David Kenny

Chief Executive Officer, Nielsen

David Kenny is a prominent American businessman known for his extensive leadership roles in the media and technology sectors. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement and analytics, having transitioned to this role in September 2023 after serving as CEO from December 2018 to September 2023.1 3 5

Early Life and Education

Kenny was born in 1961 in Lansing, Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Administration from Kettering University (formerly the General Motors Institute) in 1984 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1986.1 5

Career Highlights

Nielsen: Kenny joined Nielsen as CEO in November 2018, where he played a crucial role in transforming the company towards digital solutions and led significant transactions, including the sale of NielsenIQ and the acquisition of Nielsen by a private equity consortium in 2022.1 3 In September 2023, he became Executive Chairman as Karthik Rao took over as CEO.3 4
IBM: Before joining Nielsen, Kenny was Senior Vice President of IBM's Watson and Cognitive Solutions, where he spearheaded AI initiatives across various sectors.1 2
The Weather Company: He served as Chairman and CEO from 2012 until its acquisition by IBM in 2016.1 5
Akamai Technologies: Kenny was President of this cloud platform technology company from 2010 to 2011.2
Digitas: He co-founded Digitas, Inc., serving as CEO until its acquisition by Publicis Groupe in 2007.1 5

Board Memberships

Kenny is also active on several boards, including serving as a Director for Best Buy and as Chairman of the Board for Teach For America. He is involved with ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing as well.1 2

Personal Attributes

Kenny is recognized for his expertise in data science, artificial intelligence, and his deep understanding of the media landscape. His leadership style emphasizes growth strategies and stakeholder value creation.1 5

For more insights into his professional journey, you can view his LinkedIn profile under the username davidkenny1.2