# Ryan Barker

> Ryan Barker is the New York-based founder and CEO of BERA, a brand-intelligence business focused on connecting consumer perceptions with financial outcomes. His background includes brand consultancy at WPP and a marketing and decision-analytics leadership role at Vision Critical. He coauthored a 2018 finance-journal article with Greg Milano and cohosts The Brand Builder’s Playbook with Jim Stengel. The Harris Poll announced its acquisition of BERA in July 2024.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at BERA
- **Organizations:** BERA, Vision Critical, WPP
- **Education:** Thunderbird School of Global Management
- **Known for:** Founded BERA and developed its focus on linking brand equity to business outcomes., Coauthored a 2018 Journal of Applied Corporate Finance article with Greg Milano., Built partnerships connecting brand research, finance and executive practice.

## Career timeline

- **1998-2000** — Studied at Thunderbird School of Global Management.
- **Before BERA** — BERA describes his background as 15 years in brand consultancy at WPP.
- **2013** — Identified as EVP of marketing and decision analytics at Vision Critical in coverage of its BERA research group.
- **2013** — Founding year of BERA Brand Management given in the 2026 Delaware opinion; some secondary profiles give January 2014.
- **2018** — Coauthored Building a Bridge between Marketing and Finance with Greg Milano.
- **2020** — BERA announced partnerships with PeakEquity Partners, Jim Stengel and the Jim Stengel Company.
- **2024** — The Harris Poll announced its acquisition of BERA on July 12.
- **2025** — Cohosted The Brand Builder’s Playbook with Jim Stengel.

## Achievements

- Founded BERA and developed its focus on linking brand equity to business outcomes.
- Coauthored a 2018 Journal of Applied Corporate Finance article with Greg Milano.
- Built partnerships connecting brand research, finance and executive practice.
- Cohosted an eight-part brand-building podcast with Jim Stengel.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — On May 29, Delaware’s Court of Chancery dismissed CIBC’s derivative claims and allowed its tortious-interference claim against Barker to proceed. The decision addressed pleading sufficiency, not final liability.
- **2025-10** — The Brand Builder’s Playbook launched on October 14, with Barker and Jim Stengel as hosts.
- **2025-05** — Appeared with Ken Favaro on Create More Value to discuss brand management under activist-investor pressure.

## Links

- Website: https://bera.ai/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-barker-0b8b114

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ryan-barker
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21