Kantar appoints Paul Zwillenberg as Chief Executive Officer
Kantar has appointed Paul Zwillenberg as chief executive officer, effective 1 January 2026. He will join the company on 29 September this year to begin the leadership transition.
Zwillenberg brings more than three decades of experience across media, technology and entertainment. Most recently, he was vice chair reinvention and global leader of media and entertainment strategy at Accenture. His earlier roles include serving as CEO of Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), where he led the group’s strategic transformation ahead of its 2022 privatisation, and senior partner and managing director at BCG, where he headed its global media practice.
Paul Zwillenberg: "Since its inception over fifty years ago, Kantar has been a world leader in marketing data and analytics, giving brands the rigorous research and insight they need to reach more customers, better, faster and with greater relevance. I can’t wait to build on the fantastic progress made since the 2019 Bain Capital acquisition by harnessing the potential of AI to do even more for our clients, bringing them the very best from the cutting edge of branding and marketing solutions to help them grow. It’s such an exciting time to be joining a great business with exceptional data science and talent at its heart."
Chris Jansen, who has served as Kantar Group CEO since 2021 and took charge of the standalone Kantar brand business in 2024, will continue to lead the company through to the end of 2025 before stepping down in early 2026.
Chris Jansen, outgoing CEO, Kantar: "Over the past four years we have strategically refocused Kantar’s portfolio and value proposition. It is now an indispensable brand partner to the world’s most important companies, providing them with insights and guidance to shape their brand futures. Our strategic partnership with Microsoft has additionally ushered in a new era of AI-native operations and solutions to ensure Kantar remains the market leader for years to come.
"With the roadmap for Kantar well established, and the operational separation of Numerator nearing completion, now is the right time to introduce a new dedicated leader for Kantar. In Paul, we have a brilliant new leader with a world-class reputation for digital innovation, operational leadership, and client-centric, long-term growth."
Adam Crozier, chairman, Kantar Group: "I would first like to thank Chris for his outstanding leadership in the significant transformation of Kantar. Today, it is a fundamentally better and healthier business than the one he inherited four years ago. We see from client feedback that we are more highly valued and regarded today than ever before. In Paul we have found the right inspirational leader for Kantar’s next phase, to deliver even more value to our clients and grow the Kantar business. I am enormously optimistic for the future of the business under Paul's vision and leadership."
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