Barry (pictured) said in a LinkedIn post that he would be taking a break before starting a new and as-yet-undisclosed new venture in a new industry. Zappi confirmed that he would retain his shares in the company, and there are no plans to replace Barry as president.

The change in leadership at the company follows the appointment last year of Aaron Kechley as chief executive officer, a change which saw Zappi co-founder Steve Phillips shift role to become chief innovation officer.

In his statement, Barry said that it was “the end of an era” and said that he was “leaving with so much clarity and passion to bring what I’ve learned with me forward to a new industry and a new opportunity”.

Barry wrote: “It’s obviously emotional for myself, my family and Zappi, but I am leaving with such pride in what we’ve built and also so much confidence in what the company will continue to do as the insights industry transforms again with Zappi leading the way under Aaron’s leadership.

“I’m leaving having made so many incredible relationships with people from all over the world.

“And I’m proud of the tangible business impact and transformation we have brought to so many iconic brands — brands Zappi will continue to innovate with going forward.”

A statement from Zappi said: “After 11 years with Zappi, Ryan Barry is departing to tackle a new challenge in a new industry.

“He has been an extraordinary part in Zappi’s growth story. As the company’s first US hire, Ryan was instrumental in shaping Zappi’s growth, culture, and success. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and contributions and wish him every success in his next chapter.

“Zappi remains in a strong position for the future, with a seasoned leadership team in place and a clear focus on delivering value to our customers. As we continue to evolve the insights industry, our commitment to innovation and growth remains unchanged.”