Research agency Millward Brown has been chosen as one of Australia and New Zealand’s best employers, receiving one of eleven accolades from a field of more than 200 companies shortlisted by consultancy Aon Hewitt.
Companies are selected based on factors such as employee engagement and the strength of the connection between the people, the company and the strategy.
"Leading The Way has been our mantra this year and we are particularly proud to be recognised by Aon Hewitt for the hard work all 110 of our staff have done to make our business a great place to work." said Millward Brown's Ben Dixon, Managing Director, Australia.
"As a consultancy firm our people are our major assets. They need to know what the company goals are and feel part of achieving them. It is important for people to celebrate and be rewarded when things go well and understand how they impacted that result."
Millward Brown’s commitment is reflected in the company's internal research. Over the past three years, its employee satisfaction scores have increased by more than 50 per cent, resulting in greater client satisfaction and a consequential growth in revenue.
Leadership commitment is also a critical factor in the Aon Hewitt evaluation. The study showed that 72 per cent of employees of Best Employer organisations saw strong evidence of effective leadership, compared to just 49 per cent of those in other organisations.
"We believe we lead the way in our industry," said Dixon. "We wouldn't have got there without a strong management team capable of bringing the best out in people. Our culture is built around a dialogue and engagement, rather than dictating rules."
Tim Powell, CEO, Talent & Rewards Pacific & Southeast Asia at Aon Hewitt notes, “The Aon Hewitt Best Employers in ANZ study is the largest employee research project and market practice audit in Australia and New Zealand and accreditation under this program represents a significant accomplishment for Millward Brown.
“Whilst a relatively small organisation, Millward Brown particularly impressed us with their ability to perform the way one would expect from a larger organisation, in a very practical way. This is especially evident in their online performance and career development practices.
“Millward Brown is also impressive in its approach to reward strategy, with a single reward policy for the whole organisations, irrespective of role. This promotes collaboration and enables workers to align on core business issues and objectives,” said Powell.
Dixon agrees that the company’s investment in people has paid off: "Throughout the GFC, we had a clear strategy to strengthen our client relationships and retain talent. As a result, we increased our market share and grew revenues by 17 percent in a flat market."
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About Millward Brown
Millward Brown is one of the world's leading research agencies and is expert in effective advertising, marketing communications, media and brand equity research. Through the use of an integrated suite of validated research solutions — both qualitative and quantitative — Millward Brown helps clients build strong brands and services. Millward Brown has more than 77 offices in 53 countries. Additional practices include Millward Brown's Global Media Practice (media effectiveness unit), the Neuroscience Practice (using neuroscience to enhance traditional research techniques), Millward Brown Optimor (focused on helping clients maximise the returns on their brand and marketing investments) and Dynamic Logic (the world leader in digital marketing effectiveness). Millward Brown is part of Kantar, WPP's insight division.