Radio Ink - Radio's Premier Management & Marketing Magazine

COLUMBIA, MD -- June 1, 2009: Arbitron is bringing in Dierdre Blackwood as SVP/Corporate Communications, reporting to EVP/Chief Marketing Officer Alton Adams. She was most recently VP/Corporate Communications & Investor Relations with communications company TerraStar, and in her new post, Arbitron said, will be charged with consolidating the Corporate Communications group, which includes marketing communications, public relations, and investor relations.

 "As Arbitron moves in new directions, it was critical to combine these communications functions in order to better align strategic communications and message development around our key growth initiatives," Adams said. "Deirdre's expertise across the breadth of communications disciplines will help drive Arbitron's communications initiatives and help better address the need for timely, disciplined and unified external messaging to our key constituencies --which is critical during this time of rapid change."

Blackwood has a background in the government as well as the corporate sector, having served as press secretary for Sen. John McCain (R-Z) and a senior staffer for former New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato. She's also worked in communications roles in the Departments of Commerce and Transportation.

Blackwood succeeds longtime Arbitron communications chief SVP/Press & Investor Relations Thom Mocarsky will be leaving the company at the end of this month.