Obituary: MRBI Founder Jack Jones

John 'Jack' Jones, the founder of the Market Research Bureau of Ireland (MRBI), died suddenly last Saturday at the age of 91.

Born in Suncroft, Co Kildare, Jones (pictured) served as an officer in the Defence Forces. After he left the army, he briefly joined Nielsen before leaving to found MRBI in 1962.

In its early years, MRBI focused on general market research, but it then moved into political polling in the 1970s. Jones authored several books including In Your Opinion: Political and Social Trends in Ireland through the eyes of the Electorate.

In 1996, he sold MRBI to TNS, and remained as its Chairman. The firm was later purchased by Ipsos after the European Commission instructed its sale on competition grounds, following WPP's acquisition of TNS.

Jones is survived by four sons and a daughter, and fourteen grandchildren. His funeral will take place tomorrow at Mount Venus Cemetery in Dublin.