I-COM worldmeasurementnews

In South Africa, Habari Firms Combine for New Digital Agency

mrweb.com reports: In South Africa, Adrian Hewlett [pictured], the CEO and founder of media and marketing business Habari has combined the group’s below-the-line (BTL), market research, digital, and social media businesses to launch a new integrated ad agency called Machine.

Taking the role of CEO of Machine, Hewlett plans to reposition his firm as a more integrated agency with a key digital competency. A new senior client services team will oversee the various specialist units - such as research, digital, and BTL - and work across channels, with specialist project teams below them.  More…

In Moldova, gemiusAudience appointed the official online audience measurement currency

13 February 2012. Gemius, the leading EMEA internet research agency, has been chosen by the Moldavian Joint Industry Committee, BATI, to provide the official web audience audit. The arrival of gemiusAudience in this country is a turning point in the development of the local online market, which now gains an official measurement currency. It is also an important advancement in the research project itself, as with this step gemiusAudience continues its international expansion in 2012.

As Stanislav Popov [pictured, left], the Executive Director at BATI comments: This decision is a crucial one for the market, as it is aimed at decisive internet industry unification and an increase in the online advertising channel profitability. Bearing in mind the significant Gemius experience in providing the highest quality online audience studies throughout Europe and the company's understanding of the CEE region, we are looking forward to our cooperation on the Moldavian market.

We couldn’t be more glad to have signed this contract which shows the great trust that the Moldavian Joint Industry Committee, BATI, has placed in us – Catalin Emilian [pictured, right], Gemius Country Manager for Moldova comments. This decision is also the best proof of the flexibility of our methodology and the insights offered for markets where we conduct gemiusAudience. They are appropriate for both: the highly developed Western markets such as Denmark, and the emerging markets, like Moldova. Personally, I eagerly expect the fast development of the Moldavian online advertising channel, as well as the significant increase of its competitiveness in the region, will greatly benefit from the introduction of the common measurement currency.  More...

In Israel, Online Audience Measurement Results Published by Gemius

31 January 2012 - Gemius, the leading internet research agency in the EMEA region, in partnership with local specialists Erez Bahat and Market Watch Institute, has published results of gemiusAudience online audience measurement of the Israeli market. The study, commissioned by the Israeli Internet Rating Association (IIRA), offers a much awaited, reliable ranking of the most popular sites on the market as well as an insight into the demographics and specificities of local internet users.

Sagi Stunis [pictured], General Manager of IIRA, observing a huge interest in the data within JIC and beyond, adds: I am certain that the implementation of gemiusAudience will give the market a jolt of energy – for advertisers, ad agencies, as well as content managers. Download the full report

In US & UK, Research Now Announces Executive Appointments

DALLAS, January 23, 2012 - Research Now, the leading global online sampling and data collection company, today announced the appointment of Craig Stevens [pictured, left-most] to Chief Revenue Officer for the Americas as a direct result of the reorganization of the company’s executive management team.  In his new role, Stevens is responsible for the United States, Canada and Latin America. Stevens will also oversee the Americas’ marketing function and directly manage the business analytics function, responsible for sales and pricing analytics.  More...

Martin Filz [pictured, center] has been promoted to Managing Director for EMEA and APAC, overseeing and managing the corresponding client development leadership teams while assuming responsibility for client development activities across both markets. In this new role, Martin will also oversee EMEA and APAC’s marketing function.

Konstanze Just [pictured, right-most] has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, responsible for coordinating and developing the marketing and branding strategies of the e-Rewards group and Research Now worldwide. In this new role, Konstanze will also oversee global public relations, and will continue to lead marketing across EMEA.  More...

In UAE, Maktoob Founder Joins Salience

mrweb reports: Tamara Deprez [pictured], the former Head of online agency Yahoo! Maktoob Research, has joined media content analyst Salience Research as its General Manager in Dubai.

