Meet the JD Power Executive Leadership Team

Josh Peirez is President and Chief Executive Officer of JD Power, a global leader in data and analytics, consumer insights and advisory solutions for the automotive industry and selected non-automotive industries. Mr. Peirez also currently serves on the Board of Analytic Partners, a leader in commercial intelligence. Prior to JD Power, Mr. Peirez served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Sterling Check Corp. During his time at Sterling, Mr. Peirez drove the company’s impressive growth through its initial public offering in 2021 and managed its merger with First Advantage Corporation in 2024.

Prior to Sterling, Mr. Peirez served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Dun & Bradstreet, leading all aspects of customer-facing operations including the company’s lines of business, multi-channel sales platform, service of client solutions, strategy, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Before Dun & Bradstreet, Mr. Peirez spent ten years with MasterCard, most recently in the role of Chief Innovation Officer for MasterCard Worldwide. He also served as the company’s Group Executive, Global Public Policy and Associate General Counsel. Before joining MasterCard in 2000, Mr. Peirez was an associate at Clifford Chance Rogers and Wells, focusing on antitrust litigation.

Mr. Peirez has served on the Federal Reserve Board’s Consumer Advisory Council and the Board of Directors for the Westchester County Association. He was named in the Top 10 Innovators of 2009 ranked by Bank Technology News.

Mr. Peirez earned a B.S. in Policy Analysis, Economic, and Government Studies from Cornell University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School, where he received the Corpus Juris Secundum Award in Criminal Law and Comparative Constitutional Law.

Doug Betts is the President, Dealer Solutions at JD Power. He joined the company in 2017.

He regularly provides perspective on the state of the automotive industry in media outlets like Automotive News, MSN and WardsAuto.

Prior to joining JD Power, Mr. Betts was at Apple, Inc., where he helped lead the introduction of Apple’s latest product innovations.

Previously, he held senior executive roles in global manufacturing and quality at FCA Chrysler Automobiles as Senior Vice President & Global Head of Quality with responsibilities covering all Fiat and Chrysler brands and services around the world; Nissan Motor Corp, as senior vice president of Total Customer Satisfaction for North and South America including Nissan and Infiniti brands; and Toyota Motor Manufacturing as General Manager of Quality for full size trucks, SUV’s and minivans.

Mr. Betts received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Thomas King is President, OEM Solutions at JD Power. He joined the company in 2005.

He is responsible for JD Power’s rapidly evolving solutions for automobile manufacturers (OEMs), all of which leverage class-leading data, advanced analytics, and deep industry expertise.   These solutions, which utilize both well-established and new data assets, coupled with modern technology to ensure seamless and actionable workflow integration, guide automakers in making optimized business decisions and realizing measurable improvements in sales performance, profitability, product quality, and customer satisfaction.

With over 25 years of experience in the Automotive industry, Mr. King has held multiple leadership roles focused on creating value for clients across the automotive ecosystem, including OEMs, Dealers, Financial Institutions, Insurers and Software providers.  Most recently, he was President of the Data & Analytics Division & Chief Product Officer of JD Power, where he led the significant expansion of business units focused on analytics, including the Power Information Network (PIN) and Valuation Services (Used Car Values and Residual Values), while bringing multiple new products successfully to market.

Widely acknowledged as a leading authority on Automotive Market Dynamics, he regularly provides perspective on the state of the automotive industry in media outlets like Forbes, MSN and CNBC.

Prior to joining JD Power, Mr. King was in Global Market and Industry Analysis at General Motors. There, he analyzed the U.S. automotive industry, focusing on sales, pricing and incentive dynamics.

Mr. King received a master’s degree in materials science, economics and management from the University of Oxford in England.

Peter Lehmann is Chief Strategy Officer at JD Power, where he is responsible for corporate strategy, strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and competitive intelligence to accelerate the company’s growth and innovation.

