News30 October 2020

How can market research become more inclusive in its hiring?

Katie McQuater

The research industry must get ‘uncomfortable’ and better at promoting itself to truly become inclusive, according to a panel discussion.

News30 October 2020

Marriott fined £18.4m under GDPR

Hotel group Marriott International has been fined £18.4m by the Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO) for a data protection breach. 

News30 October 2020

Funding for Toluna

Consumer insights company Toluna has completed a funding round led by investment group Verlinvest.

News30 October 2020

WPP Q3 revenue down

WPP has posted a drop in revenues in the third quarter of the year, but the company has continued to win new business, according to a trading update.

News29 October 2020

SimilarWeb raises $120m in funding

Digital market intelligence company SimilarWeb has closed a $120m investment round, co-led by ION Crossover Partners and Viola Growth.

Opinion29 October 2020

Market research must see beyond consumers to overcome short-termism

Annie Auerbach

There is an opportunity for the industry to draw on different perspectives. By Adam Chmielowski and Annie Auerbach.

Opinion29 October 2020

Market research must see beyond consumers to overcome short-termism

Adam Chmielowski

There is an opportunity for the industry to draw on different perspectives. By Adam Chmielowski and Annie Auerbach.

News29 October 2020

Fintech firm launches election monitoring tool

Financial technology company Newsquawk has developed a US election dashboard to track news related to the election for the financial market.

News29 October 2020

Supreme Court allows postal ballots to be extended in some states

Ahead of the US election, the supreme court has ruled that it will allow absentee ballots in the states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina to be counted after election day.

News29 October 2020

Slower recovery forecast for UK ad market

Advertising spend in the UK is forecast to recover at a slower rate from the effects of the pandemic than previously estimated, according to data from the Advertising Association and Warc.

News28 October 2020

Nielsen rebrands consumer business

Global measurement and data firm Nielsen has renamed and rebranded its global consumer business, following the decision to split the company into two separate entities. 

News28 October 2020

Insights Association asks for employment law change

Market research industry body the Insights Association ( IA) has called for the US government to specifically recognise research participants receiving incentives as independent contractors rather than employees.

Opinion28 October 2020

The lucky, the unlucky and the abundantly blessed

Lorna Tilbian reflects on those who have been lucky and not so lucky during the pandemic. 

News28 October 2020

Suzy adds video qual to insights platform

Consumer insight platform Suzy has launched a qualitative research platform for video interviews.

News28 October 2020

ICO orders Experian to change handling of personal data

Credit reference agency Experian has been issued with a data protection enforcement notice over how it handles personal information within its direct marketing services.

News28 October 2020

Streetbees raises $40m in Series B funding

Intelligence platform Streetbees is planning further expansion after the company generated $40m in Series B funding.

News28 October 2020

MetrixLab reorganises North American leadership

Digital research agency MetrixLab has made several promotions within its North American and global leadership teams, including the appointment of Aaron Peck as president and managing director for North America.

News27 October 2020

Adobe, Microsoft and C3.ai launch CRM tool

Software firms Adobe and Microsoft and artificial intelligence ( AI) company C3.ai have partnered on a customer relationship management ( CRM) tool.

News27 October 2020

Walnut Unlimited wins MRS homelessness competition

A team from Walnut Unlimited has won a Market Research Society ( MRS) challenge to use insight to help homeless people. 

News27 October 2020

Statistical partnership to support UK’s pandemic response

The Royal Statistical Society and The Alan Turing Institute have partnered to provide data analysis and support the government’s response to Covid-19.

News27 October 2020

Alter Agents expands team

Market research consultancy Alter Agents has hired Lauren DeWitt Thompson as research director and has almost doubled its staff in 2020.

News27 October 2020

EMI and SampleChain partner on data quality

Online sample company EMI Research Solutions has partnered with data quality and anti-fraud software platform SampleChain to integrate their technologies.

