Leger Acquires US CPG Specialist 360 Market Reach

Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has acquired US research company 360 Market Reach, which works across the CPG, retail, health and wellness, luxury and travel sectors. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Elmsford, NY-based 360 conducts attitudes and usage studies to help clients gain an understanding of their target audience's habits, perceptions and buying choices. The firm offers in-home usage tests (IHUTs), to gather product performance feedback, taking into consideration cultural and regional preferences. It also builds custom online research communities for clients, and last year it launched a solution called 360 IDEAvate, combining consumer insights and targeted social media influencer feedback to support product development initiatives.

With this acquisition, Dave Scholz, currently an EVP at Leger, will become Executive Vice President and General Manager, US. The entire 360 Market Reach team will join the Leger team, and Alicia Ierardi and Pat DePietto (pictured), co-CEOs and co-founders of 360 Market Reach, will become EVPs in Leger's American team.

This is Leger's thirteenth acquisition, with more planned, and company President Jean-Marc Léger comments: 'Leger is proud to acquire 360 Market Reach, a renowned market research company with an excellent reputation in the consumer-packaged goods industry. We have been present in the United States for nearly twenty years. This strategic acquisition will strengthen our presence in the US market'.

Web sites: www,leger360.com and www.360marketreach.com .