Barb Finds New FD as McLachlan Retires

UK video ad currency body Barb has appointed former TNS and RSMB exec Sara Cheeseman as Finance Director. She replaces long-time FD Nigel McLachlan, who is retiring.

Barb provides the industry standard for measuring and understanding what people watch, including broadcast television, VOD streamers and video-sharing platforms - using a hybrid approach integrating people-based panel data with census-level online viewing data. The results form the country's currency for TV and video ad buying.

Cheeseman (pictured) brings more than 25 years' finance and commercial experience in the marketing, audience research and insights industry. She joins from RSMB, where she was Director of Finance and HR, managing those functions and focusing on compliance, efficiency and growth. Before RSMB she worked at TNS Research International, in senior finance positions in the UK and Group Office; and earlier she worked as an Audit Manager at Arthur Andersen. RSMB is a major contractor for Barb

In her new role she will work alongside CEO Justin Sampson, and closely with recently-promoted COO Caroline Baxter, managing procurement to ensure continued delivery of Barb's audience measurement services and its data protection obligations. She will also oversee all audit and internal control operations, including the auditing of contractors and licensees.

Sampson says of the appointment: It's been a bit nerve-wracking knowing that one day Barb would have to find a replacement for Nigel. For 25 years, his commercial acumen and unflappable wisdom has allowed Barb to keep a firm, but gentle, hand on the many aspects of corporate governance needed to deliver the industry's standard for understanding what people watch. He retires with the tremendous gratitude of Barb's directors. I'm delighted Sara has agreed to join the team as we continue to adapt and evolve our industry's audience-measurement services. She's a great addition to our leadership team as we continue to navigate our way forward'.

Web site: www.barb.co.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.