Engine's Fuel Appoints Ping as CEO

Engine Partners' London-based data analytics agency Fuel has appointed former Guardian News & Media Head of CRM Charles Ping as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding founder Simon Wall who has left to pursue 'new interests'.

Fuel, which is part of marcoms group Engine Partners, was launched in 2003 to help clients transform their market, customer, competitor, and communications data into insights. The firm offers a range of techniques and services such as social influence modelling, measurement and evaluation, web analytics, and marketing mix analysis, through its team of researchers, statisticians, marketers, and management consultants.

Ping joins from data-driven marcoms agency Communisis, where he served as Strategy Director, Data Intelligence, focussing on using data to tailor communication content. He began his career at the Financial Times before moving to Guardian News & Media, where he spent 14 years as Head of CRM, managing all direct and data-driven marketing activity. After this, he held senior roles at Ai Data Intelligence, and served as Chairman of the Direct Marketing Association and Director for the Advertising Standards Board of Finance.

In his new role, Ping will work closely with Fuel Managing Director, Edmund Smiley-Jones.

Engine UK CEO Debbie Klein comments: 'Charles has great knowledge of the new strategic approach to making big data bite-sized, and then releasing its commercial benefit. He will be a great asset to the team.'

Web sites: www.fueldata.co.uk and www.theenginegroup.com .