Obit: Long-Time Media Research Leader Andy Brown, Dead At 63

Andy Brown, a long-time media research industry leader best known for his role as chairman-CEO of Kantar Media, died May 21. He was 63.

Brown, who until recently served as chairman of the Advertising Research Foundation's Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement, began his career in the early 1980s in the British media research marketplace, joining JWT-owned British Market Research Bureau in 1989.

He joined newly formed Kantar Media Research Group as CEO in 2001, representing Kantar's joint ventures and equity stakes in TV ratings in Europe and Asia (AGB Nielsen), Latin America (Ibope) and India, and ultimately oversaw a global media research organization operating in 70 countries, including a U.S. partnership with Simmons.

He assumed the position of chairman of Kantar Media in 2008 -- following the acquisition of TNS by WPP, which combined the media assets of KMR, BMRB, TNS, CMAG and SRDS -- adding the title of CEO in 2013.

In 2020, Brown launched his own consultancy practice advising companies including Dynata, Tvision, Ipsos and TV Squared.

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4 comments about "Obit: Long-Time Media Research Leader Andy Brown, Dead At 63".
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  1. Joshua Chasin from KnotSimpler, May 27, 2026 at 3:22 p.m.

    Andy was wise, knowledgeable, and kind. I don't know anyone who knew Andy and didn't like him. A tragic loss for our industry, and for everyone who knew him. I miss him already. 

  2. Tony Jarvis from Olympic Media Consultancy, May 27, 2026 at 6:40 p.m.

    Andy was not only a titan of the media research business globally, he shared his deep knowledge and insights willingly and in the clearest manner with us all to the very end. I shalll be forever be grateful for his counsel over the years.  
    While British and an avid Arsenal fan (I will forgive him!), I would respectfully suggest that ARF considers postumously awarding Andy the "Erwin Ephron Demystification Award" which I was proud to help institute.  I believe his fellow "titan", Erwin, would be more than delighted.

  3. Joshua Chasin from KnotSimpler replied, May 27, 2026 at 6:45 p.m.

    Tony, I was thinking that same thing. 

  4. Tony Jarvis from Olympic Media Consultancy, May 27, 2026 at 9:23 p.m.

    Josh & Joe:  Let's make this happen!  Have alerted Scott McDonald at ARF. 

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