting platform Dobleas has officially launched, after closing a $5.4m Series B round of financing from its parent company FreakOut. Dobleas will use the investment to fund its engineering recruitment program, while building the business in the US. More

Image-based social media site Pinterest has launched a new web analytics tool to provide site owners with insights into how people are interacting with �pins� that originate from their web sites. 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

Ad appearance tracker WhatRunsWhere has launched a data gathering tool which it says allows clients to track competitors� use of in-app advertising �for the first time�. More

UK-based research and consulting firm Populus has added mobile-only households to the sample for its telephone-only omnibus. More

Automotive information specialist R.L. Polk has brought in advisors to explore �strategic growth opportunities� including a possible sale or IPO, or acquisitions of its own. 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

Healthcare research and information giant IMS Health is to consolidate a number of its San Francisco offices into one site, and has reportedly leased the entire seventh floor of the 38-story block at 425 Market St. from May onwards. More

Sentience Technology, a start-up big data software firm, is the first recipient of funds from a new London-based incubator program, SeedCloud, which aims to provide companies with services including research, in addition to cash. More

WPP's media investment management group GroupM has opened a new Consulting Services division, whose offer will include marketing and media analytics, as well as business forecasting. 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

Research and advisory group ISG has reported an 11% increase in fourth quarter revenues to $49.5m, while operating income was $1.7m, compared to an operating loss of $59.9m in Q4 2011. For the full year, gains in the Americas more than cancelled out a decline in European business. 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

Retail data specialist dunnhumby has hired long-time Arbitron exec Lung Huang for its newly created role of Vice President of Digital Advertising, Global Partnerships. 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

TNS BMRB has appointed Gerry Harrison as Director, to lead its Qual practice in Edinburgh. 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

A US Court has dismissed an appeal by Miami TV station Sunbeam, against an earlier dismissal of a lawsuit in which the broadcaster alleged Nielsen monopolized audience ratings systems in the region. More

New York-based digital marketing agency Resolute Digital, whose services include web measurement, consumer insight and media analysis, has opened a new office in Los Angeles. More

Online video analytics specialist Innovid has raised $11m in Series C funding, which it will use to extend its service for PC, mobile and tablet platforms, while also developing offers for new formats such as gaming consoles, connected TV and video-on-demand. 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

US-based Media Economics Group - which provides competitive intelligence on online ads targeted at the Hispanic and African-American markets - has launched a new service called ArgentinaWebMonitor, to provide coverage of online ad activity across Argentina. More

US retail data specialist Retailigence has secured $6.3m in new funding, which it plans to use to drive expansion of its �O2O� online-to-offline local marketing and commerce platform. 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

Millward Brown has promoted Soumya Saklani to the position of Managing Director, Sub Saharan Africa and Chris Githaiga to support him as Managing Director of the East Africa region. More

US-based WhatRunsWhere - which offers a competitive intelligence service for online media buying - has expanded to Latin America with the addition of data from Brazil and Mexico. More

North of England full service agency Dipsticks Research has promoted Penny Browell to the position of Research Director, responsible for the firm�s �Other Lines of Enquiry� media research arm in addition to her current role as Head of the TV research division otherlines.tv. 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

Los Angeles-based full service agency Vital Findings has appointed former Nielsen and Maritz exec Mary Rubin as Vice President, to work closely with founder Jason Kramer to grow the business and expand its intellectual assets. 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

Experian Marketing Services has announced the launch of Hitwise Mobile, which will provide clients with �comprehensive data and insights� about mobile consumer behaviour. More

Amsterdam-based Kea Company has acquired London�s Lighthouse Analyst Relations, thus becoming �the world�s largest analyst relations firm� independent of the top PR agencies. Kea is also a customer experience analyst and an advisor on go-to-market strategies. More

Dell has announced an upgraded version of its flagship big data analytics product Kitenga, offering mid-market clients new search and predictive analytics options. More

Emerging market digital audience analyst Effective Measure has appointed John Davis in the new role of Global Measurement Scientist, based in its Australian office in Melbourne. 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

Real-time marketing analytics provider Anametrix has launched a cloud-based mobile app giving access to its data via iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices. 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

Facebook is partnering with a number of database firms, whose data on off-line customer behaviour will be used to sharpen its ad targeting solutions. Also today, Facebook confirmed it is buying measurement firm Atlas from Microsoft. More

Jennifer Otto, formerly Vice President of Consumer & Market Knowledge at P&G, has joined expert solutions provider YourEncore, to lead its new consumer insights program. More

comScore has announced a partnership with video ad measurement and verification specialist VideoHub, which will see the latter�s service integrated into comScore metrics. More

Influence marketing specialist Appinions has made two senior hires: John Mitchell joins as Chief Revenue Officer and David Fausel as SVP of Consulting Services. More

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