Marsha E. Williams moves up to svp of research and planning at Nickelodeon Networks, responsible for consumer insights for Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., including all brand, programming and production, merchandising, public affairs, online and other corporate consumer research for Nick.
Williams leads Nickelodeon's research department with svp of research and planning, Ron Geraci. Geraci oversees programming and advertising sales research for Nickelodeon and digital channels Noggin, The N and Nicktoons Network related to analyzing viewer trends, and positioning Nickelodeon in the marketplace as it relates to advertising sales and the creation of sales pitches.
"Marsha has done tremendous things in her years at the company, including establishing Nickelodeon as the leader in information and research about kids," said by Pam Kaufman, evp, marketing and worldwide partnerships for Nickelodeon, to whom Williams will report. "Marsha's keen insight into audiences and trends, as well as her experience working with Nickelodeon and other kids' brands, make her ideal to lead the Research and Planning initiatives at Nickelodeon with Ron. She is a well-respected and talented executive and this new role acknowledges her expertise and contribution to the success of the network."
A nine-year veteran of the company, Williams has positioned Nickelodeon as the preeminent kids' expert. Under her leadership, the research group has strategically informed and guided business decisions, and provided MTV Networks execs, external partners and industry colleagues with such projects as the The New Normal, U.S. Multicultural Kids Study, and the Kids, Food and Eating Behaviors research project.
Previously Williams spent five years at Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop), where she managed research initiatives on GHOSTWRITER and various SESAME STREET-based public service programs. She has also worked for The Psychological Corp. in Cleveland and San Antonio, assisting in the development and revision of various abilities and psychological tests.
Nickelodeon (www.nick.com), in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in 89 million households and has been the top-rated basic cable network for more than 10 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
