From the President & Board Chair

For nearly 90 years, Consumer Reports has worked to improve the lives of countless people. As CR’s newest president and CEO, it’s been an honor to be a part of this incredible mission.

Like for so many people, CR had a personal impact on my life—long before I joined the team. As a new parent, I would spend many nights deliriously trying to coax my newborn back to sleep while also going through CR reporting about the latest recalls, what to buy, and what would keep my family safe. It made a difference for my family. Over the past nine months, I’ve gotten to see up close the difference CR makes for millions of others.

This is an organization that has accomplished so much since its founding. CR has prevented hundreds of thousands of needless deaths, whether from our work on seat belts, sounding the alarm on cigarettes, or exposing the dangerous products that threaten our families. We’ve helped consumers save billions by stopping scams and fees, advocating for critical financial protections, and making life a little bit easier and the American dream a little bit more achievable. And through our world-class testing, award-winning journalism, and expert research, we’ve made sure people get the trusted, fact-based, and nonpartisan information they need to make decisions in a complex world.

For decades, CR has built a reputation powered by trust because of a mission focused on consumers. But as is the case with any change in leadership, I know many might wonder what the future has in store. What does the CR of tomorrow look like?

Just as was the case in 1936, the path forward for CR must be grounded in the environment of our time. People are facing a number of hurdles and uncertainties today, whether it’s rollbacks to basic consumer protections, inflation driving up everyone’s costs, or the rise of artificial intelligence revolutionizing so many aspects of life—some for good, and some not. CR’s work is needed just as much as ever, and there are four roles I believe we must fill to meet our mission in this new age.

First, CR will continue to be the steady ship in the storm for all consumers. It’s getting harder than ever to know who to trust. Anonymous accounts made 5 minutes ago tell you to believe them. Undisclosed influencers run rampant. And bad products are pushed on people because advertisers pay to promote them. In this chaotic bid for people’s attention, CR must remain the trusted source that helps you chart your own course forward.

Second, CR is committed to being the umpire with only consumers’ interest in mind. While biases seem to touch every other source, our expertise and advice come based in science and fact. And we will stick to that independent, nonpartisan approach in everything we do. People must be confident that we’ll always call balls and strikes—no matter who’s at bat.

Third, CR will be a partner to everyone ready to help consumers. Too often, nonprofit and for-profit organizations have been seen as opposite ends of a checkers board. There will certainly be times when we must speak out against bad actors. But we can have an even greater impact when we strive for collaboration, not just contention. Where do our goals overlap? Where can we find areas for cooperation? How can we work with companies to improve even their own products? These are the questions we must be willing to ask if we’re going to not only step up for consumers but also expand the number of those standing with us.

Finally, we’re determined to be a CR of bold action. The world, our challenges, and the needs of consumers are all different today than they were even a decade ago. No nonprofit can afford to stay stagnant. We should look for new ways to strengthen our organization and our mission. That means taking big swings that could revolutionize our work—and being ready to fail, just to get back up to try something new. If we aren’t willing to be bold, then we aren’t going to reach the true potential of our impact.

Building on a history like CR’s is a big task. But that’s how this team—from our unrivaled staff of experts to the dedicated supporters like you—has created such a reputation over the years: by continuing to grow, adapting to what we face, and improving on our strengths. Together, I know we can continue that success, expanding both CR’s legacy and the way we improve people’s lives.

The marketplace that shapes people’s lives is shifting faster than ever. Rising prices, unchecked technologies like artificial intelligence, and an increasingly fragmented media landscape all make it harder for people to feel secure, informed, and protected. In these uncertain times, Consumer Reports has never been more essential.

At our core, we believe consumers deserve fairness, safety, and value, and that belief guides everything we do. Over the past year, I am proud to share how CR has lived out that mission:

• Tested 2,300 products, providing consumers with more than 10,000 trusted ratings and reviews.
• Heard from over 1 million people through 161 national surveys and other outreach tools.
• Raised over $32 million from supporters committed to our mission.
• Mobilized consumers to take action more than 1.2 million times, driving changes in corporate practices and national policies.

These achievements reflect far more than statistics—they are proof of the meaningful change CR delivers every day, laying the groundwork for a fairer, safer, more transparent marketplace.

Over the past year, CR:
• Made food safer by organizing tens of thousands of people to secure a federal ban on Red Dye No. 3, a synthetic dye long linked to cancer and other health concerns. And when CR uncovered potentially dangerous levels of arsenic and lead in infant formula, the FDA launched a new safety initiative a day after receiving our findings.
• Protected consumers’ wallets by fighting unfair hidden fees, helping secure a new Federal Trade Commission rule requiring certain businesses to disclose total prices up front. CR’s experts also investigated how many Kroger grocery stores were overcharging customers, leaving expired sale tags on shelves and charging an average of 18.4 percent more at the checkout. One day after publishing our findings, Kroger announced it would be hiring 15,000 employees to “enhance the customer experience.”
• Raised the alarm on emerging technology risks, including an investigation of AI voice-cloning tools that revealed how easily they can be exploited to scam people. CR’s experts not only testified before the U.S. Senate but also helped block a federal proposal that would have stripped states of their ability to protect consumers from AI harms for the next decade.

These are just a few examples of what CR has accomplished this year, and I hope you’ll explore our 2025 Annual Report to see the full breadth of victories. None of this work would happen without our extraordinary team and without supporters like you, who make this mission possible every single day.

Finally, I want to recognize and thank our new president and CEO, Phil Radford. In just nine months, Phil has brought his proven record of leadership and impact to CR with energy, vision, and determination. He is not only helping us meet today’s challenges but also driving the transformational change needed to strengthen CR for the future. I am confident he is the leader we need for this next chapter, and I hope you share my excitement for what lies ahead under his leadership.

On behalf of the Board, thank you for your partnership and your commitment to building a marketplace that works for consumers. Together, we are making change that matters.