News26 October 2020

Consumer confidence falls to six-month low

Liam Kay-McClean

Consumer confidence in the UK has fallen for the first time in six months due to the recent increase in Covid-19 restrictions in the UK, according to YouGov and Centre for Economics and Business Research ( CEBR) analysis.

News26 October 2020

Dentsu hires CX operations lead

Media and customer experience ( CX) business group Dentsu International has appointed Keith Lippiatt as global chief operating officer for its CX work.

Opinion26 October 2020

Why face-to-face?

Alex Culshaw

With the ongoing success of online qualitative research – magnified by the Covid-19 crisis – why should we still bother with face-to-face?

News26 October 2020

OpinionRoute appoints Chinitz as SVP

Insights process management company OpinionRoute has promoted Danielle Chinitz to senior vice-president of operations.

News26 October 2020

Vojtkova to lead NatCen’s Policy Research Centre

The National Centre for Social Research ( NatCen) has appointed Martina Vojtkova as director of its Policy Research Centre, replacing Nancy Kelley, who became CEO at Stonewall earlier in the year.

News26 October 2020

Pollsters form Australian Polling Council

Katie McQuater

Several Australian public opinion research companies have joined forces to launch the Australian Polling Council ( APC) with the aim of advancing the quality and understanding of polling.

News23 October 2020

Merkle appoints customer and analytics lead

Customer experience management company Merkle has promoted Warwick Beresford-Jones to lead its customer and digital analytics work.

News23 October 2020

CRM and data agency Burn acquired by Selbey Anderson

Marketing communications group Selbey Anderson has acquired customer relationship management, data and direct agency Burn, for an undisclosed sum.

News23 October 2020

Ipsos revenues begin Covid-19 recovery in Q3

Liam Kay-McClean

Market research company Ipsos had a 6.2% reduction in revenue in the third quarter ( Q3) of 2020 compared with 2019, but has started recovery from the financial impact of Covid-19 earlier in the year.

News23 October 2020

Comscore launches private marketplaces for connected TV and video targeting

Media measurement company Comscore has made its brand safety and contextual categorisation segments for connected TV and video available globally.

News23 October 2020

UK consumer confidence down in October

UK – GfK’s monthly Consumer Confidence Index decreased by six points this month, with all measures down.

News22 October 2020

MRS launches diversity council

The Market Research Society ( MRS) has established a diversity, inclusion and equality council.

News22 October 2020

ABC to oversee UK AV and viewability rules

Advertiser, agency and media owner body ABC is taking over the UK’s viewability and audio visual ( AV) standards.

News22 October 2020

Market research budgets continue to fall in Q3

Liam Kay-McClean

Market research budgets saw another marked decline in the third quarter ( Q3) of 2020 as Covid-19 continued to heavily impact overall marketing spending, according to the latest Bellwether report by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising ( IPA).

Feature22 October 2020

High-flyer: Starling Bank CEO Anne Boden on pushing boundaries

Jane Simms

As founder and chief executive of Starling Bank, Anne Boden counts on listening to customers as the bank evolves. She talks about building a new type of bank.

News22 October 2020

Guidance on subject access requests updated by ICO

The Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO) has updated its guidance on right of access to provide more clarity on issues including whether organisations can pause the time limit when responding to subject access requests. 

News22 October 2020

Senior changes at Escalent

Behaviour and analytics company Escalent has promoted Paul Hartley to executive vice-president of sales and appointed Dyna Boen as managing director for consumer, tech and telecom.

News21 October 2020

Government denies police can access Covid-19 app data

Liam Kay-McClean

The government has rejected media claims that data from the NHS Covid-19 track and trace app is being shared with law enforcement.

News21 October 2020

Tru Optik and TargetSmart partner on political targeting

Ahead of the US election, data management platform Tru Optik and political data business TargetSmart have joined forces to expand political audience targeting on connected TV and streaming audio.

News21 October 2020

BritainThinks gains B Corp status

Insight and strategy consultancy BritainThinks has been officially certified as a B Corporation.

