Member News
North East based insight agency Explain Market Research has announced a series of strategic hires to support the company’s continued growth on the back of high-profile national projects wins.
With a 30-year legacy in evidence-based insight and an expanding national footprint, Explain is positioning itself as a leading voice in research-led decision-making. As well as working nationally, they take pride in their position within the North East and support a host of local organisations.
Among the new recruits is Helen Clegg, who joins as Associate Insight Director. With more than a decade of experience across sectors including utilities, finance, transport and technology, Helen brings deep strategic insight and academic credentials, including a PhD in health promotion and an MSc in Social Research.
Also joining the senior team is Simon Moll, Associate Insight Director, who brings over 20 years of research leadership experience from both agency and in-house roles. Simon previously led the market insight team at Northumbria University and held global research responsibilities at FTSE100 company Sage.
Other appointments include: Simisola Iyiola, joining as Compliance Officer, supporting GDPR, ISO and information security across the business. Pauline Trotry, joining as Insight Officer, holding a PhD in qualitative research and with experience of working on national and international projects.
Kim Davis, CEO at Explain said, “We’ve entered 2025 with incredible momentum. Our team is now stronger than ever, and the appointments of Helen, Simon, Simisola and Pauline are key to helping us meet the ambitions of both our clients and our business. We’re proud to be delivering insight projects that have a direct impact on people’s lives, including being awarded a competitive tender to deliver the analysis of a large-scale public consultation this year. These new hires reflect our commitment to delivering excellence, innovation and impact for clients, supporting them to gain clarity, solve problems and meaningfully engage their audiences.”
The working culture at Explain is a key driver of their success. They hold an advanced award from the newly formed SHINE workplace culture initiative from the North East Combined Authority, recognising the leadership team's commitment to creating an environment where employees are happy, healthy, and well rewarded.
As Explain continues to grow, developing new strong relationships with skilled individuals and clients will continue to be critical. If you would like to know more about the company and their ambitions, please do get in touch with the leadership team at info@explainresearch.co.uk or call 0191 261 5261.
