Our heritage
A History of Success
TNS was formed in 1997 when UK-listed Company Taylor Nelson AGB merged with the French-based company, Sofres. Both companies had been leading players in the market research industry since the 1960s. While Sofres acquired leading market research organisations in the US and Asia Pacific, Taylor Nelson AGB focused on the UK and Europe.
Since 1997, TNS has grown through a number of strategic acquisitions, including the Tellex Group in 1999, to reinforce its global network and strengthen its specialist sector expertise. In 2000, the Group established the Media Intelligence sector to focus on the demand for advertising and media monitoring.
Under the leadership of Jean-Michel Portier, the sector has expanded into 24 countries including the US, Central Europe and China and widened its expertise with the emergence of new media. The most recent acquisition is that of Cymfony, a leading blog monitoring company based in Boston, USA.
Key dates
| 2007 | TNS Media Intelligence acquires Presswatch Media Ltd |
| 2003 | Taylor Nelson Sofres rebrands to TNS |
| 2002 | TNS Media Intelligence acquires BMC, the broadcast arm of Xtreme Information Ltd |
| 2000 | TNS establishes Media Intelligence sector |
| 1999 | The Press Association sells the Tellex Group to TNS |
| 1986 | The Press Association buys the Tellex Group from UNS |
| 1984 | Tellex combines with Parker Bishop to form the Tellex Group |
| 1956 | Eric Goldschmidt founds Tellex Monitors in a disused industrial building in the heart of Chinatown, London |