Kantar Media Hires Former Press Index MD

Kantar has appointed Walter Patanella as Chief Executive of Media Monitoring and Evaluation at its Media Intelligence Europe subsidiary, following its recent acquisition of an 87% stake in media monitoring specialist Press Index, where he served as MD.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Boulogne Billancourt near Paris, Press Index offers a full range of media monitoring services including social media tracking, and employs around 210 staff across France, the UK, Spain and Italy. Kantar parent WPP acquired the stake in July for EUR 6.81 per share, valuing the company at EUR 11.2m.

Pantanella (pictured) spent six years at Press Index, where he managed the business across four European countries. Before that, he was MD for Continental Europe at Thomson Reuters for more than seven years.

In his new role, Pantanella reports to Jean-Michel Portail, CEO Kantar Media Intelligence Europe, who comments: 'Italian, educated in the US and living in France, Walter brings a wealth of international experience. His knowledge of our industry combined with a solid financial background will greatly help Kantar to continue developing a new go-to-go market strategy for Media Monitoring and Evaluation.'

Web site: www.kantarmedia.com .