APD Research and Development has appointed fleet industry executive Rob Whalley as its new CEO.

A senior executive at several major automotive businesses, including PHH (now Arval), Fleetlease (now Hitachi Capital) and Experian, Whalley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to APD.

He has also taken a shareholding in the company and joins APD as it embarks on a major expansion programme, extending its reach, not just in the UK and Europe, but also into Asia-Pacific from its offices in Melbourne, Australia.

Commenting on Whalley’s appointment, APD’s executive chairman Paul Turner said: “Rob brings huge experience and expertise which will be instrumental in us growing our interests globally.

“This includes widening the use of APD’s Contact.360 award-winning research platforms and our associated consultancy services in the automotive and aviation sectors.”

Whalley's appointment follows the announcement in 2014 that well-known fleet industry figure Nigel Stead was joining the APD board as a non-executive director.