Business & Money | Tuesday 6 January, 2015 2:03 pm |

TNS, the world's largest custom market research consultancy announced the new leadership of their key regional business operations with the appointment of Stephen Hillebrand as CEO Middle East.
 
Hillebrand takes over from Steve Hamilton-Clark who had been at the helm for the past 17 years steering the business through a period of exponential growth.
 
No newcomer to the region, the sector or TNS, Hillebrand has spent the past seven years in the Middle East, most recently as Vice President for the Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East Region. He played a pivotal role in enabling the acquisition and leading the subsequent integration of RMS, the then largest independent Sub-Saharan market research agency, into TNS.
 
In his new role Hillebrand is poised to lead TNS' Middle East business units into the next phase of growth, with a strategic concentration on technology-enabled research, much focussed on the complexity of digital-influenced integrated marketing, particularly in the culturally diverse regional markets.
 
"I am excited to be able to further push the boundaries in the work we conduct with our clients, ensuring that we are continually evolving to meet their changing needs in a region with such great potential for growth," Hillebrand commented.
 
Meanwhile, Kim MacIlwaine, Regional CEO TNS AMME reiterated the importance TNS places on the Middle East, as one of its largest regional hubs:  "We are proud to partner to so many successful local businesses as well as global players.  I know Stephen's vast experience in business planning and execution will bring new energy and ideas to build on our strength, especially in the UAE, Saudi and the Gulf States."
 
Hillebrand holds French and English BA (Hons) degrees in Business Studies and joined TNS in November 2000 working in the group headquarters in London before moving to the Middle East in 2008.  His experience spans business strategic support across Custom, Panel and Media research.