Simpson Carpenter Co-founder Retires

Simpson Carpenter co-founder and automotive research veteran Derek Carpenter is to retire at the end of the year, the company has announced.

Carpenter and Tom Simpson met when the former worked client-side at British Leyland and the latter was MD of Harris Research in the early 1970s - Carpenter then moved to work at Harris, where the pair stayed for more than two decades. A year after Harris was acquired by Taylor Nelson in 1997, they set up their own agency aiming to 'bridge the gap between data providers and management consultants'. MORI was originally a minority shareholder.

The automotive sector remains a key area of specialism, built on Carpenter's reputation and experience in the motor industry, on which he has continued to focus with work for clients from the UK's major automotive companies as well the Department for Transport, VOSA, vehicle retailers and Tier One suppliers.

The company, which also in-depth knowledge of retail, tech and pharmaceutical industries, has been preparing for today's announcement for around 18 months, says Carpenter. Recent senior appointments include former BrainJuicer and SPA Future Thinking exec Paul Roberts as Digital Director, and former Edelman Berland SVP Emily Hunt as Head of Strategic Insights and Innovation, seven weeks ago. Simpson says there are 'more in the pipeline for 2015'.

The founders are majority shareholders, and Carpenter will now sell his shares back to the company. He comments: 'I will miss the challenge of work and of course my colleagues, in particular, Tom with whom I have worked closely and enjoyably for more than thirty years. I have a series of retirement projects and trips planned, however, that will keep me busy for the foreseeable future'.

Simpson says of his long-time partner: 'Derek's skills in understanding data, combined with his experience in the motor industry, offer his clients unique insight - he is superb at taking the findings of a project, understanding their business implications and conveying these clearly and imaginatively to clients.

'As a colleague, he will be irreplaceable; he is the most genial, thoughtful and supportive person I have ever worked with and I will miss his day-to-day presence hugely.'

Web site: www.simpcar.co.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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