In her new role at News Corporation-owned Salience, she will oversee a team which specialises in measurement and analysis of PR and corporate reputation. More…

In UK, Toluna launches TolunaAnalytics™

Advanced Survey Reporting and Analysis Tool for all Toluna Products

(London, UK) October 24, 2011 - Toluna, one of the world’s leading online survey respondent and technology providers, announces the launch of TolunaAnalytics™, the company’s proprietary, web-based data reporting and analysis tool. It will be a standard feature for all program & host and full-service data collection projects, and within Toluna’s PanelPortal™ product line.

“One of Toluna’s key differentiators is its ability to leverage technology to improve the speed and depth of insight available to research professionals,” states Frédéric-Charles Petit [pictured], CEO, Toluna. “We have designed TolunaAnalytics™ to access and analyse survey responses within minutes of survey deployment, in line with our strategy of increasing the value we provide to our clients through technology.”  More…

In UK, TNS and Movirtu release findings that will shape mobile innovation in India, Senegal & Tanzania

New research unlocks power of mobile to transform lives

London, 21st September, 2011: World-leading research company TNS has completed an in-depth study, commissioned by Movirtu, to build an understanding of the needs and attitudes of the rural poor in Tanzania, India and Senegal. These regions have the highest concentration of ‘bottom-of-the-pyramid’ consumers, living on less than $2 per day, and this research was conducted to identify the real potential of mobile technology in empowering these farmers, women entrepreneurs and young people to improve their quality of life in these areas.

Ramona Liberoff [pictured], Executive Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Planning at Movirtu, said, "We recognise the importance of listening to users tell us their needs and daily realities in our focus markets of Africa and South Asia. TNS’s extensive footprint across Africa and India and their combination of sector excellence and on the ground cultural understanding meant that they knew the right approach to take to build insights about the complex and evolving needs of our end-users, whose mobile needs are very different from more affluent or urban consumers. This research was critical to inform our product development – ensuring that we really will deliver benefits to these communities and can be a valuable partner to our mobile operator and NGO clients.” More…

In UK, comScore Hires Former IAB Strategist

MrWeb reports: In London, online measurement specialist comScore has appointed Laurence Bird [pictured] as Senior Research Director for the EMEA region.

Mike Read, SVP and MD of comScore Europe, comments: ‘We are very pleased to welcome Laurence Bird, with her strong reputation and experience, to our research team and our growing London office.’ More…

In South Africa, DMMA launches first online audience measurement panel

Thursday, August 18th, 2011 at 12:30 pm - The Digital Media and Marketing Association (DMMA) is launching South Africa’s first online audience measurement panel. Implemented by Effective Measure, the DMMA’s measurement supplier, the panel will be a recruited sample of South Africans whose web browsing activities will be monitored and measured using software downloaded and installed on their computers.  This data, when combined with the current DMMA member information, will give advertisers a much clearer picture of the Total South African Internet Universe.

“The panel is a definite step in the right direction for the South African digital marketplace”, says Josh Adler [pictured], Head of the DMMA’s Measurement Tender and CEO of Prefix. “For the first time we will have a view of South African browser activity on non DMMA member sites like facebook, Google and YouTube, allowing us to better understand the true size and appeal of the local digital market. Armed with this data we can give South African brands and advertisers a clearer idea of how many people and which audience segments they could be reaching by allocating more of their budgets to online advertising.” More…

Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Launches Egypt and Middle East Local Council

Responds to growing importance of mobile marketing in the region 

Cairo, New York, London, Singapore & Sao Paulo: July 7, 2011 – The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) today announced the launch of the Egypt and Middle East Local Council and the appointment of new co-chair, CEO & co-founder at Digital Republic, Karim Khalifa [pictured]. The launch of MMA Egypt and Middle East is in response to the increased interest and investment in mobile marketing, and the need for industry support and guidance within the region.

“I am delighted to have been appointed as co-chair for the MMA Egypt & Middle East,” said new co-chair Karim Khalifa of Digital Republic. “Mobile marketing in this region has evolved considerably and moved on from traditional SMS campaigns. With all the changes taking place in the market, it is the perfect time for marketers in Egypt and the Middle East to gain an understanding of the MMA guidelines and best practices. I look forward to working closely with all industry stakeholders throughout Egypt and the Middle East in promoting, educating and guiding the industry towards the same success it enjoys in so many other regions.” More…