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RI Buys Polish Partner
Research International has acquired its Polish associate PENTOR Research International, which was established in 1991 and was previously minority-owned by the global agency. PENTOR's current management team will remain in place.
PENTOR, which becomes a wholly-owned unit in the RI Group, is one of the leading custom research agencies in Poland, offering a full range of qual and quant research services and fieldwork capabilities from full service offices in Warsaw, Kattowicze, and Poznan.
Frank Vöhl-Hitscher, CEO of Research International in Northern Europe says the group is committed to increasing its presence in Central and Eastern Europe and the acquisition is part of its strategy of investing further in the region. 'Poland is of strategic importance for us and our clients... We have worked successfully in partnership with our Polish colleagues since 1991 and this deal strengthens that partnership.'
PENTOR CEO Eugeniusz Smilowski says the MR industry has been consolidating in Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe. 'This acquisition means that not only can we continue to offer strong services across Poland, Europe and beyond but also that we can offer more to our clients. Increased co-operation with the Group on client accounts, the increased use of standardised methodologies, improved IT systems, increased spend on R&D, better access to proprietary techniques, global knowledge management and increased staff training will benefit both our clients and our staff.'
Research International is an operating company of the Kantar Group, part of WPP, and is online at www.research-int.com ..
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