Dudgeon, who spent three months working with Acxiom on a consultancy basis earlier this year, becomes responsible for managing and growing all Acxiom's clients in the retail, travel, leisure and utilities sectors.
Stephen Whyte, Acxiom's European chief executive, said: "He is highly commercial, strategic, and has very broad experience across multiple regions."
Dudgeon's departure from Universal McCann .
He held various senior posts at the Interpublic agency's London and New York offices during more than 25 years, apart from an 18-month stint at Classic FM.