WPP's Kantar bets big on India

Kantar, the WPP-owned market research company, was keen to raise the share of merging markets to its revenues from 35 per cent to half in the next few years, Chairman and Chief Executive Eric Salama told Business Standard. And, India is vital to Kantar's emerging markets strategy.

The move to increase revenues from segments such as research comes at a time when WPP Chief Executive Martin Sorrell is keen to expand his group's presence in non-advertising segments such as digital, public relations, retail and shopper marketing.

Traditionally, WPP has been the dominant marketing communications group in Asia. But rivals such as Paris-based Publicis and New-York-based Omnicom (in July, the two announced they were merging) have, in the last few years, grown their business in this part of the world through acquisitions.

Salama, in India to review operations of the group's units, said, "We are open to all avenues of growth in India, though alliances and joint ventures are something we'll look at a bit more. Kantar might look at acquisitions and alliances in verticals such as digital and social media, he added.