Nielsen Company

The Nielsen Company is a global media and information corporate entity formed in 1964 when two Dutch companies in the publishing industry merged. The companies were Cebema and De Spaarnestad. Nielsen Company’s original name was Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeversbedrijven, which means "United Dutch Publishing Companies" in English. In 1999, this label was shortened to VNU. VNU was renamed the Nielsen Company on January 18, 2007.

The Nielsen Company has headquarters in the Netherlands, New York City, USA, and in Haarlem. The corporate entity has operations in over 100 countries and has 42,000 personnel under its employ worldwide. In 2005, it had total revenues that amounted to EUR 3.5 billion.

Key Personnel

• Dave Calhoun - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
• Susan Whiting - Executive Vice President
• Mitchell Habib - Executive Vice President

David Calhoun was installed as chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nielsen Company on August 23, 2006. David Calhoun in turn appointed Mitchell Habib as the leader of the Global Business Services (GBS) of the corporate entity. Susan Whiting was promoted to Executive Vice of the Nielsen Company from her previous office as Chairman of Nielsen Media Research.

The company is one of the world’s leading providers of audience measurement, marketing information, and business media products and services. It collates market intelligence using analytical tools with which to provide its clients with a view of the market in which they conduct their businesses in. Susan Whiting is largely responsible for how the Nielsen Company has tackled the challenges of new media.

Nielsen Company 2008 Package and Recycling Survey

One of the fields that Nielsen conducts analytical study is environmental surveys. In its "Packaging and the Environment" global consumer report that the company made in March 2008, the Nielsen Company provided the following:

• An overview of the problem packaging imposes on the environment.
• A bar graph displaying the stated consumer trends and their corresponding percentage relative to the whole.
• Detailed consumer trends regarding different forms of packaging and their implications on the environment.
• Mentioned New Zealanders as the most environmentally-concerned consumers in its studies.
• Detailed the percentage of the world’s consumers by country who would give up stackability/storability if it meant it would help the environment.
• Detailed the percentage of the world’s consumers by country who would give up convenience packaging if it meant it would help the environment.
• Detailed the percentage of the world’s consumers by country who would give up portable packaging if it meant it would help the environment.
• Detailed the percentage of the world’s consumers by country who would give up packaging meant to extend the shelf life of merchandise if it meant it would help the environment.
• Detailed the percentage of the world’s consumers by country who would give up product information labels if it meant it would help the environment.
• Detailed the percentage of the world’s consumers by country who would give up protective packaging if it meant it would help the environment.
• Detailed the percentage of the world’s consumers by country who would give up hygiene packaging if it meant it would help the environment.
• Lists the various functions of packaging
• Lists the various factors that make or break forms of packaging
• Predicts future trends in packaging including enhanced functionality and sustainable packaging.

Nielsen Company Resources

Nielsen Company’s Report on how "More Than Half of U.S. Consumers Would Give Up ‘Convenience Packaging’ to Help Environment"

Biography site for news about Mitchell Habib.

View "The Challenge of Change" by Susan Whiting or read more about Susan Whiting in "The Tracker Behind the Tubes."

View a website about Susan Whiting or view Susan Whiting in the CEO profile at NYU Stern.

Nielsen secures partnership with the Tata Group through the efforts of Mitchell Habib.

Read an interview with Susan Whiting about her role in the Nielsen Company in Fast Company.

Resources for Nielsen Media Leader Susan Whiting and Mitchell Habib.

Nielsen redesigns website with Freedom Center; comments from Mitchell Habib.