Relative Insight Taps Luck and Thornton for Expansion

Text analytics software firm Relative Insight has added ESOMAR President and WIRe founder Kristin Luck to its Advisory Board and former Cint leader Richard Thornton to its Board of Directors.

Relative Insight's platform combines AI-powered natural language processing with advanced comparative linguistics to analyse text data from multiple sources - including open-end survey questions and data from insights tools, social media and product reviews - helping clients to understand their target audiences, competitors and trends. The firm, which has offices in London, New York and Lancaster says its two new appointees will focus on growth and help to scale it for continued international expansion.

Luck is the founder and Managing Partner of insights sector advisory firm ScaleHouse, current President of international association ESOMAR and founder of non-profit MR networking group WIRe (Women In Research). Earlier in her career she helped launch ACNielsen's first online research practice, and co-founded OTX (Online Testing Exchange) with partner Shelley Zalis in 2000, selling it to Ipsos a decade later. In her new role, as well as uncovering global expansion opportunities for the firm, she will help to guide its strategy in the US following a recent investment from YFM.

Thornton, joined Cint in 2009 and served over the next dozen years as its UK MD, Global Commercial Director, Global Sales and Operations Director, Deputy CEO, COO and Chief Commercial Officer, while the company grew from EUR 4m to EUR 100m in revenue and from 30 to 400 employees. Since leaving last year he has invested in New York-based in-home product testing platform Highlight; joined the board of Manchester, UK-based consumer insights business Vypr and joined Ops firm Ayda as Chairman and Advisor. He is the founder of Claret & You Consulting Limited, an advisory and services firm working with early-stage companies. At Relative Insight, he will be focusing on sales efficiency, strategic partnerships and further optimisation of operations.

CEO Ben Hookway comments: 'Our growth has recently accelerated sharply; driven by demand from companies seeking to get more value out of their text data and helped by our recently announced Series B funding. Kristin and Richard both have deep industry knowledge and experience when it comes to quickly scaling high-growth technology companies. We are looking forward to tapping into their expertise as we continue to expand, with a focus on the United States'.

Web site: www.relativeinsight.com .