New Leader for Nielsen Audio Client Services

Catherine Herkovic, Nielsen's EVP/MD for Local Television and Audio has announced she will be retiring at the end of the year. Richard Tunkel, a 24-year company exec, will take on leadership of Nielsen Audio Client Services.

Tunkel (pictured) currently serves as SVP, Sales Director, leading a team of client service executives responsible for selling and servicing network services to national broadcast networks, satellite, streaming and podcast platform providers. In addition, he manages and runs the Nielsen Advisory Council. He worked earlier as Director of Sales at Arbitron (acquired by Nielsen in 2013), having begun his career as VP of Radio Sales at Nielsen/Arbitron joint venture Scarborough Research.

Herkovic had held her present role for nearly seventeen years, having earlier been the firm's SVP, MD National Television Client Services. Prior to this she spent eight years at Nielsen Media Research, latterly as General Manager for Local Television Services. In a statement, she described Tunkel as 'a great champion for our clients, and the Audio business at large'.

In addition, Television Client Services duties will be assumed by Paul LeFort, who is also a former Arbitron exec. He joined Nielsen in 2003 as a Senior Account Executive, before moving to the position of Manager of Strategy and Corporate Development, and then to his current role of Director of Sales Development.

In a statement, Tunkel told online news site RBR+TVBR: 'My entire career has been in audio and this is a great honor and a great responsibility that I really feel excited taking on because of the strong team we have at Nielsen Audio, including John Snyder, Laura Kutscher and Brendan Kane'.

Web site: www.nielsen.com .