Ipsos first half revenue up; invests in QuestBack

After increasing its revenue by 15% year-on-year in the first three months of the year, Ipsos continued to grow in the second quarter, generating €481.5m between April and June. Organic growth for the first half was 3%.

Following the acquisition of four divisions of GfK and Synthesio towards the end of 2018, Ipsos saw revenue growth in all regions. Organic growth was strongest in Asia-Pacific ( 7.2%) and the Americas ( 2.6%).

The group’s operating profit for the period was €49m, down when compared with the first half of 2018, due to the acquisitions.

Operations involving citizens (public affairs and corporate reputation) drove the highest organic growth for the company, at 10%, while the pharmaceutical business saw growth of 8%.

As its results were released, Ipsos announced it has invested in employee and customer experience management company QuestBack, taking a 10% share through a capital increase.

QuestBack’s platform integrates employee and customer feedback data into core company systems.

Laurence Stoclet, deputy chief executive at Ipsos, said: "Ipsos is keen to demonstrate to our clients that employee and customer feedback should be widely and easily available across the entire organisation."

The company has also launched a brand campaign, titled ‘Be Sure', focusing on the need for reliable data and knowledge-based decision-making.

Commenting on the campaign, Didier Truchot, chairman and chief executive, said: "We believe our clients need more than a data supplier, they need a partner who can produce accurate and relevant information and turn it into actionable truth. 

"This is why our passionately curious experts not only provide the most precise measurement, but shape it to provide true understanding of society, markets and people."