Host and General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear is joined by Steve Cording, Head of Culture, Sport and TelCo at The Standard, the long-established regional newspaper for London. 

Steve shares his journey from sports journalism to media sales, the evolution of The Standard, the importance of storytelling, and the need for adaptability in the changing media landscape. 

Amanda and Steve also chat about navigating redundancy, the impact of AI on media, the future of audience engagement and the importance of multi-platform strategies. 

00:00 Introduction to Steve Cording and His Role

06:06 The Evolution of The Standard

08:49 Adapting to Change in Media

11:55 Team Dynamics and Learning

15:02 Skills and Adaptation in a Changing Environment

18:07 The Impact of AI on Media

21:07 Future Predictions for Media and Audience Engagement

26:30 The Importance of Affiliate Partnerships and Loyalty

27:18 Multi-Platform Strategies for Modern Brands

29:47 Adapting to Change

30:35 Support and Optimism for the Future

32:03 The Role of Sports in Media Engagement

32:57 Navigating Redundancies in the Media Industry

36:10 Transitioning from Editorial to Sales

39:06 The Role of Video in Sales Communication

41:03 Advice for Newcomers in the Industry

42:12 What Makes a Great Salesperson?

45:30 OnBD Quickfire Questions

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands, request an ALF Insight demo.

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In this first episode of the new series, 'OnBD with ALF', host and General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear, delves into the intricacies of successful business development with guests, Rich McHardy, founder of The McHardy Collective, and Jody Osman, Chief Growth Officer at Propeller Group. The pair are also known for being the founders of The BD100. 

The episode explores what differentiates a good business developer from a great one, through the lens of The BD100—a community and annual awards event recognising top-performing business developers. 

Rich and Jody discuss the evolving nature of business development roles, characteristics of standout professionals, and the significance of creativity, strategy, and personality in sales. 

Plus hear what advice our guests would give their younger selves and what they’d name a movie about their life, as Amanda tasks them with answering the OnBD quickfire questions.  

The episode concludes with insights on future trends in business development and information about the upcoming BD100 Awards event at The Drum Labs.

00:00 Introduction to OnBD with ALF

00:47 Meet the Guests: Jody Osman and Rich McHardy

01:18 The BD100: Origins and Purpose

02:01 The BD100: Nomination and Judging Process

03:21 Key Traits of Top Business Developers

04:55 The Importance of Personality in BD

17:35 Recognising Rising Stars in BD

20:44 Evolution of Business Development

22:49 The Expanding Role of Business Developers

23:58 The Evolution of Business Development

24:23 Balancing Stress and Support in Business Development

26:07 The Importance of Research and Personalisation

27:23 Building and Leveraging Relationships

28:40 Advice for Aspiring Business Developers

31:24 Quick Fire Questions: Insights and Reflections

39:12 Upcoming BD100 Event and Conclusion

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands, request an ALF Insight demo.

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Join Rory Sutherland in this episode of 'On Brand' with special guests Jonathan Wolf, CEO of ZOE, and Sharlene Lopez, founder of Medifesto. They delve into the world of nutritional science, the significance of the microbiome, and the innovative personalised nutrition programme by ZOE. Discover how ZOE's research is transforming health through food and learn about the evolving role of branding and marketing in the health technology sector. With discussions on behavioural change, the impact of ultra-processed foods and the future of health tech, this episode is packed with insights for anyone interested in health and nutrition. All views expressed are those of the participants, listeners should consult a medical expert before following any of these views or recommendations.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Introductions

