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M. David Keil

M. David Keil (BSJ52) was a member of the inaugural class of the Medill Hall of Achievement in 1997.

Keil served for 15 years as president and managing director of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC). Founded in 1914, ABC is a nonprofit membership association composed of major U.S. and Canadian advertisers, advertising agencies and publishers. Its mission is to verify the circulation claims of newspapers and periodicals for the benefit of advertisers.

During Keil's tenure, ABC's revenue more than doubled to more than $20 million, and its staff increased to more than 250. Among his significant achievements were the complete computerization of the organization and the creation of a comprehensive circulation and demographic data bank. In addition, he created a subsidiary, the Audit Bureau of Verification Services, to provide services to nontraditional media. On his retirement from ABC, Keil was honored by the ABC board of directors with its commitment to annually sponsor a Medill graduate student in summer residence at ABC.

Keil died in 2011.