C-Suite Appointments for Escalent

In Livonia, Michigan, data analytics and advisory firm Escalent - the parent of C Space and Hall and Partners - has announced the appointment of Abhinav Kothari as Chief Information and Technology Officer, and the promotion of Kisha Payton to Chief DEI Officer and Global Head of Culture.

Escalent was the new name given to the merged Morpace and Market Strategies International in 2019. The firm acquired C Space and Hall & Partners in April 2023 and now employs around 2,000 people in offices across the US and in Australia, Canada, China, India, Ireland, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, the UAE and the UK.

Kothari (pictured left) brings expertise in automation and AI, including intelligent automation and actionable intelligence, and will help drive Escalent's digital transformation initiatives. He joins from ad intelligence company Vivvix where he was CTO, and before that was VP of Engineering at research firm MRI-Simmons. CEO Melissa Sauter comments: 'We look forward to Abhinav's expertise advancing our strategic initiatives and uncovering growth opportunities to keep Escalent and its business units, C Space and Hall & Partners, at the forefront of technological innovation. Abhinav's forward-thinking leadership will be instrumental as we continue to evolve and enhance our capabilities for our clients'.

Payton (pictured right) has spent fourteen years at C Space, establishing the company's Employee Resource Group program, leading its DEI ThinkTank and building an inclusive employer brand. In her new role she will drive the integration of DEI principles throughout the organization, including the development of DEI education and communication systems. 'Kisha brings a wealth of experience and a valuable perspective to our executive team' says Sauter. 'Her passion for fostering an inclusive environment and her talent for affecting meaningful change will be an important driver of our culture'.

Web site: www.escalent.co.