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As Vice President of Digital Media Research at Discovery Communications, David leads efforts focused on developing digital media sales using new and traditional research. These responsibilities extend to demonstrating the value and effectiveness of Discovery’s 360 and cross-platform campaigns. In addition, David directs many proprietary research studies and represents the company in public and industry forums.

Prior to joining Discovery Communications in January 2008, David served as Executive Vice President, Director of Futures & Technologies, at Initiative. David lead the company's research team in the development and deployment of proprietary research initiatives for its clients including: Home Depot, Arbys, SC Johnson, ONDCP, Victoria’s Secret, Bayer, Coors, and Merck. David joined Initiative in August 2001 when TN Media (True North) merged with Interpublic. Prior to joining TN Media in 1997, he was Senior Vice President, Associate Director of research and strategic media insights at Young & Rubicam (Y&R).

David has a record of leadership in the development of successful, consumer-driven media strategies and tactics designed to achieve marketing and communications objectives. His experience includes developing applications for consumer targeting platforms, budget determination/allocation, advertising productivity measures, and optimizing media investments. He has broad-based experience focusing on strategic planning and marketing effectiveness for many of the nation's leading advertisers.

He has published a number of papers and also serves on several committees at the Advertising Research Foundation, Media Ratings Council, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau. David also initiated and directed Initiative's exclusive research partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Comparative Media Studies, which resulted in breakthrough research on a number of issues, including consumer behavior, interactivity and media convergence.

David Ernst is Participating in the following:

SESSION SPEAKER:  MP02: Issues & Trends in Audience Measurement