Feature2 October 2017

Advice from above

Jane Simms

The MRS has launched its mentoring scheme, which pairs members with more senior mentors to help them navigate work and career issues. 

Feature29 September 2017

Neighbours, but worlds apart

Nicole Stokell

Understanding differences – not similarities – between New Zealand and Australian markets is the key to more effective trans-Tasman marketing, according to new research from Kantar TNS New Zealand.

News29 September 2017

IPG Mediabrands and Acxiom in data partnership

The IPG Mediabrands network has announced its largest analytics and data integration alliance to date, by partnering with ad tech company Acxiom across 14 markets.

News29 September 2017

CoolTool releases browser emotion tool

Neuromarketing insights company NeuroLab CoolTool has created a tool to measure emotions while users are browsing.

News29 September 2017

UK consumer confidence shows mixed view

Confidence in personal finances has declined by three points but in the general economic situation it has risen two points in September 2017, according to GfK's Consumer Confidence Index.

News29 September 2017

Kynetec appoints insights director

Animal health and agricultural data and analytics company Kynetec has hired Nomman Ahmed as senior director of insights and consulting.

News29 September 2017

Voxpopme creates video diary app

Video insights platform Voxpopme has launched an app-based video diary product, called Moments.

News28 September 2017

Wavemaker appoints chief client officer

WPP’s merger of MEC and Maxus agency, Wavemaker, has made Aaron Smith its global chief client officer.

News28 September 2017

Jicwebs certifies anti-fraud products

Jicwebs has announced a certification scheme for companies offering anti-fraud products.

News28 September 2017

ComScore launches targeting suite

ComScore has announced a new product, Activation, to help advertisers, agencies and media companies improve audience targeting.

News28 September 2017

Critical Mix launches collaborative insights tool

Data and insights company Critical Mix has released CMIX, a collaborative tool for creating insights.

Opinion28 September 2017

Stranger than fiction

From acquisitions to changing business models and political uncertainty, businesses and financial markets are in a state of flux. 

News28 September 2017

BIT seeks strategy director

The Behavioural Insights Team ( BIT) has announced it is looking for a director of strategy and implementation to join the organisation.

News28 September 2017

Nielsen buys Visual IQ

Nielsen has acquired multi-touch attribution ( MTA) modelling ad specialist Visual IQ for an undisclosed amount.

News27 September 2017

GroupM launches Finecast

Jane Bainbridge

WPP’s global media company GroupM has established a new addressable TV business in the UK called Finecast.

News27 September 2017

Ignite Collective opens its doors

The founders of four market research agencies around the world have formed a collaborative group known as The Ignite Collective.

News27 September 2017

Cint makes changes at the top

Insights exchange Cint has created two new roles – chief operations officer and chief innovation officer – among other senior changes.

Opinion27 September 2017

View from Silicon Valley

Matt Taylor

Client-agency relationships in industries awash with data are changing, as there are more 'whats' than 'whys'. 

News27 September 2017

Taboola releases Data Marketplace

Content discovery platform, Taboola, has launched its Data Marketplace to give advertisers access to third party consumer data from companies including Oracle Data Cloud, Neustar, Acxiom and Bombora.

News27 September 2017

Ipsos Marketing launches System1/System2 testing

Ipsos Marketing has developed a new screening approach, Duel, which uses behavioural science and cognitive psychology to capture consumer reactions.

News27 September 2017

Voxco hires Rousay for UK expansion

Survey software company Voxco has appointed John Rousay to its global sales team with a remit to extend its UK business.

News26 September 2017

System1 Research releases digital content tracking system

System1 Research has launched a digital video product linking short-term sales gains to long-term profitability.

News26 September 2017

Next 15 revenue up 16% in H1 2017

Digital communications group Next 15 has reported revenues of £93.5m for the half year to 31 July 2017, an increase of 16%, and operating profit of £12.3m, up 11%.

News26 September 2017

Nielsen sues comScore over data use

Jane Bainbridge

Nielsen has filed a lawsuit to block cross-platform measurement firm comScore from launching its Extended TV service which would include comScore’s Portable People Meter ( PPM) data.

