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# MSQ names Stagwell’s James Townsend as new group CEO
- URL: https://www.medianexis.com/msq-names-stagwells-james-townsend-as-new-group-ceo/
- Published: 2026-10-19T16:50:36.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-19T16:50:37.000Z
- Description: MediaPost’s Steve McClellan reports that MSQ has named James Townsend group CEO, succeeding Peter Reid, who moves to executive chairman, with Townsend arriving from Stagwell where he ran Stagwell EMEA and the Brand Performance Network.
- Author: The Signals Desk
- Tags: Agencies, Steve McClellan, MSQ hires Stagwell's Townsend as Group CEO

**Why it matters.** Stagwell loses a senior international executive just as MSQ accelerates its US expansion through acquisitions.

*Signal from* [*mediapost.com*](https://mediapost.com/?ref=medianexis.com) *·* [*Steve McClellan*](https://www.medianexis.com/tag/by-steve-mcclellan/) *·* [*read the original*](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/418764/msq-poaches-stagwells-townsend-for-group-ceo-role.html?ref=medianexis.com)*.*