Global research company Ipsos today announced the appointment of Simon Wake as managing director for Australia and New Zealand. He replaces Hamish Munro, who has been promoted to CEO of Ipsos South East Asia.
Wake is currently managing director of Ipsos MediaCT in Australia, responsible for the Enhanced Media Metrics Australia (emma) business, a position he has held for three years.
Wake has 17 years’ experience in market research, audience measurement, marketing and publishing. He has worked with ANOP Research Services and Millward Brown in Australia and in the UK. Before joining Ipsos, he was marketing and circulation director at Fairfax Media’s Financial Review Group.
Throughout his career, Wake has specialised in market research, media research, digital marketing, brand strategy, communications research, business development and communications strategy and planning.
Ipsos global group CEO and chairman Didier Truchot said, “The Australia and New Zealand region is an important market for Ipsos. I am positive that our level of client engagement and partnership will grow further through our new services and capabilities. We have seen successes in these areas this year and look forward to more in 2016.”
Wake, who takes this new position from 1 January next year, will report to Ipsos Asia Pacific CEO Lifeng Liu.
“Simon has demonstrated success through his innovative thinking capability and commercial orientation. As an effective business and people leader, I am confident that Simon and the team will continue the momentum of the business already established in ANZ in the past two and a half years,” Liu said.
In his new role as CEO of South East Asia, Hamish Munro will be responsible for Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia. He will be based in Singapore and also reports to Lifeng Liu.
Commenting on Munro’s promotion, Truchot said, “We will continue to aggressively implement Ipsos’ growth plans in the emerging markets. The creation of the ‘SEA’ region with a dedicated leader will give us an alignment and edge in moving as one Ipsos to commercialise our new services and capabilities.”
Lifeng Liu added, “I would like to extend my appreciation to Hamish who has led ANZ in its transitional period and has brought stability and success to the organisation.
“The recent creation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will encourage better movement of trade and capital. I am pleased that Ipsos is readily positioned to enable clients planning to expand their business presence in these emerging markets. Hamish knows the South East Asia region very well, having lived and worked there for more almost 20 years. I am confident that he will work collectively with our country managers to achieve Ipsos’ common goals.”
