Business Leaders

Matt Rees is head of the Editorial Unit at the European Investment Bank. Founded in 1958, they provide finance and expertise for investment projects that contribute to furthering the EU’s policy objectives. Appointed to the role in 2015 where he writes about projects, people and industry issues, Matt previously held positions at Bloomberg, The Scotsman, Newsweek and Time Magazine. Matt is also the host of the European Investment Bank’s Climate Solutions podcast. The latest season investigates and explains the true meaning of Green Finance - celebrating the launch of the upcoming audiobook ‘A Dictionary of Green Finance’, which will be released by the European Investment Bank in June 2021. An award-winner, Matt has received the ‘Digital Communications Award’ for his other podcast series ‘A Dictionary of Finance,’ and the ‘European Excellence Award for Sustainability and Environment’ for his ‘Climate Solutions’ blog, podcast and e-book series. In this in-depth conversation, Matt describes his career journey so

Dr Curly Moloney is chief executive of The Cambridge Code. The company helps people better understand the DNA of their mind, with a questionnaire that aims to improve your life, career and relationships. A doctor of medicine and bachelor of surgery, before joining the business she founded the international professional service firm, Moloney Search. More recently, she has co-written ‘The Cambridge Code: One Simple Test to Uncover Who You Are,’ a step-by-step guide to enhance understanding of the subconscious. In this in-depth conversation, Curly shares insight into her achievements so far and reflects on where her interest in brain function came from; describes the thought behind Moloney Search, and their mission to encourage the hiring of graduates to bring much needed value and diversity into the sector; and explains the role she plays in the wider mental health conversation, and the importance of people becoming more aware and educated on this in society.

Samantha Meredith is Practice Director at businessfourzero. Founded in 2015, the transformation company focuses on people driven change and specialises in five key areas - purpose, strategy, leadership, engagement and culture. Appointed in 2020, she began her career working in sales and customer insight at Heinz before moving to the award-winning consultancy, Moorhouse, where she set up and ran the People & HR consultancy practice. In this in-depth conversation, Samantha discusses her career to date and how her interest in problem solving and how people are motivated led her into HR consultancy. She also shares her experience supercharging culture, leaders and teams by tapping into both rational and emotional commitment, and linking people change to the commercial goals of the organisation; and explores the enormous impact COVID-19 has had on business, with working from home being the norm and what this means for the future of work.

Julian is a retailer, author and philanthropist. Founder and managing director of Richer Sounds which he established in 1978, it has grown to a chain of 52 stores with a £200m turnover, and is now the UK’s largest independent electronics retailer. Also, an author, his popular book ‘The Richer Way: How to Get the Best Out of People’ is a guide on how to ensure staff and customers are central to your corporation, and was recognised as “one of the best business books in history” by The Independent and his recent book ‘The Ethical Capitalist’ was a Financial Times book of the month. In this in-depth conversation, Julian discusses a long career in the industry - from beginning trading aged 14 with a £10 note, to opening his first shop at London Bridge five years later; shares how he has learnt and overcome the many obstacles he has faced, including his company almost going into administration at the age of 21; and describes his efforts to become a “capitalist who is willing to stand up and criticise capitalism,” e

Eddie LeVian is chief executive of Le Vian, the family-owned jewellery business. The LeVian’s gained their reputation in 1746 after safeguarding a collection of jewels for emperor Nadir Shah. In 1950, the business relocated to the US and has designed jewellery worn by Hollywood royalty, starting as sales executive in 1979, Eddie has worked his way up the family business to now chief executive since 2000. In this in-depth discussion, Eddie takes us to the beginning of the pivotable point in history that started the family business and explains what inspires him about jewellery and the importance of continuing the family legacy; he explores his personal journey into the company, from going to mines as a child to understanding what consumers want and, with his siblings, being the next generation in the world of jewellery; and finally explaining what’s to come for the business, including the importance to stay genuine and authentic within a world of man made diamonds, whilst competing for the ever shrinking amoun

Andy Vesey is an award-winning energy executive, entrepreneur and investor, with a lifetime of experience in the energy industry. Andy’s career has included a string of some of the toughest jobs in the industry with intense scrutiny from stakeholders and the media - including leading Australia’s largest energy business AGL, for which he was awarded ‘CEO of the Year’ by Platts Global Energy Awards in 2017, and a stint at Pacific Gas and Electric. In this in-depth conversation, Andy shares how the offer of an extra $500 for his first job set him on the path to the energy industry he is a part of today; discusses the battle he fought in Australia to abolish AGL’s use of coal-fired power stations in order to reduce their carbon footprint; and shares his sense of mission for the urgency to avoid climate change, while playing his part to lead the industry but encouraging individuals to take responsibility.

Hugh Campbell is managing partner and co-founder of GP Bullhound. Founded in 1999, and with ten offices across Europe, the US and Asia, the technology advisory and investment firm specialises in software, fintech, digital services. Spending his career in finance, he began by working on mergers and acquisitions at Citibank, before moving across to Goldman Sachs as part of their equity research team. In this in-depth conversation, Hugh reflects on the reality of working in investment banking today, including what happens behind-the-scenes; describes the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic and lockdown, whilst noticing a positive growth in digital transformation; and looks toward the future, including goals, concerns and excitement for advising rising entrepreneurs.

