North America MD and CSO for Kantar Media

Audience measurement specialist Kantar Media has hired former Googler Nicole Gileadi for the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer and MD, North America, leading the firm's innovation and growth strategy and strengthening its relationships across the continent.

Kantar Media works with panel and first-party data in more than 80 countries and conducts broadcast audience measurement in more than 60. In January it was rumoured that the insights group / its majority owner Bain Capital might be looking to sell the division for anything up to £1bn - it has divested its Reputation Intelligence business and its Public Sector unit, now known as Verian - but for the moment Media remains an integral part of the Kantar offer, accounting for some 15% of its total revenue. Earlier this month it appointed Lucy Bristowe as CEO, UK & Western Europe, succeeding Louise Ainsworth who is stepping down after six years in the role.

Gileadi will be based in New York and report to Global CEO and former Sky exec Patrick Béhar. She joins from Google where she was Global Product Lead for Cross-media Measurement and Industry Advocacy. This gave her responsibility for driving strategic planning and commercial product strategy for cross-media projects, including leadership of the tech giant's involvement in cross-media measurement initiatives led by ISBA (UK), the ANA (USA) and the WFA.

Béhar comments, 'This new role is a clear sign of our commitment to be at the forefront of innovation in measurement and our ambition to serve the content and advertising ecosystems, deepening our partnerships with broadcasters, digital platforms, advertisers and agencies. Our clients and partners are central to everything we do - Nicole is perfectly placed to take our relationships to the next level'.

Gileadi herself says she joins as measurement systems are evolving 'to capture a complete view of consumer behavior, leveraging the best of panels and big data for more accurate, privacy safe, cross-media measurement'.

Web site: www.kantar.com .