MAM
Nielsen acquires media & marketing research firm Arbitron
MUMBAI: Nielsen Holdings, a leading global provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy, has said it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arbitron, an international media and marketing research firm.
Nielsen has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Arbitron for $48 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 26 per cent to Arbitron’s closing price on 17 December.
Nielsen has a financing commitment for the total transaction amount. The transaction has been approved by the boards of both
companies and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory review.
With Arbitron assets, Nielsen intends to further expand its Watch segment’s audience measurement across screens and forms of listening.
“These integrated, innovative capabilities will enable broader measurement of consumer media behavior in more markets around the world. We will also bring local clients greater visibility to empower more precise advertising placement and campaign effectiveness,” said Nielsen President of Global Media Products and Advertiser Solutions Steve Hasker.
“Radio reaches more than 92 per cent of all American teens and adults because they love to listen to music, talk, news and information while at home, at work and in their cars,” said Arbitron President and CEO William T. Kerr.
“By combining Nielsen’s global capabilities and scale with Arbitron’s unique radio measurement and listening information, advertisers and media clients will have better insights into consumer behavior and the return on marketing investments.”
Together, Nielsen and Arbitron generated total revenues of $6 billion and combined pro forma adjusted Ebitda of $1.7 billion based on the 12 months ended 30 September. Cost synergies associated with the acquisition are expected to be at least $20 million and will be largely driven by the integration of technology platforms and data acquisition efforts.
Brands
Boeing appoints Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering function
Seasoned finance leader to steer budgets and strategy across global centres
BENGALURU: Boeing’s finance cockpit has a new pilot, and he is no stranger to turbulence or transformation. Boeing has appointed Barun as head of FP&A for global engineering, placing him at the centre of financial strategy for its worldwide engineering and technology operations.
Based in Bengaluru, Barun steps into a role that is as expansive as it is critical. He will serve as the primary finance lead for Boeing’s Engineering and Technology Centers globally, working closely with executive leadership to shape financial decisions, manage complex budgets, and design scalable finance processes that support the company’s growing engineering footprint.
In a note announcing his move Barun said, “I’m excited to share that I’ve joined Boeing Global Engineering. This opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me not just from a professional standpoint, but also for what Boeing represents globally.” He added that he looks forward to contributing to an organisation that continues to shape the future of aerospace and innovation.
Barun’s mandate spans strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement. From directing large-scale budgets and schedules to influencing long-term organisational goals, the role blends financial discipline with business foresight. He will also lead cross-functional teams and partner with finance colleagues worldwide to support engineering programmes across geographies, including India.
The appointment caps a long stint at Juniper Networks, where Barun spent over a decade, most recently as finance senior manager. There, he led FP&A for global product business units and G&A functions, driving budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning. He also played a key role in enterprise-wide transformation, including spearheading an Oracle to SAP ERP migration and building advanced analytics capabilities using tools such as Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud.
His earlier career includes finance leadership roles at Sony India Software Centre, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Mphasis, where he focused on financial planning, governance frameworks, and operational efficiency across global delivery centres.
A chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Barun brings nearly two decades of experience across financial planning, digital transformation, and analytics-led decision making.
His appointment comes at a time when global engineering operations are becoming increasingly complex and distributed, requiring sharper financial oversight and agile planning. With Barun at the helm of FP&A for engineering, Boeing appears to be tightening its financial playbook as it looks to scale innovation with discipline.
