WPP rejigs TNS management following Research International merger

by Ben Bold, Brand Republic 30-Mar-09, 11:45

LONDON - TNS, which recently merged with WPP's Research International business, has announced a new global management team led by chairman Bob Meyers and chief executive officer Pedro Ros.

Former Millward Brown chief financial officer Mike Gettle will work directly under Ros, who was previously chief executive of TNS Custom. Gettle becomes chief financial officer and chief operating officer for the global research group. He will also remain a member of the committee dedicated to integrating TNS into WPP's larger Kantar Group.

Gettle will be supported by David Errington, who takes up the mantle of global commercial director.

Jamie Hall has been made chief executive of TNS across Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. He will be joined by Heather Payne, who becomes TNS's regional director for Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan. Payne has also been given responsibility for the firm's International Research Centre and the combined operations of Hong Kong and Singapore.

Across the Atlantic, David Kieselstein becomes chief executive of TNS in North America and will work alongside Bridget Armstrong, who becomes executive vice-president and US consumer sector head.

Judith Passingham retains her role as chief executive of Europe and Denis Delmas becomes deputy managing director, as well as having responsibility for global marketing communications.

Other changes to the senior management team include the appointment of Jordi Ferrer as strategy and corporate development director, while former Research International group human resources director, Catherine Connolly, has been made global head of human resources for the merged business.

Ros said: "Both Research International and TNS bring different strengths to the table in terms of their solutions and research insight, and this is reflected in the level of knowledge and experience within the senior global management team.

"Over the coming months it is the team's responsibility to ensure that our combined offer reflects our position as the world's largest custom business, as we begin to shape the future of the research industry."

WPP took control of TNS in October last year in a £1.1bn takeover deal leading to the departure of the then TNS chief executive, David Lowden.