Nielsen Hires for New Ad Solutions Unit

In New York, Nielsen has hired Steve Hasker to fill the newly created position of President, Media Product Leadership and Advertiser Solutions - a new business unit set up to help advertisers 'deliver the right messages to the right consumers'.

Hasker, who is currently a Partner at McKinsey & Company's Global Media, Entertainment and Information practice, will take up the post next month.

Since joining McKinsey in 1998, Hasker has advised companies in the TV, mobile telecoms, syndicated information, filmed entertainment, sports and online advertising sectors. Prior to this, he spent five years in several financial roles in Melbourne, Australia; Salt Lake City, Utah; and in St. Petersburg, Russia.

He is a regular guest lecturer at Columbia University, and his research into the influence of social networks on consumer behaviour has been published in the Harvard Business Review.

Hasker's wide ranging new repsonsibilities span Nielsen's measurement of TV, online and mobile media, as well as its cross-media measurement initiatives.

He will also oversee Advertiser Solutions and work closely with Alan Gould and Ken Orkin, co-CEOs of Nielsen IAG, who will head the unit.

'This appointment, as well as the creation of Advertiser Solutions, is a significant next step in Nielsen's continued delivery of insights into the 'connected consumer,' stated CEO David Calhoun. 'Our focus remains on adding value for clients looking for their most profitable sources of demand, powered by Nielsen's unique capabilities and intellectual property.'

Jim O'Hara, who formerly led Media Product Leadership, is moving to Nielsen's Global Business Solutions division as the Client Service Executive for Emerging Businesses.

Web site: www.nielsen.com .