AMR Merges with Colmar Brunton

In Australia, marcoms group WPP AUNZ has merged its research consultancies AMR and Colmar Brunton. The AMR brand name will go and the newly combined entity will be known as Colmar Brunton.

WPP AUNZ was formed in 2016, following the marcoms giant's acquisition of a controlling stake in STW Communications. The group says the merger increases the scale, depth and focus of the Colmar Brunton footprint, broadening its range of expertise and skills and giving clients access to an increased breadth of talent and capabilities.

Colmar Brunton has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, and will continue to be led by CEO Joan Young (pictured), supported by COO Maree Taylor, and Chief Client Officer Jenny Witham. Its extended leadership team comprises Marcus Pritchard, who heads the combined Colmar Brunton and AMR team in Sydney, and Kirstin Couper who heads the team in Melbourne - both named General Managers. Corey Fisher has been promoted to National Sector Head of Colmar Brunton's government business, supported by Naomi Downer as National Director of Social Studies. Sarah Zanker and James Wunsch have been promoted to General Manager positions in Adelaide and Canberra, and Adam Hinds has taken on the acting General Manager role in Brisbane, while Susan Ho is on parental leave.

WPP AUNZ DIM Group CEO Rob McLachlan says the merger puts agility and specialist expertise at the heart of WPP AUNZ's research offer. Young continues: 'Under the Colmar Brunton brand we now have a larger and more diverse range of specialist skills, improving our ability to meet clients changing needs and creating new opportunities for our people. No matter where they are based clients of both Colmar Brunton and AMR will have increased access to the best brains in the business'.

Web sites: www.wppaunz.com and www.colmarbrunton.com.au .

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