Leading with James Ashton
LEADING talks to leaders at the top of a wide range of organisations to discover how they learnt to lead, the big decisions they’ve taken and the advice they offer to others.From the worlds of business, charity, the arts, sport, technology and healthcare, CEOs share their take on leading vital causes, famous brand names, multi-million-pound enterprises and fast-growing start-ups. The podcast is presented by the journalist James Ashton.
Mon, November 08, 2021
Meta
Nicola Mendelsohn oversees the vast $100bn-a-year advertising business at Meta, the social media giant known until recently as Facebook. She is one of the most senior women in UK tech, now heading to New York to take up her new role. Business is booming for Meta, which also includes Instagram and Whatsapp, as it plots a push into virtual reality worlds. But so are critics’ voices, especially after damaging leaks suggesting the group knew its products contributed to violence and mental health problems. Regulators are asking how it might take greater responsibility for what goes on on its platform, which boasts 1.9bn daily active users. Lady Mendelsohn joined Facebook in 2013 as vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa after 20 years in advertising, spent at firms including Karmarama, Grey and BBH. She joins James Ashton to discuss: Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the future and how he plans to lead Meta forward; The importance of asking questions and seeking mentors; Coping with cancer in a leadership role and why it’s OK to show vulnerability; And thriving in a male-dominated advertising industry. For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available now
Mon, October 11, 2021
JoJo Maman Bébé
Laura Tenison is the always-on founder and CEO of JoJo Maman Bébé, the children’s clothing, gifts and maternity wear chain which brightens dozens of UK high streets. The business now stretches to 88 shops, a strong online presence, 900 employees and an annual turnover of £70m. Laura joins James Ashton to discuss: The life-changing car accident that led to the foundation of her business in 1993; Rolling up her sleeves to join her warehouse workers during the Covid-19 pandemic; The mentorship she received from the Body Shop’s Anita Roddick that informed JoJo’s focus on sustainability; And the importance of supporting fellow entrepreneurs including through the everywoman platform. For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available now
Thu, September 30, 2021
Under Armour
Patrik Frisk is CEO of Under Armour, the US sportswear brand worn by top boxer Anthony Joshua, rugby star Maro Itoje and taekwondo champion Jade Jones that goes head-to-head with Nike and Adidas every day. Frisk joined UA in 2017 to help get it back on track after sales growth stuttered. He oversees a global team of 15,000 and annual revenue of $5bn. He joins James Ashton to discuss: Taking the helm from UA’s long-serving founder Kevin Plank, who created his first T-shirt in 1996; What he learns from the athletes that have become UA brand ambassadors; Battling loneliness in leadership; His last job, running shoe brand Aldo, and earlier years spent at Timberland and North Face; And betting – and literally losing - the farm because of one of his business ventures flopped in his native Sweden. What are the lessons you take from failure? For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available now
Tue, September 21, 2021
Royal Navy
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin is First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, overseeing more than 30,000 personnel and a fleet of aircraft carriers, assault ships, submarines and more designed to protect UK interests at sea. He joins James Ashton to discuss: The new investment and recruitment needed to tackle changing threats abroad; Taking life threatening decisions and fulfilling our duty in Afghanistan; His career so far, including three command tours of Iraq; The importance of not second guessing those above you; And how to enjoy the role without being intimidated by the Royal Navy’s great legacy. Admiral Radakin was commissioned in 1990 and operational service has seen him on security duties in the Falklands and countering smuggling in Hong Kong and the Caribbean. Command positions have included the Iraqi Maritime Task Force, the Portsmouth Naval Base and NATO’s High Readiness Maritime Component Commander. For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available now
Mon, June 21, 2021
S4 Episode 15 - RFU
Bill Sweeney is chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, English rugby’s 150-year old governing body that oversees half a million regular players and strives for elite international success. Sweeney joins James Ashton to discuss: Bringing back the fans and steadying the finances in the wake of the Covid-19 closedown; Making your own luck on and off the pitch; Instilling a team ethic in the athletes who brought back a record medals haul from the Rio Olympics in 2016 when he led the British Olympic Association; What he learnt from working with Usain Bolt and the All Blacks during his time at Puma and Adidas and his hopes for future Rugby World Cup victories. Bill Sweeney was a junior footballer with Chelsea and played rugby for Aberdeenshire and Rosslyn Park before gaining corporate experience working for Shell, Mars and Unilever. His passion for sport saw him join Adidas, a supporter of Team GB at the Beijing and London Olympic Games, and later become head of business development at Puma. Sweeney was appointed chief executive of the BOA by Lord Coe in 2013, describing his decision to depart for the RFU in 2019 as “the only opportunity I would have left the BOA for”. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now
Mon, June 14, 2021
S4 Episode 14 - Marks & Spencer
Katie Bickerstaffe is joint chief operating officer at Marks & Spencer. She is part of the top team tasked with reviving the retailer’s clothing and home business while capitalising on the appeal of its expanding food operation and the shift towards shopping online. Bickerstaffe joins James Ashton to discuss: Her quest to make daily improvements to the business that still frustrates customers; Career confidence and experience gathered at Dixons, Dyson and SSE; How she makes a four-day week work; And why she believes M&S’s new alumni network M&S Family will benefit both the business and its leadership. Bickerstaffe is a product of Unilever’s graduate scheme but has also worked at PepsiCo, Dyson and the supermarket group Somerfield, where she became managing director at the age of 33. Spending a decade at electricals retailer Dixons, she led the UK and Ireland arm and bedded down a merger with Carphone Warehouse. Bickerstaffe had been a non-executive director at M&S since 2018. She became strategy and transformation director in 2020 and took on her current role in May 2021. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now
Mon, May 24, 2021
S4 Episode 13 - Mars Petcare
