mediabistro.com has learned that Nielsen Business Media president and CEO Robert Krakoff passed away last night at 71.

Krakoff took over the then-VNU CEO position last August when Mike Marchesano left his post to become to executive VP and "chief transformation officer."

Details soon ...

UPDATE VIA Hollywood Reporter: "Robert Krakoff, president and CEO of Nielsen Business Media, died unexpectedly Thursday night in his Boston apartment, according to Nielsen chairman and CEO David Calhoun. Among the magazines Krakoff oversaw were Editor & Publisher, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter, Adweek, Mediaweek, Brandweek and Photo District News."

UPDATE VIA FOLIO:: Nielsen is expected to name COO Greg Farrar as interim CEO. Krakoff was in New York yesterday at the Neal Awards luncheon and "looked fit as ever."

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