The move came although parent company Ipsos Group boosted Asia-Pacific
revenue to US$8 million for the first nine months of 2001.
Asia-Pacific's responsibilities have been carved up based on various
business units: media research, such as ABRS, from the UK; advertising
research from the US; and qualitative research from France. The China
operations will not be affected by the closure.
It is expected that the next ABRS will be released at the end of next
year, as scheduled. The study will be co-ordinated in London, with the
fieldwork likely to be farmed out to a third party. Media agencies said
that they regretted the closure. OMD Asia director of communication
insights, Peter Allen, said: "It means there'll be one fewer to go to
when we're shopping around for research houses. It's never good when
you've got less choice."