Former Thatcham Research chief executive Peter Shaw has passed away after losing his battle with a brain tumour.

Thatcham said Peter had left behind a great legacy, both at the company and within the wider insurance and automotive industries

Peter had been undergoing treatment since January 2018, and stepped down as chief executive in June last year.

He had held the role of chief executive as well as a Board member for seven years and, according to Thatcham Research, he steered the company through a period of notable change during which it was increasingly recognised as a global centre of excellence for assisted and automated driving assessment and testing. He initiated a research strategy which reflected this fast pace of change in the automotive market – and more importantly, kept ahead of it, with thought leadership and rapid development of safety standards.

Paying homage to Peter’s work, Jonathan Hewett, chief executive at Thatcham Research, said: “Peter has left a strong legacy not just at Thatcham Research, but in the wider insurance and automotive industries. Thatcham Research’s increased relevance in the rapidly changing vehicle landscape, not just in the UK but many international markets, is a testament to his deep understanding of the market, his thought leadership and teamworking ethic that he made part of the company’s DNA.”

Graham Gibson, chairman at Thatcham Research, continued: “Very rarely in life do you meet an individual who is as charismatic and generous as Peter. Not only is his passing a great loss to his family and friends but also the wider insurance and automotive industry. We often talk about legacy, and very few can be as privileged as leaving such a great legacy as Peter.”

Thatcham added that Peter would be greatly missed by all who worked with him. The company also said its thoughts and prayers were with his family and asked that their privacy was respected.