In an apparent move to address the increasing competition faced from management consultancies, WPP said it had launched WPP AUNZ Consulting to give clients more clarity and advice on the business decisions they should be making in an era of changing consumer behaviour.

WPP AUNZ CEO Mike Connaghan said the division will use consumer research and advanced data analytics in its approach and would go “far beyond a conventional business consultancy.”

It will be led by managing partner Caspar Wright (pictured, right), a 20-year industry veteran who was previously managing partner Australia & NZ, Kantar Vermeer. Wright will be supported by a leadership team including WPP AUNZ Consulting partner Patrick Fry (pictured, left), who was also previously at Kantar Vermeer. Other executives including Rob Pardini, WPP AUNZ chief data scientist and Rose Herceg WPP AUNZ chief strategy officer, will work on projects when required.

Kantar Vermeer is no longer operating as a brand in Australia and instead WPP AUNZ Consulting will comprise of the Kantar Vermeer skills plus others within the WPP AUNZ stable. 

In the UK, WPP has similarly created an over-riding consulting division by merging Kantar Added Value, Kantar Futures, Kantar Vermeer and Kantar Retail into one entity – Kantar Consulting. However while that concentrated on brand, WPP AUNZ Consulting is focused on business strategy.

Wright said: “WPP AUNZ Consulting will help our clients articulate and implement breakthrough strategies that are based on deep consumer and market understanding. This strategic clarity has never been more important.”