- Mike Boyle, Radio & Records

NEW YORK Arbitron has named Michael Skarzynski, president and CEO, effective immediately. Skarzynski, 52, will also join Arbitron's board of directors.

Stephen B. Morris, 65, who served as president and CEO for 16 years, will continue as chairman of the board and advise Skarzynski during the transition.

Most recently, Skarzynski served as CEO of Iptivia, a privately held performance management software company based in New York, where he was responsible for the restructuring and global expansion of the business.

"After a thorough search process, we believe we have selected the candidate that best matches the requirements for leading the company during these challenging economic times," said Phil Guarascio, Arbitron director and chairman of the Arbitron Board Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. "Michael Skarzynski is an accomplished corporate executive with three decades of experience in general management, sales, marketing, finance, business development, technology, government and international business."

Now that Arbitron has commercialized 14 portable people meter markets, Morris said the timing was right: "This is a good time to hand the reins over to a new chief executive officer. Michael is a visionary leader who can translate the needs of customers and the marketplace into innovative products and services."

"My priorities are clear: focus the collective talent and commitment of the Arbitron team to support our worldwide customer base and ensure our joint success in today’s economic climate," Skarzynski said.

Skarzynski has a strong technology background serving as an executive with Lucent and AT&T Network Systems where he held a number of sales, marketing, business development and GM positions, including vp, COO of the emerging service provider business, a multibillion dollar business unit.

He has served as CEO for one public company, Performance Technologies, and three privately held technology firms – Iptivia, Xebeo and Predictive Networks. Skarzynski's experience also includes management positions with Motorola and appointments as assistant secretary for trade development and chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Skarzynski started his career as an assistant to the president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.

Skarzynski will be based at the Arbitron Columbia, Md., office.