Managing Director, Laos and Myanmar

Chansada Souvanlasy

Chansada is a Lao national who has been one of the pioneers in making Indochina Research what it is today. After completing his Master’s degree from University of Tsukuba (Japan), he joined Indochina Research Laos as Operations Manager and quickly progressed to become the General Manager in 2008.

His relevant experience extends to short-term consulting, database management, project management, staff training, research project design, project implementation and co-ordination, client liaison, database design, data analysis and report writing for international companies and donor agencies across many sectors of the Lao economy. Responsible for the implementation of more than 100 Indochina Research projects at province, district, and village level, he is well versed in the intricacies of conducting research projects in Laos and is involved as project manager for all large scale Indochina Research projects in Laos. He has spearheaded the extension of Indochina Research operations into the Myanmar market.

Managing Director, Vietnam

Xavier Depouilly

Xavier is a French national with more than 14 years in South East Asia. A researcher with experience in both agency and client side. He is specialized in media, communication effectiveness and market entry research.

Xavier has extensive experience working with international trade and governmental agencies. He has been an ESOMAR member from 2014.

Managing Director, Cambodia

Lea Morada

Experienced Researcher with a solid background in market research (retail and customized), public relations and advertising industries. Skilled in Market Analysis (Qualitative and Quantitative): Customer Experience, Mystery Shopping, Brand Health, Innovation and Shopper studies. Lea has strong track record in business development and client relationship management. She is heading our Cambodia office to ensure the highest level of research quality and client satisfaction.

Research Manager

Pham Thi Hong Phuc

Research Manager

Nguyen Que Phuong

Phuong leads project development  and execution thanks to her excellent communication and project management skills.

She has worked across several industries, specializing in qualitative projects and projects that require deep cultural insight.

Research Manager

Nguyen Hoang Ha

Ha holds a Master’s degree in International Sales and Marketing, backed by a solid academic foundation in both business development and research methodologies, spanning qualitative and quantitative approaches.

He brings over five years of experience in the research industry, having worked in both France and Vietnam. During his three years as a Research Project Coordinator at a leading panel provider in France, and two subsequent years in Vietnam, Ha managed a diverse portfolio of research projects including social studies, ad-hoc analyses, post-tests, and in-home usage tests for international clients. His industry expertise spans FMCG, banking, automotive, medical, and media.

Driven by a passion for understanding consumer behavior and uncovering meaningful insights, Ha ensure the delivery of high-quality data that supports strategic decision-making and drives impactful results.

Research Director

Darathip Sounthavong

Ms. Darathip Sounthavong holds a Master of Arts equivalent – a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and a Bachelor of Social Science with majors in Sociology and Human Resource Management from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. She has over 10 years of experience managing and coordinating social and commercial research projects in Lao PDR. Her expertise spans both quantitative and qualitative studies, with extensive involvement in designing research tools, supervising fieldwork, and ensuring quality control in large-scale survey implementations across all provinces.

She has extensive experience collaborating with Lao government counterparts, international organizations including UN agencies and the World Bank and the private sector. Her expertise in managing complex field operations, particularly in health and nutrition, education, agriculture, tobacco, beer, soft drinks, and automotive research, enables her to provide exceptional support to survey teams and drive meaningful project outcomes.

Associate Research Manager

Chan Hwan Eng

Mr. Chan Hwan Eng is an experienced research and consulting professional with over eight years of expertise in Myanmar. Holding a dual bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Victoria University, Switzerland, and English specialization from Yangon University, he has a strong foundation in consumer insights quantitative research.

His expertise spans business development, marketing, and sales strategy, with a focus on designing research tools, supervising fieldwork, and ensuring quality control in large-scale surveys. Skilled in data analysis and translating insights into actionable recommendations, he supports evidence-based decision-making.

He has an in-depth understanding of consumer research methodologies, including usage and attitude studies, pricing, segmentation, product testing, home placement tests, and mystery shopping. His industry experience covers alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, financial services, telecom, Mobile, FMCG, tobacco, Media and more.

Associate Research Manager

Vongsone Xaythanith

Mr. Vongsone has a strong background in project management, monitoring, evaluation, and research, with experience spanning social development, conflict resolution, and community engagement. He holds a Master’s degree in International Community Development from Victoria University, Australia, and has worked extensively on grassroots collaboration, advocacy, and inter-organizational coordination.

With professional experience in both Laos and Australia, he has contributed to research on circular economy principles, peacebuilding initiatives, and youth development projects. His expertise in project planning, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement enables him to drive meaningful impact in the communities he serves.

He has a deep understanding of social research methodologies, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. His ability to lead fieldwork, analyze data, and translate insights into actionable recommendations makes him a valuable asset in driving evidence-based decision-making.

Associate Research Director

Chenda Kim

Nine years with Indochina Research has given Chenda the opportunity to experience all the elements that constitute the research process. Starting out as an interviewer, he has worked his way through operations (fieldwork) as well as client service. Finishing a part time MBA on top of family and a full time job characterizes his will to move on and learn new things. Chenda’s extensive experience in operations and managing brand heath trackers provide invaluable best practices for fieldwork and project management.

Account Manager

Chandara Gnim

Chandara graduated Master of Art in Sociology-Anthropology from Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2008. She is a practical researcher in many disciplines with 8 years experiences in research and project management by using both Qualitative and Quantitative method. She has strong background in both social and commercial study with specialized in many different research methodologies such as brand research, work test (concept/STB/TVC, and other communication), U&A, segmentation, shopper research, lifestyle research, project evaluation, baseline and end-line assessment, and KAP survey. In her role, she managed multiple research projects to support and evaluate the program.

Operations Manager

May Thu Khine

May Thu is the Operations Manager at IRL Myanmar, bringing over 15 years of experience in the market research industry, specializing in consumer insights. A graduate of Yangon Institute of Economics with a Master of Statistics, May Thu’s career has spanned diverse roles, from interviewer and data analyst to Quality Control Manager and Project Manager (since 2010). She has a strong track record of successfully managing diverse research projects, including CLT, home placements, telephone interviews, mystery shopping, B2B research, consumer and brand health surveys, and, most recently, a retail census survey in 2024.

May Thu has a strong analytical foundation and a proven ability to manage complex research projects. Her experience working with both local and international clients at a global research firm in Myanmar has equipped her with a deep understanding of diverse market needs.