Lightspeed Names Panel Expert as New COO

Former Ipsos operations head Efrain Ribeiro has joined online panel specialist Lightspeed Research as Chief Operating Officer, based in the US and responsible for global online operations.

Ribeiro has a career in the market research industry spanning more than 25 years. Most recently, he was COO and Head of Respondent Access and Engagement at Ipsos, where he oversaw the operations and development of its online and offline panels.

Prior to this, he served as Head of Global Access Panels at TNS/NFO, where he was responsible for recruitment, management, sampling, and research-on-research for consumer, web-based, and proprietary global panels. He began his career with ratings giant Arbitron, where he managed both radio and TV service operations.

Ribeiro is an original member of the ARF Online Research Quality Council Steering Committee and was instrumental in conducting the 2009 study Foundations of Quality.

In his new role, reporting to Global CEO/President David Day, Ribeiro will be based in the firm's Maryland office, and will initially assume a leading role in the integration of the recently acquired TNS 6th dimension online panel business.

'Efrain brings a wealth of experience in the field of operations and is widely respected within the research industry,' stated Day. 'Based on his extensive background, thought leadership, and commitment to quality and best practices, we couldn't have asked for a better person to help lead the integration of the Lightspeed Research and TNS 6thdimension panel businesses.'

Lightspeed Research, which is part of Kantar - the information, insight and consultancy division of WPP - is online at www.lightspeedresearch.com .