GfK HealthCare Appoints David Mackenzie to Global Development Role to Provide Leadership and Direction to GfK’s Country Growth Strategy

New executive position will support GfK’s growing HealthCare

operations in more than 40 countries

Jun. 22, 2011 (Business Wire) — GfK HealthCare, the largest provider of fully integrated custom health care marketing research in the world, announced today the appointment of a key senior leader and addition to its global board. David Mackenzie, an experienced and well-respected member of the international health care marketing research industry, has joined GfK HealthCare as global head of country strategic development.

GfK HealthCare appoints David Mackenzie to global development role to provide leadership and direction to GfK’s country growth strategy. (Photo: Business Wire)

In his position, Mr. Mackenzie will be responsible for the support and development of HealthCare departments within GfK Custom Research companies. The strategic appointment signals GfK HealthCare’s commitment to invest in the growth of its global operations, now in more than 40 locations worldwide, by positioning a global leader to strategically support and liaise with local teams in order to nurture GfK’s existing and potential business with health care clients in these developing markets.

Mr. Mackenzie’s health care background spans both the pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketing research agency sides. He spent the first 10 years of his career in sales and marketing roles with SmithKline and French and later, following the merger, SmithKline Beecham. In 1997, he moved from head of market research at SmithKline Beecham to Adelphi International Research, based in the United Kingdom. During his first seven years with Adelphi, Mr. Mackenzie held positions as a research director and commercial director prior to his appointment in 2004 as managing director, a post he held until joining GfK HealthCare. Mr. Mackenzie will be based in the United Kingdom.

“With perspectives drawn from his experience both within pharma and also managing the operations of an international research consultancy, David is a most excellent addition to GfK’s global HealthCare team,” said Stephen Hearn, global head of GfK HealthCare. “We are very proud of GfK HealthCare’s presence in more than 40 countries, and these HealthCare teams will only thrive further under the guidance of David, whose focus will be to help drive strategy at a local level by developing even deeper health care competencies to create an increasing level of added value and excellence, locally, for GfK’s clients.”

About GfK HealthCare

GfK HealthCare (www.gfkhc.com) is the largest provider of fully integrated custom health care marketing research in the world. GfK HealthCare offers the broadest range of custom and syndicated research offerings as well as innovative proprietary approaches to meet a product’s needs across its life cycle. HealthCare is part of the Custom Research sector within the GfK Group (www.gfk.com). GfK delivers a comprehensive range of information and consultancy services in the three business sectors of Custom Research, Retail and Technology and Media. The No. 4 market research organization worldwide operates in more than 100 countries, employing over 10,000 staff. In 2010, the GfK Group’s sales were EUR 1.29 billion.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6765406&lang=en

GfK HealthCare
Jessica Makovsky, +1-267-304-3780
VP Global
Communications
jessica.makovsky@gfk.com