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- Asia Pacific Connect 2025: The Renewal Tour
- ESOMAR Connect | Malaysia 2025
Local Time: 9:00 - 17:00
This year, ESOMAR is uniting the market research and insights community across 12 countries for the Asia Pacific Connect 2025 Renewal Tour. Join us in Malaysia on 29 October 2025 to discover how the industry is evolving and renewing in this vibrant, forward-thinking region, from innovative methodologies to emerging trends like AI-driven insights.
Each ESOMAR Connect event will provide a space to exchange best practices, strengthen networks, and engage in thought-provoking discussions. It’s an opportunity to reconnect, gain fresh perspectives, and help shape the future of market research - one connect at a time.
Speakers
John Smurthwaite
ESOMAR Ambassador, Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific Region at ESOMARJohn Smurthwaite is the ESOMAR Ambassador for the Asia Pacific region, which covers 18 countries from NZ in the south to Mongolia in the north, the Philippines in the east and Pakistan in the west. John took on this role after retiring from KANTAR in 2016.
The role of the Ambassador is to work closely with all the ESOMAR representatives in the region as well as link up with the national associations to support your needs in the region. In normal times, John manages ESOMAR Best of Series events as well as assists in the many ESOMAR events in APAC.
John is based in Malaysia and was the President of the Marketing Research Society of Malaysia.
John began his research agency career with an Australian company in Melbourne called Frank Small and Associates, which was later acquired by Sofres/TNS/KANTAR and continued working with the acquiring companies. John transferred to Malaysia in 1977 and then to Hong Kong in 1981 to begin developing Frank Small and Associates throughout the region, developing offices in the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam and India. John managed the APAC region as TNS CEO/Chairman for many years until his retirement.
John is a member of ESOMAR advisory panels and committees such as on Global Market Research and Pricing reports, as well as the Association Executive and Representative committees.