NEWS15 February 2011

Arbitron agrees extended contract with CEO William Kerr

North America People

US— Arbitron has extended chief executive William Kerr’s contract by a year, with chairman Philip Guarascio praising his leadership through a series of “extraordinary” events since taking over in January 2010. His new deal will expire in 2013.

Kerr (pictured) was serving as a member of the radio ratings firm’s board of directors when he was appointed CEO on the day his predecessor Michael Skarzynski resigned for giving false information at a congressional hearing.

The hearing was looking into claims made by minority-owned radio stations that Arbitron’s portable people meter (PPM) technology undercounted their audiences and cost them ad revenue.

On taking over Kerr immediately met with the PPM Coalition, the most vocal critic, to hear their issues and complaints regarding PPM ratings – a first step towards ultimately settling the dispute a few months later.

He ended his first year in charge by announcing a contract renewal with Arbitron’s biggest customer Clear Channel Radio, worth more than half a billion dollars over five years.

@RESEARCH LIVE

0 Comments