Sean Creamer becomes Arbitron COO

Creamer (pictured) joined Arbitron in 2005 and served as the company’s chief financial officer until a year ago when he took charge of US media services as part of a reshuffle organised by new CEO Bill Kerr.

The company described the new job as an “expanded role”. Creamer will take on responsiblity for Arbitron’s core businesses as well as its growth plans in cross-platform, digital and mobile measurement in the US and overseas. He will oversee the company’s product and operations activities as well as research, IT, engineering, sales and marketing.

Philip Guarascio, chairman of Arbitron’s board of directors, said: “We are counting on Sean to deliver on the financial and operational goals that Bill has established for the company as we continue to develop the long-term top management structure.”

Arbitron’s latest quarterly financial results showed a rise in revenue, which the firm attributed to the commercialisation of its portable people meter (PPM) system. The costs of the gradual rollout of PPM across 48 markets in the US have cut into the firm’s profits in recent years, but the company says those costs are now “behind us”.