Opinion21 October 2020

Reflections from 'red wall' voters

The tools of the research trade are essential for political parties to reconnect with once-forgotten voters.

News21 October 2020

Chris Barnham awarded MRS Silver Medal

Researcher Chris Barnham has won the Market Research Society Silver Medal for best paper in the International Journal of Market Research ( IJMR).

News21 October 2020

Edelman relaunches intelligence unit

Communications firm Edelman has launched a multidisciplinary research, data and analytics business, Edelman Data & Intelligence ( DxI).

News20 October 2020

US election: Covid-19 defines voters' views

Katie McQuater

With two weeks until the presidential election, Covid-19 is the key issue, both for American voters and the election process.

News20 October 2020

Research Strategy Group hires SVP

Research Strategy Group has appointed Michael Dorr as senior vice-president.

News20 October 2020

Dunnhumby launches ad product with CitrusAd

Customer data science firm Dunnhumby has partnered with retail media platform CitrusAd to launch a sponsored products platform for retailers and brands.

News20 October 2020

British Airways fined £20m for data breach

The Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO) has fined British Airways £20m over a data breach involving the details of 400,000 customers.

News19 October 2020

Contentsquare acquires Adapt My Web

Digital experience analytics platform Contentsquare has acquired accessibility software company Adapt My Web.

News19 October 2020

Alexis Nasard named CEO of Kantar

Katie McQuater

Kantar has appointed Alexis Nasard, chief executive of shoe company Bata and formerly chief marketing officer at Heineken, as chief executive officer, effective 30th December.

News19 October 2020

Merkle promotes two to regional president

Customer experience management firm Merkle has appointed two presidents for its Americas and Europe, Middle East and Africa ( EMEA) divisions.

News19 October 2020

Senior promotions at Engine Insights

Research and analytics division of Engine, Engine Insights, has made three senior leadership promotions.

News19 October 2020

Face-to-face research allowed under UK tier system

Liam Kay-McClean

The Market Research Society ( MRS) has confirmed that face-to-face research can still be carried out under the UK’s new Covid-19 restrictions, but that researchers should be careful to comply with any local prevention measures.

Feature19 October 2020

Playing in silence

Liam Kay-McClean

While football has returned to stadiums following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, supporters cannot as yet. How do empty grounds impact the fan experience? 

News19 October 2020

Businesses call for leadership to reach Brexit deal

Industry organisations including the Data & Marketing Association ( DMA), Confederation of British Industry ( CBI) and the Advertising Association ( AA) have called for ‘historic political leadership’ to secure a trade agreement between the UK and the EU.

News19 October 2020

Empower Translate appoints MD

Insight localisation agency Empower Translate has appointed Dan Peachey as managing director.

News16 October 2020

Key takeaways from the MRS Data Analytics Virtual Summit

Liam Kay-McClean

At the MRS Data Analytics - Tools and Methodlogies Virtual Summit, speakers shared insights on how to use segmentation, social media as a data source and the best ways to analyse and gather data.

Opinion16 October 2020

Why commission researchers if you have AI?

Artifical intelligence is seen in some quarters as a replacement for market research. But it can be argued that the reality is AI is dependent on researchers. 

News16 October 2020

Paradigm Sample acquires assets of Tellwut

Market research data collection company Paradigm Sample has completed an acquisition of assets from Canadian online panel firm Tellwut for an undisclosed amount.

News16 October 2020

Simon Redlich named president of IFABC

Simon Redlich, chief executive of the Audit Bureau of Circulations ( ABC) has been elected as global president of the International Federation of Audit Bureaux of Certification ( IFABC).

News16 October 2020

Ipsos MMA expands leadership team

Analytics consultancy Ipsos MMA ( Marketing Management Analytics), has made changes within its senior global leadership.  

News16 October 2020

Unlimited appoints CTO

Insights and marketing company Unlimited has hired John Cunningham as chief technology officer.

