The IIAR Analyst Firm of the Year 2014

The IIAR is delighted to announce the winners of the 2014

IIAR Analyst Firm of the Year

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Often imitated, never equalled -the IIAR Analyst of The Year is back in 2014!

The only independent influencers relations professional association surveyed its members and other carefully vetted AR professionals to vote in several main categories: best global firm, best independent firm and best newcomer. More criteria were included -see below. This panel composition and methodology ensures both independence and an opinion coming from the most knowledgeable -and critical- on industry analysis firms, research and analysts themselves.

Individual analysts have also been voted -the results will be published this Friday.

And now, without further ado…

The IIAR Global Analyst Firm of The Year 2014 is Gartner.

The runner ups are Forrester and IDC.

One of our respondents had the following comment: “Gartner is the 800 pound gorilla in the analyst market because it has the greatest influence with technology buyers, has the most vauable brand, and is a well run $2bn business. These factors are also why it generates such vehement hatred among some boutique analyst firms and some vendor executives.“

The IIAR Independent Analyst Firm of The Year 2014 is Constellation.

The runner ups are HfS and ex-aequo for the third place Ventana and SMB Group.

Said Constellation’s chief Ray Wang (LinkedIn, @RWang0): “We’re excited to be recognised by the analyst relations community for bringing Silicon Valley insights, innovative solutions, and market leading buy side clients together into the broader constellation of research.  It’s always an honour to be recognised and we appreciate all the hard work influence relations professionals face in navigating their organisation’s mission and the mission that industry analysts and influencers play.“

The IIAR New Analyst Firm of The Year 2014 is Digital Clarity Group.

Said a respondent “Digital Clarity is composed of smart, free-thinking and experienced analysts who follow their gut and provide tailored guidance.“

More details will be provided to IIAR members during a call on the 15/1/15. It’s striking however to see that Forrester is a fertile ground for new firms -spawning both Constellation and DCG…

Thanks to Helen Chantry (LinkedIn) and Trevor Howard (LinkedIn) for their invaluable contributions to this research.

Read also:

• The IIAR Analyst of the Year 2014
• The IIAR Analyst Firm of the Year 2014
• The IIAR “Tragic Quadrant”

Past winners

The IIAR Analyst of The Year has been running since 2008, see below the past winners.

• The IIAR Analyst Firm of The Year 2012 were IDC and Ovum
• The IIAR Analyst Firm of The Year 2011 was Gartner
• The IIAR Analyst Firm of The Year 2010 was Gartner
• The IIAR Analyst Firm of The Year 2009 was Gartner
• The IIAR Analyst Firm of The Year 2008 was Forrester