Former Nielsen CEO Mitch Barns Joins Zappi Board

Former Nielsen Chief Executive Mitch Barns has joined the Board of automated ad and innovation testing platform Zappi.

Co-built with consumer brands, Zappi's platform is used to screen initial creative / product ideas, guide go-to-market plans, and optimize at any point of the process. In August, the firm divided its executive staff into two: the Futures team, which will set the company direction, and manage its vision and values; and the Leadership team, which will focus on day-to-day operations covering revenue, resourcing and efficiency.

Barns (pictured) joins the Board after a twenty-year career at Nielsen, the last five of which were spent as CEO, during which time the company acquired 26 businesses. Earlier he held leadership roles across all major parts of the group, including President, Global Client Service; President of the US Media arm; President of Greater China; and President of the BASES analytic consulting division. He began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he spent twelve years in marketing research and brand management positions.

In addition to his new Board position, Barns sits on the Boards of consumer brand agency The Stable and the Global Leadership Network, and serves on the Advisory Board of private equity firm Catalyst Partners. He also operates Second Half Advisors, a firm he founded last year to advise and support businesses and non-profits.

Commenting on the appointment, Zappi CEO Stephen Phillips said: 'We are delighted to welcome Mitch to the Board. He offers a wealth of knowledge that stems from his more than 30 years of experience in market research, which will be highly valuable to the Board as we continue to accelerate and grow the company'.

Web site: www.zappi.io .