GroupM Names First Global Chief Innovation Officer

The evolution of WPP media agency network GroupM continues with a new role and further investment in innovation. GroupM promoted Krystal Olivieri to the newly-created position of global chief innovation officer, as the network uses its scale to differentiate innovation offerings, providing clients products and offerings developed at GroupM. Olivieri will be responsible for promoting, enhancing and streamlining GroupM's products and solutions, working in collaboration with GroupM's agencies and partners. "We have incredible pockets of innovation and entrepreneurship across the business and we wanted to bring together one centralized practice that could scale it up," Olivieri told Adweek, explaining the creation of the new role. She said that this applies "whether it's global, regional, or across the agency"—the team wanted to to "have a small product SWAT team focused on future-facing products." In her previous role as global svp, data strategy and partnerships, Olivieri led data strategy and partnerships globally for GroupM and developed the company's Data Ethics Compass, providing structured guidance on data practices beyond adherence to data privacy legislation. "We’ve made a lot of progress toward our goal to create operational efficiencies and better leverage our scale to innovate, differentiate and create sustained value for clients," GroupM global CEO Christian Juhl said in a statement. "Krystal is no stranger to this, as evident in the innovation-led products and solutions she helped conceive and co-design throughout the years, including the Data Ethics Compass launched with Mindshare and Unilever." Framework for the future The Data Ethics Compass functions as one part of GroupM's broader "responsible investment framework." Olivieri characterized the framework as an increasingly important component of GroupM's operations, encompassing brand safety, DEI, responsible journalism and sustainability. The framework will provide a guiding philosophy for the evolution of the innovation practice, and is also fueling GroupM's new global data practice Choreograph. "It's going to be a core component of what our innovation team focuses on, driving innovation in how we allocate media dollars going forward, as well as our broader commitment to society." She explained that the innovation team will function as "collaborative tissues" connecting to different teams across GroupM's business, tapping into and supporting those teams when they have a need in the innovation space. This will include a close working relationship with Choreograph, which will be the eventual home for certain solutions developed by Olivieri's team. "There are certain products or capabilities that we will.. bring to Choreograph, once out of the incubation stage, and ready to scale," she explained. Olivieri said that the innovation team would remain lean to enable working quickly and efficiently. "One of the things we’re most proud of is that [our team is] 80% female and has a broad diversity of backgrounds and skillsets," she told Adweek, adding that diversity will remain a priority. "You need a level of diversity and differentiated thinking." "There's no one-size-fits-all skillet in this type of roll," she added. "It's around problem solving, being curious, thinking outside of the box. We're meant to be lean and impactful, which is exciting." Olivieri's innovation appointment follows GroupM the recent appointment of Andrew Ruegger to global president, GroupM Commerce. GroupM Continues Diversity Drive With Media Inclusion Initiative

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GroupM Names First Global Chief Innovation Officer

Krystal Olivieri will be tasked with promoting and streamlining GroupM's products and solutions

Erik Oster

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Erik Oster