diff --git a/src/api-client/entity-summary.test.ts b/src/api-client/entity-summary.test.ts
index 2fc24f2..305225b 100644
--- a/src/api-client/entity-summary.test.ts
+++ b/src/api-client/entity-summary.test.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ import {
   summarizeUserDetail,
   summarizeSegment,
   summarizeSegmentRow,
+  summarizeTagRow,
+  summarizeMetricCategoryRow,
+  summarizeNamedEntityRow,
+  summarizeWebhookRow,
 } from './entity-summary.js';
 
 describe('applyShowExclude', () => {
@@ -190,3 +194,146 @@ describe('summarizeSegmentRow', () => {
     expect(result).toHaveProperty('attribute', 'device');
   });
 });
+
+describe('summarizeGoal created_by field', () => {
+  it('returns full name when first and last are present', () => {
+    const result = summarizeGoal({
+      id: 1,
+      name: 'g',
+      created_by: { first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs' },
+    });
+    expect(result.created_by).toBe('Joe Bloggs');
+  });
+
+  it('returns email when name parts are missing', () => {
+    const result = summarizeGoal({
+      id: 1,
+      name: 'g',
+      created_by: { email: 'joe@example.com' },
+    });
+    expect(result.created_by).toBe('joe@example.com');
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty string for null created_by', () => {
+    const result = summarizeGoal({ id: 1, name: 'g', created_by: null });
+    expect(result.created_by).toBe('');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('summarizeTagRow', () => {
+  it('curates the simple tag columns and summarizes user fields', () => {
+    expect(
+      summarizeTagRow({
+        id: 7,
+        tag: 'top-priority',
+        archived: false,
+        created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+        created_by: { first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs' },
+        updated_at: null,
+        updated_by: null,
+      })
+    ).toEqual({
+      id: 7,
+      tag: 'top-priority',
+      archived: false,
+      created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+      created_by: 'Joe Bloggs',
+      updated_at: '',
+      updated_by: '',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('defaults archived to false when missing', () => {
+    expect(summarizeTagRow({ id: 1, tag: 't' }).archived).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('summarizeMetricCategoryRow', () => {
+  it('picks the useful columns and summarizes user fields', () => {
+    expect(
+      summarizeMetricCategoryRow({
+        id: 3,
+        name: 'Revenue',
+        description: 'all revenue metrics',
+        color: '#ff5733',
+        archived: false,
+        created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+        created_by: { first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs' },
+        updated_at: null,
+        updated_by: null,
+      })
+    ).toEqual({
+      id: 3,
+      name: 'Revenue',
+      description: 'all revenue metrics',
+      color: '#ff5733',
+      archived: false,
+      created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+      created_by: 'Joe Bloggs',
+      updated_at: '',
+      updated_by: '',
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('summarizeNamedEntityRow', () => {
+  it('curates id/name/description/archived plus user/time audit fields', () => {
+    expect(
+      summarizeNamedEntityRow({
+        id: 4,
+        name: 'production',
+        description: 'production env',
+        archived: false,
+        created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+        created_by: { first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs' },
+        updated_at: '2024-05-23T10:29:34.375Z',
+        updated_by: { email: 'admin@x' },
+      })
+    ).toEqual({
+      id: 4,
+      name: 'production',
+      description: 'production env',
+      archived: false,
+      created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+      created_by: 'Joe Bloggs',
+      updated_at: '2024-05-23T10:29:34.375Z',
+      updated_by: 'admin@x',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('keeps description empty if missing', () => {
+    expect(summarizeNamedEntityRow({ id: 1, name: 'x' }).description).toBe('');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('summarizeWebhookRow', () => {
+  it('curates webhook-specific columns and summarizes user fields', () => {
+    expect(
+      summarizeWebhookRow({
+        id: 2,
+        name: 'metrics-sync',
+        url: 'https://example.com/hooks/metrics',
+        enabled: true,
+        ordered: false,
+        max_retries: 5,
+        archived: false,
+        created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+        created_by: { first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs' },
+        updated_at: null,
+        updated_by: null,
+      })
+    ).toEqual({
+      id: 2,
+      name: 'metrics-sync',
+      url: 'https://example.com/hooks/metrics',
+      enabled: true,
+      ordered: false,
+      max_retries: 5,
+      archived: false,
+      created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+      created_by: 'Joe Bloggs',
+      updated_at: '',
+      updated_by: '',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/api-client/entity-summary.ts b/src/api-client/entity-summary.ts
index 8a2f72f..7f922fe 100644
--- a/src/api-client/entity-summary.ts
+++ b/src/api-client/entity-summary.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { formatDate } from './format-helpers.js';
+import { formatUserSummary } from '../lib/output/formatter.js';
 
