Norstat Appoints Jacoud for French Expansion

Oslo, Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has opened an office in Paris, where it has appointed former Research Now MD Marc-Antoine Jacoud as Managing Director.

Norstat provides access to online panels in nineteen countries, and other traditional data collection methods in some of those markets. France is now the twelfth country in Europe where the firm has local operations, and its French online panel already comprises 39,500 members, boasting an average response rate of 45%.

Jacoud (pictured) joins with thirty years' industry experience. Most recently, he was Research Now's MD for Southern Europe, prior to which he ran his own market and opinion research consultancy Equations in Paris, and was Group MD of BVA. Earlier, he spent six years as Research International's CEO, France and Southern Europe; was MD of Ipsos in Paris; and founded MR agency ARSH, which he sold to Ipsos in 1993.

Commenting on the launch of the new office and appointment, Norstat CEO Knut Aasrud said: 'With the hiring of Marc-Antoine, and the build-up of a full team, our commitment to the French market is strong. A full team with local project managers, scripters and client executives is the foundation for our relationships with local clients and for delivery of our premium services. The new operations will also help us grow our existing online panel in France and develop new services based on it'.

Web site: www.norstatgroup.com .