Covo Intelligence Taps Veteran Tony Cheevers to Drive Strategic Growth

NEW YORK, NY – July 16, 2026 – Covo Intelligence, a boutique research and intelligence firm known for its focus on delivering strategic insights, has appointed industry veteran Tony Cheevers as its new Director of Strategic Growth. The move, effective July 15, signals a deliberate push by the firm to expand its market footprint by formalizing its business development under a leader with over three decades of experience in building client-centric organizations.

In his new role, Cheevers is tasked with leading Covo's expansion efforts, deepening relationships with its portfolio of brands and agency partners, and growing the client base for its custom research and consulting services. The appointment comes at a time when businesses are increasingly seeking clarity and actionable guidance in a marketplace saturated with raw data.

A Strategic Move in a Competitive Landscape

Covo Intelligence has carved out a niche in the crowded market research industry by positioning itself as a firm that moves “beyond data to intelligence.” While large, full-service firms often provide vast datasets, Covo’s boutique approach emphasizes delivering a strategic point of view. The firm specializes in helping organizations navigate pivotal moments—such as brand repositioning, new market entry, or product validation—by uncovering not just what people think, but why they feel that way. This is supported by proprietary offerings like its “Intelligent Impact” framework and the “Covolocity” rapid research platform, designed to deliver real-time insights.

The decision to hire a dedicated Director of Strategic Growth is a significant step for the independent firm. It reflects a clear ambition to scale its high-touch, partnership-based model. In an industry with players ranging from global giants like NielsenIQ to agile tech platforms, Covo is betting on the value of deep, consultative relationships. Cheevers' appointment is the cornerstone of this strategy, formalizing the firm’s growth engine and signaling to the market its readiness for a new phase of expansion.

“Tony is exactly the kind of partner we need as Covo grows,” said Colby Vogt, founder and president of Covo Intelligence, in a statement. “He's spent his career building genuine relationships with brands and agencies, always in service of helping them uncover the truth about their markets and customers, and that's exactly the standard our clients have come to expect from us.”

The Relationship-Driven Leader

Cheevers brings a wealth of experience that aligns seamlessly with Covo’s ethos. His career is a testament to a philosophy rooted in the power of human connection in a data-driven world. Before joining Covo, he spent nearly a decade at Researchscape, where he most recently served as Customer Success Officer. In that role, he was a chief customer advocate, responsible for leading sales, communications, and marketing initiatives with a focus on relationship-selling.

His extensive background includes leadership positions across a diverse range of industries, with tenures at Virgin in the UK, KLM in the Netherlands, the French technology firm Schlumberger, and a role as a national account manager with the U.S. Postal Service. This varied experience provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing global brands.

Cheevers’ approach is a direct response to the commoditization of data. He believes that insights and strategy are only as valuable as the trust and partnership behind them. “Over more than three decades in this business, I've learned that research and strategy only matter if the relationship behind them is real,” Cheevers stated. “That's exactly what drew me to Covo – a team that treats every client relationship as a partnership, not a transaction. I'm looking forward to helping brands see what's possible when they have that kind of partner in their corner.”

Redefining Intelligence in the Age of AI

Cheevers' appointment is reflective of a broader trend shaping the future of the market intelligence sector. As artificial intelligence continues to automate data collection and analysis at an unprecedented scale, the role of the human expert is shifting. Businesses are often described as “drowning in data but starving for answers.” The true value is no longer in the data itself, but in the interpretation, strategic guidance, and contextual understanding that a seasoned partner can provide.

Firms that can successfully bridge the gap between AI-powered data processing and human-led strategic counsel are poised to lead the next evolution of the industry. While AI can identify patterns and correlations, it often lacks the ability to explain the 'why' behind consumer behavior or navigate complex corporate decision-making. This is where strategic hires like Cheevers become critical. His role is not just to sell research projects, but to build long-term partnerships that help clients make sense of the noise and turn intelligence into a competitive advantage.

Covo Intelligence appears to be leaning into this hybrid model, leveraging technology for rapid insights while doubling down on the human element for strategy and relationship management. By bringing in a leader whose career is defined by building trust, the firm is making a clear statement about where it believes the future of intelligence lies: at the intersection of powerful technology and authentic human partnership.