Gartner research Vice President Marty Kihn has gone to the agency world to take an unspecified role at Dentsu Aegis Network.
Gartner confirmed the move, but neither Kihn nor Dentsu Aegis responded to requests for comment.
“Marty Kihn did leave Gartner and accepted an opportunity with Dentsu Aegis,” a Gartner spokesperson said in an email to AdExchanger. “We will be backfilling Marty’s position in addition to filling other open headcount in data and analytics, mar tech and advertising, so you’ll be seeing thought leadership from some new talent soon.”
Kihn was recognized at Gartner for his extensive research of ad tech, especially data management platforms, and other marketing technology. He has been the face of Gartner’s research division for the past five years.
He’s known for his many musings at AdExchanger about marketing tech, attribution, data-driven marketing, ad tech and walled gardens, as well as his love for Taylor Swift. (It’s unclear if Kihn’s move to Gartner was due to “Bad Blood.”)
This won’t be Kihn’s first stint in the agency world. He was director of strategy and analysis at DigitasLBi for six years before moving to independent agency Fallon as director of analytics.
Kihn also spent time at Booz & Co. as a management consultant, which inspired his book and the TV show “House of Lies.”