HOWARD SHIMMEL
Chief Research Officer,
Turner

Howard Shimmel is chief research officer at Turner, where he oversees all multi-screen entertainment, news, kids and sports research, as well as corporate analysis and insight-led efforts. Shimmel reports to Doug Shapiro, chief strategy officer, Turner. 

Shimmel has played a critical role in driving the company’s efforts around the consumer journey and insights to better capture measurement for both Turner and its partners. Earlier this year, in partnership with Turner Ad Sales’ Turner Ignite team, launched the Turner Ad Lab with a goal to make recommendations about linear and digital video innovations in light of the changing TV landscape. The Turner Ad Lab Advisory Board is comprised of executives from Turner and across the industry, buyers, professors and technologists. 

Prior to be promoted to his role in 2014, Shimmel was senior vice president of ad sales and sports research for Turner, where he oversaw television and digital research analysis and strategy supporting the company’s news, entertainment, animation, young adults & kids and sports advertising sales units.  He joined Turner from Nielsen Media & Advertising Analytics where he served as executive vice president responsible for building out an advanced analytic business focused on issues like cross-platform analytics, advanced media targeting, promotion effectiveness and ROI measurement, for media companies, agencies and advertisers. Shimmel’s industry-rich experience includes other leadership roles at The Nielsen Company, America Online, WBIS and MTV Networks. He also served as president of Symmetric Resources, Inc. Over the span of his career, Shimmel has developed research expertise related to technology adoption, methodology and advertising’s impact on sales. 

Shimmel frequently appears at various industry events. He is a board member for both the ARF and MRC, where he also is actively involved with the ARF Young Pros, as well as a member of Nielsen’s Council for Research Excellence. He and his team have been repeatedly honored with industry awards, including Research Business Daily’s “Cilent of the Year” for Neuroscience (2014), and a recipient of the VAB (formerly CAB) Jack Hill Award for excellence and integrity in media research (1993) and its President’s Award (1990). Shimmel received a bachelor of science degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. 

Turner, a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, sports, animation and young adult multi-platform content for consumers around the world. Turner brands and businesses include CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International and CNN.com, TBS, TNT, TCM, truTV, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Turner Sports, Bleacher Report, iStream Planet and ELEAGUE.