Ian Jeffrey new Ipsos Markinor CEO

Commented Shane Farrell, CEO of Central Eastern Europe and Africa, “Ipsos continues to invest in South Africa as a key opportunity within the region and Ian's appointment is part of this process. We will continue to make high level appointments to enhance our specialist offerings in the country.”

Jeffrey joins Ipsos from Synovate where he assumed a number of leadership roles including client services director and, more recently, group client services director (sub-Saharan Africa) and Global Mystery Shopping operations director. He was previously at UK-based Lodge Group for 14 years, where he headed a number of business units for the South African subsidiary, culminating in group MD. Jeffrey set-up and ran React Surveys (Lodge's marketing research operation) in SA from 1993 until 2001.

Focus

Jeffrey will be based at head office in Randburg, Johannesburg, and will focus on future growth and business development. According to Ipsos Markinor, he has vast experience in different sectors of the market and opinion research industry and is a proven leader with commercial acumen and thoughtleadership in marketing research.

The local company has recently experienced substantial growth in the operations division, especially with regard to call centre development. Benney will head this division going forward.

Added Farrell, “Shirley's new role fits with optimising and expanding the group's operating capabilities and South Africa has been highlighted as a key market for expansion.”