Research
Marc Brenner Editorial

Evolution and Research Now kickstart new SME study

11-Jan-2011

UK— Evolution has embarked upon a syndicated study among SMEs to judge attitudes towards commercial insurance.

People on the move

7-Jan-2011

The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research and consumer insight industry. This week: Simon-Kucher & Partners, Nielsen, Opinion Leader, OpinionPanel, Cint, The Pert Group, Research Runner, National Analysts Worldwide, HIMSS Analytics, NIESR, CMI, EEDAR and MRUC.

Experian Hitwise makes Indian debut

6-Jan-2011

INDIA— Experian has launched Hitwise, its internet measurement service, in India.

Nunwood posts 10% revenue growth

6-Jan-2011

UK— Nunwood has reported revenues of £11m in 2010, up 10% on the previous year.

Buxton names Wetzel as new CEO

5-Jan-2011

US— Customer analytics firm Buxton has promoted Charles Wetzel to the post of CEO.

Sweet smell of success

Jan 2011

By the time you read this the winners of the Research Magazine Awards will have taken in the congratulations offriends and weathered the tight-lipped smiles of competitors.

People on the move

17-Dec-2010

The latest round-up of personnel changes in the research and insight business. Companies announcing staff changes this week include Gilt Groupe, The Sound Research, Aegis, WOMMA, Vision Critical, Foviance and Cint.

Weinberger promoted to lead Comscore in Australia and NZ

12-Nov-2010

AUSTRALIA— Amy Weinberger has been named as the new vice president of Comscore’s Australia and New Zealand business.

A new golden age?

Nov 2010

The publication of the research industry league tables used to be cause for deepsatisfaction. Theindustry would collectively sip brandy, puff a cigar, lean back in aChesterfield and survey the fertile land.

Hansa's Stewart moves to Synovate Hong Kong

11-Oct-2010

HONG KONG— Jeff Stewart has been named as executive director for Synovate Hong Kong to steer business development and oversee key accounts.

A journey into the known

October 2010

Within minutes of the publication of Tony Blair’s memoirs, you could hear the stampede of trade magazine editors rushing for their copies to discover whether the ex-PM had made significant mention of anything related to their industry. While the editor of Rubber Tubing Gazette may have been disappointed, the editor of Research was not.

People on the move

29-Sep-2010

The latest round-up of personnel changes in the research and insight business. Companies announcing staff changes this week include Rentrak, Visual IQ, Mendeley and LogicLab.

Think tank calls for new focus in public sector research

28-Sep-2010

UK— As cuts loom over local government a new think tank, LGinsight, has urged public sector researchers to “up their game”. The think tank has been established to represent the current thinking of local government researchers and to promote “the true value of their research.”

Ipsos Loyalty finds Mann for business development role

28-Sep-2010

US— Joe Mann has become the new vice president of business development at Ipsos Loyalty.

Hall & Partners' Palmer leaves London for Sydney

23-Sep-2010

AUSTRALIA— Nick Palmer, senior director at Hall & Partners London, has been appointed to the newly created post of research director at the firm’s Sydney office.

People on the move

25-Aug-2010

The latest round-up of personnel changes in the research and insight business. Companies announcing staff changes include Synovate, ABI Research, Insight Research Group and The Lounge Group

Compete dubs John Bremer new chief research officer

11-Aug-2010

US— John Bremer has been appointed the new chief research officer at Kantar’s web analytics business, Compete. He joins from Harris Interactive where he was a co-director of the Harris Interactive Center for Innovation.

Millward Brown on song with chart contract

4-Aug-2010

UK— The Official Charts Company (OCC) has awarded its chart research contract to Millward Brown for a four year term. The research agency has held the account now for 21 years.

SSI names Helen Ryan as Singapore country manager

3-Aug-2010

SINGAPORE— Helen Ryan, a senior account manager from Survey Sampling International’s London office, has been chosen as the firm’s new country manager for Singapore.

Drive, he said

August 2010

I would be prepared to place a sizeable wager on the possibility that research agencies will be somewhat put outover this month’s interview with Steve Gatt, Volkswagen’s insight chief. It’s probably best for you to be seatedbefore you begin reading.

Dempster joins MMR Research as research director

23-Jul-2010

UK— MMR Research has hired Paul Dempster as research director with a view to developing its volumetric forecasting business.

LogicLab's search for chief research officer ends at Gugel

23-Jul-2010

US— Analytics firm LogicLab has appointed Craig Gugel as its new chief research officer. Gugel was most recently senior vice president for media analytics at the Advertising Research Foundation.

Market Creative rises to Sayers' bakery challenge

13-Jul-2010

UK— Retail marketing consultancy Market Creative is to analyse shopper behaviour for bakery chain Sayers.

The cold light of morning

July 2010

As I write this column we are hours away from the delivery of the coalition’s emergency budget. I may be goingout on a limb here, but I suspect that it isn’t going to be a giveaway. We aren’t anticipating any fine detail onpublic spending cuts at this point, but the future does not look too rosy for those who are employed by, or sellservices to, government. Welcome to the age of the hairshirt.

