15 March 2005
Hong Kong

ACNielsen announced today the appointment of David McCallum, previously managing director, Customised Research for ACNielsen Asia Pacific, to the position of managing director, Global Customised Research Services for ACNielsen. In his new global role, McCallum will report to Mr Frank Martell, Chief Operating Officer, ACNielsen and Senior Vice President, VNU Marketing Information Group.

"The appointment of a Global head for ACNielsen's Customised Research division re-affirms parent company VNU's commitment to its Customised Research business worldwide and is a first step in the company's strategy to leverage its full range of research competencies across the globe," said Mr Martell.

"As Managing Director for ACNielsen's Asia Pacific Customised Research business for the last eight years, David and his team have led the region's successful customised business, including the introduction of a number of new, leading-edge, on- and off-line proprietary research methodologies," said Mr Martell.

McCallum, heading a newly formed Global Customised Research Board represented by all ACNielsen geographic regions, will be tasked with broadening and strengthening the company's Customised business worldwide, including the globalisation of a number of proprietary products in full complement to ACNielsen's existing Retail Measurement and Consumer Panel Services.

The Board will be responsible for global management and governance, ensuring that all units work to VNU Customised Research blue prints and will direct R&D, product management and operational protocols? said Martell.

A statistician by training, McCallum is a market research veteran with over 25 years experience gained across a broad research spectrum ranging from retail measurement to consumer and media research to concept and new product development research. McCallum started his research career in the UK before relocating to Asia where he spent 6 years running the company's local business in Singapore followed by 10 years as Managing Director of ACNielsen Japan.

In his new role, McCallum is based in Sydney, Australia. He remains a member of ACNielsen's Asia Pacific Executive Committee.

About ACNielsen
ACNielsen, a VNU business, is the world's leading marketing information company. Offering services in more than 100 countries, the company provides measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics and consumer attitudes and behaviour. Clients rely on ACNielsen's market research, proprietary products, analytical tools and professional service to understand competitive performance, to uncover new opportunities and to raise the profitability of their marketing and sales campaigns.