J.D. Power Hires New U.S. Chief

J.D. Power & Associates, the Westlake Village market research firm whose studies of automotive quality are widely followed, has hired Steven Carroll, a former ACNielsen Corp. executive, to head its U.S. operations.

In his new position as senior partner and executive vice president for client services, Carroll will be responsible for all of Power’s U.S. market research for the auto, healthcare, insurance, finance and other industries. He also will be in charge of developing products and clients.

Power recently hired New York investment banking firm Evercore Partners Inc. to help it raise capital to finance global expansion. That effort could include selling the privately held company or taking it public.

Before joining Power, Carroll spent 10 years with ACNielsen as a senior vice president overseeing research and consulting services for healthcare and consumer product companies.

-- John O’Dell