The world's largest marketing and media research company has confirmed a massive reorganization - not merely a workforce reduction but also the sale of trade publications in Europe and a management shakeup.

VNU has effectively anointed Nielsen Media Research CEO Susan Whiting as No. 2 as part of a "radical repositioning of VNU," with Nielsen's media research services at the core of the company, writes MediaPost's Joe Mandese. Savings from a 10 percent workforce reduction will be invested in Nielsen, including its A2/M2 effort and NielsenConnect.

Much of the savings realized by the 4,000-person workforce reduction will be reinvested into new Nielsen products, including its so-called A2/M2 (Anytime/Anywhere) initiative, and NielsenConnect.

Whiting was named EVP of VNU - the highest-ranking person reporting to new CEO David Calhoun - and chairman of Nielsen Media Research. VNU also confirmed the sale of its European trade publications to a European private equity firm.