TNS and RMS Form African Alliance

TNS and Research and Marketing Services (RMS) have formed an agreement to provide customized research in West Africa.

The partnership will combine RMS's 30 years of market and social research experience in West Africa with TNS' global expertise, branded solutions, training and technology.

Under the agreement, TNS and RMS will have 17 permanent offices across 14 countries, which includes TNS' African operations in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Congo, Kenya and Ghana.

RMS has experience in more than 26 West, East and Central African markets and in conjunction with TNS, now has the ability to conduct fieldwork in almost all African countries.

The agency, which has a permanent workforce of 250 and over 2,700 interviewers, covers many sectors including consumer goods, financial, telecoms and social.

CEO, TNS Africa, India and Oceania, Chris Riquier, explained: 'With West Africa, an emerging market that will continue to experience rapid growth in the coming years, it is critical for our clients to have access to robust consumer insight to capitalise on this opportunity. RMS is best placed to deliver such insight as the largest and most well regarded agency in this region.'

RMS CEO Adeola Tejumola added that the partnership will offer opportunities to both his agency's existing clients and TNS' global clients.

Web sites: www.tnsglobal.com and www.rms-africa.com .