Mitch Barns

Mitch Barns was the CEO of Nielsen from 2014 to 2018. Since joining Nielsen in 1997, Mitch has lived and worked on three continents and held leadership roles across all major parts of Nielsen’s business. Throughout 2013, he served as President, Global Client Service, leading the efforts of Nielsen’s client service organization worldwide. Before that, he was President of Nielsen’s U.S. Media business from 2011 – 2013, where he oversaw the development of its analytics practice, guided the integration of its TV and Digital groups and helped transform the unit’s client service model to focus on driving performance improvement and value for Nielsen’s clients. From 2008-2011, Mitch served as President of Nielsen’s Greater China business where he led its transition to a fast-growing, standalone region. In the early 2000s, he was President of Nielsen’s BASES and Analytic Consulting businesses, which have since become the core of the company’s growing analytics business. Mitch first joined the company as part of Nielsen BASES, where he held various senior positions in the U.S. and Europe. Mitch began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he spent 12 years in marketing research and brand management.