A leadership handover at Ipsos’ Americas unit will put former Nielsen Global CEO Mitch Barns over its U.S. business and operations across Canada and Latin America beginning Nov. 2.
Barns’ new title is chairman and CEO, Americas. Ipsos CEO Kelly Beaver will supervise him as he joins the company’s Executive Management Committee.
Beaver described the Americas as central to Ipsos and linked the appointment to its growth plans. She pointed to Barns’ leadership record and recent board work with data and technology companies as relevant qualifications.
Barns led Nielsen worldwide as Global CEO from 2014 to 2018. Ipsos said Nielsen then operated in more than 100 countries, employed more than 40,000 people and was a $6 billion-plus business. His tenure included strategic changes involving acquisitions and investment to bring in digital and technology expertise, according to Ipsos.
Before becoming global chief, Barns served as president of Nielsen’s U.S. Media division. He also led Nielsen businesses in Greater China and global operations devoted to advanced analytics and new-product innovation.
He spent 12 years at Procter & Gamble in marketing research and brand management, then led The Opus Group as CEO from 2021 through 2024. He has also served on boards of insights and analytics firms and advised private equity investors in data, analytics and technology, Ipsos said.
Barns described the sector as “a time for reinvention” and said Ipsos’ talent and international reach put it in a strong position to respond. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos operates in 90 markets and employs nearly 20,000 people. The company says its research uses surveys, social media monitoring and qualitative or observational methods.
Mary Ann Packo will work with Barns during the transition before leaving at the end of November. Beaver thanked Packo for her work in North America.
