TNS Chairman Joins Hall & Partners

TNS Chairman Paul Edwards has left to join Omnicom-owned brand and communication research specialist Hall & Partners as European Chief Executive Officer, with a focus on leading the London office.

Edwards began his career with RI as a trainee, after which he became CEO of WPP-owned The Henley Centre, and held senior level roles at agencies Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Lowe UK and Y&R. He also worked clientside at Unilever, Smith & Nephew and Pedigree Petfoods.

He re-joined RI as UK CEO in 2007 - prior to its merger with TNS - after a spell as UK Chief Strategy Officer at Publicis.

He starts his new role on 1st March, and will lead all Hall & Partners' European operations, while supporting further development in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He replaces Deborah Mills who left in 2009 to rejoin Saatchi and Saatchi after less than 10 months with the firm. Since that time, the role has been overseen on an interim basis by Global CEO Vanella Jackson, with whom Edwards previously worked at Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

'Our search for an exceptional leader has ended,' states Jackson. 'Paul is one of the smartest and nicest people I have ever worked with, and I am incredibly excited to have someone of his stature and experience to join us in our mission to be the best, most innovative, boutique research agency in the world.'

Web site: www.hallandpartners.com .