TNS merger goes for scale

Hong Kong - Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) has merged its Hong Kong and Singapore operations, naming Wade Garland as MD of the combined group.

Garland, currently MD of Hong Kong, will add Singapore to his brief and Singapore MD Grant Bertoli will take management of Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines markets.

Garland said the reason for the merger was to give the company more scale in handling multi-country research projects.

He added that Singapore and Hong Kong were key regional centres for many TNS clients.

"The businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore are similar in structure," he said. "The type of projects we are now receiving demand more scale and more resources. Basically we will now operate as two offices of one company." 

Garland said no staff would be made redundant as a result of the merger, adding that HR and administration departments for each country will stay.  

TNS is also on the hunt to replace Nisa Ismail, regional marketing manager, who recently left the company.