Kantar MB 'May Close NI Office'

Kantar Millward Brown is in consultation with staff in its Belfast office regarding a possible closure or Management Buy Out, according to reports.

According to www.irishnews.com , Kantar has confirmed the consultation will run until June 15th, and around twenty permanent employees are affected. The paper suggests that the Northern Ireland division is 'viable' and the MBO option could save 'most or all of the staff'.

The company was formed in the 1970s and was known as Ulster Marketing Surveys until its acquisition by MB sixteen years ago.

A source within the Belfast operation told the Irish News the decision had come 'totally out of the blue' but hinted it was due to the rise of online research making the unit's mostly telephone approach uneconomical.

Kantar MB has said it will not be making any comment until the end of the consultation period.

Web site: www.millwardbrown.com .

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