Barns (pictured) will serve as chief executive of Ipsos in the US and will also oversee the company’s activities across Canada and South and Central America.

In addition, Barns, who will report to Ipsos chief executive Kelly Beaver, will join the firm’s executive management committee.

Barns replaces Mary Ann Packo, who will depart Ipsos at the end of November.

Prior to taking up his new role, Barns was global chief executive at Nielsen between 2014 and 2018, having also been president of Nielsen’s US media and Greater China businesses.

Following Nielsen, Barns was chief executive at The Opus Group from 2021 to 2024, and began his career with a 12-year spell at Procter & Gamble.

Beaver said: “As the Americas are a critical region for Ipsos, his unparalleled track record at the highest levels of our industry, combined with his recent experience on the boards of innovative data and technology firms, makes him the ideal leader to execute our growth strategy.”

Barns added: “I look forward to partnering with Kelly Beaver and the talented Ipsos teams across North and Latin America in service of our clients.”