Poul Weihrauch is global president of Mars Petcare, the largest division of the family-owned food empire still best known for its chocolate bars and chewing gum. Selling brands including Whiskas and Pedigree, the business also runs thousands of pet hospitals and comprises a workforce of 85,000 operating across 55 countries. Weihrauch joins James Ashton to discuss: Keeping up with demand as pet ownership boomed during lockdown; Concerns over rip-off vets' fees; Navigating his way up through a global organisation that plans for the long term; The founding Mars family’s approach to leadership; And how taking his dog to work is good for business. Weihrauch began his career marketing chewing gum in his native Denmark and after six years with Nestlé arrived at Mars in 2000 as Snickers’ brand leader in Europe. Following a succession of broader roles, he joined the 110-year old American firm’s leadership team in 2011. Weihrauch took on his current petcare role in 2015, leading the $8bn acquisition of veterinary business VCA two years later. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now
Sun, May 09, 2021
S4 Episode 12 - National Trust
Hilary McGrady is director-general of the National Trust, keeper of the nation’s treasures including the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, Sir Winston Churchill's family home Chartwell in Kent and Scafell Pike in the Lake District. With 5.5m members and more than 50,000 volunteers in normal times helping to keep stately homes, parks and coastline open and maintained, everyone has a view of what the boss should be doing. McGrady joins James Ashton to discuss: Her plan for recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, which cost the Trust a third of its revenues and resulted in 1500 redundancies; Inspiring members to do their bit to combat climate change; The very personal reason she joined the organisation in 2005; Lessons learnt from marketing whiskey and clashing with politicians in Northern Ireland earlier in her career still come in handy today. McGrady took the helm of the Trust in 2018, the first director-general to have worked her way up through the organisation. She previously worked for drinks firm Diageo, an arts charity and led Belfast’s unsuccessful bid to become Europe’s city of culture. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now
Mon, April 26, 2021
S4 Episode 11 - Arts Council England
Darren Henley is chief executive of Arts Council England, the public body that distributes £700m every year to support galleries, theatres, museums, dance studios, music venues and libraries. He joins James Ashton to discuss the challenge of restarting the arts post-pandemic and their importance on the world stage. Henley’s background is in radio, having risen from weekend newsreader to managing director during 22 years at Classic FM. After leading reviews of music and cultural education for the government, he swapped the private for the public sector in 2015. At Arts Council England, Henley is treading a fine line by ploughing more taxpayer and National Lottery money into the regions without damaging London’s cultural gems including the Royal Opera House and Southbank Centre. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now
Tue, April 13, 2021
S4 Episode 10 - M&C Saatchi
Moray MacLennan is chief executive of M&C Saatchi, one of the most famous names in advertising. He joins James Ashton to discuss taking over the reins at the start of 2021 at a critical time – after a boardroom exodus and accounting crisis rocked the business. MacLennan joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 1983 and followed the brothers Maurice and Charles when they set up their breakaway agency M&C in 1995. He made his name overseeing key accounts British Airways, Silk Cut and Famous Grouse whisky and in 2010 became worldwide CEO, building a global network of communications agencies operating in 30 countries. Now MacLennan must get the firm back on track and remake the working environment post-pandemic to get the best out of his creative team. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now
Mon, February 15, 2021
S4 Episode 9 - Royal Air Force
Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston is Chief of the Air Staff, the leader of the Royal Air Force, defender of the UK skies. He joins James Ashton to talk about managing the fast-changing defence threat to the UK and leading through the toughest times when lives are lost. In 35 years of service, Sir Mike has flown at seven miles a minute in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. Now he’s trying to speed up the RAF’s adoption of new technologies – including unmanned aircraft – and he’s determined to improve culture and the diversity of his workforce. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now
Fri, December 18, 2020
S4 Episode 8 - Snoop and Homeserve
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia and Richard Harpin join James Ashton to discuss starting a business in a pandemic, coping in a crisis, long-term ambition and being kind to yourself. Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia is the founder and executive chair of Snoop, a banking app designed to help consumers save money on bills and day-to-day spending that recently raised £10m via crowdfunding. Dame Jayne-Anne spent six years at Norwich Union, before founding Virgin Direct and then Virgin One, which was acquired by Royal Bank of Scotland in 2001. Her next venture was challenger bank Virgin Money, which swallowed much of the collapsed Northern Rock. It listed on the stock exchange in 2014 and was bought by another lender, CYBG, in 2018. Richard Harpin is chief executive of Homeserve, the home repairs firm that helps more than 8m customers worldwide with burst pipes and heating breakdowns and runs the Checkatrade tradespeople website. He founded the firm in 1993 as a joint venture with South Staffordshire Group and successfully revived the business after it was hit with a giant £31m fine for mis-selling in 2014. Harpin’s business training came through Procter & Gamble’s brand management programme and a stint as a management consultant at Deloitte. Now he backs entrepreneurs by investing in promising start-ups. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now.
Sun, December 13, 2020
S4 Episode 7 - Tech Nation and Global Scaling Academy
Stephen Kelly and Chris Yeh join James Ashton to discuss what UK tech leaders can learn from Silicon Valley – and vice versa. Plus, how to harness the sector’s current growth spurt and the relentless reinvention of successful bosses including Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Airbnb’s Brian Chesky and Marc Benioff of Salesforce. Stephen Kelly is chairman of Tech Nation, the state-backed organisation that supports the growth of the UK’s most promising technology firms. Set up in 2014, Tech Nation speaks out on behalf of the sector and runs training and skills programmes for young leaders, as well as a fast-track visa scheme. Until 2018, Kelly was chief executive of the FTSE 100 software company Sage. He has also served as chief operating officer for the UK Government, driving the efficiency and reform programme. He led two more tech companies - Micro Focus and Nasdaq-listed Chordiant Software – and spent nine years at Oracle earlier in his career. Chris Yeh is a Silicon Valley-based author, investor, speaker and mentor. Along with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman he wrote Blitzscaling, a book that explains how world-changing companies including Amazon and Alibaba were built. Yeh co-founded the Global Scaling Academy to guide start-up founders. He has worked with hundreds of companies and entrepreneurs since switching away from product design which he studied at Stanford University. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now.
