FMD, the association for Danish Market Research companies, has decided to discontinue after 41 years as the leading (and mostly only) Danish MR association. Chairman Asger Nilsen from Megafon announced the bad news at a seminar arranged by SMRN in Copenhagen this morning.
When Asger replaced TNS's Henrik Hansen as chairman two years ago, he embarked on a fearless win-or-lose-all conquest. The association decided to demand ISO20252 certification of all its member companies, entered Dansk Industri (Denmarks leading employers association) and began talks of entering the international industry association EFAMRO once more. Asger and the rest of the board reasoned that the only chance to survive and grow as an industry organisation, was to make clear they stand for the highest quality standards and were able and willing to lead the way for the industry.
Asger Nielsen in most likely his last public appearance as FMD chairman.
The board has now had to conclude that most other research companies in Denmark had opposing views or at least reasons to leave or not enter FMD. Asger established quite unsentimentally at todays morning seminar that there are simply not enough member companies remaining to keep up meaningful operations, not to mention representing the entire Danish MR industry.
At the same time, Asger was clear that this is only the end of one organisation, not the end of cooperation among Danish market researchers. He even demonstrated a great deal of fighting spirit, so don't expect to have seen the last of Asger Nilsen! There was general concensus at the meeting that much about organising in the MR industry can be learnt from Norway and perhaps some from Sweden as well. There were even talks about expanding the Swedish industry association SMIF to cover Denmark as well. Why not, the infrastructure is there, as well as the important contacts with vital bodies and persons internationally.
Is FMD secretary Erik Liljeberg trying to picture what it is like going down with the sinking ship? No, he is rather telling the audience what is was like when five privately-owned research companies who dominated the Danish research industry, started FMD in 1968. Erik was one of the first members in the capacity of owner/manager of Vilstrup (now Synovate).
Henrik Hall
SMRN