Global Role for Synovate's Stewart

Synovate's CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Brent Stewart, has been appointed CEO Global Business Planning. He will continue to lead the Australia and New Zealand businesses from Perth, in addition to his new responsibilities.

The role is both operational and client-facing. Stewart will work closely with Global CEO Adrian Chedore to develop and execute a business plan to harness the firm's intellectual property and data delivery systems.

Chedore commented: 'Brent has already played a major role in shaping strategy in our business and will be central to ensuring our business model continues to deliver real benefits for our clients.'

Stewart also becomes Executive Sponsor of Synovate Loyalty (www.mrweb.com/drno/news5753.htm ), where he will work alongside Chief Loyalty Architect Larry Crosby. His initial priorities include product development to streamline and automate research solutions, and enhanced data visualisation, which the firm says is an area of growing importance.

Stewart was the Founder and CEO of marketing planning and research consultancy Market Equity, which was acquired by Synovate in 2005 (www.mrweb.com/drno/news4520.htm ).

At the beginning of the month, Synovate purchased New Zealand-based MR agency Research Solutions to complement the company's recently opened Wellington office (www.mrweb.com/drno/news7531.htm ). The group is online at www.synovate.com.