NYC Office and Key Hire for Walr

Data collection firm Walr has opened a US office in New York City, as part of its global expansion strategy; and has appointed Lydia Irving as its General Manager in North America.

Walr was founded in October 2020 by former VIGA (now Savanta) exec Lewis Reeves and Patrick Fraser, who previously worked at Ipsos and Critical Research. The company aims to give researchers a 'data creation platform' which is 'the only solution they'll ever need', and now provides visualisation and reporting services. The company acquired MR software business QuenchTec in 2021 and has grown rapidly, reporting around 150 employees at the end of last year.

Irving has spent the last eleven years at GfK and NIQ, in Global Account management and VP Account Lead roles; and earlier worked at BuzzMetrics, Nielsen and as SVP Social Listening at Ipsos OTX.

Walr founder and CEO Lewis Reeves comments: 'Opening our doors in New York is about more than geography - it's about building more responsive partnerships with our clients. We've spent the last few years honing our technology, refining our service model, and recruiting world-class talent. Lydia's appointment reflects this continued commitment. She's a phenomenal addition to our team, and we're excited to have her leading the charge as we scale in the US.'

Ben Walton, Chief Commercial Officer at Walr adds: 'Our presence in New York means we can operate closer to our clients, respond quicker to their needs, and build lasting relationships rooted in trust and commercial impact.'

The company is online at www.walr.com .