What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

Good to Great by Jim Collins. It served as the basis for guiding HomeServe’s development. I was also lucky enough to spend two days with Jim Collins in Colorado!

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

I am fascinated by the future of our Great British High Street. During Covid many people were quick to write off our high-streets but now look at how they have started to recover. I’m a great believer in omnichannel,  “bricks and clicks”.

What’s your favourite quote?

“Keep it simple stupid — (KISS)”. I’ve learned it’s much better to stick to the core model and do it much better and bigger.

Alumnus of:

HomeServe, Procter & Gamble, University of York

What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?

Why is everything curated now? What does that really mean?

What’s your go-to business growth story?

Invisalign — they managed to make braces aspirational

What’s your secret nerdy pastime?

Can I say walking the aisles in any retailer when I’m on holiday looking for new brands? (It is actually true!)

Alumnus of:

Active Partners, BB Retail Capital, Woolworths Group, JP Morgan, University of Oxford

What’s your favourite question to ask a founder?

Which part of your role do you most enjoy and how much are you still doing this?

Who’s your dream dinner companion?

Jonny Wilkinson, my rugby idol. I’d love to hear about the dedication that drove him to reach the top of the mountain, only to realise “Now what? Was it all worth it?”

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

Learning about neuroplasticity from a podcast with Dr Tara Swart and how you can continue learning and building new brain pathways well into your eighties!

Alumnus of:

Ardenton Capital, Deloitte, Everton Football Club, University of Manchester

What’s your go-to business growth story?

A North East bakery turned national institution — Greggs has risen right to the top.

What’s your secret nerdy pastime?

Like many other Gen-Zers and Millennials, I developed an (expensive!) obsession with houseplants during the pandemic.

What’s your favourite quote?

“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” Jeff Bezos.

Alumnus of:

Maven Capital Partners, PwC, Newcastle University

What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?

What’s going to happen to the global supply chain as the US changes its tariffs? And how will US consumers feel when the tariffs get passed on?

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

“Social Commerce”: TikTok thinks it’s gonna take over the world. I find it a bit weird — but then I’m not Gen Z.

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

Can I have two? Playing to Win, which is the most useful strategy framework I’ve found, and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Alumnus of:

Mountain Warehouse, Boston Consulting Group, Ocado Retail, University of Cambridge

What’s your go-to business growth story?

Medik8. Founder-led science, plain-English education, and a tight set of hero formulas. They built consumer trust via their professional channel and then opened the taps on distribution. That’s focus and sustainable brand building.

What’s your favourite question to ask a Founder? 

If a smart competitor studied you for a month, what would they underestimate?

What can’t you live without?

My Oura Ring. The app is the first thing I check every morning!

Alumnus of:

Beringea, Charlie Oscar, PwC Strategy&, NYU Stern

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

Women’s health, a hugely underserved market. There are a number of challenger brands I think are really exciting, changing customer habits and adoption, and solving big environmental issues.

What can’t you live without?

The Envelop coat from ACAI — been stitched to my back since I bought it!

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

High Performance Podcast: The Incredible Story of Dame Stephanie Shirley. She is a very inspirational lady!

Alumnus of:

Seneca, Grant Thornton LLP, University of Liverpool

What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?

What will be the most significant change in how people live and work over the next decade?

What’s your go-to business growth story?

Action — the fastest growing non-food discount retailer in Europe. It has mastered operational efficiency and rapid store expansion while maintaining a compelling value proposition for customers.

What can’t you live without?

My Stubble & Co Roll Top backpack — it’s the perfect companion for both work and travel.

Alumnus of:

Baird, AlTi Tiedemann Global, Bocconi University

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

Health & wellness. It’s always evolving with new, exciting (and often strange!) products, services and brands. Trying to pick which ones will stand the test of time is where it gets interesting…

If you could instantly gain a new skill, what would it be?

To speak a second language… For now, I’ll stick to Duolingo!

What can’t you live without?

My original Passenger Gilet. It goes with almost everything.

Alumnus of:

UNW LLP, Newcastle University

What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?

How will AI reshape how consumers discover and engage with brands?

Who is your dream dinner companion?

Stephen King – I’ve been a huge fan my whole life and would love to understand how his mind works!

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

Coming from a pet-obsessed family, I find the humanisation of pets and the associated premiumisation of pet food and services fascinating.

Alumnus of:

Palladium Digital, University of Exeter

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

“Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us about the Business of Life.” I read it years ago as part of a recruitment process and I still try to live by many of the key takeaways now.

What’s your favourite quote?

Feel the fear and do it anyway!

What’s your secret nerdy pastime?  

I’m a bit of an aviation nerd…I love Flight Radar!

Alumnus of:

Cale Street Partners, Harper Adams University

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

I’m interested in how consumer decision-making is influencing marketing. It’s no longer just about visibility, it’s about authenticity and trust. It’s also about community, with marketing increasingly led by user-generated content. It’s interesting to see how that shift impacts spending strategies, customer loyalty and long-term brand growth.

Who’s your dream dinner companion?

Sir David Attenborough. He must be a fascinating person, having travelled the world, met so many people, and witnessed so much over the course of his extraordinary life. You’d need more than a dinner to even scratch the surface!

What’s your favourite quote?

“When the ‘why’ is big enough, the ‘how’ takes care of itself.”  If you think about why you are doing something and the reason is strong enough, then even the hard bits become doable.

Alumnus of:

Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, Principal Hotels, Leeds Metropolitan University

What’s your favourite question to ask a founder? 

What came first: the desire to become your own boss and be an entrepreneur, or the drive to produce and market a specific product or service?

What’s your go-to business growth story?

Fever-Tree Drinks, the leading brand in the premium mixer market.  They have recently launched a low and no-alcohol G&T option, reflecting a shift in the UK marketplace. It’s my go-to tonic for that sunny summer afternoon G&T!

What’s your secret nerdy pastime? 

Like Tom Daley I enjoy – no not diving – knitting !  I’ve always got something on the go.

Alumnus of:

Strathclyde University, Queen’s College, Glasgow