Healthcare research ‘robust' at Cello Group

UK-- Cello Group chairman Allan Rich told shareholders at the firm's AGM today that the company “performed solidly during the first quarter in a continued tough trading environment”.

Rich said the group, which owns research agencies Insight Research Group, Leapfrog and RS Consulting, remained “cautiously optimistic” for the rest of the year, but that interim results were expected to reflect the slowdown in client activity that began in late 2008.

Healthcare research had shown “robustness” during the first quarter, Rich said, and the firm was “benefiting from an increasing exposure to public sector activity” in its research and direct marketing activities.

In March, Cello's research arm reported a 30% rise in revenue for 2008, but operating profit dipped slightly from £6.2m to £6.1m.

Author: James Verrinder

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