News26 September 2017

Charterhouse Research sold to Next 15

Jane Bainbridge

Communications group Next 15 has acquired specialist financial services consultancy, Charterhouse Research, for an undisclosed amount.

News26 September 2017

Ipsos Connect appoints audience measurement lead

Ipsos’s brand communications, advertising and media division Ipsos Connect has hired Michael Baer as its senior vice-president, head of audience measurement group.

Feature26 September 2017

BE360: how much do you bend the law?

Crawford Hollingworth

How behavioural science is helping people to be more responsible and honest citizens. 

Feature26 September 2017

BE360: how much do you bend the law?

How behavioural science is helping people to be more responsible and honest citizens. 

News25 September 2017

SIS promotes Marin to EMEA operations role

Global market research and strategic consultancy SIS International Research has appointed Cédric Marin as director of operations for its EMEA regional team.

News25 September 2017

Cyber attack cost WPP £15m

WPP chief executive, Sir Martin Sorrell, has admitted the cyber attack that hit the ad agency network earlier this year, cost it up to £15m before insurance.

News25 September 2017

CBS signs up for Nielsen OOH measurement

CBS Corporation has subscribed to Nielsen’s National Out-of-Home Reporting Service to give data on its network for live and time-shifted ratings.

Feature25 September 2017

Human intervention

Bronwen Morgan

Using machine learning to make decisions around public services can save time and money, but can also exacerbate existing discrimination.

News25 September 2017

Trust issues rife among UK shoppers

Almost half ( 46%) of UK shoppers are cynical, not agreeing with the statement that ‘they are trustful of others’, according to research from Shoppercentric.

Opinion25 September 2017

Can ad surveys really provide all they promise?

Companies using surveys in display ads should remember the limits of these samples and who they are targeting.

News25 September 2017

Mobile analytics markets to reach $6bn by 2024

The global mobile analytics market was worth $1.6bn in 2016 and is predicted to grow 18.3% ( CAGR) to reach $6bn by the end of 2024, according to Research Nester.

News25 September 2017

M3 Global Research acquires QQFS

Healthcare data collection business M3 Global Research has bought Swedish sample company Qualitative & Quantitative Fieldwork Services ( QQFS) for an undisclosed amount.

Feature22 September 2017

'It's not brain surgery'

Michael Brown

Anxiety in the workplace can be debilitating – but, with the right techniques, it is manageable. Michael Brown shares his experiences and tips for market researchers coping with stress

News22 September 2017

Unruly takes emotion targeting tool to SE Asia advertisers

Video ad tech company Unruly has launched an audience targeting tool, UCA, in South East Asia.

News22 September 2017

Technology biggest concern for business influencers

Jane Bainbridge

In a climate of disruption – from Brexit to Trump, terrorism to global tensions – global business influencers consider technology disruption to be their biggest challenge.

News22 September 2017

Kleffmann restructures AgriGlobal team

International agricultural market research institute, Kleffmann Group, has strengthened and reorganised its consulting division amisAgriGlobe.

News22 September 2017

Nielsen in collaboration with clypd

Nielsen has announced it will work with audience-based sales platform for television networks, clypd, combining its buying data with clypd's platform.

News22 September 2017

Macromill buys Acturus to merge into MetrixLab

Global market research company Macromill, has acquired specialist US-based research agency, Acturus for an undisclosed amount.

News21 September 2017

Majority ‘very selective’ about sharing their data with brands

Sharing personal data comes with the expectation that brands should then better personalise their offers, according to research from Mindshare.

News21 September 2017

Lego, Microsoft and Google top CSR reputation ranking

Technology companies have dominated the latest corporate social responsibility ( CSR) ranking from the Reputation Institute, although Apple, Google and Samsung have seen their CSR scores fall this year.

News21 September 2017

Google pays $1.1bn for HTC’s Pixel

Alphabet-owned Google has renewed its smartphone hardware interest with the $1.1bn purchase of Taiwan’s HTC Pixel division.

News21 September 2017

Gracenote teams with interactive TV ad companies

Nielsen-owned content and tech company Gracenote has agreed deals with interactive TV ad companies, Connekt and Ensequence, to use its video Automatic Content Recognition ( ACR) tech.

