Lowden Named as Next Chief Exec at TNS

TNS has announced that David Lowden, currently Chief Operating Officer (COO), will succeed Mike Kirkham as CEO on 1 March 2006. Kirkham was appointed in 2001 and had previously indicated to the board that, after five years in the role he considered it appropriate to hand on to a successor.

Kirkham, recently nominated for Research Magazine's MD/CEO of the Year Award 2005, along with Kantar's Eric Salama and Greenfield's former leader Dean Wiltse, has accepted the TNS board's invitation to become a candidate for the role of Chairman when Tony Cowling stands down at the end of this year.

Lowden joined the group as Finance Director in 1999 and became COO in 2003, taking on responsibility for the group's regional operations across the world, and playing a leading role in the integration of acquisitions. Prior to TNS, he worked for a number of international companies, including ACNielsen and Federal Express Corporation.

A statement from the board says that Lowden 'has shown considerable ability in operational and strategic management, together with strong leadership skills,' and has 'demonstrated that he has a thorough understanding of the business and its markets'. Cowling says he believes that Lowden 'will provide the leadership, continuity and strategic thinking necessary for the future successful development of TNS'.

TNS is online at www.tns-global.com.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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