Marketing data and analytics giant Kantar has appointed Accenture global chief Paul Zwillenberg as its new CEO, succeeding Chris Jansen, who has led Kantar Group since July 2021, as well as the standalone Kantar brand business since January 2024.
Zwillenberg will be based in the US and brings over 30 years of experience across media, technology and entertainment.
He was most recently vice chair of reinvention, and global leader of media and entertainment strategy at Accenture, having previously served as CEO of Daily Mail & General Trust.
At DMGT, he led a strategic transformation across the portfolio of consumer media, events and information services companies, the success of which enabled the business to be taken private in 2022. Before that he was senior partner and managing director at global management consulting firm BCG, leading its global media practice.
In July 2021, former AA, British Gas and British Airways boss Jansen was appointed Kantar’s third chief executive in just over a year, taking up the role vacated by Alexis Nasard who left “by mutual agreement” in April of the same year.
Nasard had succeeded Eric Salama, who left the company he helped to build into a $4bn (£3.19bn) business in February 2020.
Jansen will now lead the business through to the end of 2025 to ensure a transition of leadership and additionally will conclude his responsibilities as Kantar Group CEO before the end of Q1 2026 and step down from the business.
Jansen said: “Over the past four years we have strategically refocused Kantar’s portfolio and value proposition. It is now an indispensable brand partner to the world’s most important companies, providing them with insights and guidance to shape their brand futures. Our strategic partnership with Microsoft has additionally ushered in a new era of AI-native operations and solutions to ensure Kantar remains the market leader for years to come.
“With the roadmap for Kantar well established, and the operational separation of Numerator nearing completion, now is the right time to introduce a new dedicated leader for Kantar. In Paul, we have a brilliant new leader with a world-class reputation for digital innovation, operational leadership, and client-centric, long-term growth.”
Zwillenberg added: “Since its inception over 50 years ago, Kantar has been a world leader in marketing data and analytics, giving brands the rigorous research and insight they need to reach more customers, better, faster and with greater relevance.
“I can’t wait to build on the fantastic progress made since the 2019 Bain Capital acquisition by harnessing the potential of AI to do even more for our clients, bringing them the very best from the cutting edge of branding and marketing solutions to help them grow. It’s such an exciting time to be joining a great business with exceptional data science and talent at its heart.”
Even Kantar Group chairman Adam Crozier chipped in. He said: “I would first like to thank Chris for his outstanding leadership in the significant transformation of Kantar. Today, it is a fundamentally better and healthier business than the one he inherited four years ago.
“We see from client feedback that we are more highly valued and regarded today than ever before. In Paul, we have found the right inspirational leader for Kantar’s next phase, to deliver even more value to our clients and grow the Kantar business. I am enormously optimistic for the future of the business under Paul’s vision and leadership.”
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