Sampson Replaces Sparrow as ICM Chairman

Creston-owned ICM Group has appointed Justin Sampson as Chairman, replacing ICM founder Nick Sparrow who resigned in February after 21 years with the firm.

Founded in 1989, ICM was acquired by Creston in 2006 in a deal worth up to £37m. The group comprises ICM Research, ICM Direct, Fieldwork UK and newvista research.

Samson, who will take up his new role in early August, joins with more than twenty years' experience from the advertising and research industries. Most recently he worked at Kantar, where he was responsible for the post-merger integration programme following WPP's acquisition of TNS.

Prior to this, he was MD at AGB Nielsen, the operation that delivered BARB's television audience measurement system. His previous experience includes marketing roles with ITV and the Radio Advertising Bureau.

'I am proud that ICM has thrived under the ownership of Creston and that the strong management team is now being augmented with the arrival of Justin,' comments Creston CEO Don Elgie.

Before setting up ICM, Sparrow was MD of Marplan, and worked as a private pollster to the Conservative Party Central Office. At the time of his resignation, Elgie said that under Sparrow's leadership, ICM has become one of the 'premier research agencies in the UK'.

Web site: www.icmresearch.co.uk .