JA James Arkinstall

Senior insight leader with 17+ years of experience

Evidence that moves
business forward.

I help FMCG leaders turn complex consumer, shopper and market data into clear commercial choices. I then build the insight capability to keep making them.

Discuss a project ↗Explore services ↓
Consumer insightResearch strategyContinuous dataInsight transformation

How I help

Sharper questions.
More useful answers.

Flexible senior support for an urgent decision, a complex programme, or a lasting change in how insight works.

01

Insight strategy

Clarify priorities, connect research to commercial goals, and create a practical insight plan stakeholders can use.

  • Capability and needs review
  • Insight roadmaps
  • Stakeholder alignment
02

Research leadership

Senior direction from brief to boardroom across qualitative, quantitative and continuous research.

  • Research design and commissioning
  • Agency and project leadership
  • Storytelling and executive read-outs
03

Data & supplier value

Make continuous-data ecosystems more useful, better governed and commercially efficient.

  • Dataset and supplier reviews
  • Procurement and negotiation
  • Reporting and ways of working
04

Fractional insight lead

Experienced leadership for teams that need senior capability without a permanent hire.

  • Interim function leadership
  • Team coaching and development
  • Change delivery

Selected experience

Commercially grounded.
Built in the real world.

Over a decade at Princes, progressing from Research Analyst to Head of Insights for a £1.9bn FMCG business.

“Insight earns influence when it makes the next decision simpler.”
100sof research projects overseen each year
£91kin savings and added value secured in one data renewal
18countries coordinated for a global technology account
Boardlevel recommendations developed and presented
Abstract illustration of complex signals becoming a clear direction

About James

Insight leadership without the theatre.

I'm a consumer insight leader with experience on both sides of the client and agency relationship. I combine research craft, commercial pragmatism and straightforward communication.

My career spans Kantar/TNS-RI, media and digital intelligence roles, and more than a decade at Princes. Most recently, as Head of Insights, I led market research and business intelligence activity, managed a £2.2m continuous-data budget, developed insight strategy and led supplier relationships.

I'm now available for independent consulting and interim engagements with organisations that want insight to travel further and work harder.

BA (Hons), University of LeedsILM Level 3 LeadershipLiverpool, UKLinkedIn profile ↗

Start a conversation

Have a decision that needs
a clearer evidence base?

Share what you're working through. I'll reply personally and suggest a useful next step.