Mr. Lehmann is a seasoned strategy executive with a track record of successfully driving growth.  Before joining JD Power, Mr. Lehmann served as Chief Strategy Officer at Sterling Check Corp., where he was responsible for corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions and competitive intelligence. Prior to Sterling, Mr. Lehmann spent 10 years with Dun & Bradstreet, most recently in the role of Chief Strategy Officer.  His experience also includes strategy leadership roles at Merrill Lynch Global Private Client and American Express. Additionally, he was part of the founding team of EmployeeMatters, a cloud-based payroll company acquired by Intuit.

Mr. Lehmann began his career with the strategy consulting firm Oliver Wyman, where he was a Principal in the Financial Services Practice.

Mr. Lehmann earned a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College.

Elisa Pallazo is the Chief Financial Officer for JD Power, having joined the team in September 2025. Ms. Palazzo is an accomplished finance executive with a proven record of leading high-performing finance teams and delivering shareholder value.

Most recently she served as Chief Financial Officer of CarGurus, where she oversaw accounting, FP&A, investor relations, revenue operations, tax & treasury, and led capital allocation initiatives that delivered growth acceleration and margin expansion.

Previously, Ms. Palazzo was Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Talkspace, where she played a key role in the company’s public-market transition and strategic transformation.

Earlier in her career, she held a variety of investment roles at leading asset management firms, and began her career at Credit Suisse First Boston. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Master of Science in Corporate Finance from Bocconi University.

Steve Smith is President of Europe & Australia at JD Power, bringing a proven record of scaling technology and data-driven businesses in private equity-backed environments and leading through IPO and successful exits.

With over 15 years of executive experience, Steve specializes in aligning go-to-market, product, and operational strategies to accelerate growth, strengthen margins, and deliver lasting customer value—particularly in regulated and high-stakes sectors.

Recognized for his pragmatic and collaborative leadership style, he builds high-performing teams and drives transformation grounded in commercial clarity, disciplined execution, and measurable impact. Mr. Smith has led expansion across multiple global markets, earning the confidence of investors, clients, and employees alike.

Before joining JD Power, Steve served as President, International at Sterling Check Corporation, following senior commercial and operational leadership roles at Sterling and REED.

Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) from Cardiff University.

Robyn Price Stonehill is Chief Operating Officer at JD Power, where she is focused on driving operational excellence, fostering cross-functional collaboration and accelerating business growth. She oversees the company's legal, data operations & governance, revenue operations, enterprise program management, data privacy & partnerships, human resources, enterprise transformation, marketing, and corporate communications teams.

Prior to JD Power, she was Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief People Officer at Sterling Check Corp., a world-class global provider of technology-enabled background and identity verification services. During her time at Sterling, Ms. Price Stonehill oversaw company-wide transformation initiatives, including several strategic acquisitions and its 2024 merger with First Advantage Corporation. She also led talent strategy, developing company-wide mentoring and coaching programs and pioneering the company’s People & Culture Operations and Technology Team to automate redundant processes, leverage technology and improve employee experience.

Ms. Price Stonehill joined Sterling from Assurant, Inc., where she was Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, and a member of the company’s management committee. Over the course of more than two decades at Assurant, Ms. Price Stonehill held a variety of leadership roles related to compensation, retirement, health and welfare and other human resources functions. She also played a key role in building Assurant’s customer-centric growth strategies and helping the company adopt its customer-first go-to-market strategy. Before joining Assurant, Ms. Price Stonehill, an actuary by training, advised clients on benefits and retirement issues at Arthur Andersen and KPMG.

An advocate for increasing leadership opportunities for women, Ms. Price Stonehill has led internationally recognized diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and was recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal as a Woman Worth Watching.

Ms. Price Stonehill graduated summa cum laude from Queens College of the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics.

Keith Webster is President, Financial Services & Auto-Adjacent Solutions at JD Power. He joined the company in 2015.

Prior to joining JD Power, Mr. Webster was president and CEO of Sector Group, Inc., a management consulting firm serving the software and information industry.