Feature21 September 2017

Sensory overload

Consumer insight and research drives business strategy and innovation at International Flavors and Fragrances ( IFF) in its quest to create sensory experiences across product categories for consumers. 

News21 September 2017

Wunderman acquires majority stake in Pierry

WPP-owned digital agency Wunderman has bought a majority stake in marketing software company Pierry for an undisclosed amount.

News20 September 2017

Vision Critical adds to Sparq 3

Customer intelligence software provider Vision Critical has introduced product innovations to its Sparq 3 platform to improve insights for clients.

News20 September 2017

Cello’s results show solid first half of 2017

Healthcare marketing group, Cello, has reported £78.7 million revenue for the sixth months to 30 June 2017, down from £80.7m in the same period the previous year, with pre-tax profits of £2.7m ( compared to a loss of £0.8m in H1 2016).

Opinion20 September 2017

A home to the tribes

Market researchers don’t have to worry about machines taking their jobs, this sector has embraced machine learning with aplomb.

News20 September 2017

Smartphones twice as popular as PCs for internet use

Twice as many adults go online on their smartphones as they do on desktop computers, according to research from Verto Analytics.

News20 September 2017

Global market research growth highest since 2010

Global turnover of the traditional market research sector was $44.5 billion in 2016, an increase of 2.3% after inflation, according to Esomar’s annual Global Market Research Report.

News20 September 2017

Pivot merges with MadeByPi

London-based digital product consultancy Pivot has expanded its UK presence by joining forces with digital user experience agency MadeByPi.

News19 September 2017

Outra opens doors with Simon Hay, Lynton Crosby and Jim Messina at top

Jane Bainbridge

Former dunnhumby CEO Simon Hay, Tory election strategist Sir Lynton Crosby, and Obama strategist and staff member Jim Messina have joined the leadership team of a new data insight business, Outra.

Feature19 September 2017

In search of happiness

Andy Dexter

Successful business strategy needs to include a measure of happiness and a recognition that brand purpose must involve more than just making money.

News19 September 2017

Changes at top for Kantar Public

Public policy market research consultancy, Kantar Public, has appointed a new UK chief executive officer and global chief operating officer.

News19 September 2017

Nielsen appoints De Luca to board

Consumer technology veteran, Guerrino De Luca, has joined Nielsen’s board of directors.

News19 September 2017

One in five Brits don’t want a smartphone

Apple’s latest iPhone release garnered the usual fanfare but research from Future Thinking found that 20% of British consumers are eschewing smartphone tech.

News19 September 2017

Hausruckinger joins The NPD Group

Global information company The NPD Group has hired Gerhard Hausruckinger as group president for Europe and APAC.

Opinion18 September 2017

Making online spend work in the long term

Tom Ewing

The lasting brand value of online marketing has been questioned in some quarters, but what marketers need is more quickly available accurate data on long-term impact. 

News18 September 2017

Kantar Worldpanel expands panel with smartphone app

Consumer behaviour panel, Kantar Worldpanel, has launched Worldpanel Plus, its biggest sample to date with its smartphone app, Shoppix, extending its insight gathering into new markets including sports goods, toys and tools.

News18 September 2017

Viga reports staff growth and further US expansion

Next 15-owned data collection agency Viga has grown its team to 35 people this year – a 200% increase in the past six months – and will open its third US office in Dallas, Texas.

News18 September 2017

Teenagers show ‘true self’ on Instagram

Teenagers switch their social platform allegiance depending on who they are talking to and the type of content they are publishing, according to MediaCom’s research into the changing role of social media for teenagers.

News18 September 2017

Nielsen TV measurement extended in Sweden

Nielsen has signed a five-year extension to its agreement with the Swedish Joint Industry Committee ( JIC) and MMS ( Mediamätning i Skandinavien AB) for TV and video viewing across devices.

News18 September 2017

Havas New York buys The 88

Havas Group has acquired New York-based digital/social boutique agency The 88, for an undisclosed amount.