01:29 Jonathan Wolf's Journey to Founding Zoe

04:36 The Science Behind ZOE's Nutrition Programme

07:01 Impact of Diet on Health and Mood

22:47 Challenges and Successes in Health Tech Branding

29:47 The Role of Marketing in Health Technology 

34:20 The High Stakes of Scientific Validation

34:43 Disconnect Between Scientific Proof and Market Impact

36:40 Brand Influence in Health Decisions

37:43 The Role of Advertising and Brand Partnerships

41:26 Challenges in Sustaining Behaviour Change

44:58 Technological Advances in Health Monitoring

47:08 The Importance of Messaging in Health Campaigns

49:21 Rethinking Food and Health Guidelines

01:02:58 The Future of Food Labelling and Consumer Information

01:09:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

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Exploring Travel and Advertising with TUI's Toby Horry and Rory Sutherland. In this episode of On Brand with ALF and Rory Sutherland we hear from Toby Horry, Global Brand and Content Director at TUI. Discover Toby's career journey from a production manager at an indie film company to his current role at TUI. Learn about TUI's dynamic history, the impact of COVID-19 on the travel industry, and the evolving trends in holiday booking. The discussion also explores the influence of digital transformation, the role of subscription and dynamic pricing models, the increasing importance of experiential travel for Gen Z, and the creativity in advertising. Join us for an insightful conversation packed with anecdotes and valuable industry insights.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

Chapters:-

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:19 Guest Introduction: Toby Horry

01:31 Early Career and Family Influence

02:42 Advertising Anecdotes and Insights

08:46 Dynamic Pricing in Travel

17:36 COVID-19 Impact on Travel Industry

19:11 Repatriation Efforts During COVID-19

21:13 The Future of Package Holidays

23:31 Changing Trends in Travel and Leisure

29:08 Vacation Policies and Economic Impact

30:58 Economic Rationality in Travel

31:28 Flexible Working and Consumer Behaviour

32:09 The Case for Flexible Work

34:52 The Impact of Technology on Work and Travel

39:48 Marketing Strategies in the Travel Industry

48:08 The Role of Video and Social Media in Travel

49:46 AI and Its Implications in Travel

51:17 Consumer Trends and Travel Recommendations

56:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode, Rory interviews Ruth Snowdon-Gough, CMO of Hain Celestial, a company known for its ‘dawn to dusk’ portfolio of brands including Sun Pat, Covent Garden Soup, Linda McCartney Foods and Ella's Kitchen. 

The discussion covers Hain's multi-year strategy for global growth, the meat-reduction trends influencing food consumption, and the evolution of vegetarian food toward flavour-rich offerings without taste compromise. They explore insights into educating children on cooking, whether soup deserves a bigger share of the portable meals market and the success story of Ella’s Kitchen.

In ‘Top Two Challenges’, Ruth talks about balancing product sales with ethical goals and how the company manages the reputation of the McCartney family name when it comes to product development for the Linda McCartney range.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

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In this episode of 'On Brand with ALF and Rory Sutherland,' host Rory Sutherland, Vice-Chairman of Ogilvy UK, sits down with Benjamin Braun, the Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Europe.

The discussion covers a range of topics including Samsung's creative use of their Olympic sponsorship, marketing tactics and digital transformation. Braun highlights the success of gifting special edition gold phones to Olympians, which led to a 23% increase in demand for Flip 6 phones. They also explore Samsung's innovative products like foldable phones, AI-enabled ovens and eco-friendly initiatives like solar-powered TV remotes. The conversation delves into the importance of user-centric design and dual-purpose products, and how Samsung balances premium offerings with affordable technology to democratize access. Rory and Benjamin further discuss the future of AI, the impact of aesthetics in consumer choice and effective marketing strategies that blend minimax (minimal resources for maximum output) and maxmax (heroic marketing efforts).

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

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Rory says Jordan Brompton is the best advert for not going to university. He reckons she's had a free MBA! Jordan started working life on a market stall and has worked in restaurants and bars but when she had a chat with plumber turned electrician, Lee Sutton, they decided to go for it and set up myenergi. Lee is the technical side of the business but it's quite clear that Jordan is the marketing and sales powerhouse although, as she points out to Rory, she has been known to get to work with the soldering iron.

Innovation and sustainability are the cornerstones of their business and manufacturing their products in the UK is a USP for them. myenergi manufactures a range of eco devices which manage energy sources. The zappi fast charges your EV, the eddi helps you maximise self-generated solar and/or wind power, the libbi stores your solar energy and cleverly manages your use of the grid, and the harvi enables you to install zappi and eddi wirelessly. As you'll hear, Jordan is knowledgeable and innovative. The business is expanding worldwide with business across Europe and now in Australia. There are challenges however. Britain has 1.3 million homes with solar power, but Germany is way ahead at 4 million homes. Jordan feels the EV market has softened recently but she expects it to bounce back.

