Auckland, 22 September 2025: Kantar New Zealand announces the appointment of Jay Carlsen in the newly created role of Group Account Director – Public Sector. As part of a renewed focus in New Zealand’s social and government sector, Jay will lead Kantar’s commitment to building strategic partnerships and ensuring its world-class capabilities are aligned to the evolving needs of the country’s government agencies. 

Kantar New Zealand’s Chief Commercial Officer David Thomas says, “we’re beyond excited to announce our re-entry into the public sector and to welcome Jay to lead our mission to help organisations make smarter decisions, shape better policy, and deliver stronger outcomes for all New Zealanders.”

“We’re bringing more to the table than ever before. The public sector plays a vital role in shaping the lives of New Zealanders, and we are here to help agencies navigate complexity with clarity, confidence and innovation. Whether it is informing policy, optimising campaigns and programs, or deepening understanding of communities, Kantar is ready to partner with public sector organisations to deliver purposeful, measurable impact and is in good hands with Jay who brings all the qualities and experience of a passionate and enthusiastic leader.”

Bringing a wealth of experience gained at Kantar in the UK, Verian and Sport New Zealand, Jay Carlsen says he is “excited to be rejoining Kantar to drive our renewed focus on the public sector here in Aotearoa”.

“With our latest research revealing that 23 per cent of Kiwis are living pay-to-pay, and that pressure compounding even more for Millennials (29 per cent) and Gen X (33 per cent) due to the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze, it’s critical for government and social agencies to delve into the deep psyche of New Zealanders to build services and programs that support our nation and put people first. Beyond monthly budgeting challenges, our 2025 Finding Financial Freedom study also reveals that half of Kiwis admit that they would face financial hardship if their circumstances changed unexpectedly. This fragility is compounded by widespread reliance on short-term credit.”

“Drawing on my experience working both client and agency side within government, I am looking forward to helping provide pragmatic people-focused solutions underpinned by robust data. Every day we speak to more people than any other insights agency, and as a result we truly understand Kiwis and the problems they face. We are trusted by the country’s biggest brands and businesses to help them better meet the needs of the people they serve.”

Kantar boasts the most comprehensive research ecosystem in New Zealand. “From project management to fieldwork logistics, our rock-solid operations team ensures precision, speed, and reliability at every stage,” adds David Thomas. 

“As New Zealand’s leading data collection agency and online research panel, we offer unmatched reach and representation. This enables robust, inclusive, and timely data collection across the country. Most importantly, Kantar globally are investing in AI to uncover deeper insights, faster, that drive smarter outcomes. With access to world-class tools, benchmarks and innovation, our mission is to help organisations make smarter decisions, shape better policy, and deliver stronger outcomes for all Kiwis.”