The results showed that group activity increased 31.5% compared with the first half of 2020, with real terms growth of 47.5% in the second quarter of 2021 year-on-year.

The first half of 2021 also compared well to the same period in 2019, with 2021 13.9% higher.

Ipsos said the results were down to good business growth and the economy’s recovery from Covid-19 restrictions, with lockdowns causing 13% contraction for the half-year and 26% for the second quarter from 2020.

Europe, Middle East and Africa saw the best performance by region, with growth of 36.9% for the half, compared to 17% in the Americas and 18.5% in Asia-Pacific.

In total, Ipsos’ adjusted net profit was €81.4m from total revenue of €993.3m. Ipsos’ profitability was significantly higher in 2021 than in the same period last year, with an operating margin of 11% compared with 3.2% in 2020.

Ipsos recently announced a new chief executive, Nathalie Roos, will join later this year from L'Oréal, with exisitng chief executive and Ipsos founder Didier Truchot becoming chairman. 

Truchot said: “Ipsos’s current results are proof that the project we formulated 46 years ago in Paris remains valid today.

“The arrival of Nathalie Roos in our ranks as chief executive officer is another. Nathalie is an expert business director with a passion for the world and people. She is, I am sure, an excellent choice to take over from me and accelerate the transformations of Ipsos that began in 2018.”