Kantar names new CEO for insights division as Raghavan Srinivasan retires

Kantar has appointed Suresh Subramanian (pictured) as CEO for the Insights Division in Indonesia. He takes over from Raghavan Srinivasan who retires from the position after 35 years with the business.He will now be responsible for the success of Kantar’s two insight brands, Kantar Millward Brown and Kantar TNS, driving synergies between the two to provide businesses with the holistic solutions that answer their most pressing questions. He will also be tasked with future-proofing the company, developing the capabilities of employees to ensure they are well placed to advise clients on their business challenges in a rapidly changing industry.Prior to the move, Subramanian was managing director at Kantar TNS Indonesia since 2015, and was deputy MD before that. He has led Kantar TNS in the country for over a decade, and has been an integral part of Kantar’s growth in the region, the statement said. Before Kantar TNS, he was director of strategic planning in McCann Worldgroup Indonesia.Meanwhile, Srinivasan was CEO of Kantar's Insights Division since March 2016. He has also held multiple leadership roles in the organisation, according to his LinkedIn. This includes the CEO role for TNS' ASEAN growth markets and chairman of TNS India. He has also led markets such as Philippines.Adrian Gonzalez, CEO for Kantar’s Insights Division in the region said that Subramanian is a seasoned marketer with his institutional knowledge and history in the market. He added that Subramanian has a clear vision as to where Indonesia is headed to and is well-versed in the challenges and opportunities facing Kantar and its clients.“Srinivasan has been a formidable force in shaping Kantar’s evolution in Indonesia and wider region. I’d like to thank him for his huge contribution to the business and wish him all the best in his retirement,” Gonzalez added.“Having lived in Indonesia for almost two decades, I have witnessed the seismic shifts that new technology and connectivity have brought about. I’m excited to take on the role of CEO as we evolve our offer to provide businesses in the country with the insights that they need to make strategic decisions,” Subramanian said.Recently, Kantar created its first research and development hub in Asia. Called the Kantar Brand Growth Lab, the hub is part of a three-year collaboration with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). It will focus on advanced analytics and harnessing the power of big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning to unlock deep insights that fuel brand growth. The lab is also part of Kantar’s recently launched Analytics Practice, and aims to have a strong innovation mandate.