Lightspeed and Millward Brown Form Partnership in China

Online panel specialist Lightspeed Research, and Millward Brown's operation in China - Millward Brown ACSR (MB-ACSR) - have formed a partnership to offer a global research panel and data collection service throughout the Chinese marketplace.

Known as Lightspeed MB-ACSR, the new 50/50 partnership will combine Lightspeed's global research panel networks with MB's data collection services in China.

The firms say that the venture has been formed in response to a growing demand for consumer insights in China. It will also provide online data collection services to Kantar companies including MB, Research International China, and Oracle Added Value as well as to other non-Kantar companies.

Anne Hedde, Lightspeed Research President and Group CEO, said that the combination of Lightspeed and MB-ACSR '…creates a leader in interactive research services in China by providing clients with seamless online data services.'

Yuxian Gao, Chairman of MB-ACSR added: 'When Millward Brown acquired ACSR, we already had an online panel of over 200,000 people across China. By combining Lightspeed Research's unparalleled global experience in online panel research with our deep understanding of the local market, we hope to grow the panel to at least 400,000 by 2008.'

MB-ACSR was launched last June when MB acquired Chinese MR agency ACSR and its network of offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (www.mrweb.com/drno/news5613.htm ).

Web sites: www.lightspeedresearch.com , www.millwardbrown.com and www.millwardbrown-acsr.com.