Mon, December 07, 2020
S4 Episode 6 - Barnardo’s and DLA Piper
Javed Khan and Simon Levine join James Ashton to discuss tough decision-making caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, prejudice at work and inspirational role models. Javed Khan is chief executive of Barnardo’s, one of the UK’s largest charities which supports over 350,000 vulnerable children, families and carers each year. With roots going back to 1867, Barnardo’s today has 700 shops, 8,000 staff and 14,000 volunteers looking after children who have suffered from abuse or violence. The impact of Covid-19 on retail and fundraising means it must cut back some services. Khan trained as a maths teacher, entering local government at Birmingham City Council and then becoming director of education at Harrow Council. After a civil service secondment, he was appointed chief executive of Victim Support in 2010 and has led Barnardo’s since 2014. Simon Levine is global co-CEO of the law firm DLA Piper, which has lawyers in more than 40 countries and revenues last year in excess of £2bn. DLA’s clients include nearly half of the FTSE 350, governments and public sector bodies. Levine’s expertise lies in intellectual property, media and sports law. He has advised pop stars and film studio heads in a 30-year career. He joined DLA in 2005 from Denton Wilde Sapte and was elected to lead by partners in 2015. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now.
Mon, November 30, 2020
S4 Episode 5 - Fortnum & Mason and Love Your Imposter
Ewan Venters and Rita Clifton join James Ashton to discuss retail under pressure, tackling self doubt, the importance of kindness and knowing when it’s the right time to move on. Ewan Venters is chief executive of Fortnum & Mason, the Queen’s grocer which was founded in 1707 and is famous for its luxury hampers, teas and preserves. In charge since 2012, Venters has boosted online delivery and opened new stores in Hong Kong and Heathrow Airport, but the Covid-19 pandemic has dealt trading a severe blow. Venters spent a decade at Sainsbury’s, starting out on the management trainee programme, later running the food and internet operations at department store Selfridges. In 2021, he will become chief executive of Hauser & Wirth, the contemporary art gallery group. Rita Clifton is a branding expert, non-executive director, speaker and author. She was vice chairman and strategy director at the advertising group Saatchi & Saatchi before joining Interbrand, the global brand consultancy, as London CEO and later chairman. In 2013, Clifton became co-founder and chair of the business consultancy BrandCap, which was later sold to its managers. She is a non-executive director at Nationwide Building Society and Ascential, and formerly Asos and Bupa. Her leadership book, Love Your Imposter, demonstrates how people can take on their imposter self and use it to come out stronger. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now.
Mon, November 23, 2020
S4 Episode 4 - British Council and Alzheimer's Society
Sir Ciarán Devane and Kate Lee join James Ashton to discuss communicating in a crisis, diplomacy at work and when personal and professional lives collide. Sir Ciarán Devane is chief executive of the British Council, the organisation which projects the UK’s image on the world. Since 1934 it has aimed to forge trust and understanding with other countries through arts and education programmes, and is the number one specialist English language teacher. Last year the British Council reached almost one billion people with its work and employs a staff of 12,000. Sir Ciarán began his career as an engineer and manager for chemicals group ICI before becoming a management consultant. He changed direction in 2007 when he was appointed chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, the charity that helped care for his late wife, before taking over at the British Council in 2015. Kate Lee is chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, the leading UK charity which supports more than 200,000 people with dementia every year. She took the helm in 2020 at short notice and with crises brewing as her predecessor departed early and national lockdown loomed. Lee had to rebuild morale and is now campaigning for better family access to dementia sufferers in care homes – which includes her own mother. She spent 14 years at the British Red Cross, rising to become director of strategy. For five years until 2020 she was chief executive of the cancer charity Clic Sargent. Leading is supported by Lockton, the world’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance broker. Lockton's independence means its 8,000 associates worldwide are free to focus solely on their clients' risk and insurance needs. To hear more from Lockton experts, please visit locktoninternational.com/gb/insight For further details of this series, follow @leadingpod or go to leadingpod.com James Ashton’s book The Nine Types of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now.
