New independent board welcomes Kantar Media Mark Read chairman role

Kantar Media has strengthened its leadership bench with a high profile appointment as the company enters a new phase as a fully independent business. The Kantar Media Mark Read chairman move places the former WPP chief at the head of the measurement firm’s newly formed board of directors.

The media measurement and analytics company, which operates in more than 80 countries, has named Mark Read as chairman of its new board. Read brings a long career in advertising and media, most recently serving as chief executive officer of WPP from 2018 to 2025.

Before taking the top job at WPP, he led group strategy, helped drive its early expansion into digital through WPP Digital and served as chief executive of Wunderman, the global digital agency. Throughout that period he championed the use of technology to transform business models, backing investments in artificial intelligence such as WPP Open and the acquisition of United Kingdom based AI firm Satalia.

Read said Kantar Media plays a unique role in the media ecosystem by helping advertisers, agencies, media owners and platforms understand how people consume media and where to direct investments. He added that he is pleased to support chief executive Patrick Béhar and the leadership team in bringing clearer insight to a landscape where audience behaviour is shifting faster than ever.

Béhar said the company is honoured to have Read join at what he described as a pivotal moment. He highlighted Read’s blend of strategic thinking and practical experience in transformation, data and AI, and stressed that he shares Kantar Media’s ambition to bring clarity to a complex market. With his support, Béhar said he is confident the firm will keep delivering strong results for clients around the world.

Kantar Media’s ownership has also evolved. Earlier this year, Kantar Group and Bain Capital completed the sale of the business to HIG Capital. The transaction closed in August and the new board is the first fully independent governing body for the company.

Nishant Nayyar, managing director at HIG Capital, said the appointment underscores the investor’s commitment to backing Kantar Media with exceptional leadership. He pointed to Read’s track record in driving transformation and innovation as an asset as Béhar and his team guide the company into its next growth phase.

For a measurement company operating at global scale, independent governance and experienced board oversight are increasingly important as clients demand transparency and future ready tools. Bringing in a leader who has run one of the world’s largest advertising groups signals intent to deepen ties with brands and agencies while accelerating product and data innovation.

As media markets fragment and AI reshapes planning and buying, Kantar Media is positioning itself as a partner that can turn complexity into actionable clarity. The new board structure, with Read as chair, is designed to give that agenda both strategic direction and industry credibility.

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