Exhibit 10(v)




                                                              December 16, 1999


Robert J Lievense
President and Chief Operating Officer
ACNielsen Corporation
177 Broad Street
Stamford, CT  06901

Dear Bob:

     I would like to confirm the terms of your retirement:

     o        Promptly following the December 16 Board meeting, we will announce
              your  decision to retire  effective  at the end of next year.  You
              will relinquish your titles and Board seat effective  December 31,
              1999  but  remain  employed  by  ACNielsen  in a  senior  advisory
              capacity during 2000.

     o        You will not receive additional option grants. Your WAIP bonus for
              1999,  to be paid in February  2000,  will be no less than 100% of
              target.

     o        For  2000  you  will be paid a  salary  of  $510,000;  a bonus  of
              $450,000;  and a 1999-2000  incentive award in accordance with the
              terms of the current two-year incentive program.

     o        At the end of 2000,  you will  retire  from the  Corporation  with
              11-1/2  years of service.  Accordingly,  your SERP benefit will be
              based on 53% of your "Average Final  Compensation".  You will also
              be entitled to retiree  medical and dental  coverage in accordance
              with the terms of our health plan.

     o        In accordance with ACNielsen's option plans, you will, in general,
              have five  years from your date of  retirement  to  exercise  your
              stock  options.  Please  note,  however,  that no  options  may be
              exercised after their ten-year expiration date.

     o        For the first  quarter  of 2000,  William  Deam will  continue  to
              report to you. Yiannis  Papadopoulos,  Emerging Markets,  and Jane
              Perrin,  Global  Information  Systems,  will report to you for the
              entire year.
<PAGE>
                                       2

     o        For 2001, you will serve as a consultant to the  Corporation.  You
              will be paid a fee of $960,000 (in installments). You will also be
              entitled to specified benefits  (including  financial  counseling,
              club dues, and annual physical).  Your consultancy  agreement will
              contain  mutually  agreeable  customary terms and conditions.  The
              agreement will also provide that in the event of your death during
              the  consultancy,  any  remaining  fees  will be  payable  to your
              estate.

     o        We will  reimburse  you for  your  relocation  back to the  United
              States.   In   addition,   we  will   ensure   that  you  are  not
              tax-disadvantaged  by reason of your stay in Europe while employed
              by us.

     If the  foregoing is agreeable to you,  please sign and return one copy
     to me.


                                                           Sincerely,
                                                           /s/ Earl H. Doppelt



EHD:dgh




Agreed to and Approved



/s/ Robert J Lievense
---------------------
Robert J Lievense


Date: 12/16/99