Kantar Appoints SABMiller's Kollman as CRO

In London, WPP insight arm Kantar has appointed former SABMiller Global Insights Director Julie Kollman as Chief Research Officer. She takes up her new post on 27th February.

Kollman (pictured) joins after nearly nine years at the brewing and beverage company, where she led the Insights team of 140. During her time at the company, she set up an accreditation program for all insights professionals, and built systems for global brand performance reporting and analysis, and global customer satisfaction tracking. Earlier, she held various global and regional insights roles with companies including Mondelez, Allied-Domecq, PepsiCo and Nabisco.

In her new position, Kollman will work closely with clients to meet their needs around issues such as sampling, the development of mixed-mode research techniques, and ensuring the balance between quality of research and cost. Within Kantar, Kollman will help lead efforts to create new research methodologies and practices, while working with data science and operations personnel on initiatives around innovation, best practice and the development of new data streams.

She reports to President Wayne Levings, who comments: 'We have enjoyed a long relationship with Julie, who has been an excellent and challenging client, committed to both innovation and quality. So I am absolutely delighted that she will now be joining us. She brings a wealth of industry know-how and management talent to help ensure we continue to focus on and lead in these critical areas'.

Web site: www.kantar.com .