Survey Sampling International and Opinionology Receive Approval to Combine; Agreement is Finalized to Unite Under the SSI Brand

SHELTON, Connecticut, July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

 - Two Global Leaders Join Forces, Creating the First Complete Portfolio to Support Every Stage of the Survey Research Process

Survey Sampling International and Opinionology have received regulatory approval to combine and finalized their agreement to unite under the SSI brand.  By integrating their complementary offerings, they are creating the industry's first complete portfolio to support every phase of the survey research process.  The new SSI's unique end-to-end solution supports market researchers with a full suite of online, offline and mixed access sampling and data collection services, as well as advanced data analytics and reporting, including real-time results and customized dashboards.  In addition, with 30 offices around the world, respondents from 72 countries and staff fluent in 36 languages, it provides both the global reach and on-the-ground knowledge to deliver accurate, meaningful and consistent outcomes for both multi-country and domestic research projects.  

To ensure researchers gain the insights they need from any target segment, however tightly defined, the new SSI also taps into the widest range of respondent sources, providing broad, eclectic access across every consumer, B2B and healthcare audience.  The combined company brings 50 years of experience to every project, including more than a decade creating and managing online panels across 28 countries. It extends and diversifies its reach even further to cover those who would never join a traditional panel through SSI Dynamix™ -- its dynamic sampling platform that links to a multitude of sources, including proprietary panels, social media, online communities, affiliate partners and more.

In addition, SSI has the largest team of professional telephone interviewers, conducting more than 6 million interviews a year through its integrated network of call centers in the US and Philippines. Team members are experienced across the total spectrum of interviewing techniques, including phone-to-Web recruiting, public opinion measurement, Voice of the Customer programs and executive interviewing.  

To ensure optimal outcomes for all projects, whether online, offline or mixed access, the SSI Knowledge Team will continue to play a central role in the new company.  Comprised of senior methodologists, the Knowledge Team provides consultative guidance on questionnaire optimization and respondent engagement.  It also conducts extensive "research on research" to advance sampling and survey design.  

"We are excited by the powerful synergies we see in the Survey Sampling and Opinionology services--and thrilled the approval gives us the opportunity to unleash the full potential of our combined offerings," says Kees de Jong, who will continue his role as CEO in the newly-combined organization. "By joining forces, we are creating a completely new kind of partner for market researchers--one that is uniquely able to meet their needs in a radically changing world.  For example, we can integrate wireless sample to reach the exploding number of cell-only homes…broaden and diversify sources to capture the soaring number of social networkers and online community members...and even optimize surveys for mobile platforms, whether iPhones, Droids, BlackBerries or SMS text messages, to access today's on-the-go participants."

David Haynes, who had been CEO of Opinionology and will serve as President and COO of the new SSI, echoes de Jong's enthusiasm saying, "By uniting two global leaders, we not only can offer the most innovative and comprehensive portfolio but also the strongest and most dedicated service. With offices spanning every time zone, we can provide 24/7 support to both our research clients and respondents.  In addition, with our continued focus on methodological excellence and scientific rigor, we can ensure the high standards of data integrity to generate reliable results that drive effective business actions.  In addition, together, we have even greater investment strength to create the technology advances that meet researchers' growing need for faster turnaround, higher efficiency, more streamlined processes and stronger data integration to optimize decision making."

New Leadership Is Announced

In addition to Mr. de Jong and Mr. Haynes, SSI's senior leadership team also includes Charles Gottdiener of Providence Equity Partners who will serve as Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Gottdiener will lead a newly-combined board that includes representation from both Providence and Sterling Investment Partners, primary owners of the legacy Survey Sampling and Opinionology organizations, respectively. Simon Chadwick, who had been Survey Sampling's Chairman of the Board, will remain as a board member and continue to play an active role guiding the new company.

About SSI...

Bringing together Survey Sampling International and Opinionology, SSI is the premier global provider of world-leading sampling, data collection and data analytic solutions for survey research.  SSI reaches respondents in 72 countries via Internet, telephone, mobile/wireless and mixed access offerings.  Value-add services include questionnaire design consultation, programming and hosting, data processing and real-time reporting.  SSI serves more than 2,000 clients, including the top 50 research organizations. It has 30 offices serving clients around the world.