ACNielsen Media International Names Hadfield to Head North American Operations.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2002

Will Oversee Canadian Media Research and U.S. Advertising Information,

Retain Responsibility for South African Media Measurement

ACNielsen Media International, an operating unit of VNU Media Measurement & Information, announced today that Lorraine V. Hadfield has been appointed managing director, North America.

In this new position, Hadfield will oversee the company's media research operations in Canada, which include television audience measurement and advertising information services. She will also be responsible for advertising information services in the United States. The Canadian operations were formerly part of Nielsen Media Research, also a VNU company, and were transferred to ACNielsen Media International as part of an organizational realignment. The U.S. advertising research business, known as Monitor-Plus, was also transferred to ACNielsen Media International from Nielsen Media Research.

Michael P. Leahy, president of Nielsen Media Research (Canada), and Jeffrey W. King, senior vice president and managing director of Monitor-Plus, will continue to manage their respective businesses, and will report to Hadfield.

In addition to heading North America, Hadfield will retain responsibility for media research in South Africa, which includes television and radio audience measurement, advertising information and print readership services.

Hadfield previously served as managing director of ACNielsen South Africa, whose other businesses include retail measurement, consumer panels and customized research. ACNielsen employs some 800 people in South Africa.

In her new role, Hadfield will report to Robert L. McCann, chairman and chief executive officer of ACNielsen Media International.

"We are delighted that Lorraine will lead our North American operations, the newest addition to our global company and among the most significant media research businesses in the world," said McCann. "Lorraine brings proven leadership skills and a passion for client service to this new position, along with broad and diverse experience in media management, consumer product marketing and advertising. She has worked on all sides of the business, and understands the unique perspectives of advertising clients, ad agency account managers and broadcasters. We expect her to make a significant and lasting contribution to our continued growth in North America."

Prior to joining ACNielsen, Hadfield was general manager of Newstalk Radio 702, South Africa's leading commercial newstalk radio station, and before that marketing director for Pillsbury Brands South Africa. She also has held senior marketing and brand management positions with Enterprise Foods (Pty.) Ltd., Tastic Rice Corporation and Unilever Foods SA, all of South Africa. Her advertising experience includes serving as an account manager at McCann Eriksen and a partner at Greathead Associates Promotions Agency.

Hadfield is a graduate of the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa.

ACNielsen Media International is the world leader in international media research and analysis. The company, active in 40 markets, offers television and radio audience measurement, advertising information services, print readership and customized media research services.

ACNielsen Media International is part of the VNU Media Measurement & Information Group, the global leader in information services for the media and entertainment industries. Active in more than 40 major markets worldwide, and powered by leading-edge technology and specialized expertise, the Group serves the information and marketing needs of the television and radio industries, advertisers, agencies, media planners, music companies, publishers, motion-picture studios, distributors and exhibitors, and the Internet industry. The Media Measurement & Information Group is part of VNU, one of the world's leading media and information companies. VNU employs more than 35,000 people and has annual revenues of approximately EUR 4 billion.

Note to Editors: Look for this press release and other ACNielsen news on the Internet at http://acnielsen.com. For more about VNU, go to www.vnu.com.