In our Top Two Challenges feature Jordan says that "boots on the ground" explaining and selling the products is what is needed for both myenergi and the industry as a whole.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

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In this episode of 'On Brand', Rory Sutherland welcomes Margaret Jobling, Chief Marketing Officer at NatWest. They discuss the challenges and successes in marketing across various sectors, with a focus on NatWest's transformation in its marketing approach. Margaret delves into the importance of understanding customer needs, leveraging data effectively, and experimenting to build knowledge. The conversation also covers the impact of fintech, the role of technology in banking, and NatWest's strategy around social purpose and sponsorships, particularly the partnership with Team GB for the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Additionally, they touch on flexible work, its benefits for employees, and how NatWest is investing in young people's financial education through the NatWest Thrive programme.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

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John Roberts started Appliances Online for a £1 bet in the pub on Christmas Eve 1999 with his mate. Today it's known as AO.com and it's a huge success in the provision of white goods and now tv and entertainment, smart tech, computing and more. John tells Rory how the company has focused on superb customer service to differentiate itself from its competitors and he outlines the thinking behind their sponsorships and marketing. Interestingly, having started by mailing brochures and then moving totally online, they are beginning to mail mini-brochures again. AO is now a totally vertically integrated business and John envisages a time, not far away, when they will be able to recycle every element of a piece of white goods into something brand new. AO also operate as a white label delivery business for a number of well known brands. This is a phenomenal 21st century success story.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

John Roberts supports the national youth charity, OnSide, find out more here...

https://www.onsideyouthzones.org

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Rachel Eyre is Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at Morrisons, a heritage business in the UK, celebrating 125 years in 2024. Rachel explains how the Market Street proposition in Morrisons with its fresh, British sourced produce, appeals to traditional older Morrisons customers, but is now resonating with younger shoppers. Although big trolley shops are still popular, Rachel outlines how smaller, more frequent basket shops are becoming the norm. Rachel and Rory discuss Morrisons' vertically integrated business model, with it's own manufacturing businesses giving it a point of difference to competitors, a story which needs to be told to customers through brand marketing.

Although there have been a lot of changes in loyalty programmes in recent years, Rachel feels that the recent update of the MoreCard scheme with its "Fivers" has enabled Morrisons to avoid some of the pitfalls of loyalty schemes and leapfrog ahead in terms of innovation.

Competition for every pound is intense in this sector and despite the offers and discounts Rachel explains that still the biggest driver of choice is convenience of location.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

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Christian Thrane is the Managing Director of Marketing at EE and BT's Consumer Division. The merger of the two companies in 2016 has opened many opportunities. Christian, who joined just before lock-down, has been charged with setting out the new offerings for both existing and new customers. Service to the consumer is at the top of his agenda and on his watch this has improved on every level since the merger. Rory quizzes Christian about the focus of EE’s service with four areas addressed, Home, Game, Work and Learn. He also asks why, after a decade, they have stopped using Kevin Bacon in vision on their commercials. He’s still doing the voice overs.

If you want to do business with

the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

To book your seat at the ALF Awards 2024, click here.

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Having read Economics at Cambridge, ex-Procter & Gamble marketer, Greg Jackson, explains the success behind Octopus, recently certified as a Which? Recommended energy provider for the 7th year in a row.

Innovative technology, great marketing and superb customer service are integral to the Octopus success story. Among the many amazing revelations in the chat with Rory, Greg points out that 65% of UK households have a car, an increasing number of which are EVs, and the battery in an EV can power a house for between 3 and 5 days. 

You'll hear about the Octopus Power Pack and the Fan Club - technical and marketing ideas that have helped Octopus achieve around 8 million customers in 18 countries. This is an essential listen.

If you want to do business with

the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

To book your seat at the ALF Awards 2024, click here.

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Simon Peel has worked for, among others, MediaCom, Mindshare, 20th Century Fox and Adidas. Now he's Vice President of Global Marketing for the healthcare brand Haleon born out of GSK, Novartis and Pfizer.

In our Top Two Challenges, Simon describes the challenges facing both Haleon and the sector as a whole as being similar; through advertising, the need to create an emotional connection between the consumer and the brand in order to differentiate from retailers' own brand. As Rory says, price is key and sometimes you don't wake up with a 50p headache it's a £2.80 headache! The guys discuss marketing procurement and testing. Has the spreadsheet taken over?

