The new division was launched in May this year and its main offering, the Videolytics syndication, tracking and optimisation platform, will go live in the third quarter of 2010.

To spearhead the launch, Kantar has appointed Keir Walton as senior vice president of business development to “connect” clients with the new division and its products. Walton joins from WPP-owned sponsorship research and analytics agency IEG, where he was executive vice president.

Anna Drake joins the firm as senior vice president of analytics and research with a remit to design a set of analytics and optimisation tools. She was previously SVP of product management at Kantar Media Audiences.

Jamison Tilsner will be in charge of business development activities with content creators and distributors. Tilsner was previously CEO of online entertainment firm Tubefilter. He will be joined in the business developments team by Andrew Chang, who founded digital media company Rogue Media and has served as an advisor to startup firms including Dashmob and Looxii.

Andrew Cheng, who was most recently director of advanced analytics at Kantar Media Audiences, has been hired as platform manager and Trevor Wolfe has been given the role of marketing manager.

The new management team will report to Kantar Video CEO William Lederer (pictured).