MRS Appointment and Rebranding

The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) is to rebrand from April, with a clearer separation of its publishing division from its role as a professional standards and membership association. The Society this week announced the promotion of Debrah Harding to the new dual role of Director, Policy and Communication, & Deputy Director General.

It is only a few months since the Society's commercial publishing and events operations were brought together under the research. brand, including the magazine, RBG, conferences and awards dinner. The April rebranding will feature a new logo, and the launch of a new MRS Company Partner service.

'We consciously position the conferences and many of the publications as being for the whole industry', Director General David Barr told DRNO, 'whereas other services are obviously intended for the membership'. The drawing of stronger lines between the standards body and the business division (ie research.) will improve the focus of each on its particular audience.

Barr says that the Company Partner service has been developed in ongoing discussions with agencies, and reflects the fact that whereas membership of the Society is individual, agencies often wish to stress their involvement with the MRS, their adherence to standards and their interest in professional development. Inclusion in the Research Buyer's Guide, for example, is dependent on having at least one individual member of the Society and yet is often seen as somehow endorsing the whole company. The Partner scheme will enable agencies to brand themselves as MRS partners, using a logo and a set form of words. It is also intended that company affiliation via the scheme will give employees discounted access to training and other paid MRS services.

Harding will now have direct responsibility for industry and professional standards, professional development, external representation of market research, legislation and regulatory matters, public affairs and media relations, as well as overseeing policy on membership services and communications. According to Barr, 'Throughout her six years at MRS, Debrah has provided strong leadership on both policy and process development, particularly relating to professional standards and external representation. Her new role will broaden considerably the scope of her responsibilities'.

'Over recent years', says Harding, 'MRS has worked successfully to expand its range of member services and industry-wide initiatives. Now this broader remit requires a cohesive approach to all areas of activity. I aim to strengthen further the position of MRS as the leading body for market and social researchers'.

The Society's home page is at www.mrs.org.uk .

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