Colleen Fahey Rush

Introduction

Colleen Fahey Rush is a distinguished professional in the media and entertainment industry, with a career marked by significant achievements and leadership roles. She currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer at Paramount, where she has been instrumental since January 2022. In this role, Colleen oversees a comprehensive research, consumer insights, and data analytics operation across Paramount's global portfolio, which includes streaming, broadcast, entertainment, news, and sports brands. Her strategic insights have driven corporate decisions, especially in the innovative realms of streaming and traditional media measurement.

Educational Background

Colleen's career journey is rooted in a robust educational background. She earned her BS in Communication from Cornell University and later pursued an MBA at NYU Stern School of Business. These academic credentials have laid a strong foundation for her to excel in various high-profile roles.

Career Path

Beginning her professional journey, Colleen joined Viacom in January 1996 as the Senior Vice President for Strategic Insights & Research for VH1, CMT, and Logo. She played a key role in overseeing consumer insights, brand research, and analytics for these networks. Her expertise led her to become the Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer for Viacom Media Networks in January 2006. During her tenure, she established a corporate consumer insights practice and managed data across all Viacom properties, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in the field.

Following the merger of Viacom and CBS, Colleen transitioned to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer for ViacomCBS from January 2019 to January 2022. Her responsibilities included leading research and analytics across the company's expansive portfolio.

Advisory and Board Positions

In addition to her executive roles, Colleen has been actively involved in various advisory and board positions. She has served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) since January 2010 and has been an advisory board member for the Department of Communications at Cornell University since January 2012. Her long-standing association with the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) saw her holding multiple roles, including:

• Board Member
• Executive Committee Member
• Finance Committee Member
• Chairman of the Board

Colleen also contributed her expertise to CivicScience, where she was a Compensation Committee Chair and a Member of the Board of Directors between January 2019 and January 2022.

Recognition and Influence

Throughout her career, Colleen has been recognized for her empathetic and energizing management style, mentoring talent, and fostering cross-functional initiatives. She is a sought-after speaker at conferences on media, generational trends, strategy, and team building. Her contributions to the industry are further highlighted by her holding a U.S. Patent in Systems & Methods for Delivering Online Advertisements.

With a career spanning across prestigious organizations and numerous accolades, Colleen Fahey Rush remains a pivotal figure in media research and corporate strategy.