Stagwell Inc. has appointed Jonathan Gardner as chief executive officer of Harris Quest, the AI‑powered market‑research and brand‑management platform that operates under the Stagwell Marketing Cloud division.
Gardner brings more than three decades of experience in market research and polling, having served nearly a decade as chief operating officer of The Harris Poll and holding COO roles at The Marketing Cloud, Subject Matter, and Penn Schoen Berland. His deep operational expertise and data‑driven mindset position him to accelerate Harris Quest’s product development and market expansion.
Harris Quest is a unified brand that blends the AI tools of The Marketing Cloud with the research capabilities of The Harris Poll. Gardner’s mandate is to integrate the platform’s AI capabilities across the Stagwell network, driving cross‑sell opportunities and creating a seamless, AI‑enabled solution for clients seeking real‑time insights and brand strategy support.
Stagwell’s recent financial performance underscores the strategic importance of this appointment. In Q3 2025 the company reported revenue of $743 million, up 4 % year‑over‑year, and an adjusted EPS of $0.24, beating the consensus estimate of $0.23. The earnings beat was largely driven by disciplined cost management and a favorable mix shift toward higher‑margin digital‑marketing services.
Elspeth Rollert, CEO of The Marketing Cloud, said Gardner’s “deep understanding of the marketplace and research tech uniquely positions him to lead Harris Quest to its next chapter of growth.” John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll, added that Gardner’s leadership will help the polling organization differentiate itself through data accessibility and reliability. Gardner himself noted that Harris Quest “bridges the best of both worlds – combining The Marketing Cloud’s cutting‑edge AI tools and The Harris Poll’s market‑research capabilities – and I’m excited to bring expertise from the service side to build technology with a deep, multifaceted understanding of the product.”
The appointment signals Stagwell’s continued focus on AI and data‑driven solutions. By placing an experienced leader at the helm of Harris Quest, the company aims to accelerate the platform’s adoption, deepen cross‑divisional synergies, and capture a growing market for AI‑enabled research and brand‑management services. The move also aligns with Stagwell’s broader strategy of integrating its AI platform across its portfolio, positioning the company to capitalize on the industry’s shift toward real‑time, data‑rich insights.
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