Change of CEO for Yonder Consulting

London-based insights firm Yonder Consulting has promoted Ross McAuley to CEO. McAuley joined the company in the spring as MD of its newly-launched Saudi business Thamma Al-Masar. He replaces Michael Simmonds, who moves to the Chair, but will remain closely involved with the business.

Yonder was created in 2020 when survey firm Populus combined its own team and that of its brand and business strategy firm BrandCap, along with insight-led innovation firm Decidedly. In May, it opened a new company in Riyadh, KSA - Thamma Al-Masar is backed by Yonder's methods and expertise but with 'the long-term ambition to create a locally rooted business by developing Saudi talent and becoming increasingly locally led over time.'

McAuley (pictured) has worked in the Middle East for a total of more than sixteen years, as well as holding several UK roles - the latter include CEO of South of Scotland tourism advocate SSDA and as a Product Manager at Sony. He worked in Dubai as CMO of private education giant GEMS, and for nearly nine years in Marketing Director and VP roles at hotels and resorts group Jumeirah. Immediately prior to leading Thamma Al-Masar he was Director General / MD for the new city of Qiddiyah.

The company has existing offices in London and New York, and is online at www.yonderconsulting.com .