• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, January 12, 2024

Five years after acquiring Big Data giant Acxiom for $2.3 billion, Interpublic announced Chad Engelgau is stepping down as its CEO.

"Engelgau, a 17-year Acxiom veteran and its CEO, is leaving the company at the end of January to help transform a global leader in fundraising for non-profits," Interpublic said in a statement, adding that a search to replace Engelgau will begin immediately and that in the interim, Acxiom COO John Watkins will report to IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky, as had Engelgau.

Prior to becoming Acxiom’s CEO in March of 2020, Engelgau served as global chief data strategist of IPG Mediabrands' Kinesso unit, which he joined in April 2019 after serving as Acxiom's Chief Marketing Officer and head of strategy.