Mark Read, former CEO, WPP, has joined Kantar Media as chairperson of the board of directors.

Read was part of WPP when Kantar was sold to HIG in August last year. Kantar Media was part of Kantar Group which is owned by Bain Capital and WPP. 

Patrick Behar, CEO, Kantar Media, said, “We are honoured that Mark has chosen to join Kantar Media’s board at a pivotal moment in our company’s journey. Mark combines deep strategic thinking with practical experience in transformation, data and AI, and most importantly he shares our ambition to transform the industry by bringing clarity to a complex landscape. I have every confidence that with his support Kantar Media will continue to deliver best in class results for our clients globally.” 

Read said, “Kantar Media serves a unique and essential role in the media ecosystem – helping advertisers, agencies, media owners and platforms understand how people are consuming media and how best to direct their media investments. I am delighted to join Kantar Media’s board as chairperson, and to support Patrick and his leadership team in bringing greater clarity to the media ecosystem at a time when audience behaviour is changing more rapidly than ever."

Nishant Nayyar MD, H.I.G. Capital, said, “Mark’s appointment underscores our commitment to backing Kantar Media with exceptional leadership. His deep industry knowledge and proven track record in driving transformation and innovation will be invaluable as Patrick and his team take the company into its next phase of growth.”