Previously, Mr. Webster held a variety of positions in the financial software and information industry, including managing director at Interactive Data Corp., managing director at Dun & Bradstreet; managing director at Thomson Financial; vice president of strategy and business development at ADP Financial Information Services Corp., and director of product management at Data Broadcasting Corp.

Mr. Webster earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from The University of Chicago. He is alumnus of The Harvard Business School where he completed the Advanced Management Program.

Meg Wilson is Chief Product & Technology Officer at JD Power, where she is responsible for the company’s technology and product development operations and capabilities that power customers through seamless workflows enhanced by AI-enabled automation. Ms. Wilson is a seasoned product executive with a proven track record of leading transformation across SaaS businesses in human capital management, talent acquisition and trust and safety.

Ms. Wilson brings deep expertise in enterprise product leadership, organizational scale and change management. Prior to joining JD Power, she served as Chief Product Officer at Sterling Check Corp., where she led global product strategy and played a key role in integrating acquired businesses, modernizing technology platforms and accelerating innovation. Her leadership ensured continuity and alignment during periods of rapid organizational change.

Previously, Ms. Wilson held senior leadership roles at SAP SuccessFactors, where she led the recruiting product portfolio and launched several market-defining solutions. She began her career in professional services and project management and implementation roles, giving her a strong foundation in customer success and operational execution.

Ms. Wilson has established a proven track record of building inclusive, high-performing teams and forging strong partnerships across product, technology, and go-to-market functions. She is a frequent advisor and contributor in the HR tech space and serves on multiple advisory boards.

Ms. Wilson earned a B.S. in business from the University of Rhode Island.

Sara Arnone is Chief Transformation Officer & Head of Revenue Operations at JD Power, where she orchestrates enterprise-wide change initiatives. Focused on maximizing growth, Ms. Arnone is also responsible for enterprise transformation initiatives, revenue operations, and enterprise project management operations.

Prior to joining JD Power, Ms. Arnone led Business Services Transformation at RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company. In this capacity, she concentrated on defining a multi-year strategy to optimize value streams across key services, including finance and accounting, HR and payroll, procurement and legal. 

Before joining RTX, Ms. Arnone held the position of Chief Transformation Officer at Sterling Check Corp. There, she established a transformation office that was vital in driving value creation through a multi-year program spanning go-to-market strategies, operations and digital transformation. She also held the role of Head of Business Operations responsible for portfolio management, revenue operations and M&A integration. Her strategic contributions were key to Sterling's successful IPO in 2021, the integration of four significant acquisitions and Sterling’s eventual merger with First Advantage Corporation in 2024.

Ms. Arnone’s career also includes five years at The Boeing Company, where she held leadership positions across shared services, real estate, and HR. She is also an active member of the Enterprise Council for Leading Change and a volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Health. She holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting & Finance from Gonzaga University, a postgraduate degree in Globalization from University College London and an MBA from Seattle University.

Laszlo Kupan serves as Chief Legal Officer of JD Power, a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services, and data analytics. In this role, Laszlo directs the company’s global legal function, overseeing all legal, regulatory, compliance, and governance matters. He delivers strategic counsel to the executive leadership team and the Board, and plays a key role in supporting the company’s growth, innovation, and risk management initiatives.

Prior to JD Power, Laszlo held senior legal roles at Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company, and served as General Counsel of Access Integrated Healthcare. He began his legal career at Latham & Watkins LLP, advising clients on complex M&A and securities transactions and corporate governance.

Laszlo holds a JD, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A., cum laude, from UCLA.

Millie Morales is the Chief People Officer at JD Power. Ms. Morales brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic HR, with a deep focus on change management and helping acquired companies integrate and assimilate a shared purpose and culture. She is responsible for driving the company’s people strategy forward, including talent development, employee engagement, and fostering a strong, values-driven culture as JD Power continues to grow and evolve. Ms. Morales also brings extensive experience with large-scale HRIS implementations.

