Stagwell today announced the appointment of John Kahan as the network’s first chief AI officer. Reporting to company chairman and CEO Mark Penn, Kahan will spearhead the integration and development of artificial intelligence across Stagwell's global network.  

Kahan brings nearly four decades of experience in data and artificial intelligence, spanning product development, marketing, and sales, as well as advisor to CEOs and senior executives from his days at Microsoft (where he worked with Penn) and IBM.  

Kahan served as vice president and chief data analytics officer at Microsoft. Earlier he served for 18 years at IBM, where he held multiple roles including vice president of integrated marketing communications. He’s credited there for helping to transform the company’s marketing and sales efforts. 

He’s served on several boards including Stagwell’s.  

Penn said Kahan's leadership “will be key in driving our AI initiatives forward, ensuring we continue to provide unparalleled value to our clients."