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Donald Brydon is New TNS Chair
TNS has appointed Donald Brydon CBE, Chair of Smiths Group, AXA Investment Managers and The London Metal Exchange, as Chairman. He succeeds Tony Cowling, who retires from the board today. This follows last week's news that CEO Mike Kirkham was withdrawing from the race for the Chairman's role.
Brydon is also Senior Independent Director of Scottish Power plc, a non-executive Director of Edinburgh UK Tracker Trust plc, and Chairman of the Code Committee of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers and of EveryChild, the international children's development charity. In the past five years, he has also been Chairman of Amersham plc and Senior Independent Director of Allied Domecq plc.
Before joining AXA Group in 1997, he spent 20 years with the Barclays Group, during which time he was Chairman and CEO of BZW Investment Management, and later acting CEO of BZW.
He graduated in mathematical science from the University of Edinburgh in 1967 and continued his association with the university in the Department of Economics until 1970. From 1970 to 1977 he was an analyst and senior fund manager at British Airways Pension Funds.
Brydon describes TNS as 'an exciting company with many opportunities ahead'.
David Lowden, currently COO, will take over from Kirkham as CEO from today. Kirkham will remain with TNS until October, working on specific projects.
Speaking of the new appointment, Cowling stated: 'Donald Brydon has had a distinguished career and brings to TNS a wealth of experience from both the commercial and financial sectors. TNS has grown significantly over the past few years and will benefit from having a Chairman with broad business experience, who has led sizeable international companies.'
He believes Lowden and Brydon will 'make a good team', adding that he is 'confident that we have the right people in place to lead the company in the next phase of its development.'
Paying tribute to the departing Cowling, Lowden said: 'His wisdom and creative thinking have been at the centre of TNS' development since its foundation over forty years ago.'
TNS is online at www.tns-global.com.
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