Karthik Rao diangkat sebagai Chief Executive Officer Nielsen, pemimpin global dalam pengukuran audiens, data, dan analitik, pada bulan September 2023.

Sebelum diangkat sebagai CEO, Rao, yang telah bekerja di Nielsen selama 23 tahun, memegang berbagai peran kepemimpinan di seluruh perusahaan dan di seluruh dunia. Baru-baru ini, ia menjabat sebagai Chief Executive Officer Nielsen Audience Measurement, yang bertanggung jawab untuk mendorong dan mengembangkan bisnis inti Nielsen di tengah-tengah disrupsi dan transisi yang belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya. Fokus utamanya adalah untuk memungkinkan mata uang di semua model distribusi dan konsumsi media secara global. 

Rao was named Nielsen’s Chief Operating Officer in 2020, where he oversaw a global product-driven technology transformation. Prior to that, he served as Chief Product & Technology Officer for Nielsen Global Media, where he led the International Media product and technology teams. He also served as CEO of Nielsen Portfolio, leading the fully independent division, comprising Nielsen Entertainment, Nielsen Gracenote, Nielsen Brandbank and the Nielsen Telecom businesses across all global markets. He led Gracenote during its acquisition and integration by Nielsen, which included building Gracenote’s management team, aligning its strategy, and driving growth across key markets and segments.

Pada masa-masa awalnya di Nielsen, Rao memegang berbagai peran di berbagai divisi, termasuk Expanded Verticals, Digital Enablement, dan bisnis Media Analytics Nielsen. Sebagai kepala Nielsen Tiongkok, ia memimpin salah satu pasar global perusahaan yang paling cepat berkembang.

Rao began his career as an account executive at Ogilvy & Mather in India. He serves on the Board of Directors of Avantax, a comprehensive financial services company. Rao holds a degree in Economics from Loyola University in Chennai and an MBA from Illinois State University.