Ian McNair

Ian Wallace McNair (23 October 1933 – 30 October 2007) was a market research expert in Australia, known in the Australian market research industry, through the work of his father Bill McNair and his own work.

Family When Ian was born in 1933, his father Bill received news that the advertising agency he worked at, JWT, had won the Kelloggs advertising contract. For this reason, Ian almost acquired the name Ian Kellogg. However the middle name Wallace was chosen for two reasons; it was the middle name of Bill's brother, but probably more so in recognition of William Wallace whose defeat of the English in 1298 was significant to the Scottish heritage of the McNair family.

Career In 1950, Ian started full-time study in Economics at University of Sydney but later reverted to part-time study while working at the accounting firm Holt and Thompson. He also did three months National Service at this time, where he was known as Gunner McNair or Private Eye McNair.

Influenced by his father, Ian joined the McNair Survey Pty Ltd in 1953, the market research business that Bill McNair and his business partner Gwen Nelson had bought from JWT. He joined initially on a trial six-week period as a clerk. sold Ian a small parcel of shares, Bill and Gwen sold the McNair Survey to Ian McNair, in partnership with Ian Muir and Ian Pilz, known as the three Ians.

McNair Ingenuity Research today a market research and social research company specialising in media, government, advertising, health and safety and international research. The company publishes of the McNair Gallup Poll.