The NPD Group has announced that Steve Flavin will return to his automotive roots as president of its Automotive Aftermarket practice.

He will succeed the group’s current president, Dawn Zieren, who is moving into a new corporate role supporting NPD’s cross-practice global and strategic initiatives. Flavin will report to Perry James, president of NPD’s Hardlines sector.

NPD’s Automotive Aftermarket practice also welcomes back another former member. Travis Mitchell, who has over a decade of automotive aftermarket experience, has been named executive director of Client Development and will report to Flavin. Prior to this role, Mitchell served as executive director of Product Development for NPD’s Hardlines sector.

Flavin, who joined NPD in 2001, has 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, over 10 of which were spent in various leadership roles within NPD’s Automotive Aftermarket practice.  Prior to serving as president of NPD’s Technology East and Mobile business practices, a position he has held for the last five years, he was vice president of Client Development and Business Development for NPD’s Automotive Aftermarket practice. While in that position, he led the effort to reinvent and re-launch Automotive consumer market research offerings, including retail information from the point-of-sale.

“As NPD continues on its growth trajectory, it is essential for us to capitalize on our talent to meet the evolving needs of both our business and our clients. Steve’s passion for the automotive industry and the enthusiasm he brings to this field will be valuable assets as we continue to grow and transform our automotive business. We’re excited to have Dawn join our corporate team as we continue to build our global business,” said Karyn Schoenbart, Chief Executive Officer of The NPD Group.