Wes Chaar is an established expert and leading thinker in the fields of Analytics and Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, and Data Fusion fields. He brings more than 20 years of experience driving industry-leading innovation to his role as Catalina’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer, where he is focused on bringing greater value to hundreds of millions of shoppers worldwide, while increasing the efficiency, predictability and responsiveness of retailer and brand marketing initiatives.
Wes is applying his skills in revenue management, pricing, channel distribution, consumer choice modeling, CRM and audience targeting to guide Catalina’s investments that will enhance its one-of-a-kind shopper data analytics engine to drive performance for retailers and brands.
With experience spanning the airline, hospitality, online retail, media and marketing sectors, Wes has been published in a wide array of journals and has presented at conferences spanning the airline, hospitality, online retail and media sectors. He is a member of IEEE, INFORMS and I-COM, where he serves as a board member for both Chief Data Officer and Chief Analytics Officer.
Wes’ work has been recognized with an Emmy for Engineering and Technology (Turner team), the INFORMS Innovative Applications of Analytics Award, the ANA Genius Awards for both (i) Marketing Analytics Science and (ii) Excellence in Pioneering Analytics Innovation, the ARF’s Great Mind Award in Analytics Leadership, and he was a finalist for both the Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice and the Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and Advanced Analytics. Wes earned a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr.Saponjic has more than 25 years of drug development experience in the areas of global operations, project management, clinical operations, clinical systems and CRO Management. Prior to Respivant, he was Vice President Global Development Operations at Greenwich Biosciences, responsible for development governance structures, clinical operations, portfolio pipeline process, and supporting the NDA submission and FDA approval for Epidiolex®. Prior to Greenwich, Dr.Saponjic was Vice President, Clinical Operations at Patara Pharma where he was responsible for execution of multiple international Phase 2 studies in the areas of chronic cough, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, indolent systemic mastocytosis, and uremic pruritus. Prior to Patara Pharma, he was Vice President of Global Project Management and/or Clinical Operations at Synteract and PRA Health Sciences. Previously, he held senior management positions at biotech, CRO, and Genomics companies including: AirPharma, Alkensa Pharmaceuticals, Monitorforhire.com, Clingenix, and Quintiles. He earned a BA in Psychology at Texas Tech University, MS and PhD in Neuroscience at Texas Christian University, and a Master’s of Business Administration from Baker University.
Betsey has been in clinical research industry for 25 years with a focus of responsibility in clinical operations, outsourcing and strategic planning. Betsey has extensive experience managing vendors, client relationships, identifying and mitigating risks as well as negotiating contracts and budgets. She has worked in both the pharma and CRO sectors.
In this role, Gary leads W2’s product, marketing, design and innovation teams in Newport to develop and design the company’s products that are used by their clients millions of times every month. Prior to W2, Gary has worked in senior product roles for the likes of Bottomline Technologies, Autotrader and the Number 118118.
Mark started his Marketing career in Mars Inc and for 10 years worked on a number of their global brands across sectors and geographies. Subsequently Mark worked at 118118 and then HSBC.
He joined Direct Line Group in 2012 in the build up to an IPO process and in the past 8 years has overseen the transformation of DLG’s brands and marketing approach, including the multi-award winning reinvigoration of the flagship Direct Line brand. Mark joined the DLG Executive Committee in 2019.
Mark is a Fellow of the Marketing Society and was voted the Financial Services Forum Marketer of the Year in 2015 and the Marketing Society Marketing Leader of the Year in 2018.
In 2016 Mark founded the Sprintathon in support of Stand Up To Cancer. The ambition is to Beat Cancer Faster by sprinting mass-relay marathons in schools and businesses.
Mark is Chair of the Advertising Association’s Front Foot and Non-Exec for LearnEtAl, an EdTech digital learning company
