Leadership

Karen Watson is Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Chief Communications Officer for The Nielsen Company.  In her role, Karen oversees media relations, internal and client communications, public outreach and corporate advertising functions worldwide. 

Karen joined Nielsen in 2006 as Senior Vice President, Communications for Nielsen Media, bringing with her more than 25 years of experience in media, marketing, public affairs and government relations.

Prior to Nielsen, Karen served as Vice President, Government Relations, for EchoStar Satellite Corporation, from 1996-2005.  In that role, she was responsible for the development and implementation of public policy, legislative and regulatory strategy. Karen also represented EchoStar in the Congress, the Executive Branch and regulatory agencies. She directed the company’s grassroots campaigns, media and public relations activities.

Before EchoStar, Karen was Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 1994-1996.  Earlier, Karen worked as a programming executive at the Public Broadcasting Service and as Press Secretary for the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse of the U.S. House of Representatives.  She also spent 10 years in broadcast journalism at National Public Radio and the MacNeil/Lehrer Report.

Karen holds a B.A. in American Studies from Bard College in New York.  She is the mother of two children Erika and James Allen.