Futuresource names Watkins Director of Consumer Electronics & Media
November 25, 2025
Futuresource Consulting has appointed David Watkins as its new Director of Consumer Electronics & Media.
Watkins joins Futuresource with more than 15 years of senior leadership experience, including nearly a decade as Practice Lead for the Media & Intelligent Home Group at Strategy Analytics. Most recently, he served as VP of Consumer Electronics at TechInsights, overseeing global research programmes and shaping client strategy at scale.
No stranger to Futuresource, Watkins worked on the team until he relocated to France in 2011. His return comes at a pivotal moment for the CE and media sectors, as vendors transition towards recurring revenue models, AI reshapes user expectations, and hardware, software and services converge.
In his new role, Watkins will oversee Futuresource’s syndicated CE and entertainment research portfolio, including streaming, smart devices, wearables and the connected home, while working closely with adjacent practices across Pro AV, AI, connectivity and chip architecture.
“My priority is ensuring our CE and entertainment research stays ahead of the market,” said Watkins. “Clients are continually asking more sophisticated questions, and they want insight that links consumer behaviour, form factor evolution, ecosystem shifts and technology disruption into a coherent narrative. I’m focused on refining our services even further, strengthening the value we already deliver, and building the next phase of our thought leadership for 2026 and beyond.”
“Consumers don’t think in product categories anymore,” he continued. “They think in experiences. With AI personalisation, immersive audio and advanced visual formats moving into the mainstream, expectations are rising sharply. People now want technology that adapts, anticipates and genuinely enhances their daily lives. That mindset is reshaping every part of the CE value chain.”
Futuresource MD, Chris McIntyre-Brown, added: “David brings a rare combination of sector depth, strategic instinct and a proven track record in growing CE research practices. His return is less about looking back, and more about accelerating the next phase of our business. He enhances our capabilities even further, allowing us to anticipate critical shifts in the market, and he strengthens the value we deliver to clients across the ecosystem.”
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