Mike Shalett (left) and Rob Sisco

SoundScan co-founder Mike Shalett has retired as CEO, Nielsen Retail Entertainment Information (REI) and president of Nielsen SoundScan & BDS. In his new role as chairman emeritus-SoundScan, Shalett will continue as a strategic consultant to VNU working closely with Nielsen REI, a unit of Nielsen Entertainment. Shalett co-founded SoundScan in 1991, VideoScan, and BookScan, and has led the Nielsen REI division, which also includes Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, since VNU acquired the companies from him and his partner Mike Fine in 1998.

Rob Sisco, former REI executive vice president and general manager, has been promoted to president, Nielsen Music and chief operating officer, Nielsen REI. In his new capacity Sisco will oversee the day-to-day activities of Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, as well as direct the operational aspects of Nielsen REI's group of businesses, which also include Nielsen VideoScan, Nielsen BookScan, and Nielsen Entertainment Marketing Solutions. Sisco will be based at REI's headquarters in White Plains, NY.

"How lucky can one get to have the gig of a lifetime, as I have had, in of all places the music, video and book businesses?" said Shalett. "To me, work has always been about relationships, and I have had the good fortune to get to know and work with so many outstanding people. I am very blessed with a wonderful family and I am happy that we will have more time to be together."

"I am delighted to have the opportunity to take these businesses forward," said Sisco. "Working with Mike over the past several years, we have assembled a uniquely talented team. With the wide range of resources available within both Nielsen Entertainment and VNU, I am confident that we will continue to deliver the marketing intelligence and the state-of-the-art marketing platforms and information that our clients have come to expect."

Shalett, a 30-year veteran of the music industry, is recognized as one of the foremost innovators in music marketing and research. SoundScan revolutionized the music industry by accurately tracking retail music sales and data and enabling clients to have unprecedented information concerning their consumers. Shalett later founded sister companies VideoScan and BookScan to deliver the same accurate sales data and matrix information for the video/DVD and publishing industries respectively.

"Mike is a legend in the music industry," said Andy Wing, president and CEO Nielsen Entertainment. "His tremendous vision, drive and determination changed not only the course of the music business forever by the creation of SoundScan, but also the way home videos and books are marketed. I am very pleased that Mike has agreed to remain with us as a consultant and that we will continue to benefit from his incredible experience and relationships within the Industry.

"I am excited that Rob Sisco, who has played a key role in expanding Nielsen REI's services in partnership with and under the tutelage of Mike Shalett over the last several years, will be taking the helm for our music businesses," Wing added. "Rob's promotion clearly acknowledges his past contributions and our future expectations for continued growth in the music sector as well as our other entertainment businesses."