MAM
WPP owned top research agency acquires UK company
WARWICK, UK: Millward Brown has acquired Sadek Wynberg Research, one of the UK’s most innovative and best respected qualitative research agencies to create one of the UK’s largest qualitative offerings. Millward Brown, one of the world’s top 10 market research organisations, is part of The Kantar Group, the information, insight and consultancy arm of WPP.
A press release states that the acquisition will result in the merger of Millward Brown UK’s Qualitative Unit with Sadek Wynberg to form a qualitative practice known as Sadek Wynberg Millward Brown.
The new operation will be headed jointly by Rebecca Wynberg and Nadim Sadek, with Nadim being appointed to Millward Brown’s global Qualitative Board, and Rebecca taking up a position on Millward Brown UK’s management committee.
Sadek Wynberg’s current Queensway offices will be used as the new practice’s London base, while Millward Brown’s Warwick office will continue to be home to a large qualitative team.
Commenting on the merger, Millward Brown UK joint MD and Millward Brown main board director Sue Gardiner was quoted as saying : “This is the most exciting development at Millward Brown UK for a very long time. This is about bringing together the very best from both operations and heralds a fresh way of working with clients. What clients need today are real consumer insights and actionable data. Qualitative input to this is essential.”
” It is Millward Brown’s ambition to be the best qualitative network in the world. In the last few years we have acquired Ergo in Spain, MFR in France, Firefly in Thailand and Greenfield Consulting Group in the USA. Now, we are delighted to have such a prestigious addition as Sadek Wynberg to our network,” Gardiner added.
Rebecca Wynberg was quoted as saying: “We are very excited at the prospect of working with Millward Brown, which has a fantastic reputation in brand and advertising research. We are looking forward to bringing together two really strong qualitative teams to continue to provide excellent work for clients.”
Concluded Nadim Sadek: “Qualitative research is now so widely used by global brands that the opportunity to service clients in a truly integrated way was irresistible.”
Millward Brown is an acknowledged leader in understanding and evaluating brand equity through the contribution of the total communications mix to that understanding. Through the use of an integrated suite of validated research techniques – both qualitative and quantitative – Millward Brown helps clients build strong brands and services capable of delivering profitable future revenue stream.
The company provides research-based consultancy on both traditional and e-brands, and for both local and multi-national clients. The organisation has 60 offices in 36 countries.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
