MSQ Hires Robert Goodwin as First Chief Data Officer

MSQ has boosted its data credentials with the appointment of Robert Goodwin as the group’s first chief data officer.

Robert joins MSQ from Wunderman Thompson, where he was heading up Data Strategy. In the newly created role, he will be responsible for putting data at the heart of MSQ’s current operation, ensuring clients receive best-in-class thinking across the group’s Data Analytics, Data Planning and Data Science functions.

Robert will also support the development of MSQ’s new dynamic content capability, which will be implemented later this year following the group’s strategic partnership with creative production business Brave Spark.

Based in MSQ’s London office, Robert will closely align with Stack, MSQ’s customer acquisition experts, helping the agency deliver further business growth. He will also support The Gate London and Walk-In Media, MSQ’s creative and media agencies, and build connections with MSQ’s data teams outside of London, creating a more consistent data-led proposition at group agencies such as twentysix and Stein IAS. 

At Wunderman Thompson, Robert was responsible for leading one of the largest Data Strategy teams in the UK, working on global clients including Shell, BT & EE, Samsung, Toyota and Selfridges.

Prior to Wunderman he was the chief client officer of data science start-up Outra, a data strategy partner of Lida (now M&C Saatchi) and the data planning director of J. Walter Thompson Worldwide. 

Robert says: “I am delighted to be joining such a high calibre team at MSQ. I’ve been really impressed with the ambition of the Group and the plans it has to genuinely put data at its heart, in order to provide clients with true business-changing solutions.”

Kate Howe, MSQ’s executive director, says: “Our mission is to help businesses build High EQ brands that attract and grow valuable customers. In order to do that, we need to make sure that we provide joined-up, cutting-edge data capabilities at every touchpoint. That’s why it’s important to us to have someone who can drive our data offer across the group, and as soon as we met Rob, we knew that he was the right person to do just that.”