Aston Martin Consulting launches

UPDATED: 17/03/2016ASTON Martin says it is looking to expand its horizons with the creation of a consulting division that will offer the British sports-luxury car-maker’s expertise to outside clients and projects not limited to the automotive world.

Dubbed Aston Martin Consulting (AMC), the new branch – headed by Aston’s former head of product strategy and marketing Bradley Yorke-Biggs – will provide a service to companies looking for experience in the fields of design, engineering and manufacturing that the car-maker has gained over more than 100 years of vehicle production.

Operations of the new initiative will be at Aston Martin’s headquarters and factory in Warwickshire, England, and is likely to involve the recruitment of new Aston employees in addition to the 1800-strong team currently employed.

Prior to the formation of the new division, Aston Martin has collaborated with companies on a handful of projects including a new London Bus design with Foster and Partners and, more recently, the AM37 speedboat, created with luxury boat designer Quintessence Yachts.

The first full view of a production version of the vessel is still yet to be revealed, but early teaser images show a boat that borrows the elegance and quality of materials associated with Aston’s sportscars – but for the water.

“It is not a boat that looks like a car, nor a car that floats like a boat,” the Dutch boat-builder said.

Following the successful partnership with the two independent vehicle manufacturers, Aston Martin took the decision to establish a more formal section of the organisation, for a simpler future collaborative process.

“We are often asked to collaborate on projects with other companies,” said Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer.

“My belief is that we can expand the provision of our expertise and experience even further. The formation of Aston Martin Consulting means that we can offer a more structured approach to these projects.”

Mr Yorke-Biggs brings 14 years’ senior management experience with the company to the position of AMC managing director.

He has spent the past four years as head of product strategy and marketing, and prior to that served for almost three years as director of strategy, IT and governmental affairs.

He previously worked at a senior level in strategy and planning, and is a former general manager of Aston Martin’s engine plant, having earlier served as powertrain strategy manager for Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, which included Aston Martin.

Mr Yorke-Biggs said the new venture would be on offer to assist companies in all areas of design and manufacturing as well as automotive.

“We are very excited to be able to extend the reach of the business to include the provision of services across different sectors, both automotive and beyond,” he said.

“We have an incredibly talented and experienced team within Aston Martin and we look forward to expanding our horizons as we work with new clients on interesting new projects.”

Aston has not revealed which other companies it had been approached by or if it has any new irons in the fire, but future Aston-aided products could include all areas of transport as well as other sectors of product design.