With a proven track record in advertising and brand research, Fenton brings a bold vision for the future of insights. Fenton’s deep industry expertise will help propel MarketCast into its next phase of growth, delivering smarter, more strategic value to a dynamic and growing client base.

CULVER CITY, Calif. – July 14, 2025 – MarketCast, a leading technology and data-enabled market research and analytics firm, announced today current Co-President Amy Fenton has been elevated to the position of CEO, effective immediately.

The decision comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, as media fragmentation accelerates and brands face growing pressure to use real-time, predictive data to optimize campaigns and drive measurable sales outcomes.

Fenton is a seasoned advertising and brand executive who’s played a huge role in shaping MarketCast’s research and operations. As an accomplished strategist with over 30 years of experience, her leadership qualities and unmatched industry knowledge will continue to position MarketCast as an essential strategic partner for brand and campaign intelligence solutions — crucial for any company operating in today’s modern fast-moving, media marketplace.

Prior to joining MarketCast nearly three years ago, Fenton held senior leadership roles at top firms, such as Nielsen, Ipsos and Kantar. She currently serves on the Board of

Trustees for the ARF and had previously been a Member of the Board for the National Brain Tumor Society.

"We are confident that Amy will be a tremendous leader for our clients and employees alike," said Ahmed Wahla, Partner with Kohlberg, MarketCast’s lead financial investor. "With a focus on product modernization through AI and data science, client-centric commercial focus, and talent development, Amy’s leadership best positions MarketCast for the future to arm our clients with real time predictive data driving marketing ROI for their enterprise."

Fenton will place an emphasis on innovation, infusing AI across the business to enhance speed and efficiency for MarketCast’s clients, and building out best-in-class ad/brand products to deliver real-time, predictive data that drives sales outcomes.

“MarketCast has an impressive track record delivering world-class insights and data that brands have come to rely on to deliver measurable impact,” said Fenton. “I’m excited to lead the transformation and modernization of our solutions so, ultimately, our clients can successfully compete and win in today’s dynamic media marketplace.”

Paul Forgue, who has been instrumental in advancing analytics on the financial performance of the company and deploying mission-critical technology, will remain as President and CFO at MarketCast, maintaining his leadership role as he oversees the Finance, Legal, and Corporate IT organizations.

MarketCast has evolved from a boutique custom research firm into a leading technology and data-enabled insights and analytics company. Today, MarketCast provides AI-powered advertising research to more than 80 percent of the top U.S. advertisers. MarketCast’s Brand Effect platform is the gold standard for measuring ad breakthrough, while its brand research and data science capabilities are trusted by the world’s most influential marketers to guide creative, media, and brand strategy.

Annual Report Derived from 20K Consumers Ranks Amazon, Google, and YouTube at the Top As Loyalty, Trust and Identity Prove Key to Brand Resilience

Culver City, Calif. — June 11, 2025 — MarketCast, the leading marketing research firm helping brands maximize their advertising impact and amplify brand fandom, today launched the results of its 2025 Brand Fandom 50, a sweeping study of over 20,000 U.S. adults and nearly 300 brands over three years. The research reveals an unprecedented look into the brands that spark deep emotional connection with consumers, and how that fandom translates into business resilience and lasting customer loyalty.

Amazon, Google, YouTube, Apple and Walmart lead this year’s Fandom 50, standing out for how seamlessly they’ve integrated into Americans’ lives across shopping, entertainment and utility.

“The strongest brands today aren’t just seen or heard; they’re felt,” said Ed Trujillo, SVP of Brand Solutions at MarketCast. “Our research shows that the top-performing brands have become part of the fabric of consumers’ lives. Whether it’s through everyday utility, emotional resonance, or cultural relevance, these brands have embedded themselves in routines, conversations and communities. That’s the hallmark of true brand fandom—when a brand stops being a choice and starts being a constant.”

For the third year of the study, MarketCast studied 162 brands across 21 categories, zooming in on the power of Brand Fandom to drive purchase decisions and its influence on bottom-line business health.