Also under consideration, placebos, the dumb principal (sic), Sir Patrick Valance gets a shout as does RADIO with Rory saying he never heard a radio campaign that didn't work and yet it's often the bit that gets cut from the budget.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

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Lena Jüngst explored product development at University in Germany and turned a bachelor thesis into a product - air up® - non-flavoured water that tastes flavoured. Lena explains how it works to convert Rory and reveals that around 80% of what we perceive as flavour is actually derived from what we’re smelling. With this relatively new drink product, while you drink plain water, you experience taste. No sugar. Just science! The brand, initially launched direct to consumers in Germany, is becoming available globally. Rory and Lena discuss the marketing strategy for the product and Lena reveals how they are slowly moving into above the line advertising. There's no rush however, because the product is doing remarkably well as a D2C brand.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

Now you can nominate your business development heroes and attend the ALF Awards 2024 click here.

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Yusuf Chuku is Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning & Commercial Impact at NBCUniversal. The guys explore how clients can best tap into the content-audience relationship and discuss partnerships, storytelling, branded content and the constant pressure to innovate and stay relevant to audiences. Fandemoniums? How does NBC Universal grow and access fandoms?

Yusuf also responds to our regular Top Two Challenges - what is the biggest advertising challenge for global television & media companies? And what is the most pressing challenge for NBC Universal?

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands Request an ALF Insight demo.

Now you can nominate your business development heroes and attend the ALF Awards 2024 click here.

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Charlotte Lock has had an illustrious career embracing the BBC, Tesco, Co-op, Asda, McCann and now the John Lewis Partnership where her experience in behavioural economics and partnerships is helping to develop the group’s offering. In this episode she joins Rory to discuss data driven customer insight and brand experience, along with segmentation in a variety of areas.

Plus, Charlotte talks us through this year's John Lewis Christmas ad, their first created by Saatchi & Saatchi. 

And in the Top Two Challenges, Charlotte reveals what she believes is the biggest challenge facing John Lewis and the most pressing issue for the retail sector as a whole.

If you want to do business with the UK's leading brands. Request an ALF Insight demo.

To nominate your business development heroes and attend the ALF Awards 2024, click here.

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In this episode, Rory meets Jasper Martens, the Chief Marketing Officer at Pension Bee.

Pension Bee launched in 2015 after CEO and Co-Founder, Romi Savova, who had previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, had difficulties transferring her own pension. Jasper reveals that many of their over 1 million new customers didn’t realise the tax benefits and contributions that come from having the right pension arrangements and why Pension Bee is now on a mission to make the process easier to understand and keep track of.

With brand awareness in the UK now over 50%, Jasper explains the biggest marketing challenge for Pension Bee and why they've sponsored a Premier League football team.

In the Top Two Challenges, Jasper talks about the future challenges for Pension Bee and the pension industry as a whole.

Quite apart from the marketing insights revealed, this conversation will give you food for thought about your own pension arrangements.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands, request an ALF Insight demo.

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Rory is joined by Milka Privodanova, VP Head of EMEA of Pinterest to talk about the online platform which they describe as 'personal media' rather than social.

Milka outlines how the user experience of Pinterest is a positive and natural environment for advertisers and how almost everything you see on Pinterest is available to buy. Food, beauty, fashion and home décor are all hugely popular but the company is also experiencing success in the areas of travel, financial services and entertainment.

In the Top Two Challenges, Milka shares what she believes is the biggest challenge for Pinterest and also the most pressing issue for the online media sector as a whole.

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands, request an ALF Insight demo.

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As we head towards one million electric cars on Britain’s roads, Marketing Director Nic Thomas discusses Nissan’s drive towards a totally electric range in 2030. Nic addresses the ‘charging’ challenge faced by the whole EV industry and why he’s calling for destination charging to be legislated. 

Nic also discusses some of the exciting engineering and design benefits of Nissan EVs - imagine your office on wheels! - but also why timing is proving to be the main marketing challenge for Nissan. Plus, Nic and Rory talk about the cost of car batteries, ‘range anxiety’ and single pedal driving - who knew?

If you want to do business with the UK’s leading brands, request an ALF Insight demo.

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