Holmes and Watson On The Case for Nielsen

VNU continues to build the Communications team for its research businesses. Last week, it appointed Karen Watson in a Senior VP Communications role covering Nielsen Media Research and the MMI Group - this week Gary Holmes has joined her team as VP, Global Communications and Chief Press Officer.

Susan Whiting, President and CEO of Nielsen Media Research, explains the moves to strengthen the team at this time: 'The dramatic transformation of the media landscape has increased our responsibility to help the public, our clients and the communities in which we operate understand our role in delivering independent and accurate media measurement.' The firm has faced major challenges over the last two years including the clamour in government and the press over Portable People Meters and their representation of people of color, and the whole issue of converging media with its complex implications for audience definitions and measurement methodologies.

Holmes will report to Watson (www.mrweb.com/drno/news5714.htm ) and will be responsible for managing press relations for Nielsen and MMI (VNU's Media Measurement and Information Group), communicating key client initiatives, and overseeing all written communications within the Communications Department.

He joins from the communications firm of Robinson, Lerer & Montgomery (RLM) where he worked for more than 17 years in their New York headquarters, most recently as a Principal. For the past two years, he has served as an RLM consultant to Nielsen, assisting on a variety of media, public and political issues. His major clients included America Online, NBC, Viacom and Bertelsmann. Before joining RLM, he worked in Washington as press secretary to Rep. Jerry Solomon (R-NY), as a researcher in the Reagan-Bush '84 campaign, and as Communications Director at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He began his career as a reporter on Nantucket Island, and has a B.A. in American Studies from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT.

VNU is online at www.vnu.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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