ESOMAR Director General Finn Raben Departs

Global MR membership organisation ESOMAR has announced that Director General Finn Raben has left his post, after nearly thirteen years in the role. In a statement, ESOMAR said that as it enters its 75th year, its executive committee and Raben believe it is time to 'pave the way for new leadership'.

Raben (pictured) joined ESOMAR in Amsterdam in 2009, after serving as Synovate CEO for Southern Europe, responsible for integrating the many companies the firm acquired in the region. He began his career at Millward Brown IMS in Dublin, and then moved to AC Nielsen and TNS, where as Global Director of Planning and Coordination for Key Accounts, he initiated the Global Accounts programme.

As ESOMAR begins its search for Raben's replacement, Pravin Shekar, CEO of Krea, who also serves as the organisation's representative in India, will be stepping into the newly created role of Interim CEO, to assist with the transition process. In addition, a CEO selection committee has been created, comprising the organisation's President, Kristin Luck; COO/CFO Marie-Agnes Mourot; past-President, Niels Schillewaert; Legal Affairs Committee Chair, Mike Cooke; and ESOMAR Peru Representative, Urpi Torrado.

Raben comments: 'I am incredibly proud of what the ESOMAR staff, and the wider global team of our representatives and partners, have achieved for our members during my time in the organization - and during the very tough times of the pandemic. Having secured a solid foundation for the association moving into its 75th year, now is the right time to transition leadership to those with new perspectives and energy. I look forward with excitement to new challenges and opportunities ahead.'

Web site: www.esomar.org .