News15 September 2017

Populus, ICM Direct and Facts International among 2017 Oppies winners

Last night in London, the Market Research Society held its 2017 Operation Awards celebrating the best of those involved in running the sector.

News15 September 2017

Confirmit partners with Infobip to extend mobile surveys

Voice of the customer technology business Confirmit has joined forces with mobile messaging firm, Infobip, to offer better mobile engagement for clients running market research and customer experience programmes.

News15 September 2017

ZappiStore creates client transformation role

Automated market research tech company ZappiStore has appointed Jared Carr as its vice-president of strategic client transformation.

News15 September 2017

Adults spend 8 hours a day on media

Whether it's TV, radio, newspapers or social media, adults in the UK are now spending seven hours and 56 minutes a day consuming media, according to the latest IPA TouchPoints data.

News15 September 2017

Strategir hires Bastide in digital push

Caroline Bastide has joined market research agency Strategir as digital and services director.

News15 September 2017

ComScore offers free viewability measurement globally

Cross-platform measurement company comScore has extended access to free viewability measurement, which it first launched in April this year, to all regions.

News14 September 2017

Debt advisers use 'nudge' science to encourage people to get help

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

Debt advisers in the UK are using behavioural science to try to ‘nudge’ more people to get help with their money problems.

News14 September 2017

Facebook seeks accreditation for ad metrics

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

Facebook is seeking accreditation from the Media Rating Council, as part of its efforts to win back the trust of advertisers.

News14 September 2017

Rait acquires GfK's custom research business in the Baltics

Baltic research agency Rait has agreed to acquire GfK’s custom research operations in the region.

News14 September 2017

Bronwen Morgan joins Flamingo as head of content

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

Research agency Flamingo has hired Bronwen Morgan, formerly of Research-live, in the new role of head of content.

News14 September 2017

John Kearon becomes president of Esomar charity arm

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

John Kearon, CEO of marketing consultancy System1, has been appointed president of the Esomar Foundation, the charity arm of research association Esomar.

News14 September 2017

Netquest appoints Marc Smaluhn as managing director for Europe

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

Online panel provider Netquest has appointed Marc Smaluhn as managing director in Europe.

Opinion14 September 2017

Mind the gap

Sinead Hasson

Does taking a year off, before or after university, make you more employable?

News13 September 2017

Majority of brand owners 'not ready for GDPR'

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

Seventy per cent of brand owners say marketing teams in their organisations are not fully aware of the implications of the European Union’s new data protection regulation, the GDPR.

News13 September 2017

Boxclever sales reach £3.8m

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

UK research agency Boxclever has grown by more than 25% this year, with sales reaching £3.82 million.

News13 September 2017

Imperium merges with TrueSample

Imperium and TrueSample, which both provide data validation services to market research companies, are to merge.

News13 September 2017

Sentient Decision Science targets Europe with new London office

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

Sentient Decision Science, a US research technology and consulting firm specialising in behavioural science, has opened an office in London.

News13 September 2017

Half of Americans 'not engaged with news and information'

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

People in the US who trust sources of news and information are outnumbered by those who don't, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

News13 September 2017

'Ad fatigue' drives viewers to on-demand TV

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

It’s not just convenience or the chance to see the latest season of Stranger Things that’s driving the growth of on-demand TV viewing in the UK, according to the latest findings from On Device Research.

News13 September 2017

Gender inequality persists in the MR industry, survey finds

Robert Langkjaer-Bain

Women in market research are still losing out to men in terms of jobs, pay and satisfaction, despite progress towards better gender equality.

Feature13 September 2017

Consolidation is coming

Mergers and acquisitions within the research sector are necessary and inevitable, argues Future Thinking’s Jon Priest.

News12 September 2017

IAB Europe warns of restricting data-driven ads

Obstructing the collection and use of data in digital advertising would have serious and unintended consequences for the EU economy and independent media according to IAB Europe.

News12 September 2017

SSI partners with LiveRamp

Survey data and tech business SSI has announced its data will now be available to brands on Axciom's LiveRamp IdentityLink.

News12 September 2017

ComScore reduces board to five and delays financials

Cross-platform measurement company comScore has cut its board to five after seven members left.

