Kantar Media, a global leader in media measurement and analytics with operations in more than 80 countries, has appointed former WPP CEO Mark Read as chairman of its newly established Board of Directors.
Read brings decades of experience in advertising, digital transformation and media leadership. During his tenure as CEO of WPP from 2018 to 2025, he played a central role in modernising the company, strengthening its digital capabilities and driving investments in AI—most notably through the launch of WPP Open and the acquisition of Satalia. Before leading WPP, he guided the network’s long-term strategy, oversaw its early digital expansion via WPP Digital, and served as CEO of Wunderman.
“Kantar Media serves a unique and essential role in the media ecosystem – helping advertisers, agencies, media owners and platforms understand how people are consuming media and how best to direct their media investments. I am delighted to join Kantar Media’s board as Chairman, and to support Patrick and his Leadership team in bringing greater clarity to the media ecosystem at a time when audience behaviour is changing more rapidly than ever,” said Read.
Patrick Béhar, CEO of Kantar Media, welcomed the appointment, adding: “We are honoured that Mark has chosen to join Kantar Media’s Board at a pivotal moment in our company’s journey. Mark combines deep strategic thinking with practical experience in transformation, data and AI, and most importantly he shares our ambition to transform the industry by bringing clarity to a complex landscape. I have every confidence that with his support Kantar Media will continue to deliver best in class results for our clients globally.”
Kantar Media recently became an independent entity following its sale by Kantar Group and Bain Capital to H.I.G. Capital earlier this year. The new Board marks the company’s first fully independent governance structure. Commenting on the development, Nishant Nayyar, Managing Director at H.I.G. Capital, said: “Mark’s appointment underscores our commitment to backing Kantar Media with exceptional leadership. His deep industry knowledge and proven track record in driving transformation and innovation will be invaluable as Patrick and his team take the company into its next phase of growth.”
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