Cambridge Analytica Hires Political Ops Leaders

High profile behavior change company Cambridge Analytica has hired former Republican party execs Ben Shankle and Laquan Austion to jointly lead its political operations in Washington D.C.

Cambridge Analytica is the US affiliate of SCL Group, which uses data science and behavior change consulting to advise political campaigns, issue groups and companies on influencing their various audiences. The firm is funded by US hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer, who also helped fund the Trump presidential campaign, and Cambridge Analytica claims to have been 'instrumental in identifying supporters, persuading undecided voters, and driving turnout to the polls'.

Shankle joins with experience as a government relations professional, attorney and campaign consultant, focusing on data analytics and political operations. He has worked in Republican politics since 2007, and most recently spent two years as the Data Director for the Republican Party of Florida. Austion has more than fifteen years' political and community organizing experience. He previously worked on transportation network company Lyft's government relations, and helped several Senate and House members win their election bids, having begun his career working in the Strategy Division of the Republican National Committee.

Commenting on the appointments, CEO Alexander Nix stated: 'With the 2018 midterm elections fast approaching, we're looking forward to the valuable experience Ben and Laquan bring to the CA Political team to shape and expand our political offerings. After the success of the 2016 presidential campaign, Cambridge Analytica is continuing to grow its US political operations. I'm confident that Ben and Laquan will make our work during future political cycles even more successful'.

Web site: www.cambridgeanalytica.org .