News15 October 2020

SurveyMonkey agrees Zoom integration

Survey and market research firm SurveyMonkey has expanded its integration with video communications platform Zoom.

News15 October 2020

Digital ad spending falls in H1 2020

Digital advertising spending fell 5% in the first half of 2020 despite the Covid-19 lockdown increasing time spent online, according to data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

News15 October 2020

Marketing spend to be maintained despite Covid-19

Almost two-thirds of global companies are prepared to invest in their brand despite the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising ( IPA) and the Financial Times.

News15 October 2020

Alida adds Stratifyd to CX platform

Customer experience and insights company Alida has partnered with data analytics and artificial intelligence ( AI) firm Stratifyd.

News15 October 2020

Kantar launches reputation intelligence platform

Kantar has developed a platform to manage, monitor and analyse earned media across channels.

News14 October 2020

US census ends early following Supreme Court decision

Liam Kay-McClean

The US census will stop collecting data on Thursday ( 15th October) following a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Feature14 October 2020

Taking stock of insight

Katie McQuater

Tesco has access to a wealth of data on its customers and employees, but simplicity and clarity of purpose are paying dividends for the insight team in 2020.

News14 October 2020

Customer experience can improve business growth

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising ( IPA) has developed a four-step framework for customer experience ( CX).

News14 October 2020

Consumer insight key priority for CMOs in Covid-19 recovery

Katie McQuater

The key challenge facing chief marketing officers is understanding which consumer behaviours will change permanently as a result of Covid-19, according to a survey from Dentsu.

News14 October 2020

TBWA\Dublin launches research panel

Advertising agency TBWA\Dublin has established an online research panel, 100Voices.

News13 October 2020

SurveyMonkey launches CX platform

Market research and survey software firm SurveyMonkey has established a customer experience ( CX) platform.

News13 October 2020

Smyle launches emotion measurement tool for events

Creative agency Smyle has created a tool to measure the emotional impact of physical and virtual events on attendees.

News13 October 2020

Platform One launches SaaS tool redesign

Experience management and insights community company Platform One has redesigned its software-as-a-service ( SaaS) product suite.

News13 October 2020

Kubi Kalloo hires brand director

Integrated qualitative and quantitative insight business Kubi Kalloo has appointed Oscar Runeland as director of brand.

Feature13 October 2020

A sense of community

Bronwen Morgan

Online research communities offer businesses a means of getting closer to their customers, generating insight and validating research findings – but they can also foster connection and empathy in uncertain times. 

News13 October 2020

British Polling Council publishes journalists’ guide to opinion polls

The British Polling Council has published guidance for journalists on the use and reporting of opinion polls.

News13 October 2020

Fellows named for racial justice data projects

The Ada Lovelace Institute’s JUST AI network has announced the four awardees of its fellowship, who will explore racial justice by focusing on ethical thinking in data and AI.

News12 October 2020

Panintelligence partners with Booq

Data analytics and business intelligence ( BI) software developer Panintelligence has partnered with Booq, a Dutch tech firm focusing on hospitality, leisure, catering and sports.

News12 October 2020

Twitter targets misinformation ahead of US elections

Liam Kay-McClean

Twitter has made changes to its platform in the build-up to next month’s US presidential elections in an attempt to stop the spread of misinformation.

News12 October 2020

Traveltek creates data tool for sector

Software business Traveltek is launching a data insight tool to offer insights on the recovery of the travel sector.

News12 October 2020

Tobii sells Smartbox

Liam Kay-McClean

Eye tracking company Tobii AB has been forced to sell its shares in assistive technology firm Smartbox following an intervention from the Competition and Markets Authority ( CMA).

News12 October 2020

Alida launches CX and insights platform

Vision Critical, which recently rebranded to Alida, is launching a combined customer experience management and insights platform.

News12 October 2020

Bakamo expands to the US

Social listening consultancy Bakamo is opening an office in Washington, DC.

