KANTAR Appoints New CEO. "It's a truly exciting time to join a great team" - Paul Zwillenberg
The global leader in marketing data and analytics Kantar appoints Paul Zwillenberg as CEO. The former head of Daily Mail and General Trust and Accenture expert will take the helm in January 2026, succeeding Chris Jansen. The change at the highest level of management is intended to strengthen the company's growth strategy based on artificial intelligence and deepen partnerships with global brands.Experienced leader takes the helm at Kantar
Paul Zwillenberg will officially join Kantar on 29 September 2024, and will assume full operational leadership of the company on 1 January 2026. The new CEO will manage the organisation from the USA, where his main office will be located. His appointment is a key element of the growth strategy of one of the most important players in the global market research and analytics market. Zwillenberg's move from Accenture to Kantar is a significant development on the map of global consulting business. At Accenture, he served as Vice Chair Reinvention and Global Leader of Media and Entertainment Strategy, responsible for the digital transformation of clients in the media and entertainment sectors."For more than fifty years, Kantar has been the global leader in marketing data and analytics, providing brands with reliable research and insights necessary to reach more customers - better, faster, and more accurately" - Paul Zwillenberg, new CEO of Kantar.
Three decades of experience in media and technology
Paul Zwillenberg's career spans over 30 years in the media, technology, and entertainment industry at the highest management levels. Before joining Accenture, he served as CEO of the British media group Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT), where he carried out a comprehensive strategic transformation of a portfolio of companies operating in the media, events, and information sectors. Under his leadership, DMGT underwent a restructuring process that ultimately enabled the company to be taken private in 2022. Zwillenberg gained earlier experience as a senior partner and managing director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he was responsible for leading Global Media Practice - the global consulting practice for media companies. His experience in digital transformation and strategic business portfolio management makes him an ideal candidate to lead Kantar at a time when the company is intensifying investments in artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics.Smooth transfer of power at Kantar
The current CEO Chris Jansen, who has led Kantar Group since 2021, will remain in his position until the end of 2025 to ensure a smooth transfer of leadership. Jansen will complete his duties as CEO of Kantar Group before the end of the first quarter of 2026 and will leave the company. Under his leadership, Kantar underwent a significant strategic transformation, focusing on reshaping its portfolio and strengthening its value proposition for clients. The company also established a strategic partnership with Microsoft, opening a new era of AI-powered solutions."Over the past four years, we have strategically reshaped Kantar's portfolio and value proposition. Today, we are an indispensable partner for the world's most important companies, providing them with the knowledge and guidance that shape their future" - Chris Jansen, outgoing CEO of Kantar.
Strategic partnership with Microsoft key to the future
One of the most important achievements of Kantar's current leadership is the establishment of a strategic partnership with Microsoft, which is fundamentally important for the development of AI-based solutions. This collaboration allows the company to leverage advanced AI technologies in marketing research and consumer data analysis. Industry analysts predict dynamic growth in the market for AI solutions in marketing research in the coming years. Research firms that successfully integrate artificial intelligence technologies into their services can expect significant increases in project efficiency while reducing costs. The partnership with Microsoft enables Kantar to use platforms such as Azure AI and Cognitive Services to process large consumer data sets and generate insights in real time. This is a key competitive advantage in a market where the speed of delivering analyses is becoming as important as their quality.Development vision under new leadership
The new CEO is already announcing ambitious plans for the company's development, focusing on harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence to support clients even better. Zwillenberg plans to offer state-of-the-art branding and marketing solutions that will help clients achieve growth. The Chairman of Kantar Group Adam Crozier emphasises the importance of this appointment for the future of the organisation, pointing to the improvement in the company's condition over the past four years and its growing recognition among clients."In Paul, we have found an inspiring leader for the next stage of Kantar's development; to deliver even greater value to clients and grow the business. I am extremely optimistic about Kantar's future with Paul's vision and leadership" - Adam Crozier, Chairman of Kantar Group.
The market research industry in the AI era
The global market research industry is worth tens of billions of dollars and is growing steadily year on year.
The fastest-growing segment is solutions based on artificial intelligence and the automation of research processes, which, according to industry analysts, will constitute an increasingly larger part of the entire market. Companies investing in AI technologies record on average 28% higher customer satisfaction and a 15% faster pace of completing research projects.
In this context, the appointment of an experienced digital transformation expert to the position of CEO of Kantar appears to be a strategic step aimed at preparing the company for future challenges and maintaining its position as market leader.Challenges and development prospects
Kantar's new leadership will have to face intensifying competition in the marketing analytics market. Major rivals such as Nielsen, Ipsos, and GfK are also heavily investing in AI technologies and developing their digital offerings. In addition, new technology players are entering the market, offering solutions based solely on artificial intelligence. A key challenge will also be completing the process of spinning off the Numerator brand, which is to be completed in the coming months. This strategic step is intended to allow Kantar to focus more on its core research and analytics business. Industry experts indicate that research firms that successfully integrate AI with traditional research methods can expect significant revenue growth. This represents a huge opportunity for Kantar under new leadership. Kantar Kantar is a global leader in marketing, data, and AI-powered analytics and an indispensable partner to leading global brands. The company has been operating in the market for over 50 years, combining the most important attitudinal and behavioural consumer data with deep industry knowledge and advanced analytics. Kantar has been part of Bain Capital's portfolio since 2019, when the private equity fund acquired the company from WPP Group. The organisation currently employs over 30,000 experts in 100 countries worldwide and serves 90% of Fortune Global 500 companies. The main brands in Kantar's portfolio are Kantar Insights, Kantar Media, Kantar Public, and Kantar Health.Company information
Kantar is a global leader in marketing, data, and AI-powered analytics. The company has been operating in the market for over 50 years, combining the most important attitudinal and behavioural consumer data with deep industry knowledge and advanced analytics. Kantar serves 90% of Fortune Global 500 companies and employs over 30,000 experts in 100 countries worldwide.
Website: Kantar
