Cohan joins from content and marketing company Wheelhouse Group and prior to that was president, international and digital media at A+E Networks.

At Nielsen, he will oversee growth strategy, partnerships, corporate and business development, and all Nielsen international businesses including its measurement, Gracenote Metadata, Nielsen Sports, and outcomes divisions.

The company has also promoted Peter Bradbury, currently executive vice-president and managing director of its US media sellers group, to chief commercial officer, US. 

Karthik Rao, chief product, technology and operations officer, Global Media, and previously chief executive of Gracenote, has been named chief operating officer of Nielsen Global Media. 

Both Bradbury and Rao have spent over 20 years at the company.

David Kenny, chief executive at Nielsen, said: "These appointments illustrate the commitment we have to building out a rigorous and forward-looking business."

The appointments are part of a hiring spree at Nielsen, including TripAdvisor product executive Eric Bosco, who has joined as chief product officer. In January, David Rawlinson was named chief executive of Nielsen Global Connect and Linda Zukauckas became chief financial officer. 

Nielsen’s plan to separate into two businesses – Global Media and Global Connect – is set to complete later this year.