This Year-Opener under BRIEF26 has been authored by Suresh Ramalingam, Chief Executive Officer, Ipsos India, exclusively for Mediabrief.com. Insights and inspiration for tomorrow.
In the later part of 2025, I was presented with the opportunity to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Ipsos India. After over two decades of working overseas, most recently in a regional commercial leadership role managing key global accounts and overseeing 11 APEC markets, this moment represented both a professional milestone and a deeply personal homecoming.
It was exciting on two levels: first, to lead a well-established, highly respected organisation with deep roots in the Indian market; and second, to return to my home country; familiar yet constantly evolving; to help shape Ipsos India’s next phase of growth in one of the world’s most dynamic and buoyant economies.
India today sits firmly among Ipsos’ top priority markets globally. The opportunity to lead with purpose, unlock potential, and deliver ambitious growth targets in such a market is both a responsibility and a privilege.
My aspiration is to build on Ipsos India’s strong foundations while ensuring we remain agile, innovative, and relentlessly focused on delivering value to our clients -in the process nurture & help our talents grow.
Leadership anchored in Client Centricity and Innovation
At the heart of my leadership philosophy is a belief in collaboration. Working alongside the best leaders across our key verticals to help our clients stay nimble, informed, and ahead of the curve. This aligns seamlessly with Ipsos’ core value of Client First, a principle that underpins everything we do.
Ipsos’ recognition by the GRIT Report as the world’s most innovative research company, year after year, is not an accolade we take lightly. It reflects a culture of continuous reinvention and a deep commitment to combining human intelligence with technological advancement. Our focus remains firmly technology-led; integrating advanced tools and methodologies to deliver sharper, faster, and more actionable insights.
From AI algorithms embedded across our Ipsos Digital suite of solutions, to Crownit, our mobile-first market research platform, through to agentic AI, automation, and the responsible use of synthetic data, our ambition is clear: to be the best-in-class solution provider for our clients. Technology, for us is an enabler that allows us to solve complex business challenges with greater precision and speed.
2025: A year of contrasts and course correction
2025 proved to be a mixed bag, marked by important milestones and successes, interspersed with unforeseen challenges. Global economic headwinds, geopolitical uncertainties, and a slowdown across several markets resulted in some degree of pushback from key global accounts. These realities required us to pause, reassess, and respond decisively.
In true Ipsos spirit, we reoriented our strategy—pivoting aggressively to harness local opportunities and unlock untapped client segments. This shift was not merely tactical; it was strategic. By deepening our focus on domestic clients, we diversified our revenue streams and strengthened our resilience against external volatility.
The results were encouraging. Over the course of 2025, we significantly widened our client base, making strong forays into new-age technology companies while further bolstering our presence in automotive, food delivery aggregators, D2C brands, edtech, and several leading national brands. These additions complemented our long-standing global relationships, reinforcing Ipsos India’s position as a trusted partner across sectors and scales.
2026: A pivotal year of transformation
Looking ahead, 2026 is set to be a defining year for Ipsos globally and for Ipsos India in particular. It will be a year of transformation, strengthening our agility, enhancing commercial excellence, and sharpening our distinctive service capabilities.
We have reorganised our business to be fit for purpose in an increasingly complex and fast-moving environment. While acquisition of new business remains important, the more critical differentiator lies in our ability to deliver – On time, at scale, and with uncompromising quality. Timeliness is not just an operational metric; it is central to enabling our clients to make the right decisions at the right moment.
By reinforcing discipline across project management stages and embedding best practices consistently, we aim to elevate client delight and exceed expectations. Our goal is simple yet powerful: to let our data, insights, and storytelling deliver truly game-changing outcomes for our clients.
Local insight, global perspective
One of Ipsos’ greatest strengths is our ability to combine global expertise with deep local understanding. In India, this capability is especially critical. We will continue to provide local storytelling and nuanced insights that reflect the authentic voices of Indian consumers, while situating them within broader regional and global contexts through our multi-country studies.
India today stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey. Aspiring to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, the country has already moved to fourth position on the global stage. Our research consistently shows that India remains one of the most resilient markets worldwide, driven by strong domestic consumption and a powerful demographic dividend.
A rapidly expanding salaried middle class, comprising both men and women, is emerging as the engine of growth. This segment represents a highly aspirational consuming class, eager to upgrade lifestyles, embrace innovation, and engage with brands that reflect their evolving identities. Understanding these shifts is critical for organisations seeking sustainable growth in India, and Ipsos is uniquely positioned to decode these dynamics.
Moving forward with Confidence and Purpose
As we move into 2026 and beyond, our focus remains clear: to build an Ipsos India that is future-ready, client-obsessed, and innovation-driven. By combining cutting-edge technology with deep human insight, and global best practices with local relevance, we will continue to help our clients navigate uncertainty and seize opportunity.
This journey is not just about growth in numbers, it is about impact, relevance, and trust. Together with our people, our clients, and our partners, we are committed to shaping smarter decisions for a changing world, and to ensuring Ipsos India plays a defining role in that future.
