Kantar Public Names UK CEO and Global COO

In London, Kantar Public has appointed Grant Fitzner as UK Chief Executive Officer and Michael Davis as Global Chief Operating Officer.

Set up late last year, the practice pools expertise from around the group to offer advice on the delivery of public policy, services and communications. Fitzner (pictured) joins Kantar Public after eighteen months as Economics Director at NHS Improvement, where he managed a team of 35 economists, providing ad hoc advice on economic issues facing the organisation. Prior to this, he held senior roles at the National Institute for Health Research, the Kier Group and the Centre for Workforce Intelligence. Earlier, he worked at the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, having previously worked in Australian government.

Davis most recently served as UK MD of European research consultancy Ecorys, prior to which he was CEO of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), where he worked for seven years. His previous roles include MD for the Centre for Enterprise (CFE), leading the organisation from a start-up created by three universities, to a national consultancy business. He has also held private and public non-executive and advisory roles across the UK.

Michelle Harrison, CEO Kantar Public, comments: 'Grant joins us at a critical moment for UK public policy and his intellectual versatility together with senior leadership experience in government make him an ideal partner for our clients in Whitehall. Michael and I will be working together to support the growth of our Kantar Public businesses in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. As soon as we met him we knew he would be a great asset to our business'.

Yesterday, Sean Howard was named Global MD of WPP's public sector arm, The Government Practice, reporting to Harrison.

Web sites: www.kantarpublic.com and www.wpp.com/govtpractice .