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Ben Ho
- regional financial controller, Asia Pacific – TNS, Hong Kong
- ACCA fellow since October 2004
It has been seven years since Ben joined TNS, one of Hong Kong’s leading consultative market research companies and the Asia Pacific arm of the London-listed group. In that time, Ben has travelled extensively in the region to China, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia, assisting local finance teams and fulfilling his role as regional financial controller – Asia Pacific.
His experience within the audit department of PwC Hong Kong had already given him some exposure to working in China during his five-year tenure with the firm, but his horizons and his international accounting and tax knowledge have broadened tremendously in the years that he has spent with TNS. ‘I think that once you have been with a company for a number of years, and you reach a senior role, you are respected and appreciated. You know a great deal about the organisation you work for and your colleagues trust your judgement.’
Since 2003, Ben has spent more time in his base of Hong Kong, which is the central hub of the survey industry in the region and the key provider of custom research and analysis. He oversees the financial performance of TNS 6th dimension, a new methodology for market research pioneered by TNS, which has the only fully managed online consumer access panel in Hong Kong. Panels also operate throughout the region. ‘Traditionally, market research is conducted via phone or face to face but 6th dimension means that we can use online technology for research. It’s the future of business in this industry and it’s very exciting.’
Ben is also a member of the management team in Hong Kong, which discusses industry issues in addition to the professional development of the 170 staff and 350 interviewers working in Hong Kong. ‘Over the years my role has developed; finance is still key but I also have an opportunity to tap into my soft skills, dealing with issues like people management. I have accumulated experience and knowledge which have given me a bigger picture of the market research industry and the ability to work in a general management role in the future.’