Mediabrands appoints Clay Gill as its first chief data and technology officer

IPG Mediabrands has announced Clay Gill (above right) will take on the newly created role as chief data and technology officer of IPG Mediabrands Australia. He will also continue to operate on the Mediabrands’ executive leadership team.

Gill’s remit is to set and drive strategic growth and operational excellence across the Group, ensuring IPG Mediabrands transforms into the most recognised digital and data-led agency group in Australia.

Mark Coad (above left), CEO Mediabrands said Gill will be leading the ongoing transformation of data through exploration and analysis, uncovering patterns, opportunities and insights that drive evidence-based decision-making solutions for clients. With a clear ambition for Mediabrands to lead and transform the industry’s response to data and technology, Coad said the role was paramount to the Group’s future success: “We needed a leader at Executive level to help drive IPG’s ambition to revolutionise the industry, drive innovation, and achieve unparalleled success driven on the power of data and technology.

“Clay has been very successful in building our data led programmatic offering, he has incredible product knowledge, is a visionary leader and will play a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s data-driven future. I am delighted he has moved into this new strategic role.

“With Clay at the core of Mediabrands’ data and technology offering, it allows us to create the best collective thinking we can for client outcomes across our brands. No one has all the answers on the future, and some are trying to complete this unknown with badged on tools and techniques but Clay’s global experience positions him perfectly to make things happen.”

Gill’s career at IPG began with the successful transition of Cadreon to Matterkind in early 2020, before he was promoted to CEO IPG Kinesso where he spearheaded IPG’s programmatic offering, leading growth in the agency’s data and technological solutions; and becoming the first agency in the group to establish Acxiom’s 1PD programmatic offering in Australia. Under his tenure he also successfully grew Matterkind’s business year on year achieving double digital growth and was also the linchpin for IPG in successfully launching the SPO solution with exclusive SSP partners.

On his new appointment Gill says: “As data and technology continue to frame the future of our clients’ businesses, it is critical that we stay on top of this evolving landscape.

“I have always been strongly attracted to accelerated levels of engagement for brands and customers through the analyses of sophisticated data streams. The intelligence in these streams means we can share better insights with our clients and ultimately deliver better actions in media outcomes.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to strategically lead this area for Mediabrands, supported by resources from across the group.”