The combined company will operate under the name Colmar Brunton and continue to be led by chief executive Joan Young (pictured) alongside chief operating officer Maree Taylor and chief client officer Jenny Witham. 

Marcus Pritchard and Kirstin Couper have been appointed as general managers to lead the combined Colmar Brunton and AMR teams in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.

Rob McLachlan, chief executive of WPP AUNZ Data Investment Management Group, said: “Ongoing change in the marketplace has seen amplified interest in creating a stronger research proposition for clients, through a wider diversity of talents and thinking. The merger puts agility and specialist expertise at the heart of WPP AUNZ’s research offer by combining the credibility and knowledge of both brands.”

The combined company has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.

Young said: “Merging AMR with Colmar Brunton formalises the close working relationship we’ve had for the last year. We know greater diversity leads to more creativity and innovation. Under the Colmar Brunton brand we now have a larger and more diverse range of specialist skills.”