Kantar Appoints Global Talent Director

WPP insight division Kantar has appointed former Yahoo! EMEA VP of Human Resources Helen Russell as its new Global Talent Director, reporting to Chief Executive Eric Salama.

Before Yahoo!, Russell was Head of EMEA at Siebel and the European HR Director for Pegasystems. She relocates from Geneva to her new base in London.

Together with other recent 'Talent' appointments, Kantar says the hire indicates its 'determination to make talent central to the way the business is run'. Last month TNS - now part of Kantar - announced it had promoted Margit Huber to the position of Global HR, Talent Manager & Culture Director, with a remit to create an 'inspirational culture' across the group.

Salama says Russell, who will work closely with leaders of Kantar's operating companies, has 'the right combination of strategic vision, experience and focus on follow-through to thrive in the business and to take its capability to the next level'. He adds: 'We cannot hope to be the kind of partner to our clients that we want to be without having committed engaged people across the Group, playing to their strengths and equipped with the skills and tools which they need to succeed.' Russell herself says she is 'looking forward to the opportunity to create and drive a highly commercial world class HR function'.

Web site: www.kantar.com .