Zappi’s next chapter: Aaron Kechley appointed CEO, Steve Phillips to step into Executive Chair and CIO

Today, we’re not just turning a page—we’re writing the next chapter of Zappi’s story. We’re thrilled to announce that Aaron Kechley has been appointed as our new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1st, 2024.  With more than 25 years of experience driving innovation and scaling high-growth SaaS companies, Aaron brings a wealth of industry knowledge and a people-first leadership style that will be instrumental in helping our customers unlock the full potential of consumer data and insights for smarter business decisions.

With this transition, our co-founder and longtime CEO, Steve Phillips, will step into the roles of Executive Chair and Chief Innovation Officer. In his new capacity, Steve will focus on what he is most passionate about: advancing AI technology and developing cutting-edge solutions to empower Zappi’s customers to stay ahead of market trends.

“It is with immense pride that we announce the next chapter in Zappi’s story – one characterized by enhancing our ability to help our customers build winning brands,” said Steve Phillips, Executive Chair and Chief Innovation Officer of Zappi. “As an experienced operator of high-growth SaaS companies–and someone that lives and breathes data–I have the utmost confidence that Aaron Kechley is the best person to lead us into the future. I am excited to partner with Aaron in my new role to continue developing cutting-edge technology that helps our customers bring the voice of consumers into every strategic decision.”

In addition to this leadership evolution, Zappi’s President, Ryan Barry, will continue to play a key role in driving the company’s growth. With a strong focus on expanding relationships with our largest enterprise customers, forging new partnerships, and driving Zappi’s market-facing initiatives, Ryan’s leadership will be instrumental in continuing to strengthen Zappi’s position as a leader in consumer insights.

Building on Zappi’s success

From a small team with big ideas to a global insights platform, Zappi has always been driven by innovation and bold thinking. Today, we’re trusted by more than 350 of the world’s most iconic brands—PepsiCo, McDonald’s, Mars, and Heineken, to name a few. Now, with Aaron leading the way, we’re primed to build on that legacy and accelerate our growth, all while staying true to our mission: to help brands stay closer to their costumers than ever before, driving true consumer centricity and solidifying Zappi’s leadership position in the industry.

Meet Aaron Kechley: A proven leader for the future

Aaron joins us with an impressive track record. He brings over 25 years of operating experience leading high-growth technology companies and 15 years building SaaS companies that use data to help companies make better decisions. As President at Inmar Intelligence, he launched and grew Inmar’s data-driven Retail Media platform into a market leader. Previously, Aaron led the transition from managed-service to self-service at dataxu, a leading AI-driven media optimization platform, ultimately acquired by Roku. 

“I am honored to join Zappi as CEO to empower our customers and their brands to succeed,” said Aaron Kechley. “Zappi is disrupting the market research industry, using technology to replace outmoded ways of understanding consumers, enabling brands to learn faster and ultimately outperform their peers. I look forward to leading the company to achieve its vision of helping our customers leverage consumer insights and data to build winning brands.”

What’s next for Zappi?

Over the past year, we’ve made significant strides—launching new products like AI Quick Reports and co-authoring an Amazon #1 bestselling book, The Consumer Insights Revolution, in partnership with PepsiCo. Looking ahead, we’re focused on bringing even more transformative products and enhancing the value we provide to our customers, helping them stay ahead in an ever-changing consumer landscape by bringing the voice of the consumer into every decision-making process.

As we enter this exciting new chapter, our mission and dedication remain steadfast. This transition signals our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our industry while helping our customers stay at the forefront of consumer insights.

Stay tuned for more updates and innovations as we continue this exciting journey!