New Leader for GfK MRI

GfK is transferring Florian Kahlert to the position of Managing Director of its US media and consumer insight arm GfK MRI, replacing former CEO Kathi Love who left in February to pursue her interest in psychology and sociology.

Founded in 1979, GfK MRI (known as Mediamark Research and Intelligence until its takeover by GfK in 2005) provides magazine audience ratings, multimedia research data and insights into consumers' behaviour and motivations. It is also known for its national Survey of the American Consumer, which interviews US adults to examine their use of media alongside their consumption of products, their lifestyles and their attitudes.

Love joined in 2000, prior to which she was VP, Market Research and Advertising Planning at EMAP Peterson Publishing; VP, Research at Magazine Publishers of America; and Research Director of The New York Times, where she worked for more than fourteen years.

She is replaced by Kahlert (pictured) who most recently served as MD of GfK's Digital Market Intelligence and Media & Entertainment groups in the US, and previously worked for Dimestore (acquired by GfK in 2009) as VP of Product and Operations. Earlier in his career, Kahlert was VP at Right Media (acquired by Yahoo!), and between 1999 and 2005 he worked at InsightExpress, where he received a patent for an online respondent recruitment methodology he developed. He also built a custom panel practice that grew to more than fifteen custom panels in its first year.

Tom Dailey, COO of GfK Consumer Choices North America, comments: 'We are thrilled to have a leader of Florian's perception, experience, and energy take the reins of GfK MRI. He holds a strong commitment to the research standards that have been one of the brand's hallmarks in the marketplace. In addition, Florian will bring an insider's knowledge of digital research to bear on our drive to take GfK MRI to the next level of growth and innovation.'

Web site: www.gfkmri.com .

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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