ICM Scraps Group Chairman Role to Reduce Costs

In the UK, insight and communications group Creston has scrapped the role of ICM Group Chairman, held by Justin Sampson, in a bid to reduce operating costs following 'lower than expected sales'. ICM Group will now be run by its Board of Directors.

Last month, Creston reported that despite a 'good' third quarter in its Insight division, it is anticipating a decline in Q4 and taking 'necessary actions' to align operating costs to the lower expected level of sales.

In a statement today, Creston said that as the integration of the three ICM companies - ICM Research, ICM Direct, and Fieldwork UK - under the ICM Group umbrella nears completion, it has 'taken steps' to ensure the structure of the ICM Board reflects its commitment to reducing operating costs.

'As a result, the role of ICM Group Chairman has been made redundant,' the statement continues.

ICM Group's Board of Directors includes BT's former research head James Turner, Optimisa's ex-CEO Andrew Wiseman, and former Leapfrog Research exec Rupert Blackwell - all of whom were hired by Sampson.

Keith Bates, MD of Creston firm Marketing Sciences, will now be sole head of the Creston Insight division, a role he previously shared with Sampson.

Sampson was hired for the role in 2010, after a spell at Kantar, where he had been responsible for the post-merger integration programme following WPP's acquisition of TNS. Prior to this, he was MD at AGB Nielsen Media Research, and held marketing roles with ITV and the Radio Advertising Bureau.

Creston thanked Sampson for his contribution to the group, and wished him well for the future.

Web sites: www.creston.com and www.icmresearch.co.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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