Kistler (pictured) was most recently executive vice-president, chief strategy and client partner at Symphony AI, and prior to that led global consumer insights and analytics at Walmart.

At IHG, Kistler will be responsible for consumer insights and analytics across the company’s 15 brands globally, with his team also charged with assessing brand and category performance and measuring marketing return on investment. He will also define the future data strategy for the business.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, he will report to chief marketing officer Claire Bennett.

Bennett said: “Having worked with some of the largest global brands in the world, Matt brings extensive experience in consumer intelligence to IHG. His leadership will be critical as we continually strive to get closer to our guests, and leverage data in the most responsible ways to create personal experiences.”

Nick Rich, IHG’s former vice-president, global markets and consumer insights, left the business in the summer of 2018 following a restructure that resulted in the company’s global insights team being moved to Atlanta.