 export function applyShowExclude(
   summary: Record<string, unknown>,
@@ -19,9 +20,7 @@ export function applyShowExclude(
 
 function formatOwner(obj: Record<string, unknown> | undefined): string {
   if (!obj) return '';
-  const first = (obj.first_name as string) ?? '';
-  const last = (obj.last_name as string) ?? '';
-  return [first, last].filter(Boolean).join(' ') || (obj.email as string) || '';
+  return formatUserSummary(obj) ?? '';
 }
 
 export function summarizeMetric(m: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
@@ -204,3 +203,58 @@ export function summarizeCustomField(f: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string,
     created_at: formatDate(f.created_at),
   };
 }
+
+export function summarizeTagRow(t: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return {
+    id: t.id,
+    tag: t.tag ?? '',
+    archived: t.archived ?? false,
+    created_at: t.created_at ?? '',
+    created_by: formatOwner(t.created_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+    updated_at: t.updated_at ?? '',
+    updated_by: formatOwner(t.updated_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+  };
+}
+
+export function summarizeMetricCategoryRow(c: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return {
+    id: c.id,
+    name: c.name ?? '',
+    description: c.description ?? '',
+    color: c.color ?? '',
+    archived: c.archived ?? false,
+    created_at: c.created_at ?? '',
+    created_by: formatOwner(c.created_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+    updated_at: c.updated_at ?? '',
+    updated_by: formatOwner(c.updated_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+  };
+}
+
+export function summarizeNamedEntityRow(e: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return {
+    id: e.id,
+    name: e.name ?? '',
+    description: e.description ?? '',
+    archived: e.archived ?? false,
+    created_at: e.created_at ?? '',
+    created_by: formatOwner(e.created_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+    updated_at: e.updated_at ?? '',
+    updated_by: formatOwner(e.updated_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+  };
+}
+
+export function summarizeWebhookRow(w: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return {
+    id: w.id,
+    name: w.name ?? '',
+    url: w.url ?? '',
+    enabled: w.enabled ?? false,
+    ordered: w.ordered ?? false,
+    max_retries: w.max_retries ?? 0,
+    archived: w.archived ?? false,
+    created_at: w.created_at ?? '',
+    created_by: formatOwner(w.created_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+    updated_at: w.updated_at ?? '',
+    updated_by: formatOwner(w.updated_by as Record<string, unknown> | undefined),
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/commands/apikeys/apikeys.test.ts b/src/commands/apikeys/apikeys.test.ts
index 902662c..d6c1c63 100644
--- a/src/commands/apikeys/apikeys.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/apikeys/apikeys.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest';
-import { apiKeysCommand } from './index.js';
+import { apiKeysCommand, summarizeApiKeyRow } from './index.js';
 import {
   getAPIClientFromOptions,
   getGlobalOptions,
@@ -105,3 +105,49 @@ describe('apikeys command', () => {
     expect(mockClient.deleteApiKey).toHaveBeenCalledWith(5);
   });
 });
+
+describe('summarizeApiKeyRow', () => {
+  it('picks curated columns and flattens created_by / updated_by', () => {
+    const raw = {
+      id: 36,
+      name: 'test new key',
+      description: 'new key',
+      hashed_key: 'X99upHMkKKM2XUpRuZ53YWCDx5G93SgB043EXx3LG5k=',
+      key_ending: 'ouNy',
+      permissions: '',
+      used_at: null,
+      created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+      updated_at: null,
+      created_by: { id: 4, first_name: 'Márcio', last_name: 'Martins', email: 'm@x' },
+      updated_by: null,
+    };
+    expect(summarizeApiKeyRow(raw)).toEqual({
+      id: 36,
+      name: 'test new key',
+      description: 'new key',
+      key_ending: 'ouNy',
+      permissions: '',
+      used_at: '',
+      created_at: '2024-05-22T10:29:34.375Z',
+      created_by: 'Márcio Martins',
+      updated_at: '',
+      updated_by: '',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty strings for missing optional fields', () => {
+    const raw = { id: 1, name: 'k', key_ending: 'xxxx' };
+    expect(summarizeApiKeyRow(raw)).toEqual({
+      id: 1,
+      name: 'k',
+      description: '',
+      key_ending: 'xxxx',
+      permissions: '',
+      used_at: '',
+      created_at: '',
+      created_by: '',
+      updated_at: '',
+      updated_by: '',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/commands/apikeys/index.ts b/src/commands/apikeys/index.ts
index af8437e..ae4d1f4 100644
--- a/src/commands/apikeys/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/apikeys/index.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseApiKeyId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { formatUserSummary } from '../../lib/output/formatter.js';
 import type { ApiKeyId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import { getApiKey, createApiKey, updateApiKey, deleteApiKey } from '../../core/apikeys/index.js';
 
