New polling firm rises from Newspoll ashes as trio attempt ‘to meet an ongoing need’
Martin O’Shannessy
Three former directors of defunct Newspoll are behind a new venture which they claim will “fill the void” left by the closure of the polling company.
Former Newspoll chief executive Martin O’Shannessy, project director John Davis and account services director Frederic Anne are all partners in OmniPoll, formed, according to its website, to “meet an ongoing need”.
The trio were among around 130 people to lose their jobs following the decision of News Corp, which jointly owned Newspoll with WPP-owned Millward Bown, to shut the business. It formally closed down last Friday.
“But O’Shannessy played down the unrest, insisting everyone who was entitled to redundancy packages received them”
Which equated to less than 20 people in a phone room of more than 100 staff. Just because he fulfilled the bare minimum required under law, doesn’t make his treatment of ex-newspoll staff any better.
Definitely 3 of the best minds from Newspoll right there, should be interesting to watch.
Congratulation on the initiative Martin and all the best for the future.