There’s a new boss at Nielsen. Karthik Rao has been elevated to CEO effective immediately.
“Nielsen has been my home for most of my career, and I could not be more excited for this new opportunity” Rao said in a press release. “Providing our client partners, the ad industry, and content creators of all types, the most accurate information possible is our singular goal. Nielsen invented measurement a century ago. In that time, the way audiences consume content has fundamentally shifted many times over, and we are committed to continuing to partner with our customers to lead that change. I am fortunate to work alongside the best in the business, around the world, as we address unprecedented times of transition in our business. Together with our talented employees, I look forward to positioning Nielsen for the next century and beyond.”
Rao has been with the company since 2000. He became the CEO of the is Audience Measurement business earlier this year.
The promotion means a change for David Kenny. He will shift to an executive chairman role.
“I have been fortunate to lead this company through some extraordinary times in the past five years, working alongside Karthik for much of it,” he said. “As I transition to my new role and my operating responsibilities come to an end, I hand over leadership to someone with extensive experience in knowing what Nielsen does best, backed by the skills and understanding to position the company for a vibrant future. He has my complete support and I wish him, and everyone at Nielsen, nothing but tremendous success.”