Poll dancing

June 2010

Who had a good general election? Well, Cameron and Clegg aren’t complaining, for starters. But thecoalition was forced as a result of there being no clear winner in this contest. If you are looking for aclear winner, you could do worse than look to the polling industry, which played a stormer on two fronts.

Growth in online and mobile video ad spend spurs Kantar unveilings

12-May-2010

US— Kantar has formed a new division and announced new video measurement and tracking tools in response to what it sees as the speedy growth in global ad spend in online and mobile video.

Chirpy chirpy tweet tweet

May 2010

Cliché has it that music hall performers who outstayed their welcome would get yanked off the stage with a shepherd’s crook. Research 2010 presenters who overran faced a somewhat less violent, though no less public, humiliation.

Editor's Note: Research Jobfinder for iPhone out today

20-Apr-2010

Hunting for that new job has been made that much easier for iPhone owners, as Research launches its first app.

The stamp of authority

April 2010

Watchdog Postcomm is mulling over suitable action following the discovery that Royal Mail rigged research into service quality.

Opinium and Daily Express strike poll partnership

10-Mar-2010

UK— Opinium Research is to conduct voting intention polls for the Daily Express newspaper in the run up to the 2010 general election.

The answer is simplicity itself

March 2010

In the rush to innovate, prove a return on investment and mine fresh seams of insight, the research business has, arguably, been a little less enthusiastic in its attempts to attract, engage and retain respondents.

Knowledge Networks pre-approved as US Government survey supplier

24-Feb-2010

US— Government procurement body the General Services Administration has handed Knowledge Networks a 20-year survey services contract, effectively pre-approving the online researcher as a supplier to federal agencies.

Bertelsen to steer Siegel+Gale's insights practice

24-Feb-2010

US— Branding giant Siegel+Gale has appointed Lisa Bertelsen as global director of its research insights practice.

The new order is the old order

Feb 2010

According to a new Forrester report it appears that recession-struck research buyers will no longer commission “research for research’s sake”.

Populus launches online omnibus with 'analysis as standard'

25-Jan-2010

UK— Opinon pollster Populus is to offer free analysis as part of a newly launched online omnibus service.

The visibility factor

January 2010

When Arbitron’s chief executive officer Michael Skarzynski appeared before the US House ofRepresentativesCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform last month, he faced a formidable opponent

Kadence names new insight director for US office

21-Dec-2009

US— Susan Crohan has been appointed insight director for Kadence International’s US operation.

Ethnography app debuts on iTunes store

21-Dec-2009

UK— Research agency Everyday Lives has launched its iPhone-based ethnographic research app on Apple’s iTunes store – and revealed that a Blackberry version is in the works.

Globalpark provides path for Christian Research

18-Dec-2009

UK— Panel software firm Globalpark has been signed up by Christian Research to power its Faith Journey project.

IFF Research's Mark Speed on the dangers of procurement

11-Dec-2009

Mark Speed is the co-managing director of IFF Research and the latest interviewee in our series of Spotlight interviews.

Closing one book, opening another

December 2009

The number of agencies relieved to close the book on 2009 is dwarfed only by the number fearful of opening the book on 2010.

Nunwood's Clare Bruce on why 'cash is king'

26-Nov-2009

As the CEO of Nunwood Consulting Clare Bruce has a passion for financial detail, scarcity and the idea that young researchers should try untraditional routes to entering the business.

Lloyds Banking Group man moves to McCallum Layton

3-Nov-2009

UK— Lloyds Banking Group researcher Andy Plunkett has joined McCallum Layton as a research manager in the agency’s quant practice.

The good old days

Nov 2009

You might feel a tad nostalgic as you leaf through our UK Research Industry League Tables. The revenues posted were for that bygoneage when the recession had yet to bite into the balance sheet. It was a happier, sunnier age. It was an optimistic age. It was 2008.

Opinium puts itself in poll position for 2010 election

26-Oct-2009

UK— Opinium Research will conduct a weekly online poll tracking voter intention in the run up to the UK General Election in 2010.

2CV's Vincent Nolan takes to the Spotlight

23-Oct-2009

Vincent Nolan is founder of 2CV and chairman of Cello Research Group. He’s also the latest industry figure to offer his personal and professional view in our Spotlight series.

Clarabridge strikes partnership deal with Confirmit

16-Oct-2009

US— Clarabridge has teamed up with research software firm Confirmit to add survey capabilities to its text analytics platform – a move designed to allow firms to collect and analyse customer feedback through “a single integrated solution”.

Celebrity buzz gets The Nod with Attentio

15-Oct-2009

UK— Celebrity recommendations website TheNod.com and Attentio have struck a deal to track and analyse celebrity brand associations.

Ogilvy's Rory Sutherland talks value at TED

15-Oct-2009

In this presentation to the TED conference Rory Sutherland, vice president of advertising group Ogilvy, makes a highly engaging case for the real value of advertising.

Taking your eyes off the prize

October 2009

The Research Magazine Awards judging panel has always had a hard time of it. We battle with a wealth of entries, the considerable force of persuasive evidence and the responsibility of knowing that our decisions really can give a fillip to a firm’s commercial success.

