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MSQ has hired James Townsend (ex-Stagwell) as Group CEO, with Peter Reid, who is currently in that role, promoted to Executive Chairman. Collectively they will fuel the next stage of MSQ’s global growth strategy.

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MSQ, the world's most AI-enabled challenger marketing and technology services group, has hired <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-townsend-7329076/" data-new-window="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">James Townsend</a> (ex-Stagwell) as Group CEO, with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-reid1/" data-new-window="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peter Reid</a>, who is currently in that role, promoted to Executive Chairman. Collectively they will fuel the next stage of MSQ’s global growth strategy.
James brings more than 25 years of experience spanning brand strategy, performance marketing and digital transformation. He joins from Stagwell, where he most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Stagwell EMEA and Global Chief Executive Officer of Stagwell’s Brand Performance Network – a portfolio of performance marketing agencies operating across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.&nbsp;
James joins next week with responsibility for day-to-day leadership and driving forward global agency growth and collaboration. Peter Reid, who co-founded MSQ and has served in the role since its inception over 15 years ago, will focus on the overall strategic direction of the group.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for MSQ, as the group continues to build commercial momentum and scale its integrated capabilities, with around 2,000 people now working across 25 global offices in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.&nbsp;
Over the past three years it has completed seven acquisitions in America, Germany and the UK, won and deepened relationships with clients such as Diageo, Chase, The AA, JLL and Dropbox and launched MSQ Intelligence, a central global team dedicated to developing products, services, platforms and data capabilities to power MSQ agencies with world-class tools and intelligence.
Peter and James will work in tandem to ensure a smooth transition into their new roles, supported by MSQ’s Non-Executive Chairman Charles Courtier, COO Dan Yardley and its Executive Directors.&nbsp;
Peter Reid, incoming Executive Chairman, said: 
“This is a genuinely exciting moment for MSQ and for me personally. James brings the energy, experience and vision that we need to accelerate the next chapter of growth and I am delighted that we have attracted him to MSQ.
“It allows me to continue contributing to the strategic direction of a group that I am immensely proud of, while creating space for new leadership to thrive. I very much look forward to working with James as together we embark on the next step in our evolution.&nbsp;
“The culture, ambition and commitment to our clients and our colleagues remains absolutely unchanged.”&nbsp;
James Townsend, incoming Group CEO, commented: 
“MSQ is an exceptional business and has grown to become one of the most scaled challengers – ambitious, entrepreneurial and built on a culture of doing what is right for clients and its people. I have admired what Peter and the team have built and I am thrilled to now be part of it. &nbsp; 
 
“The opportunity ahead is significant. I see a growing market. MSQ has a connected structure, world class talent and an AI platform in Assist that is creating material advantage for modern marketers. All this delivers an opportunity for us to cement ourselves as one of the defining global marketing and technology groups of this decade. 
 
“I look forward to working closely with Peter, the executive team, MSQ’s brilliant agency leaders and most importantly, its clients and colleagues – who are at the heart of everything MSQ does.”
Non-Executive Chairman, Charles Courtier, commented: 
“Peter has been an exceptional CEO over the past 15 years. He is the stand-out UK private equity media executive of that period, having built MSQ from a standing start to the largest and most vibrant independent UK marketing group and one of the fastest-growing in the world. Peter has delivered top quartile returns for two private equity partners and positioned MSQ for future success.&nbsp;
“I am sure Peter will enjoy the headspace that bringing in James will allow and together they will be a formidable team to drive MSQ’s next stage of growth.”

New CEO/Exec Chairman Roles to Fuel Further Growth, Innovation and Development at MSQ

Brings step change in MSQ’s international media capabilities and provides creative firepower, access to transformational technology and runway for growth for January Digital.

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MSQ, the world’s most AI-enabled challenger marketing and technology services group, has acquired <a href="https://januarydigital.com/" data-new-window="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">January Digital</a>, the fast-growing independent media agency trusted by brands including Steve Madden, Interstate Batteries and Supergoop!, as it expands its media capabilities in the US. 
 
The 80-strong team at January Digital, based in New York and Dallas, operates in the retail, beauty, consumer packaged goods and grocery sectors. Set up in 2012 by founder and CEO Vic Drabicky, the company has been named an Inc. Best Workplace for six years straight, an AdAge Best Place to Work and included in Inc’s Top 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies for five consecutive years. 
 
MSQ’s scale, agility, entrepreneurialism and independence attracted January Digital, giving it more creative firepower, access to transformational technology and a stronger runway for growth for its clients and colleagues. 
 
Two years ago, MSQ acquired New York creative agency Big Spaceship. Last year it added Atlanta-based DX agency Arke (subsequently rebranded as MSQ DX). Earlier this year it launched MSQ Intelligence, a new central global team dedicated to developing AI-powered products, services, platforms and data capabilities to power MSQ agencies with world-class tools and intelligence that would be difficult for them to build alone. 
 
Peter Reid, Group CEO of MSQ said: 
“Our model is to build scale that accelerates growth in individual core specialisms and strengthens our market-leading multi-disciplinary approach. Recent acquisitions in the US have increased our presence and strength in creative and tech; January Digital brings significant additional media capabilities to our US clients and agencies, while augmenting our global media presence.
“A warm welcome to Vic and the January Digital team as we maximize these opportunities.”
The January Digital leadership team of Vic, Sarah Engel (President), Nick Drabicky (SVP and General Manager) and JB Brokaw (Chief Operating Officer) will work closely with MSQ’s North America President, Aaron Lang, on maximizing cross-agency opportunities in the US, and with MSQ Media’s broader team, specifically Jo Lyall (Executive Director), Paul Hutchison ‘Hutch’ (Global CEO), Ryan Scott (CEO) and Eric van den Heuvel (MD – USA) – in building out global media opportunities and bringing their combined expertise to specific briefs. 
 
Vic Drabicky added: 
“We are thrilled to join the MSQ family of agencies. In MSQ, we have found a partner that not only adds to our capabilities and scale but does it while aligning perfectly with the values we built JD upon.&nbsp;
“I am genuinely excited about our future and can’t wait to see all the amazing things we accomplish together.” 
 
Aaron Lang commented: 
“Vic and the team have created an incredible business with great people and strong client relationships. It’s a perfect cultural and capability fit for us both. &nbsp;I’m looking forward to strengthening MSQ’s media proposition in the US so that we can continue to provide the integrated, joined-up thinking our clients are asking for to build brand growth and momentum.”
For more information on January Digital visit <a href="https://januarydigital.com/">januarydigital.com</a>

MSQ’s Acquisition of January Digital Completes Suite of Multi-disciplinary Capabilities in US

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The Road to MSQ’s B Corp Certification

Following MSQ’s recent accomplishment of obtaining B Corp Certification, the team who worked closely behind the scenes and drove the wider project talked us through the rigorous path to achieving such a feat and what it means to us.

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MSQ marks World Earth Day with launch of 2023 Sustainability Report

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