Marles Joins InterMedia to Set Up Nairobi Office

Media research specialist Vivien Marles has joined global research-based consultancy InterMedia as Managing Director of its new Kenya office, which will open at the beginning of May. Her previous roles include Head of Research and Planning at the BBC.

With offices in London and Washington, DC, InterMedia provides guidance and insight on the views and behaviours of people worldwide, especially among hard-to-reach populations. The Nairobi office will be InterMedia's third location.

The firm has a specific expertise on the role of media, information and communication in developing countries and countries in transition, and has previously worked in 25 African countries. In her new role, Marles will expand on InterMedia's activity across the continent.

She joins from Synovate Pan-Africa (formerly The Steadman Group) in Nairobi, where she had served as Research Director since 2006. While at Steadman, she founded The Steadman Center of Applied Research, in partnership with Strathmore Business School.

Prior to this, Marles co-founded The Fuse Group. In addition to the BBC role, her previous positions include International MD at Frank Magid Associates; and Director of Planning, Broadcast Strategy and Research for Granada Media Group.

'We are delighted to bring Vivien on board as InterMedia implements a full globalization of our operations, of which Africa is an important step,' says President and CEO, Robert Coonrod. 'She has an extensive knowledge of the media, communication and global development sectors, and is ideally qualified to further our business development plans in these domains while also strengthening our corporate presence and local capacity in Africa.'

Web site: www.intermedia.org .