NFO undergoes major re-structuring in India

agencyfaqs! News Bureau

NEW DELHI

In a major re-structuring initiative, market research major NFO MBL India Limited has appointed Jenny Abraham as its new managing director, India operations, with effect from March 1, 2001. And current MD John Abraham will move on to take on the regional responsibility of NFO companies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jenny Abraham, who is to spearhead NFO MBL India operations is quite enthusiastic about her new responsibility. "India will emerge as a stronghold of NFO World Group operations in the Asia-Pacific region and surpass the current annual growth of 35 per cent." Abraham has a background of over 20 years in market research. Her career began in 1978 with A C Nielson. She then moved to BAT (VST) as MR manager in 1983 and jointly founded the Research and Consultancy Group (RCG) in 1987. And till recently Abraham held the post of director on the board of NFO MBL India.

John Abraham will now play a pivotal role to take on regional responsibility of NFO companies in the Asia-Pacific region. "NFO MBL India has experienced very rapid growth over the last six years and is poised for even faster growth in the next couple of years. Our customers will stand to benefit by the new MR technologies and practices from our NFO World Group, which our excellent senior management team will bring in," said John. Commenting on his expanded role in the region, John said, "As I start my new responsibilities, I look to my experiences and the people whom I've worked with to help grow NFO operations in the Asia Pacific region."

Among the other major changes at the management level, R Suresh, formerly also a board director is now the president, packaged goods. His responsibilities now include managing the Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai branch operations as well as Kidsearch and Qualitative Staff Support. Senior vice-president, S Ganapathy, has taken over as board director of the stakeholder management division. And Gautam Nath, the former vice-president, has joined the board of directors as director, corporate services. His responsibilities now include overseeing HRD, PR and communications and the finance functions to an extent.

This development comes close on the heels of NFO World Group acquiring MBL RCG in December 2000. In 1997, NFO Worldwide bought the MBL Group Plc and entered into an agreement with the subsidiaries of the MBL Group Plc to buy all outstanding shares over a period of three years. NFO Worldwide acquired MBL-RCG India in December 2000, following the completion of three years. From January 2001, MBL-RCG was renamed NFO MBL.

NFO MBL now plans to focus on three specific sectors in India - healthcare, IT/telecom and the financial services - to consolidate its position in the country. "A beginning has been made with IT/ telecom sector," said John. "The company has been growing at an annual rate of 35 per cent and we expect to maintain this pace."

For NFO, growth in the Asia-Pacific region is of prime importance. Of the total research turnover last year from the South-Asia region, India contributed 80 per cent. The India operation also has a major stake in the Sri Lanka operation and overseas the NFO operation in Bangladesh. Thus the acquisition will allow NFOW greater penetration in MEAP (Middle East and Asia Pacific) region. In his new role, John Abrahm hopes to improve operational efficiencies of NFO in the Asia-Pacific region.

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