Dear Esomar Community, dear colleagues, dear partners,
March has been a month of momentum, of strategy shaped, communities celebrated, and individuals honoured for their extraordinary contributions to our industry. It is my privilege to share these milestones with you.
ESOMAR STRATEGY APPROVED BY COUNCIL
I am delighted to report a landmark moment for our association: the Esomar Council formally approved the new Esomar Strategy 2030 at this month’s Council meeting. This is the culmination of many months of thoughtful consultation, rigorous debate, and deep collaboration across the Strategy Steering group, the Execo and the Council. Our reflection and output embodie a clear vision, mission, purpose, values and strategy.
The approved strategy sets a bold and clear direction for Esomar in the years ahead — reinforcing our commitment “to be the guiding light of our profession, recognised as the leading voice for driving positive change”.
Our strategic ambition is “ to lead the digital and AI transformation of our profession, fostering innovation, simplifying our ecosystem, delivering Member value, growth and seamless experiences across everything we do” reflects the collective voice of our industry for its future.
I was delighted to chair this workgroup and I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every Council member, steering group participant who contributed their time, expertise and passion to this process. Your input has shaped a strategy that is not only ambitious but genuinely representative of who we are as an organisation. The work of implementation now begins — and I look forward to sharing further details on our strategic priorities and milestones in the months to come.
MRSI GOLDEN KEY AWARDS — MUMBAI, INDIA
March brought a wonderful opportunity to celebrate excellence in research on a global stage. I had the honour of attending the MRSI (Market Research Society of India) Golden Key Awards in Mumbai, an event that never fails to inspire with the depth of talent and creativity it showcases across our profession.
The Golden Key Awards recognise outstanding contributions to market research and insights, and this year’s ceremony was a powerful reminder of the remarkable work being produced across all corners of the world. Esomar is proud of its enduring partnership with MRSI and our shared commitment to elevating the standards and the stature of research on the global stage.
I extend warm congratulations to all nominees and winners. The quality and diversity of entries this year were truly exceptional, and each recognised project stands as a testament to the ingenuity and rigour that define our industry at its best.
RECORD-BREAKING LATAM EVENT: FLORESÇA IN RIO DE JANEIRO
Our Latin American community has truly outdone itself. Esomar’s Latam flagship event, Floresça whose name translates beautifully as ‘Blooming’, was held in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this month, and I am thrilled to report that it broke all previous attendance and engagement records.
Floresça brought together researchers, insights leaders, and brand professionals from across Latin America and beyond in a spirit of collaboration, discovery and optimism. The programme was rich with perspectives on the future of research, the power of data-driven storytelling, and the unique vitality of the Latin American research ecosystem.
What made this edition truly special was not only its scale, but its energy. The event lived up to its name in every sense, ideas bloomed, connections flourished, and our Latam community demonstrated once again its extraordinary vitality and ambition. I am immensely proud of the team, of our local Representatives and market research association ABEP in Brazil, who delivered this remarkable event and grateful to everyone who participated. Rio was the perfect backdrop for such a celebration of our profession’s potential.
WELCOME TO RAY POYNTER — NEW PSC CHAIR
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Poynter as the new Chair of the Esomar Professional Standards Committee (PSC). The PSC plays a vital role in upholding the ethical foundations upon which the trust and credibility of our entire industry rests, and the appointment of its Chair is a decision the Council takes with the greatest care.
Ray, Esomar Past President, brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to research integrity, and a nuanced understanding of the complex professional standards landscape our industry navigates today. His leadership of the PSC will be invaluable as we continue to develop and refine the frameworks that guide ethical practice across increasingly dynamic and data-rich environments.
I extend a warm welcome to Ray in his new role, and look forward to the fresh energy and insight he will bring to this critical work. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to PSC Team for their dedicated and distinguished service. Their contribution has helped set a standard of excellence that will endure.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP CONFERRED UPON JUDITH PASSINGHAM
It is with immense pride and joy that I announce the conferral of Honorary Esomar Membership upon Judith Passingham, one of the most respected and beloved figures in our global research community.
Honorary Membership is the highest distinction Esomar can bestow upon an individual, reserved for those whose lifetime contributions to the research profession have been truly exceptional. Judith’s career represents exactly that: decades of leadership, mentorship, advocacy and innovation that have shaped not only Esomar but the broader landscape of insights and research worldwide.
Judith has been a tireless champion for the value of research, for ethical practice, and for the development of talent across generations of professionals. Her generosity of spirit, her intellectual rigour, and her genuine passion for this industry have touched countless careers and inspired countless others to give their best to this profession.
Her “work in chairing the ICC/Esomar Code revision project has been particularly significant, helping ensure that the revised Code remains robust, meaningful, and enforceable, and that it continues to serve as a trusted framework for our global community. Under (her) leadership, the (Esomar) Professional Standards Committee also expanded its network, engaging a wider range of professionals whose diverse perspectives have enriched the Committee’s work and strengthened its relevance.
On behalf of the entire Esomar community, I offer Judith Passingham our warmest congratulations and our deepest gratitude. This honour is richly deserved, and we are proud to welcome her into this distinguished circle of Honorary Members.
March has been a month that fills me with profound optimism for our association and for our industry. A strategy approved, a record broken, a community celebrated, new leadership embraced, and an icon honoured.
These are not isolated events but interconnected signs of an association that is thriving and a profession that is growing in confidence and ambition.
As we move into April, I carry with me the energy of Rio, the clarity of our new strategy, and the inspiration of everything our community achieved this month. Thank you for being part of this journey.
And last, I would like to share a quote from the Dalai Lama that I found in Mumbai. This quote deeply conveys who we are and what we do:
“Open your arms to change, but do no let go of your values”.
With warmest regards,
Anne-Sophie Damelincourt
President, Esomar
March 2025
https://esomar.org/newsroom/president-report-for-march-2026