Jamie Dobson is co-founder and chief executive of Container Solutions. Founded in Amsterdam in 2014, the company specialises in cloud migration, and has since grown to have offices in London, Zurich, Berlin, Montreal and Warsaw. A regular speaker, he hosts a webinar series called ‘WTF is Cloud Native,’ and is co-author of the book ‘Cloud Native Transformation: Practical Patterns for Innovation.’ In this in-depth conversation, Jamie reflects on a career in technology - from programming a computer for the first time aged eight, to leading a cloud native consultancy; describes the significance of cloud native, allowing companies to build a solid infrastructure and be ahead of any potential competitive threat; and shares his thoughts on the importance of instilling a psychologically safe workplace, and how this enables businesses to fully innovate and experiment.Check out Container Solutions at: https://www.container-solutions.com And his book at: https://amzn.to/3pwhMuz

Joel Field is a certified financial planner and founder of ‘Field Financial Strategies.’ Established in 2009, the firm develops tailored financial strategies for business founders, executives, and physicians. With offices in New York and Ohio, they advise clients in many areas; including business succession, investment, retirement and estate. Also a keen volunteer, he serves as the chairman of the board of directors for ‘The Family Center.’ In this in-depth conversation, he describes his career journey - from growing up in the tech bubble, pursuing his passion to join the Clergy and then ultimately working in financial advisory; reflects on the “tough yet formative” year of 2020, where his company experienced exponential expansion, growing the team by a third; and gives his opinion on what finances say about a person, how they’re “a very personal issue, it’s not just about the number on the sheet” but evidence of personality and underlying priorities.

Simon Littler is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and highly regarded expert in the wine industry. Chief executive of the Wine Forum, an international society of business leaders based around fine wine and philanthropy; he is also the founder of multiple companies including The World Wine Exchange and Global Wine Company -  which ran wine clubs for brands such as The New York Times, Williams-Sonoma, The Washington Post and Omaha Steaks. Also an advisor and mentor to chief executives, Simon serves on the boards’ or as an advisor of multiple companies including the Gratitude Railroad and Rose and Arrow Estate. In this in-depth conversation, Simon explains the impact the pandemic continues to have on his business, and the once critical in-person connections that have been forced to pivot; describes the important work he does at the Inside Circle Foundation, an organisation that works in high security prisons aiding parolees to gain meaningful employment; and advises that it’s vital for your job to be your passion

Dr Therese Huston is a scientist, consultant and author. As a cognitive scientist at Seattle University, she focuses on aiding people with their communication skills. She also runs her own consultancy helping those who aren’t reaching their full potential in the workplace. In 2016 she presented a TedX talk on what smart groups do differently. In this in-depth conversation, Dr Therese discusses her most recent book “Let’s Talk”, which delves into her pivotal research and explains ways to make yourself heard; discusses the most efficient ways of providing feedback, especially in ‘the culture of nice’, and the many lessons she’s learned along the way; and describes why hiring more women “isn’t a box ticking exercise” in the name of political correctness, but a vital progression that genuinely improves many aspects of the business including the bottom line, turnover and increased investment. Check out her book “Let’s Talk:” https://amzn.to/3qD1d0R

Tim Hassett is the chief executive of integrated agency group UNLIMITED. Appointed to the role in 2019, the group leverages their “Human Understanding Lab,” which uses behaviour-led insights to evaluate how humans interpret, perceive and feel the world around them to create business advantage for clients. Prior to this, he held senior leadership positions at Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s and Campbells & Beam Suntory. In this in-depth conversation, Tim discusses UNLIMITED and their “secret sauce” - the lab that provides insightful and meaningful data for their clients, a proposition that helps them stand out in a busy market; he shares his expertise and advice to young people starting out, the importance of investing in yourself and “being naturally inquisitive;” and discusses the UK and US’s handling of the pandemic.

Juliet Scott-Croxford is the chief executive officer of Worth Media. She is responsible for leading its transformation from a print magazine to a content and event platform that focuses on ‘Worth beyond Wealth.’ Starting her career as a management consultant at IBM she spent several years consulting on business strategy and digital transformation across different industries, after which Juliet moved client side and joined Guardian News and Media, eventually relocating with them to New York in 2016. In this in-depth conversation, Juliet reflects on her career pivot from consultancy into media, she describes the innovations she’s made at Worth, driving it from a predominantly “pale, male and stale” business model into the engaged and increasingly diverse company it is today; and explains the multifaceted impact the pandemic has had on accelerating innovation, widening the wealth divide, it’s impact on women and her “just roll with it” leadership advice.

