GfK consolidates to create GfK Healthcare

Global marketing research giant GfK has announced the consolidation of its US operations into a single entity: GfK Healthcare.

The combined company represents the merger of three previously separate operations, GfK V2, GfK Market Measures, GfK Strategic and Marketing, and will employ 275 employees across two offices in New Jersey, and one in Pennsylvania.

According to GfK Healthcare CEO Richard Vanderveer, previously group CEO of GfK US Healthcare Companies and chief executive officer of GfK V2, “a few redundancies were encountered [in the consolidation] and were dealt with appropriately.”

Vanderveer credits the decision to manufacturers’ declining revenues and profits, and the need for a “flexible framework of resources,” and project requirements that demand close cooperation among the companies.

“The integration, we hope, will attract clients who are looking for marketing research with both breadth and global depth,” said Vanderveer. 

Barry Zimmerman, formerly president of GfK Market Measures, will serve as the president and COO. Dan Fitzgerald, former group EVP of GfK US Healthcare Companies, will serve as chief financial officer. Brian Hull, formerly president of GfK Strategic Marketing, will serve as chief consulting officer. Jim Callandrillo, former chief operating officer of GfK Market Measures, will serve as chief research and operations officer, with Maureen McLaughlin, former chief marketing officer of GfK Market Measures, to be chief marketing officer of the new company.

The new entity represents the largest provider of fully integrated custom health care marketing research in the US, according to a statement.