MORI Expands Into Ireland With Purchase Of MRC 21/11/00 MORI, the UK’s largest independent and arguably best known market research company is buying MRC, the only major Irish agency operating in both Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. Stewart Lewis, a Director of MORI UK, becomes Chairman of MORI MRC. Lesley McClure continues as Managing Director. Peter McDowell is promoted to Financial Director, Brenda Boyd continues as Field Director and Orla Deasy remains Research Director. Stewart Lewis, Chairman of MORI MRC said: "This is the first of MORI’s post-MBO international expansions. MORI is looking for strong agencies with outstanding people and exciting growth prospects. MRC certainly fits that description in Ireland and we are delighted to be working with them." Lesley McClure, Managing Director of MORI MRC said: "The creation of MORI MRC places us in a stronger position to meet the huge demand for market research across Ireland at a time when the economy is extremely buoyant. This partnership will be good for our management, good for the staff, and good for our clients by providing access to a larger team of MORI experts, including specialists in customer satisfaction, employee, telecoms and internet research. It also means that we can access the most innovative and up-to-date technology - where appropriate - to provide clients with the best solutions to meet their research needs." Based in Dublin and Belfast, MORI MRC is also the only all-Ireland agency to be accredited with quality standards ISO9001 and IQCS, as of course is MORI in Britain. MRC’s current client base includes leading financial institutions and organisations in the telecoms, media, automotive, utilities and public sectors. Founded in 1969, MORI UK provides its clients with effective and imaginative use of a broad range of research services. It consists of two divisions; Social Research which focuses on the public and not-for-profit sector, and Corporate & Consumer which focuses on the private sector. MORI clients include half of the FTSE top 100 companies. MORI’s current year revenues are showing strong growth. MRC Field Ireland will operate as a separate division within the Group, and will continue to provide a quality, reliable fieldwork service to a wide range of organisations.