It’s all change at the top of Taylor Nelson Sofres as Tony Cowling steps down as Chief Executive and Mike Kirkham takes over. Cowling will step down at the 2001 Annual General Meeting when, on the recommendation of the Nomination Committee, his re-election as Chairman will be proposed. With effect from the date of that meeting, Mike Kirkham will take over as Group Chief Executive, with full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business. In the meantime, he will take an increasing role in the management of the group. Group Managing Director, Pierre Weill, will leave the Taylor Nelson Sofres board at the 2001 AGM. It is also intended that he will retire from his other executive duties later in that year but will continue to be involved with the group on a consultancy basis. Henri Wallard, Executive Director, has accepted a senior position outside the group and will leave the Taylor Nelson Sofres board at the end of December 2000. He will, however, continue to assist the group with the completion of certain ongoing projects. Commenting on these changes, Executive Chairman Tony Cowling, said "Pierre and I have previously indicated that we would want to reduce our executive responsibilities at the age of 65, which we both reach next year. After 12 years as Chief Executive, during which time the group has seen considerable growth, I am pleased to be handing on the position to Mike Kirkham, a very able successor, who has over 30 years’ experience in our industry. Pierre Weill has played an important part in ensuring the success of the merger since Sofres joined the group in December 1997 and in the development of the group’s activities, particularly in the US. We are very pleased that we will continue to benefit from his considerable expertise on a consultancy basis and we thank him and Henri for their valuable contributions. " Tony Cowling was a founder member of the Taylor Nelson group and has worked in the company for its entire history. He played a key role in building many of its specialist divisions and syndicated panel services. In 1992, the company acquired the UK interests of AGB Research from the Maxwell administration. Taylor Nelson AGB and Sofres merged in December 1997 and Tony became executive chairman of the enlarged group. He has been instrumental in the successful growth of the business, which is currently the fourth largest marketing information group in the world. Mike Kirkham joined AGB Research in 1970 and took charge of television research activities in the UK in 1976. He led the team that developed the PeopleMeterTM