News9 October 2020

IRI acquires analytics firm RSi

Data and predictive analytics company IRI has acquired retail supply chain analytics provider Retail Solutions, Inc ( RSi).

News9 October 2020

US congress calls for tech industry antitrust reforms

Liam Kay-McClean

The US congress has called for an end to technology company monopolies and for customers to be able to transfer data more easily between platforms such as Facebook, Google and Amazon.

Opinion9 October 2020

Listen and never preach

Mark Speed

Listen, draw on your career experience, but never preach. Mark Speed shares his advice for those considering becoming a mentor. 

News9 October 2020

Voxpopme and SMG collaborate

Video insight provider Voxpopme has partnered with patient and employee experience management business Service Management Group ( SMG).

News9 October 2020

Maru/Matchbox hires SVP

Global insights firm Maru/Matchbox has appointed Kasia Galka as senior vice-president for Maru Operations Group.

News9 October 2020

GuineaPig waives fieldwork fees during Black History Month

Fieldwork company GuineaPig Fieldwork is offering fieldwork free of charge for UK projects researching the views of black people this month.

News9 October 2020

Fiftyfive5 expands Melbourne team

Research consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed Sharon Blair and Roger Kong to its team based in Melbourne.

News8 October 2020

Cambridge Analytica 'not involved' in EU referendum, finds ICO

Liam Kay-McClean

Cambridge Analytica, the now defunct data firm that harvested data from Facebook users for alleged use in political campaigns, has been cleared by the Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO) of significant involvement in the EU referendum.

News8 October 2020

Research Live Awards 2020 finalists announced

BritainThinks, Savanta, Unilever and BT are among the finalists for this year’s Research Live awards.

News8 October 2020

W2O acquires Starpower

Analytics-driven healthcare marketing and communications company W2O has completed the acquisition of entertainment marketing agency Starpower.

News8 October 2020

Facebook to halt US political advertising after election

Facebook will stop running all political advertising in the United States indefinitely after the polls close on the day of the forthcoming presidential election.

News8 October 2020

QRCA and Rybbon agree benefits deal

Global association for professionals in qualitative research QRCA has partnered with research incentives firm Rybbon on benefits for both organisations’ members and customers.

News8 October 2020

Kantar director joins Streetbees as client strategy head

Intelligence platform Streetbees has appointed Rishi Raja as head of client strategy.

News7 October 2020

Schlesinger expands executive team

Liam Kay-McClean

International data collection business Schlesinger Group has made a raft of senior promotions and appointments.

Opinion7 October 2020

Virtually different

John Bizzell

John Bizzell reflects on the experience of organising the first virtual MRS Operations Awards ceremony.

News7 October 2020

October 2020 issue of Impact published

Katie McQuater

With the government advising working from home where possible, the Market Research Society has made the latest issue of Impact available to read digitally alongside the print edition. 

News7 October 2020

InnovateMR appoints four

Sampling company InnovateMR has made four senior hires, including two new senior directors for client development.

News7 October 2020

Insights Association leads opposition to California privacy law

Ten data-focused trade associations and the US market research trade body the Insights Association have come out in opposition to California’s potential privacy law reforms.

News7 October 2020

DMA launches dyslexia employer guide

The Data & Marketing Association ( DMA) has published guidance to help employers in the data and marketing industries better understand dyslexia in the workplace.

News7 October 2020

Rare Patient Voice launches in UK

Patient recruitment company Rare Patient Voice has expanded its panel to the UK through a partnership with market research and insights software development firm Q One Tech.

News6 October 2020

Ad spend rising but still below expectations, says WFA

Companies are starting to increase their spending on advertising but overall activity is still below what was planned pre-Covid-19, finds the World Federation of Advertisers ( WFA).

News6 October 2020

Jstor platform to include collections from UK institutions

Not-for-profit organisations Ithaka and Jisc have formed a partnership that will allow institutions to make their digital special collections accessible to researchers through digital library Jstor.

