WPP’s insight and consultancy division The Kantar Group has made what it claims is an industry first appointment, with the naming of George Pappachen in the newly-created role of Chief Privacy Officer.
Working directly with clients, Pappachen will develop and implement a privacy and data protection policy across the Group and report in to Group Development Director Mandy Pooler.
He has spent the last two years as Director of Privacy and Public Policy at Kantar’s online research company Safecount, and his experience in the area includes presenting to the FTC and at numerous public and private sector conferences; as well as work for web publishers, media companies, agencies and advertisers.
Pappachen described the appointment as ‘an opportunity to introduce best-in-class practice to one of the world’s biggest data-based operations.’ Based in New York, he starts in the new role immediately.
Kantar CEO Eric Salama comments: ‘Privacy and data protection issues are top of mind for many consumers and will become so for many more. We cannot succeed as a business without recognising these concerns, putting in place strict and transparent policies where they are required and educating the public and our clients.’ Salama adds that his firm is open to cooperation with its competitors on the issue but stresses that ‘we will not allow ourselves to be slowed down in implementing the right approaches.’
Working directly with clients, Pappachen will develop and implement a privacy and data protection policy across the Group and report in to Group Development Director Mandy Pooler.
