Mark Penn

Mark Penn is an American marketing and public relations executive, pollster, political strategist, and author. He is best known for his work with Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as with major corporations.

Penn's career began in polling and market research. He co-founded Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB), a global market research and polling firm. During his time at PSB, he advised numerous political campaigns and corporate clients on messaging and strategy.

He served as chief strategist for Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign and her 2008 presidential campaign. His role in the 2008 campaign was marked by controversy, particularly related to his dual role as strategist for Clinton and simultaneously working for companies with interests that potentially conflicted with her campaign platform.

Following his departure from the Clinton campaign, Penn became an executive at Microsoft, where he served as Corporate Vice President for Strategic and Special Projects, overseeing advertising and marketing efforts. He later became Executive Vice President for Advertising and Online.

Penn has also authored several books, including "Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes" and "Microtrends Squared: The New Small Forces Driving Today's Big Disruptions." These books explore the power of niche trends to influence larger societal shifts.

Currently, Penn is the Chairman and CEO of Stagwell Inc., a marketing and communications holding company.