BUZZMETRICS FINALIZES INTELLISEEK ACQUISITION; NIELSEN BUZZMETRICS SERVICE LAUNCHES
New BuzzMetrics announces key company officers to lead integration and product and service rollout
NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2006 – BuzzMetrics and Intelliseek – two leaders in the tracking and analysis of online consumer-generated media – today announced the appointment of key executive managers now that BuzzMetrics, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Intelliseek. First announced Jan. 17, the integration of these two firms, with the backing of VNU, results in the creation of the Nielsen BuzzMetrics service, the global measurement standard for consumer-generated media.
Now operating in four locations (New York, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Israel), the new BuzzMetrics specializes in research and powerful technologies that mine, measure and analyze publicly archived online sources, including blogs and Internet discussion forums, to transform unaided consumer conversations (consumer-generated media) into actionable consumer insights for businesses and brands.
“With more than 100 major client brands, more than 100 employees and four major offices, the Nielsen BuzzMetrics service is setting a new standard to help marketers strategically leverage the buzz surrounding their brands.” said Itzhak Fisher, chairman of BuzzMetrics, Inc. “We’re excited to complete our deal and begin the next phase in building this burgeoning industry.”
The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service brings together the advanced technologies and client relationships of Intelliseek, developed over the past nine years, with the linguistic technologies and client-service expertise of BuzzMetrics. Nielsen BuzzMetrics leverages the strategic and financial backing of VNU, parent to ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. VNU now is a majority shareholder in the new BuzzMetrics with 50.1 percent ownership.
Company Appointments
In addition to Fisher and previously announced officers – including Jonathan Carson, chief executive officer, and Mike Nazzaro, president and chief operating officer – new company officers include:
• Pete Blackshaw, chief marketing officer
• Ori Levy, president of Israel operations
• Richard Nelson, executive vice president, corporate
strategy and general counsel
• Jay Stockwell, senior vice president, sales
• Jerry Needel, senior vice president, client services
• Karthik Iyer, senior vice president, business development
In addition, Sundar Kadayam has been appointed chief technology officer and will lead a world-class technology team including:
• Braxton Robbason, chief product officer
• Jonathan Schler, vice president of research and development
• Matthew Hurst, head of science and innovation
• Chris Connaughton, vice president of technology services
“These stellar executives are recognized for their huge contributions in creating the industry we call consumer-generated media measurement,” said Carson. “With their leadership, Nielsen BuzzMetrics will thrive and further advance the powerful notion of CGM research to benefit our clients.”
Strategic Expertise, Robust Methodologies and Advanced Technologies
The company’s clients and expertise span nearly every key industry, with deep focus in media and entertainment, automotive, consumer technology, pharmaceutical and consumer-packaged goods. The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service includes advanced search and text-based analytics to help marketers develop more effective marketing strategies, gain new consumer insights, and enhance their relationship marketing and corporate reputation. The company is continuing its research and development activities to measure the next generation of media technologies by which consumers create and share information, including audio and video.
About Nielsen BuzzMetrics
The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service, marketed by BuzzMetrics, Inc., is the global standard in measuring consumer-generated media and word of mouth. Nielsen BuzzMetrics helps more than 100 leading global companies strategically leverage the buzz surrounding them – clients like Canon, Comcast, Ford, General Motors, HBO, Kraft, Microsoft, Nokia, P&G, Sony, Target and Toyota, as well as 14 of the top 15 pharmaceutical concerns. Partners include the world’s largest marketing-services firms, and innovative new-marketing agencies. The company has also collaborated with distinguished research organizations such as the Pew Internet and American Life Project. BuzzMetrics, Inc. is an affiliate of VNU, owner of such renowned research names as ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. For more information, visit www.nielsenbuzzmetrics.com.
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