@@ -16,6 +17,22 @@ export const apiKeysCommand = new Command('api-keys')
   .aliases(['apikeys', 'apikey', 'api-key'])
   .description('API key commands');
 
+export function summarizeApiKeyRow(item: Record<string, unknown>): Record<string, unknown> {
+  const summarizeUser = (v: unknown) => formatUserSummary(v) ?? '';
+  return {
+    id: item.id,
+    name: item.name ?? '',
+    description: item.description ?? '',
+    key_ending: item.key_ending ?? '',
+    permissions: item.permissions ?? '',
+    used_at: item.used_at ?? '',
+    created_at: item.created_at ?? '',
+    created_by: summarizeUser(item.created_by),
+    updated_at: item.updated_at ?? '',
+    updated_by: summarizeUser(item.updated_by),
+  };
+}
+
 const listCommand = createListCommand({
   description: 'List all API keys',
   fetch: (client, options) =>
@@ -28,6 +45,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeApiKeyRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/apps/apps.test.ts b/src/commands/apps/apps.test.ts
index 2876ece..fe0d602 100644
--- a/src/commands/apps/apps.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/apps/apps.test.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ describe('apps command', () => {
     await appsCommand.parseAsync(['node', 'test', 'list']);
 
     expect(mockClient.listApplications).toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(printFormatted).toHaveBeenCalledWith([{ id: 1, name: 'web' }], expect.anything());
+    expect(printFormatted).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      [expect.objectContaining({ id: 1, name: 'web' })],
+      expect.anything()
+    );
   });
 
   it('should get application by id', async () => {
diff --git a/src/commands/apps/index.ts b/src/commands/apps/index.ts
index d277de0..3854c80 100644
--- a/src/commands/apps/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/apps/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseApplicationId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { formatUserSummary } from '../../lib/output/formatter.js';
 import type { ApplicationId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import { getApp, createApp, updateApp, archiveApp } from '../../core/apps/index.js';
 
@@ -35,15 +36,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
     description: item.description,
     archived: item.archived,
     created_at: item.created_at,
-    created_by:
-      item.created_by && typeof item.created_by === 'object'
-        ? [
-            (item.created_by as Record<string, unknown>).first_name ?? '',
-            (item.created_by as Record<string, unknown>).last_name ?? '',
-          ]
-            .filter(Boolean)
-            .join(' ')
-        : item.created_by,
+    created_by: formatUserSummary(item.created_by) ?? '',
   }),
 });
 
diff --git a/src/commands/envs/envs.test.ts b/src/commands/envs/envs.test.ts
index 771f7ec..67570bc 100644
--- a/src/commands/envs/envs.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/envs/envs.test.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,21 @@ describe('envs command', () => {
     await envsCommand.parseAsync(['node', 'test', 'list']);
 
     expect(mockClient.listEnvironments).toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(printFormatted).toHaveBeenCalledWith([{ id: 1, name: 'production' }], expect.anything());
+    expect(printFormatted).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      [
+        {
+          id: 1,
+          name: 'production',
+          description: '',
+          archived: false,
+          created_at: '',
+          created_by: '',
+          updated_at: '',
+          updated_by: '',
+        },
+      ],
+      expect.anything()
+    );
   });
 
   it('should get environment by id', async () => {
diff --git a/src/commands/envs/index.ts b/src/commands/envs/index.ts
index 7114e9e..3ea4111 100644
--- a/src/commands/envs/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/envs/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseEnvironmentId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { summarizeNamedEntityRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 import type { EnvironmentId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import { getEnv, createEnv, updateEnv, archiveEnv } from '../../core/envs/index.js';
 