Tue, November 17, 2020
S4 Episode 3 - Health Education England
Navina Evans joins James Ashton to discuss life leading a key division of the NHS, the challenge of attracting and retaining a giant workforce, why she kept treating patients after becoming chief executive - and overcoming workplace sexism even after rising to the top. Navina Evans is chief executive of Health Education England, a unit of the NHS that plans, recruits, educates and trains the health workforce of the future. Currently there are more than 160,000 NHS students including doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics and physiotherapists but Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic has made the staffing challenge more acute. Before joining HEE in 2020, Evans spent 25 years at the NHS’s East London Foundation Trust, starting her career as a psychiatrist, working her way up to clinical director and becoming chief executive in August 2016. James Ashton’s book The Nine Type of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now. Find out more about this series @leadingpod or at leadingpod.com
Mon, November 09, 2020
S4 Episode 2 - Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Welcome to Yorkshire
LEADING talks to leaders at the top of a wide range of organisations to discover how they learnt to lead, the big decisions they’ve taken and the advice they offer to others. From the worlds of business, charity, the arts, sport, technology and healthcare, CEOs share their take on leading vital causes, famous brand names, multi-million-pound enterprises and fast-growing start-ups. The podcast is presented by the journalist James Ashton. This time, hear from Claire Horton, chief executive of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the London institution that has cared for more than three million animals since it was set up in 1860. Last year it helped over 5,000 dogs and cats across three centres and is braced for a post-lockdown surge in activity. Battersea has campaigned successfully for the introduction of Lucy’s Law which has made it illegal for anyone other than a breeder to sell puppies or kittens commercially. Horton worked at the NSPCC early in her career. She was also chief executive of the University of Warwick Students’ Union and chief operating officer at the Variety Club of Great Britain before taking the helm at Battersea in 2010. She is joined on the podcast by James Mason, who became chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire at the beginning of 2020. The tourism body is dedicated to driving visitors back to the region post-pandemic to boost an industry that is worth £9bn a year in better times. Its greatest hits include attracting the Tour de France to Yorkshire in 2014, but Mason must rebuild trust among the councils and businesses that fund it after his predecessor quit following concerns over spending and the treatment of staff. He spent 12 years as a broadcast journalist before becoming chief operating officer at Bradford City Football Club and also held the same role at the sports agency First Point USA. James Ashton’s book The Nine Type of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now. Find out more about this series @leadingpod or at leadingpod.com
Sun, November 01, 2020
S4 Episode 1 - Be the Business and the CBI
LEADING talks to leaders at the top of a wide range of organisations to discover how they learnt to lead, the big decisions they’ve taken and the advice they offer to others. From the worlds of business, charity, the arts, sport, technology and healthcare, CEOs share their take on leading vital causes, famous brand names, multi-million-pound enterprises and fast-growing start-ups. The podcast is presented by the journalist James Ashton. Tony Danker joins James Ashton as he is about to take on one of the biggest jobs in British business: director-general of the CBI, the leading business lobby group that speaks on behalf of 190,000 firms employing nearly seven million people. Danker spent three years building from scratch Be the Business, an organisation designed to drive up the UK’s poor productivity record that has so far put 5,000 SME leaders through its programmes. Earlier in his career, he was international director and then chief strategy officer at Guardian News & Media and a government policy advisor. In this episode, he discusses hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic could actually kickstart productivity, why he wanted to become the voice of UK business at such a “grave moment”, the importance of coaching others and why the consulting firm McKinsey – where Danker spent a decade - is such an effective CEO training ground. James Ashton’s book The Nine Type of Leader (bit.ly/NINEbook) is available to order now. Find out more about this series @leadingpod or at leadingpod.com
Mon, May 25, 2020
S3 Episode 6 - Canal & River Trust
In another lockdown episode, Richard Parry joins James Ashton to discuss safeguarding staff and visitors, developing new income streams and swapping commercial for charitable leadership at the helm of one of the UK’s largest not-for-profit organisations. Richard Parry is chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, the charity that looks after 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales. He became leader in 2013, a year after the organisation was created to replace the state-run British Waterways. Today the trust welcomes 4m regular visitors and 35,000 licensed boats to its estate, which is maintained by 1700 staff and 3000 volunteers. Previously, Parry spent 19 years working at London Underground - where he was acting managing director for a year - followed by a brief spell at the transport company FirstGroup. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, May 18, 2020
S3 Episode 5 - London Metal Exchange
In another lockdown episode, Matthew Chamberlain joins James Ashton to discuss trading through the crisis, swapping an investment banking career to become CEO and respecting tradition at his 143-year old organisation. Matthew Chamberlain is chief executive of the London Metal Exchange, a City institution since 1877 that last year traded $13.5 trillion of metals including aluminium, copper and zinc. After financial roles at Citibank, Perella Weinberg and UBS, Chamberlain joined the LME in 2012 as head of strategy and implementation following its acquisition by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing – a deal he advised on. He took the top job in 2017 at the age of 34. In normal times the LME operates the Ring, the last open outcry trading floor in Europe, which sets prices for metals supply contracts all over the world. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, May 11, 2020
S3 Episode 4 - St John Ambulance
In another lockdown episode, Martin Houghton-Brown joins James Ashton to discuss battling Covid-19, dealing with the latest financial pressures, reorganising for the future and finding time and space to switch off. Martin Houghton-Brown is the chief executive of St John Ambulance, the medical charity that has been saving lives since 1877 and gives vital support to the NHS. In 2018 it gave first aid training to 382,000 people in schools and workplaces and treated 104,000 people taken ill at 22,000 events across the UK. Houghton-Brown previously led Depaul UK, a charity that helps the homeless and disadvantaged, and before that Missing People. He was also deputy director at the Children's Society. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, May 04, 2020
