Anderson loses AMAI speaking gig in fallout from ISO row

AMAI, the organisers of the event, withdrew the invitation this week in the wake of the row between Anderson and Esomar over his criticism of the ISO standard and the efforts of Casro, the Council of American Survey Research Organisations, to set up a committee to audit US companies who wished to adhere to the standard.

Anderson’s stance on the issue led Esomar to revoke his status as the organisation’s US East Coast Representative.

Following on from this, Anderson said he received “a very gracious, sympathetic and apologetic message from AMAI’s director general, Alejandro Garnica Andrade – who had originally asked me to speak [at the association’s congress in September] – informing me on behalf of their programme committee that they had decided to withdraw this invitation”.

Writing in a blog post, Anderson said: “The reasons behind their decision were stated in refreshingly explicit and honest terms: after consulting Mexico’s Esomar representative, it was due to my outspoken stance against ISO and a desire not to offend Casro or Esomar.”

Research contacted Andrade, who said that while it was true that AMAI had withdrawn the invitation, “it was not [done so] after consultation with any Esomar official”.

“AMAI was forced to take this sad decision for two reasons,” he said. “Firstly, our association is a firm believer in quality in research as reflected in an audited quality system we have had since the late 90s. On the other hand, AMAI believes and defends professional associations as the best way to foster self-regulation in the research industry.

“Considering the views of Tom are in conflict with these two beliefs, the organising committee of the AMAI congress retired the invitation.”