Three SVP Hires for Material

In Los Angeles, insights and marketing group Material has announced three new senior hires: Maury Giles as SVP, Growth; Arun Kumar as SVP and Global Data and Analytics Practice Lead; and Kate Whittle as SVP, Strategy and Innovation.

Material combines insights, data engineering, design and technology to help companies improve customer relationships and drive growth, and to develop customer-centric business models. The company grew out of LRW Group (formerly Lieberman Research Worldwide): it was renamed four years ago after a number of acquisitions including Greenberg Strategy, Kelton Global, Tonic Insight and icanmakeitbetter.

Giles brings more than 25 years of experience designing market research and applying actionable insights to projects spanning communications, customer experience and product and service strategy. He joins from Heart+Mind Strategies where he was Chief Growth Officer, and earlier founded his own consulting firm, Pursuit Strategies, as well as launching Ipsos' Strategy3 division. In his new role he will contribute to Material's ongoing growth in integrated solutions across insights, strategy, marketing and technology.

Kumar joins from Hero Digital, where he was EVP and Global Practice Lead for Data and AI, and earlier worked in senior data and analytics positions at Publicis and Wunderman Thompson. He brings in-depth experience in driving client growth and success, building high-performing data and insights teams and expanding organizational capabilities and effectiveness through the strategic use of data and AI.

Whittle (pictured) worked most recently at PSB Insights, in roles including MD for Research Excellence, Chief Experience Officer and, most recently, Chief Client Officer. Described as a highly impactful and motivational team leader, she will now play an instrumental role in Material's strategy and insights practice, building innovative new solutions and offerings that align with ongoing shifts in the business landscape and clients' evolving challenges.

Material CEO Bill Kanarick comments: 'Each of these leaders brings tremendous value to Material, our clients and our collective ability to unlock human insights and deliver transformative solutions to complex modern business challenges. In keeping with Material's core values, Maury, Arun and Kate all boldly exemplify what it means to be a builder. I look forward to their impact as we continue to strengthen our interconnected teams and build innovative solutions for the clients we serve'.

Web site: www.materialplus.io .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.