S3 Episode 3 - Bupa
In this special lockdown episode, Evelyn Bourke joins James Ashton to discuss leading through crisis, working closely with the NHS, the future of healthcare and early career failure. Evelyn Bourke is the chief executive of Bupa, the private healthcare insurer and provider with 33m customers and clinics, dental centres, hospitals and care homes in major markets such as the UK, Australia and Spain. Founded in 1947, the private company does not have shareholders and reinvests profits in the business which employs 83,000 people. Bourke joined the group as finance director in 2012 and took over the top job in 2016. An actuary by training, she has held leadership or finance roles at several financial services groups including Friends Provident, Standard Life, Chase de Vere and Bank of Ireland. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, April 13, 2020
S3 Episode 2 - PwC and Great Ormond Street Hospital
Kevin Ellis and Matthew Shaw join James Ashton to discuss trust in business, audit quality, shattering hierarchy and lifelong learning. This episode was recorded before the coronavirus lockdown. Kevin Ellis is UK chairman and senior partner of PwC, the largest of the professional services firms which advises on tax, company audit, restructuring, technology and deals. PwC employs 22,000 people. Last year revenues rose to £4.2bn. Ellis joined the firm in 1984, specialising in insolvency work. He was elected leader in 2016 and has just been re-elected, taking his tenure through to 2024. Key challenges include diversifying the workforce and tackling government and regulatory concerns over audit quality. Matthew Shaw is chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), the famous London institution that has been dedicated to children’s healthcare since its creation in 1852. Last year its 5000 staff plus 1000 volunteers cared for 260,000 patients across 50 areas of specialist care. Shaw took up the role in late 2018. Joining GOSH as medical director, the consultant spinal surgeon was formerly medical director at Bupa Health Services and deputy chief executive and transformation director of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Tue, April 07, 2020
S3 Episode 1 - Macmillan Cancer Support and Rhodes Trust
Lynda Thomas and Elizabeth Kiss join James Ashton to discuss supporting the NHS, funding future leaders, career pivots and imposter syndrome. This episode was recorded before the coronavirus lockdown. Lynda Thomas is the chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, one of the most trusted charities in the UK. Macmillan is famous for its 6000 nurses who care for thousands of people coping with cancer. It also campaigns for better NHS cancer provision. In 2018 the charity raised £231m and supported 1.9m people. Thomas joined Macmillan as joint head of media in 2001, becoming director of external affairs, director of fundraising and finally chief executive in 2015. She began her career in consumer PR but after starting a family changed direction and volunteered with NCH Action for Children. Elizabeth Kiss is chief executive of the Rhodes Trust, the organisation which runs one of the best-known scholarship programmes in the world. Set up 1903 through the will of businessman Cecil Rhodes, every year it enables 100 outstanding international students to study second or post graduate degrees at Oxford University. Well-known Rhodes Scholars include former US president Bill Clinton and Malcolm Turnbull, the ex-Australian prime minister. Kiss, who joined the Trust in 2018, aims to expand and internationalise the scheme, which costs £16m a year to operate. The philosopher was previously president of the liberal arts-led Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia for 12 years, and a Rhodes Scholar in 1983. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, March 23, 2020
Best of Leading Season 2
In advance of some new episodes, here is a compilation of our best nuggets of leadership advice so far. Put together before the coronavirus crisis, it features leaders of arts institutions Royal Albert Hall and English National Opera, clothing and food brands Amanda Wakeley and Leon, big employers Anglian Water and University of Liverpool, digital challengers Trainline and Pharmacy2U and the RSPB wildlife charity, among others. Bosses talk about the importance of having a vision, managing change, the benefits of mentorship, disruption, growth, motivating staff, the challenge of starting up and how to wind down. It is a reminder from gentler times of the need for good leadership. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, January 27, 2020
S2 Episode 9 - England Athletics and British Land
Chris Jones and Chris Grigg join James Ashton to discuss battling adversity, Olympic legacy and fixing company culture. Chris Jones is chief executive of England Athletics, the sporting organisation that supports over 1500 affiliated running clubs which count more than 180,000 registered athletes between them. England Athletics recruits and supports coaches, officials and other volunteers with the aim of broadening participation in the sport. Jones joined in 2006 as head of strategy and took the top job in 2012. He leads a team of 60 staff. Earlier in his career he was a Sport England senior development manager and has worked in local government and secondary education. Chris Grigg is chief executive of British Land, the £12bn FTSE 100 property empire that spans the Paddington and Broadgate mixed-use developments in London and investments in Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre and Drake Circus in Plymouth. Grigg has led the company for 11 years, taking charge during the financial crisis, tackling tough times in the retail industry and moving into flexible workspaces. Before property, he was in banking, leading Barclays’ commercial bank. Earlier in his career he spent 20 years at investment bank Goldman Sachs. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, December 02, 2019
S2 Episode 8 - Pharmacy2U and Metropolitan Thames Valley
Mark Livingstone and Geeta Nanda join James Ashton to discuss their biggest challenges, merger tactics, building a team and getting lucky. Mark Livingstone is chief executive of Pharmacy2U, the online prescription delivery company that despatches 1.2m medicines direct to patients every month. Livingstone has led the Leeds-based company since 2016 when it merged with ChemistDirect.co.uk, his previous venture. In a career spent growing start-ups, he was chief executive of the Scoot business directory, a founding investor in snacks-by-mail firm Graze and involved in DVD delivery start-up LoveFilm. Earlier on, Livingstone was head of buying for Woolworths and managing director for Lego Interactive. Geeta Nanda is chief executive of Metropolitan Thames Valley, one of the UK’s largest housing associations that traces its roots back to providing affordable homes for the Windrush generation. Created through a merger last year, the group is landlord to 57,000 homes, adding 2,000 new properties a year. It employs 1800 staff. Nanda previously ran the Thames Valley housing association for a decade and before that was operations director at the Notting Hill Housing Trust. Her career began on the graduate training programme at Wandsworth Council in south London. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, November 25, 2019
S2 Episode 7 - Trainline and Havas Creative Network
