William Reed has strengthened its leadership with two new roles to accelerate it’s ambition to become the world’s leading food and drinks intelligence business. John Barnes takes on an expanded role of Chief Media & Intelligence Officer, and Karl Weaver joins as Group MD, Intelligence.
Left to right: John Barnes, Chief Media & Intelligence Officer, Karl Weaver, Group MD, Intelligence.
John Barnes’ role brings together responsibility for media, content, audience, product, data and intelligence strategy.
By connecting knowledge across news and analysis, events and communities, insight and intelligence, William Reed is able to provide the food and drinks industry with unparalleled access to trusted, reliable and actionable content through its portfolio of respected brands.
Joining John in leading this next phase is Karl Weaver, who takes on the newly created role of Group MD, Intelligence.
Karl brings more than 30 years’ experience across data, analytics, marketing and consulting, with a strong track record of building businesses and turning data and insight into successful commercial propositions, holding leadership roles at Dentsu and Publicis.
Karl will bring together William Reed’s intelligence capabilities, including the Food Brain, with a focus on turning the company’s investments in data, technology and intelligence into compelling products and sustainable revenue growth.
The Food Brain brings together the knowledge accumulated across William Reed’s journalism, events, data and industry expertise, creating a proprietary intelligence capability to support both its existing businesses and the development of new products and services.
The appointments mark an important next step in William Reed’s Food for Growth strategy, focused on building on the company’s strengths and investing in intelligence capabilities that will drive long-term growth.
Tracy De Groose, CEO of William Reed, said: “John has played such an important role in shaping our strategy and our ambitions for the future. His expanded role puts his considerable experience and expertise right where we need it, positioning intelligence as the engine room of the business and a powerful driver of growth. I’m delighted to welcome Karl Weaver, whose experience will be invaluable as we build this capability and turn its potential into greater value for our customers and sustainable growth for the business.”