Revenue for the first quarter was $848m, excluding the divested Health division.

Six out of the company’s seven divisions grew in the first three months of 2021, returning to pre-pandemic trading levels.

Kantar’s Q1 earnings before income, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) were $118m, an increase of 59% year-on-year.

Kantar completed the majority of the sale of the Health business to Cerner in April. The company has since announced agreements to acquire Chicago-based shopper insight business Numerator and Dutch media effectiveness company MeMo2. 

Alexis Nasard, appointed chief executive at the end of December to replace Eric Salama, stepped down from the role after only four months in April, with a successor yet to be appointed. 

Ian Griffiths, deputy chief executive and chief financial officer, Kantar (pictured), said: “Trading improved through 2020 and the momentum we carried into the year is reflected in this quarter’s results. The first quarter of 2021 was our third sequential quarter of improving performance.

Kantar Worldpanel saw “double-digit growth” in the first quarter, while the audience measurement business continues to be “robust”, added Griffiths.