Arun Kumar
Chief Data and Marketing Technology Officer
Arun Kumar serves as IPG’s Chief Data and Technology Officer. In this newly created role, he oversees the development and implementation of global product and technology solutions across the network. As a member of IPG’s management team, Kumar provides strategic counsel and leadership on data infrastructure across IPG’s portfolio of agencies, driving innovation and increasing efficiencies.
In addition, Kumar oversees Kinesso and Matterkind, which bring together top talent in data, technology and addressable activation to deliver data-driven marketing solutions for IPG clients.
With increasing importance on data management and media services, Kumar served as one of the architects behind IPG’s $2.3 billion acquisition of Acxiom Marketing Solutions in July 2018, the network’s largest to date. A leading data services company operating as a standalone unit within IPG, Acxiom is at the forefront of expertly managing and sourcing Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
With oversight of Acxiom, Kumar is responsible for accelerating the global scale of IPG’s data capabilities and product offerings, while maintaining the highest standards of data ethics, privacy and compliance.
As such, with new and emerging regulations, Kumar also serves as IPG’s GDPR business and strategy lead. At IPG, the privacy and security of clients, employees and consumers is critical, thus he has ensured that IPG continues to address new laws with the highest level of rigor and processes. As a result, he is a part of IPG’s GDPR management committee and implements policies in markets around the world.
Kumar continues to develop and promote a strong, diverse team of talented people to sustain these important goals and initiatives. He serves as the executive sponsor and leads IPG’s partnership with Specialisterne, a non-profit that helps companies attract and retain neurodiverse talent.
With more than 20 years of experience in driving digital development, Kumar’s passion for digital found a home with his first role at UM India and later at Starcom as Planning Director and Digital Director working on P&G in China. He has also held roles managing digital for Mediabrands in APAC and across Western Europe, India, China, Japan, Brazil and Mexico.
Kumar earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Delhi. He completed his post-graduate studies in communications at the Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, and his executive education through Wharton’s Advanced Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
