BARB Appoints Zenith’s Bolus As Research Manager

BARB has announced that Zenith Optimedia’s head of research, Simon Bolus, has been appointed to the newly created position of research manager at the TV audience measurement company.

Bolus, who takes up the position 17 March, has served as both the IPA’s representative on BARB’s Technical Advisory Group and as chairman of the IPA’s Television Research Advisory Group.

Commenting on the appointment, Caroline McDevitt, chief executive of BARB, said: “The major broadcasters and advertising agencies whom BARB represents look to us for the highest quality of data. Simon will help us continue to deliver that gold standard data and will be working closely with the broadcasting industry to deliver the service it needs.”

Prior to joining Zenith in 1999, Bolus was production audience research manager at Carlton Television.

BARB has been plagued with difficulties since it attempted to introduce a new 5,100 strong audience measurement panel at the beginning of last year (see BARB Data Suspended Until 15 January). The company’s research director, Tony Wearn, defended the “teething problems” encountered by the introduction of the new methodology at the recent MRG Conference in Budapest (see MRG Conference: New BARB The Story So Far).

Last September BARB appointed former deputy chief executive of Carlton, Nigel Walmsley, as its new chairman (see Walmsley Takes Over From Phillips As New BARB Chairman), replacing Nick Phillips who is believed to have stepped down following pressure from shareholders over the delay in installing the new audience measurement system.

BARB: 020 7529 5531 www.barb.co.uk

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