Wayne Hemingway MBE is a British designer and entrepreneur. In 1982, Wayne co-founded the iconic fashion brand ‘Red or Dead.’ After selling the company in 1999, he established ‘HemingwayDesign’ - a purpose led multi-disciplinary design studio working across urban design, housing, brand design, events and more. He is also currently supporting the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan as a design advocate and advisor to the House of Commons select committees on coastal regeneration. In this in-depth conversation, Wayne reflects on the early days of ‘Red or Dead,’ and the huge growth of the brand - from a small stall in Camden market to hosting fashion shows around the world; describes the old adage “shop ’til you drop” as Gen Z and millennials are creating huge shifts in the market, such as the increased focus on sustainability; and shares his experience co-leading the global event “The Good Business Festival” which hopes to steer the sector to positive and purposeful business.

Rita Clifton CBE is a portfolio chair and board director of leading businesses, as well as an author and entrepreneur. In 2013, she co-founded the global brand and business consultancy BrandCap, which now has offices in New York and Hong Kong, and which she successfully sold on to the management group. Rita’s varied career included more than ten years at Saatchi & Saatchi as their vice chairman and strategy director. She later shifted into strategic consultancy at Interbrand as their London CEO and chairman, and her board directorships have included ASOS, Dixons Retail plc and Nationwide. In this in-depth conversation, Rita discusses her latest book ‘Love Your Imposter,’ which focuses on areas of leadership and particularly, imposter syndrome; shares her concern that business has become too “caricatured - villainized with doctor evils and Hollywood villains,” and needs to be humanised again; and advocates for a 50-50 split in the C-suite, and the long way companies have yet to go in achieving this.

Philip Grindell is one of the UK’s most trusted leaders and advisors when it comes to fixated persons and national security issues. He is the founder and chief executive of Defuse Global, a consultancy with an international team of experts trusted to look after and advise some of the world’s most recognised people. Defuse protects brands, be they individuals or organisations, from targeted physical, reputational and financial harm on social media and the dark web with threat intelligence and behavioural analysis. After spending almost 30 years at Scotland Yard as a detective of specialist and serious crime operations, he was chosen to build and manage a security team in Parliament following the murder of Jo Cox in 2016. In this in-depth conversation, Philip recalls how his desire to “make a difference” encouraged him to join the Metropolitan Police; describes his experience working in Parliament during one of the most toxic periods in British politics - from Brexit to the Corbyn era; and shares his hopes of m

Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño is President of IE University. Founded in 1997 and based in Spain, he oversees the institution’s daily operations. Starting his education as a ‘Recognised Student’ at Oxford University, he later became  a professor in strategic management before holding the position as Dean of IE Business School. In 2019 he was awarded the Founders Award by Thinkers50, and was also recognised in Linkedin’s top 500 Global Influencers. In this in-depth conversation, he discusses his book “Business Despite Borders: Companies in the Age of Populist Anti-Globalization” which focuses on globalised business being an opportunity and not a threat; describes how “education is passion,” his profession and the many hurdles facing the sector amidst the pandemic; and explains the importance of questioning the stereotypical “male, western, white protagonists” as CEO’s, in order to become a genuinely diverse society.

David Mansfield is a speaker, entrepreneur and author of ‘The Monday Revolution.’ His career began in commercial television, before becoming CEO of Capital Radio Group for 13 years, where he helped build the company to a worth of £750m. Since then, he’s been a director of Carphone Warehouse and Ingenious Media, amongst many others. He’s invested and chaired several different start-ups, including an online education company and a highly successful online food retailer. In this in-depth conversation, David describes his latest book as a back to basics guide, to “help people take back control of their working week” by focusing their attention on what really matters. He discusses the overwhelming impact of the pandemic on the workplace, and how it’s provided “an opportunity for a reset”. David explains the importance of learning from his mistakes, before arriving at his current successful investment strategy.

Heath Goldman is President and CEO of ICON Wealth and Legacy Partners. They specialise in customising financial plans, focusing on estate, asset protection, wealth transfer and tax mitigation strategies for business owners and real estate entrepreneurs. His career in the financial planning sector began at Sagemark Consulting, before he moved to Pacific Advisors as their financial specialist and then gained the position of principal at Montecito Associates. In this in-depth interview, Heath explains how he learned to work with affluent business owners and wealthy families, and how his “clients don’t plan to fail, they often failed to plan before working with Heath. Heath will be discussing his strategy when dealing with difficult family dynamics and the importance of coordination, communication and collaboration in the financial sphere; and describes how the economic impact of Covid-19 is set to be “exceptionally painful” and isn’t going away.

Rusty Hutson is founder and CEO of Diversified Gas and Oil. Founded in 2001, the company acquires and enhances mature, low-decline and low-risk wells in the Appalachian Basin. Having grown the business to own more than 60,000 gas and oil wells, their annual revenues are currently exceeding $500m. But his career began on a different path, spending just under two decades in banking before buying a small package of wells with a home equity loan to establish what is now the largest producer of natural gas in the Appalachian Basin. In this in-depth conversation, Rusty explains how he built his business - literally from the ground up, and plans to double their market capitalisation in the next year; discusses the added pressures the pandemic and the upcoming Presidential election is going to have on the already volatile oil and gas industry; and shares how he balances his entrepreneurial profit-orientated mindset, with a leadership style that puts the people at the centre of the business.