Lloyd Burdett and Allan Solomon join Consulting division of Kantar

Global marketing and brand company Kantar has bolstered its Consulting division with two senior hires: Lloyd Burdett and Allan Solomon.

In their new roles, Lloyd Burdett and Allan Solomon will help Kantar build out its advisory services, focused on helping clients grow through brand positioning, marketing, demand generation, and analytics. Burdett returns to the business as senior partner, while Solomon joins as partner and head of commercial strategy.

Lloyd Burdett brings over 20 years of experience as an advisor to major brands including Unilever, Pepsico, Google, Marriott Hotels, Samsung and Nationwide in markets including the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

In his role as Chief Strategy Officer at purpose agency Given, he helped the company grow before it was sold to Anthesis, where he was made Managing Director of its brand and communications division. Prior to that Lloyd worked at consultancy the Henley Centre Headlight Vision, The Futures Company, and Kantar Consulting, having led the global futures and innovation practice for over 4 years.

“In today’s political and economic climate, brands need to be able to join the dots and work out what really impacts the bottom line. I’m looking forward to working with our team to help clients answer their most pressing business questions, navigate uncertainty, unlock new sources of growth and find ways for their brands to connect to culture in a meaningful and different way,” he said.

Allan Solomon joins the division after more than 20 years of advising brands in marketing, brand strategy and innovation, both on the client and consulting sides. He held senior roles at Sony – where he led the brand’s expansion into the world of mobile – as well as at Carlsberg, Centrica and SABMiller.

At Kantar, Solomon has been tasked with driving the Consulting division’s brand and commercial strategy and extending the firm’s offering into new sectors and categories.

“I’m excited to be joining a team with a track record of leveraging the business’ intellectual property to add value for clients. To find new areas for growth and continue to compete in the market, clients need to be able to spot the best opportunities for their specific businesses and be clear on their next move.  That’s where our expertise can really shift the dial for brands.”

Commenting on the hires, Natalie Vander Vorst, managing partner of Consulting for the UK & Ireland at Kantar said: “Globally our clients are facing numerous challenges from bumps in international trade and economic headwinds to fast-changing consumer behaviour and expectations.  That’s why we’re investing in bolstering our practice with two brilliant senior hires, so we can continue to provide the guidance our clients need to keep growing.”