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."
