Mark Kennedy and Colin MacArthur appointed joint Managing Partners of Kantar’s Consulting practice

Sydney, 29 November 2023: Kantar Australia today announces the promotion of Mark Kennedy and Colin MacArthur into the joint role of Managing Partner, Consulting. They will replace Dennis Wong who is leaving Kantar after 15 years to pursue his own professional interests.

In making the announcement, Kantar Australia Managing Director Jon Foged says, “I am excited about this partnership as Mark and Colin already have a close and trusted relationship with each other and the wider Kantar team, they have complementary strengths they can amplify together in this role, they are experts that our clients respect, and they are passionate and enthusiastic leaders”.

“The promotion of Mark and Colin ensures that we are leveraging the unique set of skills housed within our Consulting team across our entire Kantar Australia business and across our full suite of clients. It’s a great source of pride to have the capabilities already at Kantar to promote from within.”

Mark Kennedy is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the design, marketing, and strategy sectors in both client and agency worlds, including global leadership positions at Landor Associates and Blue Marlin Brand Design as well as leadership roles at South African Breweries International and Design Works. Over his ten-year tenure at Kantar, Mark has led an extensive portfolio of blue-chip clients in Europe, Asia and the USA, and is respected by his peers and clients for delivering ‘marketing inspiration’ that is simple and actionable, all solidifying his reputation as a strategic leader.

“I am thrilled and honoured to take on the role of joint Managing Partner for Kantar’s Consulting practice in Australia,” says Mark.

“The client and consulting landscapes are evolving rapidly, and, alongside Colin, I look forward to bridging these worlds together to drive growth, build connections and shape the future.”

With a track record of success across various leadership positions, Colin MacArthur has been working in the Insight and Consulting space for over 20 years. Prior to joining Kantar eight years ago, he built his career at Jigsaw Strategic Research and The Leading Edge in Australia, and at Hall & Partners and KPMG Nunwood in the UK. Colin is also a passionate member of Kantar’s Inclusion, Diversity and Wellbeing Committee and supports not-for-profit organisations on campaigns focused on greater inclusion and diversity and health outcomes for the LGBTGQI+ community.

Colin says, “In this ongoing period of flux and change in the domestic and global markets that we work in, my excitement of taking on this role with Mark stems from the prospect of bringing my strategic vision, operational expertise, and client-focused approach to drive growth and success for both Kantar and our clients.”

Dennis Wong will be moving out of his official role at Kantar at the end of 2023 after 15 years and will continue to have an associate working relationship with Kantar.

“Leading the Consulting team for the past eight years has been one of the greatest privileges I could have ever imagined. The time feels right to challenge the way I’m thinking about my personal growth, and I’m very much looking forward to writing a new chapter of my life in my own freelance consulting business.”

Jon Foged says, “Dennis has driven client impact, creative thinking, and is renowned as a strong strategic thinker by his clients. On top of this, Dennis has always placed significant importance on the development of his people and culture of his team – evident in the fact that his successors are from within the team he has nurtured.”

“In my time working with Dennis, he has been a driven and motivating leader, an inspirational communicator and a person with a clear eye on the future. I want to thank Dennis for his great client work over the years and to equally wish him and his family much happiness for the future.”

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