MICHAEL HOLMES
Founder / CEO
Michael Holmes is a pioneer in online research, with more than two decades of innovation at the intersection of data, technology, and consumer insight.
After beginning his career in commercial banking, Michael pivoted into digital marketing in the late 1990s, where he quickly recognized the untapped potential of online communities to fuel research. By 1999, he had launched Easymail Interactive, which grew into EMI Research Solutions, a company that helped shape modern online sampling standards.
Throughout his career, Michael has been at the forefront of industry “firsts”: scaling one of the earliest quality panels to over one million registrants, building the first network of quality panel assets, introducing panel vetting documentation, pioneering secure multi-panel access technology, and raising awareness about data integrity challenges in his widely read Quirk’s article, “Speeders, Cheaters, Repeaters.”
Today, as Founder & CEO of EMI, Michael leads one of the most trusted online market research and sample consultancies, advising clients on sample strategy and executing their sample plans with precision. He works with leading brands and research professionals to deliver future-focused insights, leveraging advanced methodologies in fraud detection, bot suppression, geofencing, analytics, and synthetic data.
Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing (with honors) from the University of Kentucky and completed part of his MBA studies at Xavier University’s Williams School of Business. He has been recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and continues to push the industry forward with a relentless focus on quality, innovation, and impact.
Outside of work, Michael enjoys life in Cincinnati with his wife, Becki, and their four children.