News12 September 2017

Turner launches delineate to 'disrupt' insight business

Jane Bainbridge

Former chief operating officer of Edelman Intelligence James 'JT' Turner has launched research and insights agency, delineate, with offices in London and Manchester.

News12 September 2017

Innovate appoints Nagai as EMEA MD

Audience sampling market research business Innovate has hired Rie Nagai as managing director for the EMEA region, as part of its expansion plans.

Feature11 September 2017

He's not the man he was

Jake Goretzki

The image of British – and global – male identity is shifting, in particular among millennials. This opens up opportunities for brands to connect with them in different ways. 

News11 September 2017

LivingLens and Cello Health Insight in partnership

Video mining and analytics software company, LivingLens, has announced a two-year partnership with Cello Health Insight, following a successful year’s trial.

News11 September 2017

Equifax suffers one of biggest cyber-attacks

Global data information and credit reporting company Equifax has admitted it has been hit by a cyber-attack that may have impacted approximately 143 million US consumers.

News11 September 2017

Critical Mix adds to European team

Global data and insights company Critical Mix has appointed Matt Shepherd and Jon Williams as sales directors.

News11 September 2017

Nielsen Brandbank launches content studio

Nielsen Brandbank, which offer digital product content for ecommerce and mobile retail, has established its first, full-service content studio in the US as part of its global expansion.

News11 September 2017

Claudia Strauss joins MetrixLab

Former UK managing director of Future Thinking, Claudia Strauss, has joined Macromill-owned Metrix Lab in the UK as senior client director.

News8 September 2017

EU papers show data expectations post Brexit

Jane Bainbridge

Position papers published by the European Commission laid out its expectations on data flow and protection between the UK and EU post Brexit.

News8 September 2017

IBM and MIT set up joint AI research lab

Jane Bainbridge

IBM has announced a $240 million, 10-year investment with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT) to create the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab.

News8 September 2017

Vision Critical acquires Pressly

Customer relationship intelligence software business Vision Critical has expanded its insight sharing capabilities with the purchase of Toronto-based software company Pressly.

News8 September 2017

Consensus Point launches predictions tool on ZappiStore

Prediction markets research company Consensus Point has launched its fully automated prediction markets tool, Huunu Prediction Markets, on ZappiStore’s online research platform.

News8 September 2017

Accenture buys Matter

Global professional services company Accenture has acquired design and innovation firm, Matter, for an undisclosed amount.

News8 September 2017

Mystery Shopping Association elects new president

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association ( MSPA) has appointed Jill Spencer, director of customer experience research specialist, ReactCX, as its president.

News8 September 2017

Lightspeed hires French as EMEA CEO

Data insights company Lightspeed has appointed Angie French as chief executive officer, EMEA, and a member of its board of directors.

News7 September 2017

Adform partners with Research Now on first-party data

Independent ad tech platform business Adform has joined forces with Research Now for better audience targeting and ad performance data.

News7 September 2017

Facebook’s ad figures called into question

The potential reach figures that social media giant Facebook gives advertisers differ from US census data according to an investment analyst.

News7 September 2017

Two thirds of digital shopping baskets abandoned

Jane Bainbridge

British retailers are losing out on £3.4 billion worth of goods left in virtual shopping baskets every year, as two thirds of contents are not bought.

News7 September 2017

SSI launches self-service suite

Survey data and tech business SSI has released the SSI Suite, a set of tools to allow for easier surveying by inexperienced market researchers.

News7 September 2017

HRW expands global management team

Healthcare Research Worldwide ( HRW) has made four additions to its management team in the UK and US.

News7 September 2017

Toluna partners with HK airline

Digital consumer insights business Toluna has formed a strategic partnership with  reward-U, the loyalty programme run by Hong Kong’s low-cost airline, HK Express.

News6 September 2017

1XL creates audience development division

Local new publisher co-operative 1XL has launched a dedicated audience development division headed by Richard Underwood.

Opinion6 September 2017

A different order

Rory Sutherland

Measurement is often seen as an obligation rather than an opportunity but with a few important changes it can be used to inform decisions in advance, rather than defend them in retrospect. 