Ms. Morales joined JD Power from Sterling Check Corp, a world-class global provider of technology-enabled background and identity verification services. At Sterling, she was responsible for leading the HR Business Partner team, Payroll, Total Rewards and People Operations to drive transformation across the company.  She led the HR integration workstream leading up to the 2024 merger with First Advantage.

Prior to joining Sterling, Ms. Morales held senior leadership roles in HR over her 25+ year career at Assurant, responsible for integrating numerous acquisitions, leading divestitures, and key functions such as Talent Acquisition, Well-being and Total Rewards. She also worked closely with the Compensation Committee of the Assurant Inc. Board of Directors on all executive compensation matters and was actively involved in Assurant’s shareholder outreach program.

Ms. Morales received a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Montclair State University with honors and a Master of Business Administration in Financial Management from Pace Lubin School of Business. 
 

Julia Chester is Chief Marketing Officer at JD Power, responsible for driving revenue growth through innovative and impactful marketing strategies that demonstrate ROI. Ms. Chester is a seasoned, strategic marketing executive, with a proven track record of delivering growth across data, software and analytics product portfolios globally. 

Julia joined JD Power through the Autovista Europe and Australia acquisition where she built the marketing function to be a strategically led customer-centric function demonstrating impact through marketing generated revenue.

Over the course of her career, Julia has held senior leadership roles within business intelligence organisations, including Thomson Reuters, across the Legal and Investment Research industries and is recognised for building high-performing marketing teams.

With a leadership style that’s collaborative and inclusive, Julia unites marketing and cross-function teams, championing closely aligned marketing and sales functions through a focus on lead generation, sales CRM/marketing automation platforms and sales enablement tools. 

Ms. Chester holds a BSc Econ (with Honors) from Cardiff University.

Michael Lukaszevicz serves as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for JD Power, joining the company in 2025. With more than 25 years of experience in technology leadership roles, Michael has a strong track record of innovation and accountability for the successful launch of products to achieve strategic objectives.

Michael is adept at scaling and improving complex systems in fast-paced environments and has a deep understanding of data and identity. 

His technical skills span IT security, scalable architecture, cloud and infrastructure, data and identity, AI, and machine learning, and more. His prior experience includes technology leadership roles at Acxiom, Jornaya, Dun & Bradstreet, and Dow Jones among other companies.

Brian Walby is Chief Data & Analytics Officer at JD Power, where he is responsible for supporting our new product and feature development and existing capabilities production involving AI-based and applied data science, research science, data engineering, ML engineering, data visualization and insights, and data strategy skill teams.

Mr. Walby brings over 20 years’ experience in automotive, SaaS, analytics, data science and customer success leadership involving complex data assets to produce actionable, practical decision-making capabilities for customers, with a focus on evaluation and impact attribution to market stimuli such as price, product, promotion, advertising, inventory, and other factors.

Most recently, Mr. Walby was Vice President, Data Science and Innovation in the Data & Analytics (D&A) business unit, enabling significant expansion of capabilities and new products to the Power Information Network (PIN) and Valuation Services (Used Car Values and Residual Values).

Mr. Walby re-joined JD Power in 2022 after having also worked in the Power Information Network (PIN) Consulting group from 2006-2009, where he advised automakers on price strategy. Prior to re-joining JD Power, at Neustar (now TransUnion) as Vice President Consulting Services, he led the global automotive practice and enterprise client relationships across retail, insurance, tech, e-commerce and other verticals. He managed software-as-a-service advisory of mar tech, ad tech, and data science tools to maximize marketing ROI, including media mix and attribution, data management platforms and customer data platforms, customer identity management, and audience segmentation. Previously, he was a manager in the marketing strategy consulting practice at MonitorDeloitte. He began his career as a product engineer at Chrysler (now Stellantis).

Mr. Walby earned a Bachelor and Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.