Nielsen's Itzhak Fisher Raising Start-Up Investment Funds?

Reports in the US press claim that Nielsen exec Itzhak Fisher is raising $50m which he will use to invest in start-up companies - with the initial $10m being provided by Nielsen.

Fisher (pictured) currently serves as Nielsen's EVP, Global Business Development, responsible for mergers and acquisitions. Previously, he led global product development, and was Executive Chairman of Nielsen Online.

Earlier in his career, Fisher co-founded linguistic analysis specialist Trendum, which he sold to Nielsen in 2005. He then led Trendum's acquisition of online word-of-mouth research firm BuzzMetrics, and negotiated its 2006 acquisition of Intelliseek.

Fisher is also an active entrepreneur and private investor, and has invested his own capital into a variety of ventures in the comms and tech sectors. He is the founder of Infinity Holdings (Cayman) Ltd., through which he has directed the purchase of the operations of several European telecoms and Internet firms. He has been Chairman of Churchill Ventures since 2006, and is a member of the Advisory Board at New Mountain Capital.

According to online publication Fortune, Fisher is expected to continue working at Nielsen, while running his new investment business.