News6 September 2017

FlexMR extends into Spain

Online market research company FlexMR has joined forces with Madrid-based Idea Strategic Research Solutions in response to growing demand from Spanish clients.

News6 September 2017

Lightspeed extends LifePoints availability

Digital data collection company Lightspeed has introduced its mobile engagement app, LifePoints, in the UK and Australia.

News6 September 2017

MRSS appoints MD for APAC

MRSS has hired former GfK and Nielsen senior exec Swee Woon Tan as managing director for Asia Pacific.

News6 September 2017

WPP takes minority stake in podcasting firm

WPP has invested $5 million in a minority stake in US-based podcasting company, Gimlet Media.

News5 September 2017

RhythmOne buys YuMe

Tech digital media company RhythmOne has acquired video ad tech business YuMe for $185 million.

News5 September 2017

Wizer raises $4m in Series A round

Artificial intelligence ( AI)-based research company Wizer has completed its $4 million Series A round of funding, led by tech venture capital firm, State of Mind Ventures.

Feature5 September 2017

Learning from the margins

Speaking to those on the edges of society can be as valuable to brands as interacting with those in their target demographics, as Jim Mott of BAMM learned when conducting research with truck drivers in Pakistan.

News5 September 2017

Esomar and GRBN issue mobile research guidelines

Esomar and the Global Research Business Network ( GRBN) have launched guidelines for market, opinion and social research and data analytics sectors, highlighting the best practices for conducting mobile research.

News5 September 2017

Brass expands insight business

Jane Bainbridge

Leeds-based integrated marketing agency Brass has appointed Sam Bannister to the newly created role of head of insight as it extends its insight offering.

News5 September 2017

WPP AUNZ appoints CEO for data investment management

WPP AUNZ has promoted industry veteran Rob McLachlan to CEO of its growing Data Investment Management Group.

News4 September 2017

Lightspeed Health earns ISO certifications

Healthcare data specialist Lightspeed Health has been awarded International Organisation for Standardisation ( ISO) 20252 and 26362 certifications.

News4 September 2017

Coplin exits Microsoft

Jane Bainbridge

Dave Coplin, chief envisioning officer at Microsoft, has announced he has left the company to work on his own business The Envisioners.

News4 September 2017

RadiumOne adds to UK leadership team

Data-driven marketing tech company RadiumOne has promoted Louise Biggs and Emma Hazlehurst to director roles.

Opinion4 September 2017

Four steps to ensure evidence-based planning

As planning timescales are squeezed, insight gathering and decisions have to be made quickly, but that shouldn't be at the expense of evidence-based research.

News4 September 2017

FuboTV uses Nielsen DMP to target ads

Subscription sports TV service fuboTV has chosen Nielsen Marketing Cloud's data management platform ( DMP)to allow it to target TV advertising.

News4 September 2017

GfK appoints new regional managers

Jane Bainbridge

GfK has hired Cheong Tai as general manager for its Asia Pacific business and promoted Margret Schuit to general manager for Southern Europe.

News1 September 2017

SSI and DMAi launch ad optimisation solution

Survey data and technology provider SSI has partnered with technology company DMA Institute to launch Campaign Optimizer, an ad viewability validation and measurement solution.

News1 September 2017

Lida wins Costa Coffee loyalty brief

Coffee shop chain, Costa Coffee, has appointed Lida to deliver its first global loyalty strategy for its loyalty programme Costa Coffee Club.

News1 September 2017

Dentsu buys Little Giant

Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired a 100% stake in New Zealand based digital creative agency, Little Giant Design.

News1 September 2017

Google and Facebook face disruption from GDPR

New analysis suggests that Google and Facebook face an 'acute challenge' with regard to how they currently use personal data for advertising purposes. 

News1 September 2017

Smartphones and wearables see record global demand

Smartphone sales rose by 5% year-on-year during the first half of 2017, reaching 700 million worldwide, according to a report from GfK.

News1 September 2017

Nielsen offers grocery measurement in Northern Ireland

Nielsen has launched its Scantrack service in Northern Ireland giving retailers and FMCG manufacturers granular sales data in the country.