The new outfit, Anovation Asia (HK), is majority-owned by Anovation, the data management and analysis business led by former MBL Group boss Chris Robinson.

Six members of staff from Harris’s Hong Kong team have moved to Anovation including Kenrick Leung (pictured above), who left his role as director of research operations at Harris last year and becomes managing director of the new business, with Robinson serving as president.

Leung said: “Being able to quickly bring the whole operations and management team in Hong Kong over to the new operation ensured continuity of clients – and their support has been fantastic.”

The new business describes itself as full-service, but says its primary focus will be on providing outsourced field and data services and project management guidance to global research firms in Asia.

Robinson (above right) said: “It was amazing that Harris would let such a skilled tab, field and project management team go. When I was approached by Kenrick, it just made good sense to come in as an investor and adviser to the team, many of whom I have known professionally for years.”

Harris, which brought back Al Angrisani as CEO in June following poor performance under its previous three bosses, announced the closure of its operations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai in July, saying they did not “adequately support the company’s strategic objectives”. Two former members of the Singapore team launched their own business, Agility Research, earlier this month.