Whitepapers & Media

Evidence, published

Research, commentary, and media from the Heron team — white papers drawn from our interview library, conversations with investors and operators, and company announcements.

White paper · validityBase Research

Do negative management findings predict returns? A systematic backtest of Heron Intelligence data

March 2026 · validityBase Research tested 403 negative findings on public companies, 2022–2025. A beta-hedged short portfolio returned 41.1% over the period with a 0.72 Sharpe ratio.

Executive summary page of the validityBase backtest report showing the cumulative return chart

All White Papers Podcasts In the News Press Releases

White papers

White Paper · validityBase Research

Do negative management findings predict returns? A systematic backtest

March 2026 · 403 events, 2022–2025, Russell 3000 universe

Podcasts

Podcast · InDaloop

How Intel Lost the Chip War — And Whether It Can Be Saved

August 2025 · 33 min · With Luke Dormehl

Podcast · InDaloop

Reviving Starbucks: Leadership, Challenges, and Strategies

August 2025 · 36 min · With Keith Epstein

Podcast · InDaloop

Inside UnitedHealth: What Went Wrong — and What Comes Next

June 2025 · 32 min · With Keith Epstein

In the news

Financial Times

Will Accenture survive or thrive in the age of AI?

13 October 2026 · Nate Singer quoted on AI pricing pressure and Accenture’s acquisition strategy

WWD / Footwear News

Adidas vs. Nike: who has the better innovation pipeline

5 October 2026 · Colby Howard on whether Nike can get its innovation to market

WWD / Footwear News

Nike’s Asia Pacific plan: shift out of China, new focus on Singapore raises doubt

2 October 2026 · Colby Howard on what former Nike executives say about the China reorganization

Semafor CEO Signal

The Readout: Intel outside

2 October 2026 · Nate Singer on AI-led post-earnings interviews with former executives

After earnings, Heron’s AI interviews former executives for their take

1 October 2026 · Profile of the Heron Events launch

The Wall Street Journal

Lululemon’s new CEO is already in the hot seat — and she hasn’t even started

1 May 2026 · Paragon Intel quoted on what Heidi O’Neill inherits at Lululemon

Los Angeles Times

Disney names theme parks head Josh D’Amaro as new CEO

3 February 2026 · Paragon Intel quoted on Josh D’Amaro’s appointment as chief executive

Bloomberg, via Fortune

Kohl’s considers replacing headhunter that found the CEO it fired

20 May 2025 · Heron founder David Rynecki on the flags raised before Ashley Buchanan took the job

Starbucks’ new CEO has to contend with crisis and Howard Schultz

13 August 2024 · Paragon Intel quoted on Brian Niccol’s arrival at Starbucks

Business Insider

Alt data provider Paragon Intel will track CEO performance with new ratings

May 2024 · Profile of the ManagementTrack Rating launch

Starbucks’s boss is a move-fast espresso drinker new to retail

3 September 2022 · Paragon Intel quoted on Laxman Narasimhan’s move to Starbucks

Business Insider

How Paragon Intel is quantifying what good executives look like

October 2020 · Profile of Paragon Intel’s management analytics approach

GE’s challenges linger as superstar CEO reaches one-year mark

1 October 2019 · Paragon Intel quoted on Larry Culp’s first year at GE

GE’s Larry Culp faces ultimate CEO test in trying to save a once-great company

12 June 2019 · Paragon Intel quoted on the GE turnaround

Press releases

AI-powered Heron Events provides clarity in the critical hours after companies release earnings reports

29 September 2026 · PR Newswire

Heron Intelligence and Paragon Intel merge to create the world’s largest management insights provider

25 August 2026 · PR Newswire

Blue Heron Research Partners is now Heron Intelligence

17 March 2026 · PR Newswire

Blue Heron launches the Diligence Library

21 October 2025 · PR Newswire

Paragon Intel study finds elite credentials are a poor predictor of CEO success

21 August 2025 · PR Newswire

The first predictive rating for executives: Paragon Intel unveils ManagementTrack Rating (MTR)

22 May 2024 · BusinessWire

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