Ex-Epsilon chief buys MR firm Shapiro

The new entity, called Shapiro + Raj, will be based out of Shapiro’s Chicago headquarters. Following the acquisition, Raj (pictured) becomes CEO, while Owen Shapiro, a Shapiro vice-president, moves up to president, and Shapiro president Matthew Smith becomes vice-chairman.

Shapiro was founded in 1955 by Leo J Shapiro. The company specialises in social science research methodologies and behaviourism.

Raj said of the acquisition: “Most marketers today are suffering from information overload, drinking from the fire hose of data coming at them, much of which is siloed within disparate pockets of their organisations. We formed this new entity to help marketers integrate this data and deliver insights and big ideas by pairing behavioural dimensions of market research with the latest in analytical capabilities.”

Prior to Epsilon, Raj was CEO of digital agency Euro RSCG’s data and analytics arm, Discovery.

Shapiro + Raj formally launches operations this month.