Clive Humby

Clive Humby is a British mathematician and entrepreneur recognized for his pioneering work in data science and customer-centric business strategies, notably co-founding dunnhumby and co-creating the Tesco Clubcard. After co-founding dunnhumby in 1989 alongside business partner Edwina Dunn, Clive Humby went on to co-create the Tesco Clubcard in 1995, a revolutionary initiative recognized as the world’s first mass customization loyalty program. As Chief Data Officer at dunnhumby, Humby was instrumental in applying scientific and technological methodologies to customer data, enabling businesses to understand consumer purchasing trends and behaviors. This program profoundly impacted the grocery and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, contributing to Tesco doubling its market share within three years.

Under Humby’s leadership, dunnhumby expanded its operations globally, establishing offices in 25 countries and employing 1500 people. His strategic vision and application of data science continued to shape industry understanding, famously coining the influential phrase ‘Data is the new oil’ in 2006, emphasizing the profound value of data when refined and analyzed to drive business advantage. In 2011, following decades of pioneering work and significant growth, Humby and Dunn sold their stake in dunnhumby to Tesco, marking a pivotal moment in their entrepreneurial journey. Subsequently, in 2012, Humby and Dunn established H&D Ventures, a specialized business and data science team dedicated to exploring advanced applications for telecoms and financial services data.

His innovative approaches and leadership continue to influence how organizations globally harness the power of data for strategic growth and enhanced customer understanding.