Clare Gilmartin and Chris Hirst join James Ashton to discuss fostering creativity, staying resilient and reinventing yourself at Harvard. Clare Gilmartin is chief executive of Trainline, the fast-growing rail and coach app that processes more than £3bn of tickets every year across 45 countries. This year she led the technology company onto the stock market, 22 years after it was set up by a Virgin Trains-led consortium. Trainline is headquartered in London and employs 600 people. Gilmartin joined the business in 2014 after spending 11 years at online retailer eBay, rising from head of motors to European vice-president. Chris Hirst is chief executive of Havas Creative Network, part of the Havas advertising and communications group. He oversees 8500 staff around the world who work on campaigns for clients including Nestlé, IBM and Huawei. Hirst previously ran Havas in the UK and Europe, having joined the business in 2015. Earlier on in his career he was chief executive of another advertising agency, Grey London. This year he published a book entitled No Bullshit Leadership. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, November 18, 2019
S2 Episode 6 - Entrepreneur First and RSPB
Alice Bentinck and Beccy Speight join James Ashton to discuss campaigning conservation, fashioning leaders from founders and megalomaniac tendencies. Alice Bentinck is the co-founder of Entrepreneur First, a venture that turns talented individuals into entrepreneurs. Since it began in 2011, more than 1,200 people have been through the EF programme, creating 230 start-ups worth a collective $1.5bn. Bentinck began her career at the consulting firm McKinsey and chose founding EF over a job at Google. She also set up Code First: Girls, a charity that has taught 5,000 girls to computer code for free while at university. Beccy Speight became chief executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds earlier this year. The RSPB is the largest conservation organisation in Europe, with more than 1.2m members, over 2,000 employees and around 12,000 volunteers. It maintains over 200 nature reserves which are home to 80pc of the UK’s rarest or most threatened bird species. Speight joined the 130-year old charity from the Woodland Trust where she had been chief executive since 2014. Prior to that she spent 14 years at the National Trust, rising to become director for the Midlands region. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, November 11, 2019
S2 Episode 5 - Leon and the Royal Albert Hall
John Vincent and Craig Hassall join James Ashton to discuss putting on a show, screwing up, finding the right mentor and how to tackle US expansion. John Vincent is co-founder and chief executive of Leon, the healthy fast food chain whose hot chicken boxes and plant-based burgers have reinvented lunchtime for city workers since it opened its doors 15 years ago. Leon has more than 50 outlets in the UK and employs 1600 staff. With annual sales of close to £100m, now Vincent is eyeing expansion in the United States. His first taste of entrepreneurship was running an entertainment production company at university, before working at groceries giant Procter & Gamble and spending seven years as a consultant at Bain. Craig Hassall is chief executive of the Royal Albert Hall, one of London’s iconic venues that is nearing its 150th birthday in 2021. Every year it hosts 400 performances in its main auditorium including the Proms season, Cirque du Soleil and the Teenage Cancer Trust’s concert week. The hall turned over £32m last year and welcomed 1.7m visitors. Hassall ran the English National Ballet from 2005 and after that, Opera Australia. He was in charge of special events and festivals for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, November 04, 2019
S2 Episode 4 - The Crown Estate and Amanda Wakeley
Dame Alison Nimmo and Amanda Wakeley join James Ashton to discuss juggling responsibilities, the power of coaching, trusting your team and putting your name over the door. Dame Alison Nimmo is chief executive the Crown Estate, a diverse £14bn property portfolio that plays landlord to high-end retailers along London’s Regent Street as well as offshore wind farms along the coastline. The estate is owned by the Queen but independently managed and a portion of its profits fund the Royal Family. Dame Alison’s career is rooted in regeneration, leading the team that rebuilt Manchester city centre after the 1996 bombing. As design director for the Olympic Delivery Authority, she was responsible for radical structures such as the aquatics centre and the velodrome that played host to the 2012 London Olympics. Amanda Wakeley is the founder and creative director of the luxury clothing brand Amanda Wakeley which embraces ready-to-wear, handbags and accessories and a renowned wedding dress collection. Founded in 1990, the brand attracted early fans in the late Princess of Wales and Queen Rania of Jordan. Run from a flagship boutique in Mayfair, today its designs are worn by Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Michelle Obama. Wakeley is a spokesperson on fashion and wellbeing matters, as well as a breast cancer fundraiser. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, October 28, 2019
S2 Episode 3 - British Swimming and Anglian Water
Jack Buckner and Peter Simpson join James Ashton to discuss learning from the approach of top athletes, developing a winning culture and the power of long service. Jack Buckner is chief executive of British Swimming, the elite aquatics governing body going for gold at the Olympics and other international competitions. Buckner works closely with the home nations’ swimming organisations to find and train the next Adam Peaty and Tom Daley, as well as encouraging mass participation in swimming and diving. Buckner has also experienced the Olympics as a competitor. He was a leading 5,000-metre runner and early campaigner against drug abuse in sport. Turning to administration, he held senior roles at Sport England and led the British Triathlon Federation. Peter Simpson is chief executive of Anglian Water, the biggest water provider in England and Wales by geography which serves more than six million customers between the Humber and Thames estuaries and employs 5,000 staff. Since taking day-to-day control of the business in 2004, Simpson must balance the demands of customers, shareholders and the environment. He joined Anglian in 1989 - before water industry privatisation - and ran overseas offshoots in the Czech Republic and USA. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, October 21, 2019
S2 Episode 2 - University of Liverpool and Montessori St Nicholas
Dame Janet Beer is vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool, the 138-year old institution with more than 22,000 students on campus that leads the way researching fields such as advanced materials and infectious diseases. She studied English at Reading and Warwick universities, specialising in late 19th and early 20th century American literature including the novelist Edith Wharton. Initially working at the Inner London Education Authority, she lectured at Roehampton Institute before gravitating to Manchester Metropolitan University where she became pro vice-chancellor and later leading Oxford Brookes University for seven years. Dame Janet is a former president of the sector body Universities UK. Leonor Stjepic is chief executive of Montessori St Nicholas, the UK charity that oversees the child-centred Montessori teaching movement and counts nearly 700 nurseries and primary schools among its members. MSN also promotes education, provides training and funds development research. After volunteering in a refugee camp during the war in Croatia, Stjepic’s first senior role in the charity sector was with the National Playing Field Association before moving to the Galapagos Conservation Trust and then leading RAFT, a medical research charity. She also has 15 years of commercial experience, including running her own consultancy for small businesses. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, October 14, 2019
