BMRB boss to take new role in Kantar Media

UK-- BMRB managing director Richard Asquith is to move to a leadership role within the new Kantar Media business, which was formed earlier this week in the wide-ranging reshuffle of WPP's Kantar Group of research companies.

Asquith becomes chief executive of TGI and Custom Research in the new division, which brings together the former TNS Media Intelligence and Media Research businesses and Kantar Media Research (KMR).

TGI was part of BMRB before the restructure, while Asquith headed BMRB's media services arm before becoming MD in 2004.

Kantar Media will be led by former TNS Media boss Jean-Michel Portier as CEO, while KMR chief executive Andy Brown was today named chairman of the division.

Separately – and unrelated to the restructure, according to a spokesperson – BMRB made four people redundant yesterday across its UK workforce. “This was part of a cost saving action to ensure the size of the business is at the right level for the very challenging market conditions we are expecting in 2009,” the spokesperson said.

Marketing director Steve Cooke is known to be among those who lost their jobs.

Author: Brian Tarran