Two senior directors join Kantar Public UK
As Kantar Public continues to ramp up capacity as an independent firm, Vicky Petrie and Donna Phillips has joined as senior directors in its population studies line. The company is currently working to deliver on its next phase of growth, with plans including a rebranding for later in 2023.
Craig Watkins, CEO of Kantar Public UK, commented, “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Vicky and Donna to our team. Vicky has demonstrated exceptional leadership at the intersection of social research and policy, particularly at DfE. Donna is bringing fantastic data and leadership skills to the UK team.”
Vicky Petrie joins Kantar Public from the Department of Education, where she led their Social Research profession. She has spent her career at the cutting edge of social research to support the development of education, skills, and children’s social care policy. Petrie also held a number of senior roles across Government Social Research including at the Department for Work and Pensions. Looking ahead, this deep expertise and experience across the public sector will strengthen and advance Kantar Public’s evidence offer in the UK.
On her appointment, Petrie stated, “My move to Kantar Public will be the start of an exciting new chapter in my career. I am joining an immensely talented team where I will be able to apply my social research skills and policy knowledge to support their drive to improve public life.”
Donna Phillips meanwhile joins Kantar Public from the Office of The Children’s Commissioner, where she led on data and analytics. An experienced statistician, Phillips has also held a number of senior roles across government, including at Ofcom where she was Head of Statistics. Kantar Public now hopes her experience will help enhance its data services and analytics to clients.
Phillips added, "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Kantar Public, where I can put my skills and experience in data and analytics to work towards discovering new insights and advancing our collective knowledge."
The news comes on the heels of Kantar Public announcing the arrival of two Non-Executive Directors, earlier in May 2023. Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and ex-BBC technology chief Matthew Postgate will now sit on Kantar Public’s global management board.
After a management buyout backed by Trilantic Europe in 2022, Kantar Public commenced independent life with more than 700 people in over 20 countries. The firm offers independent specialist research, evidence and advisory business providing services to government and the public realm, across all aspects of public policy.