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeNamedEntityRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/goaltags/index.ts b/src/commands/goaltags/index.ts
index 81f4f3e..e6aca1e 100644
--- a/src/commands/goaltags/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/goaltags/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseTagId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { summarizeTagRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 import type { TagId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import {
   getGoalTag,
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeTagRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/metriccategories/index.ts b/src/commands/metriccategories/index.ts
index 0c68324..df633f2 100644
--- a/src/commands/metriccategories/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/metriccategories/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseTagId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { summarizeMetricCategoryRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 import type { TagId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import {
   getMetricCategory,
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeMetricCategoryRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/metrictags/index.ts b/src/commands/metrictags/index.ts
index 0e20273..21fdd68 100644
--- a/src/commands/metrictags/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/metrictags/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseTagId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { summarizeTagRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 import type { TagId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import {
   getMetricTag,
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeTagRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/roles/index.ts b/src/commands/roles/index.ts
index 9677a50..094f308 100644
--- a/src/commands/roles/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/roles/index.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { parseRoleId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
 import type { RoleId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import { getRole, createRole, updateRole, deleteRole } from '../../core/roles/index.js';
+import { summarizeNamedEntityRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 
 export const rolesCommand = new Command('roles').alias('role').description('Role commands');
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeNamedEntityRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/roles/roles.test.ts b/src/commands/roles/roles.test.ts
index fe72676..287cf38 100644
--- a/src/commands/roles/roles.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/roles/roles.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   printFormatted,
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { resetCommand } from '../../test/helpers/command-reset.js';
+import { summarizeNamedEntityRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 
 vi.mock('../../lib/utils/api-helper.js', async (importOriginal) => {
   const actual = await importOriginal<typeof import('../../lib/utils/api-helper.js')>();
@@ -88,3 +89,17 @@ describe('roles command', () => {
     expect(output).toContain('Role 1 deleted');
   });
 });
+
+describe('roles list summarizer', () => {
+  it('uses summarizeNamedEntityRow for clean columns', () => {
+    expect(
+      summarizeNamedEntityRow({
+        id: 1,
+        name: 'admin',
+        description: 'all powerful',
+        archived: false,
+        created_by: { email: 'root@x' },
+      }).created_by
+    ).toBe('root@x');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/commands/tags/index.ts b/src/commands/tags/index.ts
index 9abc3b3..09504f9 100644
--- a/src/commands/tags/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/tags/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseTagId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { summarizeTagRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 import type { TagId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import { getTag, createTag, updateTag, deleteTag } from '../../core/tags/index.js';
 
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeTagRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/units/index.ts b/src/commands/units/index.ts
index fcade15..a41c07b 100644
--- a/src/commands/units/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/units/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseUnitTypeId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { summarizeNamedEntityRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 import type { UnitTypeId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import { getUnit, createUnit, updateUnit, archiveUnit } from '../../core/units/index.js';
 
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeNamedEntityRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/commands/units/units.test.ts b/src/commands/units/units.test.ts
index 3dd1d5b..0837c5b 100644
--- a/src/commands/units/units.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/units/units.test.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,21 @@ describe('units command', () => {
     await unitsCommand.parseAsync(['node', 'test', 'list']);
 
     expect(mockClient.listUnitTypes).toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(printFormatted).toHaveBeenCalledWith([{ id: 1, name: 'user_id' }], expect.anything());
+    expect(printFormatted).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      [
+        {
+          id: 1,
+          name: 'user_id',
+          description: '',
+          archived: false,
+          created_at: '',
+          created_by: '',
+          updated_at: '',
+          updated_by: '',
+        },
+      ],
+      expect.anything()
+    );
   });
 
   it('should get unit type by id', async () => {
diff --git a/src/commands/webhooks/index.ts b/src/commands/webhooks/index.ts
index 4d78a9b..2381867 100644
--- a/src/commands/webhooks/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/webhooks/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/utils/api-helper.js';
 import { parseWebhookId } from '../../lib/utils/validators.js';
 import { createListCommand } from '../../lib/utils/list-command.js';
+import { summarizeWebhookRow } from '../../api-client/entity-summary.js';
 import type { WebhookId } from '../../lib/api/branded-types.js';
 import { getWebhook } from '../../core/webhooks/get.js';
 import { createWebhook } from '../../core/webhooks/create.js';
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ const listCommand = createListCommand({
       archived: options.archived as boolean,
       ids: options.ids as string | undefined,
     }),
+  summarizeRow: summarizeWebhookRow,
 });
 
