VNU Restructures, Creates Advisory Services Unit
November 21 2003
VNU has announced a new organizational structure for its largest business group, VNU Marketing Information. Steven Schmidt becomes global CEO for ACNielsen and a new unit, VNU Advisory Services, has been created to develop advanced business solutions for clients.
The new structure was unveiled by VNU Chairman Rob van den Bergh, who also serves as chairman and CEO of the Marketing Information group. According to van den Bergh, the aim is to respond to client needs, develop new capabilities and accelerate long-term growth, by delivering 'high-value business solutions that integrate VNU's superb portfolio of information assets'.
From January 2004 three senior execs will join Join Van den Bergh in New York to lead the VNU MI group, with the following changes of role:
- Steven M. Schmidt, currently president of VNU Marketing Information, the Americas, is named president and CEO of ACNielsen and executive vice president of VNU Marketing Information, reporting to Van den Bergh. Schmidt will have broad strategic responsibility for the unit's worldwide operations, including enhancing product and service offerings, marketing and client service, communications and human resources on a global basis. In addition, he will have direct-line responsibility for ACNielsen's two largest regions, North America and Europe.
- Frank Martell, currently president of VNU Marketing Information, Asia Pacific and Emerging Markets, is named COO of ACNielsen and senior vice president of VNU Marketing Information, reporting to Schmidt and with direct responsibility for ACNielsen's Asia Pacific, Emerging Markets and Latin America regions, its worldwide customized research business, and the MI group's finance and information technology functions.
- Brian Chadbourne, currently president VNU Marketing Information, Europe, is named president and CEO of VNU Advisory Services, and executive vice president of VNU Marketing Information, reporting to Van den Bergh. The new unit includes VNU's Spectra Marketing Systems, BASES, Market Decisions, and Claritas USA marketing information businesses, and will oversee the group's modelling and analytical services.
Schmidt and Martell will focus on further developing ACNielsen's capabilities in retail measurement, consumer panel and customized research services, along with existing modelling and analytical activities.
VNU Advisory Services will draw on the resources of the entire VNU MI group and other VNU businesses, along with third-party capabilities, to develop new, integrated services and a new VNU approach to client service.
Van den Bergh says VNU Advisory Services will have 'a highly entrepreneurial focus', acting as 'a think tank and new-product development center for VNU. This business is being created on the foundation of four VNU units - BASES, Spectra, Claritas and Market Decisions - that focus on delivering advanced analysis and insights to clients, and it will be built using both new and existing resources to achieve our long-term strategic objectives'.
All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.
