Lange Given Lead in GfK Pet Practice

In New York, GfK has promoted Maria Lange to the position of Business Group Director for its Pet POS Tracking team.

Lange (pictured) joined GfK in North America four years ago, as a Key Account Manager with its Optics POS Tracking business, and then moved to the Pet Retail POS business a year later, as Senior Product Manager. Earlier, she served as Guest Relations Consultant at New World Travel, and worked at an intern at GfK Retail and Technology and at Zed Communications.

In her new role, Lange will lead the analysis of POS data from more than 11,000 pet retail outlets, in order to help manufacturers and retailer stay ahead of industry developments such as growth of grain-free, freeze-direct and other pet food options.

Neil Portnoy, MD of GfK's POS Tracking team in North America, comments: 'Our pet clients rely on Maria to turn POS data into insights they can apply directly to their businesses. She makes our clients' challenges her top priority and knows exactly which trend can speak to their key decisions. Maria has also become the face of our pet data to the industry, at conferences and in major trade magazines. We are more than pleased to recognize her remarkable growth and her importance to GfK and its clients'.

Web site: www.gfk.com .