Online Research Pair Scoop Top AIM Awards

Online data collection featured heavily in this year's London Stock Exchange AIM Awards, with Toluna and Research Now both taking major trophies at last night's award ceremony.

Sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the AIM Awards recognise the achievement of individuals and companies that have made a 'huge impact' on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market) during the last year.

At the event held in the Old Billingsgate Market yesterday evening, Toluna's CEO Frederic-Charles Petit was presented with the AIM Transaction of the Year award, for his firm's acquisition of Greenfield Online from Microsoft.

This new award is given in recognition of the achievement of transforming a company at a stroke, and thereby creating significant shareholder value.

Meanwhile, Research Now's CEO Chris Havemann won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for demonstrating the 'vision, flair, drive and business acumen' needed to take his business forward, via the firm's AIM listing.

Since joining the firm in 2000, Havemann's leadership has led to the firm achieving significant financial and global growth. Last year, this culminated in a 60% increase in group revenues to £41.2m for 2008, compared with £25.8m a year previously.

This award also acknowledges the part the firm's management team have played in helping Havemann deal with the demands of public company life.

Havemann told DRNO: 'Research Now is about teamwork and this award is actually recognition for the great efforts of everyone in the business, serving our research clients with care and a passion for quality over many years. I am proud of the whole team.'

Web sites: www.aim-awards.co.uk , www.toluna-group.com and www.researchnow.co.uk .