News6 October 2020

Researchers should resist calls for faster insight

Liam Kay-McClean

A mixture of online and face-to-face qualitative research is likely in the future, but researchers must be prepared to push back against the demand for faster insights, according to a panel discussion at the Festival of Marketing.

News6 October 2020

Experian launches cookie-less audience insights tool

Consumer reporting agency Experian has created an audience insights tool that removes the need for third-party cookies or registration data.

News6 October 2020

Kantar reverses closure of Philippines TV ratings

Kantar has reversed its decision to close its media division in the Philippines as broadcaster ABS-CBN has signed a new Total Audience Measurement contract.

Opinion5 October 2020

Building our community of practice

Sofie Mallick

Sofie Mallick reflects on the importance of sharing knowledge in the latest in a series of articles focused on mentoring.

News5 October 2020

Majority of Brits unsure of how companies handle data

Katie McQuater

UK – There is a lack of understanding amongst the British public about how companies use people’s information, according to a survey from Publicis Sapient. 

News5 October 2020

InMoment appoints HR head

Experience improvement company InMoment has hired Wendy Rand as chief human resources officer.

News5 October 2020

Crowd DNA appoints Apac director

Cultural insights consultancy Crowd DNA has appointed Stephanie Winkler as director in Australia.

News5 October 2020

TransUnion agrees Tru Optik acquisition

Global information and insights firm TransUnion has agreed a deal to acquire Tru Optik, a data management platform and marketplace for connected television, streaming audio and gaming.

News5 October 2020

Bakamo hires client EVP

Social listening consultancy Bakamo has appointed Katalin Moór as executive vice-president, responsible for clients, sales, marketing and operations.

News2 October 2020

Veridata Insights makes two senior hires

Data collection business Veridata Insights has made two appointments to its leadership team, including a chief technology officer ( CTO) and a senior director of operations.

News2 October 2020

Nielsen updates advertising intelligence platform

Global measurement and analytics firm Nielsen is upgrading its advertising intelligence platform Nielsen Ad Intel.

News2 October 2020

BritainThinks hires four

BritainThinks has made four appointments, including an associate director, Drew Still.

News2 October 2020

Russell joins Further in non-exec role

Insight consultancy Further has appointed Danny Russell as a non-executive director.

News2 October 2020

Consultation begins on ICO statutory guidance

The Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO) has launched a public consultation about an updated draft of its statutory guidance, which details how it will regulate and enforce data protection legislation.

News2 October 2020

Taverner buys Iris Research

Market and social research agency Taverner Research has acquired insight company Iris Research for an undisclosed sum.

News1 October 2020

Wealleans named Panelbase MD

Market research agency DRG has appointed Paul Wealleans as managing director of Panelbase.

News1 October 2020

Nielsen establishes global consumer business HQ in Chicago

Global analytics and measurement company Nielsen has announced Chicago as the global headquarters for its consumer business.

Opinion1 October 2020

How academic and commercial behavioural science differ

Ellie Jacobs reflects on why more needs to be learned to take behavioural science from commercially applicable to commercially valuable.

News1 October 2020

CDS acquires SimpleUsability

Communications agency CDS has acquired Yorkshire-based behavioural research firm SimpleUsability.

News1 October 2020

InSites Consulting drops Join the Dots brand name

Consumer insight agency Join the Dots has rebranded to Insites Consulting UK, following its acquisition in 2019.

News1 October 2020

Reid Campbell Group appoints CRO

Consumer insights holding company Reid Campbell Group, parent firm of Rival Technologies and Reach3 Insights, has appointed Jacquie Dwyer as chief revenue officer.

News1 October 2020

Populus, Decidedly and BrandCap create blended consultancy

Liam Kay-McClean

Research company Populus has launched a consultancy, Yonder, which will merge the company with business strategists BrandCap and insight firm Decidedly.