Susan D. Whiting
Susan D. Whiting was born on August 1, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She studied at Denison University in Granville, Ohio and graduated with cum laude honors, with a degree in economics in 1978.
After graduation, Susan Whiting started her career as a management trainee from 1978 to 1979 with A.C. Nielsen Company, a consumer research organization founded in 1923. Susan Whiting became manager then director of the company’s business development unit in the 80s; as vice president and marketing manager from 1986 to 1993; and as senior vice president and director of marketing in the mid-90s.
In 1996, the company acquired under Dun & Bradstreet Company was split into two: Nielsen Media Research and A.C. Nielsen. During this period, Susan Whiting became general manager of Nielsen Media Research and she stayed with the company from 1997 to 2001. In 2001, both were acquired by Dutch company VNU and became known as The Nielsen Company. During these years, from 2001 to 2006, Susan Whiting served as president of Nielsen Media Research Inc. She succeeded Mr. John A. Dimling as the President and Chief Operating Officer in 2002. In 2007, she was appointed Chairman of Nielsen Media Research and Executive Vice President of The Nielsen Company. In November 2008, she was named Vice Chair of The Nielsen Company.
Susan Whiting is also a member of different boards and serves a variety of positions among which is her being a director for the board of Wilmington Trust Corporation (Wilmington Trust Corp. is a financial services holding company based in Wilmington, Delaware) and a member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater New York. She also is a trustee of her alma mater Denison University and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago.
In 2007 both the Wall Street Journal and Crain’s New York Business recognized Susan D. Whiting as one of their “Women to Watch” and as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in New York City.
Additional Information about Susan D. Whiting:
A news article entitled A New Wave at Nielsen by James Brady that discusses Susan Whiting, Nielsen Media Research CEO, and her views on certain matters pertaining to the business.
An article about Susan Whiting replacing outgoing Nielsen Media Research CEO John Dimling.
A profile of Susan Whiting (Nielsen Media Research official website).
A news article about Susan Whiting being elected as member of Wilmington Trust Board.
Press release about Susan Whiting’s election to the Board of the YMCA of Greater New York.