Automotive Insights adds leaders & moves to new base

Automotive Insights has made three senior appointments and confirmed a move to a new Manchester office as the automotive consumer research firm positions itself for its next phase of growth.

Richard Walker has joined as Executive Director of Research, Data & Insights. Needa Khan has joined as Director of Product & Client Services. Safe Hammad has joined as a Non-Executive Director after investing in the business.

Automotive Insights provides consumer market intelligence for the automotive sector. It surveys more than 1,000 UK motorists each month.

Research leadership

Walker previously worked at Auto Trader, where he was Director of Data & Insights. Automotive Insights said he has more than 30 years' experience in the UK automotive sector and has joined its advisory board.

His background includes data analysis, web analytics, market research and strategic business development. The company also highlighted his involvement in Auto Trader's shift from print to digital and its later development into a technology-led online classifieds platform.

In a statement, Walker emphasised the importance of understanding consumers across the vehicle purchase journey and ownership period.

"I became aware of Automotive Insights-a fantastic new business providing a highly valuable service in today's ever-changing automotive landscape. Understanding consumers throughout both the purchasing journey and the ownership experience is critical for organisations operating in the automotive sector. Automotive Insights& Research Services delivers deep consumer understanding, tracking evolving behaviours, attitudes, and opinions specific to the automotive market and the brands within it over time. Its ability to unlock real consumer perspectives offers meaningful value to businesses seeking to stay competitive and customer-focused in a rapidly shifting environment," said Richard Walker, Executive Director of Research, Data & Insights, Automotive Insights & Research Services.

Product focus

Khan joins with experience spanning academia and commercial insight work. She previously worked at the London School of Economics and later at The Insights Family, according to Automotive Insights.

Her role covers product and client services, with a focus on packaging research output into customer-facing services and managing delivery and account relationships.

"I'm excited to join a team that's setting the standard for automotive insights. I am looking forward to collaborating with brilliant minds and pushing the industry forward with actionable, forward-thinking research," said Needa Khan.

Board addition

Hammad has joined as a Non-Executive Director and investor. He will advise the executive team, Automotive Insights said.

In his statement, Hammad pointed to the company's mix of academic and business backgrounds and highlighted internal tools used to produce research findings for customers.

"I'm very excited to become an investor and advisor at Automotive Insights & Research Services. I was struck by the breadth of the team they have built drawing from both academia and the business world, and by the unique tools they have built which are already delivering insights with such quality and actionable value to customers. I look forward to drawing on my personal experience of growing companies that deliver innovative data-oriented solutions as I work with the brilliant team at Automotive Insights & Research Services," said Safe Hammad.

Manchester base

Alongside the leadership changes, Automotive Insights has moved into a new office in Manchester. The business is now based at Campfield House in the Castlefield area.

The relocation keeps the company anchored in Manchester as it expands its senior team. It also provides a dedicated base for research operations and client work as Automotive Insights increases output from its monthly survey panel.

Nick Richardson, Executive Director of Automotive Insights & Research Services, said the appointments support the company's expansion plans.

"I am delighted to welcome Richard, Needa and Safe to the team, all of them will play a key role in delivering our growth plans and politely disrupting the automotive market intelligence sector," said Nick Richardson.