 |
| Mark Read |
Kantar Media has named former WPP chief Mark Read chairman.
Miami-based HIG Capital completed the $1.1B acquisition of the media measurement & analytics company from Bain Capital in August.
Read, a more than 30-year veteran of WPP, said Kantar Media plays “a unique and essential role in the media ecosystem. helping advertisers, agencies, media owners and platforms understand how people are consuming media and how best to direct their media investments.”
He looks forward to bringing greater clarity to the media ecosystem at a time when audience behavior is changing more rapidly than ever.
Patrick Béhar, CEO of Kantar Media, said Read “combines deep strategic thinking with practical experience in transformation, data and AI, and most importantly he shares our ambition to transform the industry by bringing clarity to a complex landscape.
Read helmed WPP for seven years before being replaced by Microsoft executive Cindy Rose in September.
WPP's stock has plunged this year, triggering speculation that is may be a takeover target. France's Havas has said that it is not in discussions with WPP.
Alcoa has named Emily Olson, who has more than 20 years of experience working in capital-intensive industries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, EVP & chief external affairs officer, effective April 6.
Longacre Square Partners has named Humza Vanderman partner and head of its London outpost as the financial communications firm expands into Europe.
MOIA America, a Volkswagen Group of America subsidiary that develops and tests autonomous, all-electric ride-pooling vehicles, names Marcus Gamo head of U.S. communications... Continental Strategy brings on Francisco Petrirena as VP in its Miami office. Petrirena was previously chief of staff to former Miami city manager Art Noriega... MSQ Sport + Entertainment brings on Lauren Weil as EVP, Max Hirsch as VP of sponsorship, and Brooke Losee as VP.
Burson promotes EMEA COO Matt Buchanan to global chief social and Influence officer, a newly created role... Seedtag, a “global neuro-contextual advertising company,” brings on former Edelman SVP, corporate and public affairs Brendan McCarthy as chief marketing & communications officer... The Associated Press ups Lauren Easton to SVP and chief communications officer.
USAA, which provides insurance, banking and retirement solutions for members of the US and their families, names Chris Curtin as CMO... Hemlo Mining, a Canadian gold producer, appoints Jason Banducci as VP, corporate development & investor relations... rbb Communications promotes four senior executives to SVP. 
