ADNA Research picks new head of growth to lead APAC region

ADNA Research has appointed Mani Padmanabhan as its head of growth for the APAC region. He was previously the enterprise research sales director at Qualtrics APAC and sales head at Dynata Asia.

With over 18 years of experience in the research and insights sphere based out of Singapore, Padmanabhan started his career with Nielsen where he managed global FMCG clients such as J&J, Reckitt, and Coca Cola. He also previously worked for IPG Mediabrands Singapore in a research and strategy role.

Don't miss: Former Kantar CCO Nishant Kaushal heads up data and strategy at ADNA

He was the enterprise sales director at Qualtrics Asia from 2022 to 2023, before which he was the vice president of Dynata’s Southeast Asia and India offices.

Earlier in his career, Padmanabhan was the insights and research manager at IPG Mediabrands’ UM Initiative from 2010 to 2013 where he was in charge of campaign evaluation, strategic planning, business development and knowledge management among others. Before IPG Mediabrands he was the regional client manager of analytic consulting at The Nielsen Company from 2006 to 2010.

Regarding his new role, Padmanabhan said, “The time has come to revamp the way we approach insights. ADNA Research is on a mission to break free from the conventional and provide insights that are swift, robust, and accessible.” He added that ADNA Research aims to address issues of poor data quality and feasibility without compromising on sample size or speed.

At the forefront of this next phase of its growth is ADNA Research's newly appointed CEO, Nishant Kaushal. Over last three years, as one of the founding partners at ADNA, Kaushal has built the foundation of ADNA Research's offering, cultivated a loyal clientele and established a distinctive market presence. He was with Kantar for over a decade, rising through the ranks from research executive to research director, brand strategy and communications insights director, and country head, and CCO. Kaushal started his career as a quant data researcher at Research International.

"ADNA Research's foundation is rooted in delivering insights that resonate with today's fast-paced world. Our commitment to agility and actionability remains unwavering," Kaushal said. He added that they are ushering in a new era where insights are not just reflective or informative but transformative.  

In a strategic pivot that echoes the pulse of the industry, ADNA Research has embraced independence. Formerly a division under ADNA, this move marks a dedicated stride towards refining and expanding its offerings levering its access to 600+ million people globally across 120+ countries. This shift empowers ADNA Research to direct its focus and resources towards pioneering new horizons within the insights domain.

Related articles: 
Former Kantar CCO Nishant Kaushal heads up data and strategy at ADNA
Ad veterans David Mayo and Gary Tranter join data research agency ADNA
ADNA takes on Indonesia market with GM Bellamia Agustina at helm