Google Exec Kirk Perry Named President, CEO of IRI

IRI, the Chicago-based global provider of technology, data and predictive analytics for the consumer, retail and media sectors, has appointed Kirk Perry as president and CEO, and a member of its board of directors, effective May 17. Perry comes to IRI from Google, where he was president of global client and agency solutions responsible for driving the tech company’s global revenue with the world’s largest advertisers and advertising agencies since 2013.

Perry succeeds Andrew Appel, who has led a transformation of IRI for nearly a decade. Under Appel’s leadership, IRI has more than doubled revenues, elevated its IRI Liquid Data insights platform, and pioneered solutions involving AI and machine learning, the company said. Appel will remain an adviser to the company and member of the board of directors.

Prior to joining Google, Perry spent more than two decades at Procter & Gamble in leadership and marketing roles, including most recently as president of P&G global family care, a multibillion dollar global business that includes the Bounty, Charmin and Puffs brands. He also was VP of P&G U.S. operations and North America marketing, P&G’s biggest region, with responsibilities that included oversight of the region’s marketing and sales operations organizations. Perry also serves on the boards of The J.M. Smucker Co. and e.l.f. Cosmetics.

“The IRI team, under the leadership of Andrew Appel since 2012, has transformed the company and developed an excellent track record of partnering with clients to leverage data, technology and cutting-edge ideas for accelerated speed of insight generation, helping clients achieve better business results,” said Jeffrey Ansell, chairman of IRI, in a statement. “On behalf of the company and board of directors, I’d like to thank Andrew for his outstanding contributions and lasting impact.

“I’m delighted to welcome Kirk as IRI’s next president and CEO,” Ansell continued. “He’s an impressive, well-respected leader whose background makes him uniquely suited to understand both the evolving needs of our clients and the power of harnessing data, insights and technology to enable better decision making and superior performance.”

“Having managed and supported some of the world’s largest consumer brands in both the consumer packaged goods and technology industries, I have deep appreciation for IRI’s advanced capabilities and its critical role as an insights leader in the industry amidst a dynamic and evolving consumer and marketing landscape,” said Perry. “I look forward to building on IRI’s success, market position and competitive advantages to deepen its connection with clients, ensuring the company becomes an even more valuable partner to companies seeking to drive growth.”

“It has been a great privilege to lead this incredible company for nearly a decade and work alongside the most talented, hard-working and good-hearted colleagues,” said Appel. “I’m tremendously proud of what the IRI team has accomplished to date, and I am certain that the Company’s best years are ahead as IRI builds on its strong momentum. I look forward to contributing to this future as an Advisor and Director while ensuring a smooth transition. I’m confident IRI will be in terrific hands with Kirk, given his impressive track record of client leadership, deep experience in technology and media and passion for people.”

Under Appel’s leadership, IRI has undergone a “significant transformation of its technology, data and predictive analytics offerings,” said the company, the revenue of which has more than doubled since 2013. IRI points to other key company accomplishments during Appel’s tenure, including democratizing Liquid Data, “which has become the industry’s leading technology, automation and insights platform,” says the company.

Additionally, with Appel’s leadership, IRI has expanded the world’s largest repository of anonymized consumer data; created the IRI partner ecosystem; transformed IRI’s relationships with retailers; launched a media business; pioneered solutions that leverage AI and machine learning; and strengthened the company’s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including launching efforts to provide pro bono services to minority-owned CPG startups.