Acxiom CEO Chad Engelgau to Step Down

Chad Engelgau, CEO of Acxiom (Photo provided by Acxiom"

Acxiom CEO Chad Engelgau is leaving the Conway-based data giant at the end of January, according to a news release from the company’s publicly traded owner, Interpublic Group.

Engelgau is stepping down after 17 years with the company, including four as its top executive, to “help transform a global leader in fundraising for non-profits,” IPG said in a news release.  No further details were offered on Engelgau’s next move. Acxiom didn’t immediately respond to a request for more information.

New York-based IPG, which acquired Acxiom in 2018, said a search for Engelgau’s replacement will begin immediately.

John Watkins, Acxiom’s chief operations officer, will assume Engelgau’s role on an interim basis and report to IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky. Watkins joined Acxiom in September after 15 years at Merkle Inc. of Columbia, Maryland, a Japanese-owned company that provides digital customer-relationship management and data services. Watkins’ roles at Merkle included COO and global chief transformation officer.

At Acxiom, one of Watkins’ initiatives is launching a new business unit focused on standardizing, automating and globalizing operations throughout the enterprise.

Krakoswky said Engelgau, who held leadership positions at Acxiom as chief marketing officer and head of strategy, helped the company “retain its place as a thought leader” in the data industry. She called him advocate for Acxiom’s clients on important industry topics, such as the need for a national data privacy law, ethical AI, and transparency on how personal data is used.

In an interview with Arkansas Business last year, Engelgau said an internal patent program and an annual “Shark Tank”-like competition had helped drive innovation at the company, and that embracing remote work had helped the 1,200-employee company recruit talent.

“We believe in hiring the best and brightest, no matter where they live,” he said. “Flexibility allows us to balance a great mix of long-tenured and early-career associates, which we believe is paramount to who we are and our success.”

Engelgau spent time in the arts before he pivoted to tech. His first stop was at Dell, where he said his love for problem-solving and customer experiences drove him into product management and marketing. When it became clear that data and identity were critical for powering customer experiences, he moved to Acxiom to dive deeper into advertising tech and marketing tech.

“Becoming CEO at Acxiom has expanded my sights even further,” he said. “Focusing on keeping our people, partners and clients engaged, evolving and moving forward together is always a challenge, but it is one I relish. Delivering amazing customer experiences to drive business growth is what I know works.”