MUMBAI: World known media measurements and ratings company Nielson has found a replacement for current CEO David Calhoun who is set to step down on 1 January 2014. Dwight ‘Mitch’ Barns will take over the reins from Calhoun who will take the role of executive chairman. Barns is currently global client service president.

Barns has been in the company from the past 16 years while Calhoun has been CEO since 2006 when he joined the company. Prior to this Calhoun had been with General Electric for 26 years. As exec chairman he will be a guide to Barns and other executives. He will also remain a substantial owner of Nielson equity purchased and earned by him while he was the CEO.

Barns has held positions of Nielson’s US TV ratings business and president of greater China region. Before Nielson, he was with Proctor & Gamble for 12 years. Calhoun helped Nielson turn from a privately held firm to a publicly traded company overseeing its IPO (Initial Public Offer) in 2011.