Qureshi Cradle-Snatched

It doesn't seem long since DRNO announced the first influx of senior staff to new agency Qureshi Marketing & Research (in fact it's 5 months - see Qureshi Gears up for Business, 12/4/03) but already the high-profile agency has been acquired, by MASMI Research Group.

The companies announced yesterday that MASMI has agreed to acquire a majority share of Qureshi Marketing & Research Ltd with the aim of 'strengthening both companies' global research capabilities'. The new company will be called MASMI Qureshi, will be based in Croydon and will begin operations on October 1st.

MASMI is a full-service market research company working in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Headquartered in London, MASMI Research has subsidiaries in Belgrade, Budapest, Kiev, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Zagreb, and employs more than 150 research specialists with native experience and knowledge in emerging markets.

According to Sergey Kolobanov, Chairman and CEO of MASMI Research Group in London, the company wanted 'a strong and dynamic new path for expansion into Western Europe and beyond after many years of growth in Eastern Europe. Bob Qureshi and his team enjoy an excellent reputation and will reinforce our strong tradition of client service and commitment
to market data accuracy not just regionally, but globally'.

Qureshi was formerly Group Director of Business Development at Aegis research arm Synovate and MD at Harris Research (part of Taylor Nelson Sofres), and will become CEO and Managing Director of the newly-formed MASMI Qureshi.

Since the beginning of the year Qureshi Marketing & Research has already signed up blue chip clients including McDonald's, Intercontinental Hotel Group and Sainsbury's Bank.

As client Rob Ferris, Head of Consumer Dialogue and Marketing Insights at British-American Tobacco, commented, 'This may be the first instance of a company with Eastern European roots acquiring a controlling interest in a well-known Western research agency'. Ferris adds that 'I for one believe that research proven in the furnace of emerging markets has a great deal to teach the somewhat formulaic praxis of research in the developed markets. I am confident that MASMI Qureshi will continue this high benchmark of performance in Western Europe and elsewhere -- and this will be reflected in BAT's active commitment to fostering their growth'.


MASMI's Web site is at www.masmi.com , and Qureshi's at www.qureshi-research.com

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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