A History of TNS Research International in Taiwan

TNS was formed in 1997 when UK-listed company Taylor Nelson AGB merged with Sofres, based in France. Both companies had been leading players in the market research industry since the 1960s. While Sofres acquired leading market research organizations in the Americas and Asia Pacific, Taylor Nelson AGB focused on the UK and Europe.

From 1997 through 2003, TNS grew through a number of strategic acquisitions intended to reinforce its global network and strengthen its specialist sector expertise. In 2003, the company took a major step forward in the achievement of this strategy in its acquisition of NFO WorldGroup, then the world’s eighth largest market information firm.

In 2008, TNS became part of the WPP-Kantar family; WPP is one the world’s largest communications services groups, and Kantar is one of the world’s largest research, insight and consultancy networks. In 2009, TNS merged with sister Kantar company Research International, and now operates in Taiwan as TNS Research International.

• 1983: Established as Frank Small & Associates
• 1997: Sofres combines with Frank Small and Associates in Asia Pacific
• 1998: Taylor Nelson AGB merges with Sofres to become Taylor Nelson Sofres
• 2003: Taylor Nelson Sofres merges with NFO and rebrands as TNS
• 2008: TNS becomes part of the WPP-Kantar family
• 2009: TNS and Research International combine to form Research International