AOL Executive Vice President Leaves to Take Reins of TARP Worldwide
Dennis Gonier Becomes Chief Executive Officer and Revitalizes Pioneering Firm
Arlington, VA, February 27, 2006 — TARP Worldwide, a leader in customer experience research and services for over 35 years, today announced the appointment of a new CEO, Dennis E. Gonier, to take over executive leadership of the company and launch efforts for stronger impact in the services market. Gonier, a well respected, successful research and strategy veteran of over 20 years, most recently served as Executive Vice President in the Access Division of AOL. Former President and Co-founder of TARP, John Goodman, will now serve as Vice Chairman.
“Our requirements for a new CEO were very high,” said John Brady, founder, Alfred Street Partners, which acquired majority ownership of TARP in 2005 with an 88% investment in the company. “We needed a bright, energetic leader who knows and understands the field of customer research but can also bring a sophisticated level of business savvy to the organization.” With Gonier, said Brady, TARP got all of this—and much more. “Dennis has a strong track record in customer service and research, he has been a pioneer in social science, and he has been very successful wherever he has served. We are delighted that he will lead TARP into its next phase of growth.”
During his tenure at AOL, Gonier helped lead the company’s transformation and played a key role delivering over $1BB in new profits during AOL’s reemergence after the merger with Time Warner. In addition to his tenure at AOL, Gonier was the founder and CEO of Digital Marketing Services (DMS), a successful online marketing services company that pioneered new loyalty strategies and launched online research as an alternative to phone surveys. In 1999, AOL acquired DMS. Prior to the Internet revolution, Gonier served as a Senior Partner with the M/A/R/C Group and as co-founder of Targetbase Marketing, a leading database marketing firm purchased by Omnicom. Gonier has been named one of the ten “21st Century Stars” changing the face of consumer intelligence and marketing by American Demographics.
Regarding his new position, Gonier is excited to be a part of an organization with such an innovative background. “In the field of customer research, TARP stands alone in its strategic experience and financial implications derived from unique research methods,” said Gonier. “Going forward, TARP Worldwide is poised to deliver an even greater contribution to this important aspect of improving the customer experience and the profitability of interactions. We view this area as THE key contributor to improving the financial health and long-term value of companies in virtually all industry segments. I’ve researched it for decades and lived it for years at AOL. I’m thrilled to be a part of TARP Worldwide and help our clients.”
TARP has been a leading innovator in the measurement of customer satisfaction and loyalty since its founding in 1971. The company has substantial experience and a track record of developing sophisticated models to provide Global 2000 companies with financially-based insight into customer service performance. TARP’s offices in Washington D.C. and London serve clients such as DaimlerChrysler, Neiman Marcus, Honda, USAA, Cisco Systems, and AAA.
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