DETROIT -

Research and insights company Ipsos has appointed Jacob George as executive vice president and leader of its U.S. automotive quality business. George, who most recently served as vice president and general manager of J.D. Power Asia Pacific, will lead the quality measurement and improvement system that Ipsos has created for the U.S. and global automotive markets.

Ipsos said in a news release that the appointment of George is part of its commitment to “leverage its transformative momentum” as a professional services firm and its expanded scale to focus on bringing more information to clients, more quickly.

The quality measurement and improvement system, along with Ipsos’ understanding of changing consumer requirements at a time of disruption in the automotive industry, reinforces the company’s dedication to understanding people, markets, brands and society, a news release explained. Ipsos said that helps it deliver information and analysis to more easily navigate the complex world and inspire its clients to make smarter decisions.

At J.D. Power Asia Pacific, George oversaw the region’s research and consulting business. He has worked on the manufacturer and agency sides throughout his career, including roles at General Motors in the areas of manufacturing, engineering and marketing. On the agency side he worked in quality measurement and consulting to help manufacturers improve.

George has “created consumer understanding” for clients in the United States, Germany, China and Japan while also living in those countries.

Ipsos RDA president Frank Forkin is happy to see George join the company. “His deep global background in quality measurement and improvement sets Ipsos up well to serve our clients and to help them understand consumers, and position themselves for success,” Forkin said in a news release. 

George said the field of quality measurement and improvement is changing globally. The field, he said, “has become wrapped up in the disruptors facing the automotive industry today: increased competition, decreased differentiation, globalization, connectivity, electrification, autonomous features and shared mobility.” He said he looks forward to helping automotive manufacturers, suppliers and dealers “understand consumers better and incorporate their needs early in the product development process.”