Leanne Smith Named Chief Data Privacy Officer at Compas
The new leadership role integrates data technology and compliance to address evolving regulatory landscape requirements.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in People
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CMI Media Group and Compas have appointed Leanne Smith as Chief Data Privacy Officer, tasking her with overseeing enterprise governance and regulatory compliance. The Philadelphia-based organizations, which focus on data integration and privacy, promoted the 20-year veteran to manage cross-functional teams spanning data management, automation, and reporting.
Why it matters
As businesses navigate increasingly complex regulatory requirements, centralizing privacy oversight is a strategic move to ensure compliance across HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA standards. This promotion underscores the growing importance of embedding data governance into the core operational processes of marketing and analytics firms.
Leanne Smith brings 25 years of total industry experience and 20 years of tenure within the organizations to her new role. This change occurs at Compas, which has been in operation for 35 years.
The players
Leanne Smith
The new Chief Data Privacy Officer with 25 years of industry experience and 20 years of tenure at the firms.
CMI Media Group
A WPP-owned organization focused on data-driven marketing and technology solutions.
Compas
A minority-owned-and-operated business with 35 years of history in the industry.
The details
In her new role, Smith leads an integrated team responsible for the convergence of data technologies, automation, and operational privacy processes. She holds full ownership of the enterprise privacy program, ensuring the business maintains rigorous compliance standards while simultaneously scaling its data analytics capabilities. This operational structure is designed to harmonize the firm's data reporting and privacy adherence across the organization.
Timeline
October 21, 2026: Leanne Smith promotion announced.
Market Landscape
This promotion aligns with the operational requirements of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). It reflects a broader industry trend where firms appoint dedicated privacy officers to manage complex data compliance frameworks.
Operators should evaluate their own organizational structure to determine if data privacy responsibilities are sufficiently centralized to meet evolving regulatory requirements. The integration of privacy oversight into broader data strategy can help mitigate compliance risks associated with HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA.
The takeaway
Centralizing data privacy under a single executive officer is a key strategy for managing technical and regulatory compliance at scale. Management should regularly review the alignment between their current data governance processes and the increasing scope of international and state-level privacy mandates.
Further reading
Explore industry leadership trends in People.
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