 const getCommand = new Command('get')
diff --git a/src/lib/output/formatter.test.ts b/src/lib/output/formatter.test.ts
index 87c6eb4..af17f30 100644
--- a/src/lib/output/formatter.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/output/formatter.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
 import { formatOutput, formatValue, truncateText } from './formatter.js';
+import { summarizeObjectValue, formatUserSummary } from './formatter.js';
 
 describe('Output Formatter', () => {
   describe('formatValue', () => {
@@ -40,6 +41,70 @@ describe('Output Formatter', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('formatUserSummary', () => {
+    it('returns "First Last" when both names are present', () => {
+      expect(formatUserSummary({ first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs' })).toBe('Joe Bloggs');
+    });
+
+    it('returns the email when names are missing', () => {
+      expect(formatUserSummary({ email: 'joe@example.com' })).toBe('joe@example.com');
+    });
+
+    it('prefers full name over email when both are present', () => {
+      expect(
+        formatUserSummary({ first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs', email: 'joe@example.com' })
+      ).toBe('Joe Bloggs');
+    });
+
+    it('returns just the first name if last is missing', () => {
+      expect(formatUserSummary({ first_name: 'Joe' })).toBe('Joe');
+    });
+
+    it('returns null when the value is not user-shaped', () => {
+      expect(formatUserSummary({ id: 1, name: 'thing' })).toBe(null);
+      expect(formatUserSummary({})).toBe(null);
+      expect(formatUserSummary(null)).toBe(null);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('summarizeObjectValue', () => {
+    it('summarizes user-shaped objects via formatUserSummary', () => {
+      expect(summarizeObjectValue({ first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs', id: 4 })).toBe(
+        'Joe Bloggs'
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('falls back to the name field when no user shape', () => {
+      expect(summarizeObjectValue({ id: 7, name: 'Revenue' })).toBe('Revenue');
+    });
+
+    it('falls back to the title field when there is no name', () => {
+      expect(summarizeObjectValue({ id: 9, title: 'Owner' })).toBe('Owner');
+    });
+
+    it('renders an empty object as [object]', () => {
+      expect(summarizeObjectValue({})).toBe('[object]');
+    });
+
+    it('renders an object with only opaque fields as [object]', () => {
+      expect(summarizeObjectValue({ foo: 1, bar: 2 })).toBe('[object]');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('formatValue (nested object handling)', () => {
+    it('summarizes nested user objects instead of JSON.stringify-ing them', () => {
+      expect(formatValue({ first_name: 'Joe', last_name: 'Bloggs' })).toBe('Joe Bloggs');
+    });
+
+    it('summarizes nested named objects instead of JSON.stringify-ing them', () => {
+      expect(formatValue({ id: 1, name: 'Revenue' })).toBe('Revenue');
+    });
+
+    it('renders other nested objects as [object] instead of JSON', () => {
+      expect(formatValue({ foo: 1, bar: 2 })).toBe('[object]');
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('truncateText', () => {
     it('should not truncate short text', () => {
       const text = 'short';
diff --git a/src/lib/output/formatter.ts b/src/lib/output/formatter.ts
index 09c9750..8c741e0 100644
--- a/src/lib/output/formatter.ts
+++ b/src/lib/output/formatter.ts
@@ -237,6 +237,25 @@ function isObject(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
   return typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
 }
 
+export function formatUserSummary(value: unknown): string | null {
+  if (!isObject(value)) return null;
+  const first = typeof value.first_name === 'string' ? value.first_name : '';
+  const last = typeof value.last_name === 'string' ? value.last_name : '';
+  const fullName = [first, last].filter(Boolean).join(' ');
+  if (fullName) return fullName;
+  if (typeof value.email === 'string' && value.email) return value.email;
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function summarizeObjectValue(value: unknown): string {
+  if (!isObject(value)) return '';
+  const user = formatUserSummary(value);
+  if (user !== null) return user;
+  if (typeof value.name === 'string' && value.name) return value.name;
+  if (typeof value.title === 'string' && value.title) return value.title;
+  return '[object]';
+}
+
 export function formatValue(value: unknown, options: OutputOptions = {}): string {
   if (value === null || value === undefined) return '';
   if (typeof value === 'boolean') return String(value);
@@ -249,7 +268,7 @@ export function formatValue(value: unknown, options: OutputOptions = {}): string
     return text;
   }
   if (Array.isArray(value)) return value.map((v) => formatValue(v, options)).join(', ');
-  if (isObject(value)) return JSON.stringify(value);
+  if (isObject(value)) return summarizeObjectValue(value);
   return String(value);
 }