Former Time Out Digital CEO Takes Top Job at Savanta

In London, global insights group Savanta has announced the appointment of Christine Petersen as its new Global Chief Exec.

Savanta is part of marcoms group Next15, and offers a range of intelligence services, including customised research and consulting; data collection, including access to 100 million respondents through a proprietary platform; and branded intelligence solutions including reputation trackers BrandVue and MarketVue. The firm has teams in Europe, the Americas and APAC.

Long-time CEO Roger Perowne left the role and the industry in October last year, having led it through a raft of acquisitions - and was replaced on an interim basis by Vin DeRobertis, who now returns to his role as CEO for the Americas.

Petersen brings more than 25 years of global leadership experience to the role, including work as CEO of smarTours, a private-equity backed tour operator; and of Time Out Digital, a division of the London-based publishing PLC - here she led the publication's transition to a digital-focused model. She served as President of Tripadvisor for Business from 2010 to 2013, having been CMO for the previous half dozen years. She holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BA in Economics from Colby College, and has held board director positions for both public and private companies.

Jonathan Peachey, COO of Next15, states: 'We are delighted to welcome Christine to Savanta and the Next15 Group. Her visionary leadership and proven track record in organisational growth and implementing successful digital strategies make her the ideal choice to guide Savanta through its next exciting chapter.'

The firm is online at www.savanta.com .