Data strategy leadership transition: Slavi Samardzija, former CEO of Annalect Global, joins Stagwell to head their data strategy department.
Stagwell Strengthens its Marketing Technology and AI Capabilities with Key Hires
In a strategic move to deepen its position in marketing technology and AI, Stagwell has announced the appointment of Slavi Samardzija as a leader for its data and technology strategy. Samardzija, a data and technology veteran with 25 years of experience, will join the company in the fall of 2025.
Samardzija spent 11 years at Omnicom’s data and technology unit, Annalect, where he served as its global CEO and oversaw the development of the AI-powered marketing orchestration platform Omni. Prior to Annalect, he worked over a decade at Wunderman and is recognized in the industry as a frequent speaker and trade publication contributor.
At Stagwell, Samardzija will work with a team of executives from major tech firms such as IBM, Accenture, and Uber to drive forward-looking data strategy and technology innovation. His role aligns with Stagwell’s ambitions to capitalize on industry shifts and strengthen growth amid competitors scaling back, by leveraging AI and technology innovation in marketing services.
The appointment of Samardzija coincides with other senior hires, including John Kahan as chief AI officer and Mansoor Basha as chief technology officer of Stagwell Marketing Cloud. Kahan, who previously worked at Microsoft and IBM, is part of Stagwell’s efforts to build its tech and AI capabilities. The title for Samardzija’s position will be announced later this year.
Elspeth Rollert, a senior hire from the tech world, now leads Stagwell Marketing Cloud as its CEO. The company aims to drive more business through its platforms like Stagwell Marketing Cloud and The Machine, an AI-powered operating system. This leadership bolsters Stagwell’s efforts to capitalize on industry shifts and strengthen growth amid competitors scaling back, by leveraging AI and technology innovation in marketing services.
It is important to note that John Kahan's role does not involve the development of AI-powered marketing orchestration platform Omni, which was developed during Samardzija's tenure at Annalect. Additionally, Kahan is not related to Samardzija. Slavi Samardzija previously worked at Omnicom, but his new role at Stagwell marks a new chapter in his career.
In summary, Samardzija’s role is to lead forward-looking data strategy and technology innovation at Stagwell, fitting into the company’s broader plan to drive business growth through marketing technology and AI-driven platforms. His extensive background in leading AI-powered marketing platforms and data strategy at Annalect makes him a strategic hire to support Stagwell’s continued expansion in these areas.
[1] Stagwell Press Release, link [2] Wunderman Press Release, link [3] Adweek, link
- In his new role at Stagwell, Slavi Samardzija will oversee the development of forward-looking data strategies and technology innovations, aiming to foster business growth through marketing technology and AI-driven platforms.
- As part of their efforts to build tech and AI capabilities, Stagell has appointed Slavi Samardzija, a data and technology expert with a background in finance, business, and technology, as their leader for data and technology strategy.