Key Findings Include:

• Daily Touchpoints Drive Devotion: Top-ranked brands like Amazon (#1) and Apple (#4) win not just for their products, but for being everywhere—from retail and delivery to devices and entertainment, they are embedded into consumers’ daily lives.
• Fandom Equals Business Health: Even amid market pressures, brands with high fandom scores outperform peers on purchase intent, emotional connection, and long-term brand resilience. In fact, two-thirds of brands MarketCast studied experienced revenue shifts in sync with Brand Fandom.
• Love Doesn’t Always Mean Trust: Tech brands score high on affection, but some fall short on trust. Amazon is a rare exception—ranking #1 in Fandom with 82% Overall Love and 74% Overall Trust ratings.
• Fandom Can Be Cross-Generational: Chick-fil-A defies demographics, ranking in the Top 50 across every age and income group.
• Retail Preferences Shift by Income: While Walmart ranks #5 overall, high-income households prefer Costco and The Home Depot, showcasing how perceptions of value evolve with spending power.
• Nostalgia, Joy, and Style Still Matter: Oreo (#4 for Fandom among 35-49 year olds with an 83% Overall Love rating), Nintendo (#16 for Fandom among Gen Z with an 82% Overall Love rating), and Levi’s (#5 for Fandom among Gen Z and Millennials) prove that emotional resonance and timeless appeal still capture hearts and dollars.

Top 10 Brands by Fandom in 2025 (All Demographics):

1. Amazon
2. Google
3. YouTube
4. Apple
5. Walmart
6. Netflix
7. Coca-Cola
8. Visa
9. Levi’s
10. Samsung

“Brands that build fandom aren’t just loved, they’re resilient,” added Trujillo. “They can better withstand economic shifts, price pressure and rising competition because their fans stick with them through it all. In today’s state of economic uncertainty, this has never been more important for brands.”

The 2025 Brand Fandom 50 was powered by MarketCast’s Brand Tracking Plus solution, the first measurement framework designed to quantify and diagnose fandom as a driver of brand strength, equity and growth.

For the full Top 50 list and deep dive insights, visit https://marketcast.com/brand-fandom-2025/.

MarketCast Taps Internal Leaders to Shape What’s Next for Brands Looking to Maximize the Impact of their Advertising

CULVER CITY, Calif. – May 1, 2025 – MarketCast, a leading technology and data-enabled market research and analytics firm, announced today that seasoned industry leaders Amy Fenton and Paul Forgue have been appointed Co-Presidents to lead the company into its next chapter. Together, they will focus on accelerating MarketCast’s product innovation and delivering faster, smarter, AI-powered research solutions to clients, including some of the world’s top brands and advertisers.

Fenton, a well-established authority in advertising and brand research, has been instrumental in MarketCast’s transformation since stepping in as Chief Analytics and Operations Officer in 2022. With a track record for execution, Fenton has helped elevate how MarketCast delivers research insights and value to its clients. Prior to MarketCast, she held senior leadership roles at Nielsen, Kantar, and IPSOS, and currently sits on the board of the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF).

For his part, Forgue, who joined MarketCast as Chief Financial Officer in 2024, brings deep financial expertise, operational excellence and a strong track record growing businesses across multiple industries. During his tenure at MarketCast, Forgue has driven efforts to modernize the company’s business intelligence systems, improve operational efficiency, and support the business through a period of transformative growth.

“Amy and Paul bring the ideal mix of technology and advertising expertise, financial acumen, and leadership to guide MarketCast’s next chapter,” said Ahmed Wahla, Partner with Kohlberg, MarketCast’s lead financial investor. “Together, they’ll accelerate our technology roadmap, delivering data-driven solutions that help our clients thrive and win in a rapidly evolving, and often complicated media landscape.”

MarketCast has evolved over the past few years from a boutique custom research firm into a leading technology and data-enabled insights and analytics company. Today, MarketCast provides AI-powered advertising research to more than 80 percent of the top U.S. advertisers. Its Brand Effect platform is the gold standard for measuring ad breakthrough, while its brand research and data science capabilities are trusted by the world’s most influential marketers to guide creative, media, and brand strategy.