Market Strategies International Acquires Cogent Research

Market Strategies Positioned to Lead Custom, Syndicated Research

in Wealth Management Sector

Livonia, MI, May 16, 2013 -- Market Strategies International announced today that it has acquired Cambridge, MA-based Cogent Research, a market research and strategic consulting firm that specializes in the wealth management industry. The acquisition closed on May 2, 2013.

Since 1996, Cogent Research has delivered critical market insights and strategic consulting to leading asset management firms, investment distributors, and insurance companies.   The company launched its first syndicated report in 2007.

“Cogent has deep expertise in wealth management and a robust offering of almost two dozen syndicated products that provide actionable intelligence for key industry executives and decision makers,” said Dr. Rob Stone, chief executive officer of Market Strategies. “They are perfectly aligned with Market Strategies’ promise to drive confident business decisions through industry expertise.”

Cogent Research founders and principals, John Meunier and Christy White, will co-manage Market Strategies’ new Syndicated Research Division. Moving forward, Market Strategies' syndicated products will be known as Cogent Reports. In addition to supporting the current product line up, Market Strategies’ advanced technology and global reach will allow the syndicated division to bring a host of new offerings to the financial services community, as well as to other industries served by Market Strategies. The company will deliver insights and data to clients through a best-in-class web-based information delivery platform to be rolled out later this year.

Tony Ferreira of Cogent Research will join Market Strategies’ Financial Services Division, where he will be a senior vice president and sector lead for Wealth Management. Tony has delivered strategic research on product development, customer satisfaction, branding, pricing and segmentation for more than 20 years.

“We spent considerable time searching for the perfect partner,” said White. “John and I believe Market Strategies is that partner.  Well-respected as one of the world’s largest market research firms, Market Strategies has invested heavily in technology, which provides enhanced access to data, analytics and operational support, which means we can do more for clients, better, and faster.” 

Meunier added, “Market Strategies and Cogent Research share the same core principles: evidence-based consulting powered by deep industry expertise, thought leadership and research rigor.  The result is a work ethic and a drive to deliver excellence in every aspect of what we do. Bottom line: this acquisition is a strategic move that will result in significant value to all of our clients.”

Cogent’s 25 employees will remain at 125 CambridgePark Drive in Cambridge, MA.

About Market Strategies International

Market Strategies International is a market research consultancy with deep expertise in communications, consumer goods, energy, financial services, healthcare, technology and wealth management. The firm is ISO 20252 certified, reflecting its commitment to providing intelligent research, designed to the highest levels of accuracy, with meaningful results that help companies make confident business decisions.

Market Strategies conducts qualitative and quantitative research, and our research specialties include brand, communications, customer experience, product development, segmentation and user experience. Founded in 1989, Market Strategies consistently ranks as one of the 25 largest global market research firms, according to an annual report published in Marketing News. Read Market Strategies’ blog at FreshMR, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

For more information, contact:

Sharon McMurray

smcmurray@mccicorp.com

313.300.5494

John Mozena

jmozena@mccicorp.com

313.460.7441

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