S2 Episode 1 - O2 and English National Opera
Mark Evans and Stuart Murphy join James Ashton to discuss coping in a crisis, the myth of creativity, keeping connected and standing your round. Mark Evans is chief executive of O2, the mobile phone giant with 33m customer connections and 6,700 staff that range from contact centre workers to network engineers. His mission is to keep up with multiplying customer demand for internet access on the move. That means sinking £2m a day into O2’s network and introducing 5G technology to soup up speeds. After holding finance roles at cable group NTL and Vodafone, rugby fan Evans joined O2’s owner Telefónica in 2012 and was promoted to his current role in 2016. Stuart Murphy is chief executive of English National Opera, a fixture in London’s West End for more than 50 years that prides itself on making opera accessible to all. On his watch, audience attendance is up 11% year-on-year, there are free tickets for under-18s and enthusiastic fans have started booing the baddies. Starting out as a BBC teaboy, Murphy was a TV channel controller at 26, launching BBC Three in 2003 where he commissioned shows ranging from Gavin and Stacey to medical drama Bodies. Murphy joined Sky in 2009 to run entertainment channel Sky One and later Sky Atlantic, bringing Modern Family and Game of Thrones to UK TV screens. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Tue, July 02, 2019
Episode 9 - Wellcome Trust and Parkrun
Sir Jeremy Farrar and Nick Pearson join James Ashton to discuss taking risks, campaigning voices and making a difference in the world’s wellbeing. Sir Jeremy Farrar is director of the Wellcome Trust, the British medical charity that spends close to £1bn every year to improve global health through research and education funded by a £26bn endowment. Wellcome has spent 25 years unravelling the human genome and has also been involved in breakthroughs that track the inner workings of the brain, diagnose prostate cancer and tackle ebola outbreaks. Before joining Wellcome six years ago, Farrar was the director of Oxford University’s Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam where his research interests were infectious diseases and tropical health. Nick Pearson is chief executive of Parkrun, a sporting movement that began life as a free five-kilometre time trial in south west London 15 years ago. It’s still free but now 300,000 runners of all abilities take part in events across 21 countries every weekend. Pearson was an elite runner and has 25 years’ experience in the sports industry. He used to run Sweatshop, an independent sports retailer set up by London Marathon co-founder Chris Brasher. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, June 17, 2019
Episode 8 - The Design Museum and Shelter
Polly Neate and Alice Black join James Ashton to discuss delighting visitors, the joy of campaigning, forever fundraising and the importance of self-knowledge. Polly Neate is the chief executive of housing charity Shelter which last year helped 4.7m people struggling with homelessness and bad housing. Shelter has successfully campaigned to improve tenants’ rights and is still pressing for greater provision of social housing. Originally a journalist, Neate joined the charity sector in 2005 at Action for Children, later leading Women’s Aid for four years and taking over at Shelter in 2017. Alice Black is co-director of the Design Museum, the West London institution dedicated to celebrating the impact of design on everyday life. The relocation to Kensington three years ago tripled space for exhibitions that have featured Stanley Kubrick and Ferrari and the Design Museum was named European Museum of the Year in 2018. Black began her career in banking but her experience in museums includes senior roles at the Imperial War Museum and the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. She was appointed deputy director of the Design Museum in 2007 and co-director in 2016. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, June 10, 2019
Episode 7 - Flutter Entertainment and Fairtrade
Peter Jackson and Michael Gidney join James Ashton to discuss digital transformation, personal development, empowering their people and switching from non-executive to CEO of the same organisation. Peter Jackson is the chief executive of Flutter Entertainment, the newly renamed FTSE 100 gaming company whose trading brands including Paddy Power, Betfair and Fanduel. The group employs 8,000 people in 16 offices around the world and last year handled 3bn punters’ transactions. As tougher regulation bites at home, Jackson is pursuing expansion overseas, namely trying to build a winning position in the US where sports betting is being legalised. Earlier in his career he worked in consumer banking at HBOS and Lloyds, led foreign exchange company Travelex and Worldpay UK, the payment processing firm. Michael Gidney is chief executive of the Fairtrade Foundation, the UK arm of a global movement that fights poverty by promoting better terms of trade for 1.7m farmers around the globe. Its blue and green logo is a familiar sight on supermarket shelves, certifying 4,500 product lines including bananas, coffee, flowers and tea. In recent years some partners such as Sainsburys and chocolate maker Mondelez have developed their own ethical certification schemes, forcing Fairtrade to rethink its approach. Gidney joined the staff as deputy chief executive in 2009 and was made chief executive in 2012. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, June 03, 2019
Episode 6 - First Direct and Northern Ballet
Joe Gordon and Mark Skipper join James Ashton to discuss keeping up with customer expectation, battling budget cuts, riding your luck and the excitement of opening night. Joe Gordon is the head of First Direct, a trailblazing phone bank when it launched 30 years ago. Part of HSBC, today it has 1.5m customers largely transacting on the internet and smartphone and gearing up for the open banking revolution that could see it recommend insurance and energy deals alongside savings accounts and mortgages. Gordon was unloading carrots as a Sainsbury’s graduate trainee only 15 years ago. After several years at BT, he took over the running of HSBC’s call centres in 2015, moving to First Direct two years later. Mark Skipper is the chief executive of Northern Ballet, the Leeds-based touring company that popularises ballet through more than 200 performances every year in towns and cities across the UK. Dracula, Queen Victoria, Jane Eyre, the Little Mermaid and Casanova have all had the Northern Ballet treatment. Skipper has spent 32 years at the company, joining as deputy stage manager in 1987 and taking the top job in 1996. During his tenure he has carved out new income streams as state funding has fallen, experimented with beaming ballet into cinemas and become a leading voice for the arts outside London. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, May 27, 2019
Episode 5 - Royal Society and Port of London Authority
