WPP's Kantar prepares to consolidate its North American operations

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 21-Feb-05

LONDON - WPP Group's insight, information and consultancy division Kantar is planning to consolidate its North American businesses in a single management structure.

The decision comes after the company successfully completed a similar initiative in the UK last year.

The consolidation means that clients of all Kantar's companies have access to resources including quantitative research, data collection and data processing.

Eric Salama, chief executive of Kantar, said: "Uniting the operational resources, talents and skills of all our North America companies will give clients of all Kantar companies access to our very best operations across a wide variety of techniques and approaches."

The new single business structure will come into effect on July 1.

It will be managed by a combination of existing senior executives from Millward Brown, Research International and D/R Added Value. Other external appointments have yet to be made.

Eileen Campbell, chief executive of Millward Brown, and external consultant Nancy Tope will manage the implementation of the new structure.

Salama added: "Combining our efforts in North America and the UK is a big step toward creating seamlessly integrated global operations to reflect the needs of our global client base."

Market research is seen as a key area of growth for WPP and last year former Saatchi & Saatchi chief executive Tamara Ingram was named president of three Kantar insight companies.

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