Peter D. Horst is an independent board director and strategic advisor with more than 30 years of executive leadership experience helping organizations navigate growth, transformation, and disruption. He brings a unique perspective shaped by leadership roles across financial services, consumer products, technology, and global consulting, combined with board experience spanning public companies, AI-focused organizations, cybersecurity, and mission-driven institutions.

Peter currently serves as an Independent Director of Peapack-Gladstone Financial (NASDAQ: PGC), a publicly traded $7 billion commercial bank, where he is a member of the Governance Committee. He also serves as Board Chair of Deepgrids, an AI-native technology company, and advises organizations focused on responsible AI adoption and cybersecurity innovation. His board experience is grounded in a career spent helping organizations make strategic decisions at critical moments of change.

Throughout his executive career, Peter has built and transformed businesses by identifying emerging opportunities, strengthening customer relationships, and creating new sources of value. As Chief Marketing Officer at Capital One and The Hershey Company, he helped shape enterprise strategy, drive innovation, and lead digital transformation initiatives. As Global CEO of PSB Insights, a WPP company, he led a global consultancy through organizational transformation, operational restructuring, and renewed growth.

Peter’s board and advisory perspective is informed by a deep understanding of strategy, innovation, technology, reputation, and stakeholder trust. He brings the mindset of an operator, the discipline of a fiduciary, and the curiosity of a lifelong learner to organizations seeking guidance through periods of growth, transformation, and technological change. He is also the author of Marketing in the #FakeNews Era and a Forbes Senior Contributor, exploring the evolving challenges of trust and reputation in the modern information environment.

Recognition & Honors

• Forbes World’s 50 Most Influential CMOs: Recognized in 2015 for leadership and impact in shaping modern marketing and business transformation.
• CMO Club Marketing Innovation Award: Recipient in 2016 for advancing innovation and marketing excellence.
• Cannes Silver Lions, Effie, Clio, Digiday, and IAC Awards: Recognition for breakthrough marketing, digital innovation, and brand-building initiatives.
• Author, Marketing in the #FakeNews Era: Explores the challenges organizations face in protecting trust, reputation, and credibility in an increasingly complex information environment.
• Forbes Senior Contributor: Published perspectives on marketing, leadership, reputation, and business transformation.

Board Perspective

Peter believes effective boards create value by combining rigorous oversight with forward-looking strategic counsel. His approach is grounded in asking the questions that help organizations identify opportunities, anticipate risks, and adapt to changing market dynamics.

Drawing on experience as both an operating executive and board member, he brings a practical understanding of the challenges facing CEOs and leadership teams. He focuses on helping organizations balance innovation and risk, particularly as emerging technologies reshape industries and stakeholder expectations evolve.