Julie Maxton and Robin Mortimer join James Ashton to discuss the art of problem solving, tracking public opinion, natural leadership insecurity and keeping maritime traditions alive. Julie Maxton is executive director of the Royal Society, which has existed since the 1660s to promote and support excellence in science. Past presidents include Sir Christopher Wren, Samuel Pepys and Sir Isaac Newton. Today among its 1500 fellows are 74 Nobel laureates. In support of the next generation the Society spends almost £100m a year on research grants. Maxton became the first woman in 350 years to hold her post when she was appointed in 2011. Prior to that, she was the registrar of Oxford University – and the first woman in that role too. Robin Mortimer is chief executive of the Port of London Authority, the 95-mile tidal stretch that runs from Teddington Lock to the North Sea. Trade through its 70 independently-owned and operated terminals that include Canvey Island, London Gateway and Tilbury hit a 10-year high last year. But Mortimer is not just interested in cargo. His Thames Vision also aims to double the number of commuters and tourists that travel by river as well as making room for sport and recreation. Twenty years spent in the civil service means he should know how to keep numerous stakeholders happy. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, May 20, 2019
Episode 4 - Heathrow and English Heritage
John Holland-Kaye and Kate Mavor join James Ashton to discuss investing in the past, building for the future, being yourself as the boss, changing staff culture and selling the best cake. John Holland-Kaye is the chief executive of Heathrow, the UK’s largest airport through which more than 80m passengers passed last year. It’s no slouch at cargo either, handling about £130bn of goods annually. If all goes according to plan, Heathrow should become significantly larger in 2026 when a third runway opens after years of political to-ing and fro-ing and significant opposition. Holland-Kaye is used to big building projects. He oversaw development of Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 which opened in 2014, the year he got the top job. Kate Mavor is the chief executive of English Heritage, the protector some of the country’s oldest historical sites and monuments including Stonehenge, Dover Castle and Hadrian’s Wall. She joined in 2015 when the organisation gained charitable status and began the countdown to 2023 when its government funding will disappear. On Mavor’s watch, English Heritage now has more than 1m members and recorded 6.5m visits to its main sites last year. She was formerly the chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland and earlier in her career led a management buyout of the interpreting service, Language Line. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, May 13, 2019
Episode 3 - Business in the Community and The Scouts
Amanda Mackenzie and Matt Hyde join James Ashton to discuss promoting better business behaviour, mobilising a volunteer force, magpieing great ideas and showing some vulnerability. Amanda Mackenzie is the chief executive of Business in the Community - The Prince of Wales’ Responsible Business Network. Its 700 members seek to do business better - whether that is helping the environment, their own staff, or society at large. If they get it right, they might even boost levels of public trust in large enterprise. Mackenzie has over 25 years of commercial experience, including director roles at British Airways Airmiles, BT and British Gas. She joined Aviva as chief marketing officer to change its name from Norwich Union. Matt Hyde is chief executive of the Scouts, the fast-growing youth movement with 640,000 members in the UK. While for some adventurer Bear Grylls is the organisation’s public face as the Chief Scout, Hyde has spent the last six years working on strategies that have developed the Scouts far beyond their campfire heritage. A Million Hands has reasserted the Scouts’ strength in volunteering while Skills for Life has taught youngster about teamwork and leadership. Hyde was formerly chief executive of the National Union of Students. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, May 06, 2019
Episode 2 - Mind and Direct Line
Paul Farmer and Paul Geddes join James Ashton to discuss staying in touch with the frontline, respecting the past, picking the right mentor and the importance of leaders’ own wellbeing. Paul Geddes is the outgoing chief executive of Direct Line, the £5bn insurance group whose brands include Churchill, Privilege and Green Flag. In a decade at the wheel, Geddes has demerged the business from its former parent company Royal Bank of Scotland, overseen a successful stock market flotation and grown the firm so that today it insures one in six cars on the road and 2.6m homes. His background is in marketing, starting with Procter & Gamble then as marketing chief for retailers Comet and Argos. As the chief executive of Mind, the leading mental health charity, Paul Farmer has seen how we feel and the permission to talk about it become a mainstay of the national conversation. Contributions by Mind’s president Stephen Fry to Ruby Wax and the Royal Family mean that mental health has never had a higher profile. For Farmer, who has run the organisation since 2006, it has led to record income of £48m last year – meaning he can help many more of the one in four people that experience a mental health problem annually. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Mon, April 29, 2019
Episode 1 - Deloitte and Teenage Cancer Trust
David Sproul and Kate Collins join James Ashton to discuss humanising tough decisions, being elected as leader, retaining a maverick spirit and making staff talk in the lift. David Sproul is senior partner and chief executive of Deloitte, one of the Big Four accounting firms that offers a multitude of services to companies including audit, tax, deals advice and consulting. Coming to the end of his time in charge, Sproul has increased sales eight years running, but is among leaders who have failed to dispel concerns over audit quality and conflicts of interest in the profession. Sproul joined Arthur Andersen’s tax division in 1984 and negotiated the sale of the UK practice to Deloitte when the American firm was heading for collapse because of its involvement with scandal-hit energy trader Enron. Kate Collins is chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, a trailblazing charity which has funded 28 specialist units in hospitals across the UK to care for young people diagnosed with cancer. It raised £16m last year, helped as usual by a string of sell out gigs staged at the Royal Albert Hall. Collins joined the charity a decade ago to develop a regional fundraising programme and became chief executive in 2018. Earlier in her career she worked at Children in Need and Cancer Research UK. Find out more @leadingpod or www.leadingpod.com
Wed, April 24, 2019
Leading with James Ashton - Coming Monday 29th April
How do leaders learn to lead? In this podcast, journalist James Ashton brings together people from the top of very different organisations in the worlds of business, charity, the arts and beyond to discuss their take on leading vital causes, famous brand names and multi-million-pound enterprises. His two guests swap stories of success and failure, the skills they have picked up, the challenges they face every day and the advice they offer to others. Find out more @leadingpod on Twitter
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