Visual IQ launches Audience IQ to test marketing ROI

25-Sep-2009

US— Marketing intelligence firm Visual IQ has unveiled Audience IQ, a tool that aims to provide analysis on customer behaviours generated by marketing campaigns.

Maven debuts customer satisfaction measure

25-Sep-2009

UK— Maven Research has launched CSM Pro, a data measurement tool designed to score, benchmark and track customer satisfaction.

Introducing Research Live forums

10-Sep-2009

Research Live is eager to offer you a platform for discussion that is easy to use, powerful and flexible. That’s why we’re launching forums - a space where you can react to, or chew over, our market-leading coverage and kick-start fresh debate.

A free take on the Free movement

9-Sep-2009

Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail, recently published Free in the UK. In this Google Talk he gives you a taster of the ideas behind the book.

Lightspeed's David Day takes to the Spotlight

4-Sep-2009

The new global CEO of WPP’s online panel firm talks to us about the recession, his mentor and why every research firm should be fit for purpose.

Spotlight shines on Kevin Ford

28-Aug-2009

Kevin Ford, director of brand and communications research at Harris Interactive’s Global Centre of Excellence, is the latest industry figure to take his place in our Spotlight feature.

People on the move

21-Aug-2009

The latest appointments and promotions in the global market research industry. Today: IMS Health, Research Now, All Global, Datran Media, EMI Music

RS Consulting MD Neil Swan reveals all

7-Aug-2009

In the latest Spotlight interview Neil Swan, managing director of RS Consulting, talks to us about his professional and personal bugbears.

ComRes's Greig Baker on polling

31-Jul-2009

Greig Baker is head of operations at polling firm ComRes. He talks to us about his professional and private preoccupations in our Spotlight feature.

Engage Research's Deborah Sleep

17-Jul-2009

In this continuing series, Engage Research director Deborah Sleep admits to a beach nightmare and tells young researchers to ‘go for it’.

Six new life members for New Zealand research society

10-Jul-2009

NEW ZEALAND— The Market Research Society of New Zealand has elected six new life members.

Sorrell casts gloomy eye on prospect of advertising recovery

10-Jul-2009

US— WPP CEO Martin Sorrell has predicted an “anemic and mild” recovery for the advertising market in 2010, but remains optimistic about the prospects for consumer insight.

Spotlight: IFF Research's Katie Oldfield

10-Jul-2009

Katie Oldfield is associate director at IFF Research. She offers us her professional take on jargon, tough projects and the next big thing.

Hartley named as new VP for GfK Customer Loyalty

6-Jul-2009

US— GfK Custom Research North America has appointed Thomas Hartley as vice president of GfK Customer Loyalty.

Bottom line on top managers

July 2009

Four new faces boost Incite ranks

29-Jun-2009

UK— Incite has hired four new members of staff across its operation.

Spotlight: Sense CEO Jeremy Brown

19-Jun-2009

Think you’ve seen a lot of change on the world of MR? Sense Worldwide CEO Jeremy Brown begs to differ as he takes to the Spotlight. He discusses research’s role in the value chain, the recession and a weakness for Martinis.

Echo Research launches online global media monitor

18-Jun-2009

UK— Echo Research has launched EchoSonar, an online media monitoring and evaluation service.

Hooven signs up for new role at Crowd Science

16-Jun-2009

US— Ex-Comscore man Robert Hooven has joined web audience profiling firm Crowd Science as vice president of sales.

UK MR business grew by 6.2% in 2008, says MRS

11-Jun-2009

UK— Market research spend grew by just over six per cent in 2008, according to the Market Research Society’s annual survey. The figure represents a significant increase on the 2.3 per cent growth recorded in 2007.

Ideas Rush: Orlando Wood on We Research

9-Jun-2009

We challenged researchers to present one big idea, in five minutes and with aid of only one slide at Research 2009. In this first presentation Brainjuicer’s Orlando Wood posits the idea of We Research.

Dan Ariely on predictable irrationality

6-Jun-2009

We’re always on the lookout for illuminating videos from the web. Dan Ariely, chosen as one of our big thinkers in May, talks at a recent TED conference on why we sometimes choose to behave less than honourably.

Jonah Lehrer gets the Stephen Colbert treatment

5-Jun-2009

Neuroscience populist Jonah Lehrer, author of How We Decide, braved the slings and arrows of an interview slot on the Comedy Channel’s The Colbert Report. Host Stephen Colbert gives him the once over.

Web 2.0 a ‘post-recession brand saviour’

29-May-2009

UK— Brands that exploit the world of user-generated content could fare better coming out of the recession than those whose relationships with consumers remain purely transactional, according to a new report from Experian.

Three new members for WIN

26-May-2009

GLOBAL— The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) of research agencies has added three new companies, bringing its total membership to 21 firms.

Rich pickings

May 2009

What happens when a market researcher and marketeer go into business together? Marc Brenner interviews Rebecca Wynberg and Paula Quazi, who are about to make a Tesco debut with their Buff snacks brand.

The responsible approach

April 2009

Getting in on the act

February 2009