Explore every episode of the podcast OnBD with ALF

Host and General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear, chats with Oya Mustafa, the newly appointed Head of Partnership Innovation at Chelsea FC, and former Chief Growth Officer at Not Normal Group, about how to approach growth intentionally and mistakes to avoid.

Oya tells us why it’s important to understand and analyse your data and define the meaning of growth before chasing new business and why you should prioritise efficiency over simply being busy. 

She also shares the four sales personas she’s created – the tree shaker, the pirate, the transformer and the unicorn. Which one are you?

Oya also advises how to avoid key blockers including emotional attachment to the wrong opportunities and the qualities you need to master sustained growth. 

Plus find out about Oya’s listener challenge as she reminds you to ask, “what kind of growth are we actually trying to create?”

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:31 What Growth Really Means

03:21 Oya’s Four BD Personas

06:28 Start with the Numbers

12:47 Intentionality and Alignment

16:14 Blockers to Growth Plans

18:22 Sustaining Focus Over Time

22:54 Everyone Owns Growth

25:52 Growth vs Sales Explained

28:53 Quickfire Questions

32:29 One Thing to Start Today

34:25 Wrap Up and Listener Challenge

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

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Listen back to highlights from the first season of OnBD with ALF, hosted by Amanda Rosevear, General Manager of ALF Insight.

Featured topics and guests include BD100’s Jody Osman who tells us what he thinks distinguishes a ‘great’ business development person from a ‘good’ one. 

Becky Hipkiss from We Are Futures offers insights on outreach and explains her belief on why ‘people buy people’, whilst global media and tech leader, Evelyn Oluwole, shares follow up advice including common mistakes to avoid. 

Rob Biagioni, CEO of Time Out, tells us about building community and deepening engagement with their audience to steer content and support commercial aims. And Kim James from Havas Media Network talked us through the steps they take when considering their own growth strategy.

Katie Street, founder and MD of Street Agency, spoke to us about overcoming some of the challenges of business development, and sales trainer Debra Sharron offered advice on honing your skills as a salesperson and what she means by ‘consultative selling’.  

Charlie Celino, Commercial Services Director at News UK, discusses how AI is transforming planning and buying infrastructure but why he believes a human touch will always remain central. 

Plus, we hear back from all our season one guests on the advice they would give their younger selves. Topics include authenticity, speaking up, patience, networking, relationships, trusting your gut, and starting your pension sooner!

00:00 Summer Bonus Highlights

00:19 What Makes Great BD

02:28 Outreach That Cuts Through

04:10 Follow Up Like a Pro

05:01 Audience Engagement at Time Out

05:52 Building Growth Communities

07:36 Authentic New Business Content

10:38 Consultative Selling Skills

13:11 AI in Media Sales

14:54 Advice to Your Younger Self

24:52 Final Thoughts

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

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In this episode, host and General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear, meets Evelyn Oluwole, a global media and tech sales leader to discuss why ‘follow-up’ should be viewed as a strategy not a task.

Evelyn highlights common mistakes when it comes to follow up and shares her advice and tips for adding value to cut through noise, the role that AI should and shouldn’t play in your communications and her recommendations for building relationships. 

Plus, what should you do if your emails continually get ghosted? Amanda and Evelyn debate different approaches for leaving the door open.

If you want to enhance your follow up, then this is a must-listen. 

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Evelyn

01:30 What Follow Up Means

02:42 Three Follow Up Mistakes

06:52 Add Value Not Noise

09:28 Stakeholders and Account Mapping

14:01 Trust and Retention Mindset

15:46 AI and Human Touch

22:24 McDonalds Follow Up Example

26:59 Timing Next Steps and Value

32:23 When to Stop Following Up

36:39 Dear John Email Debate

40:00 Quick Fire Round

42:00 One Follow Up Challenge

43:36 Final thoughts and goodbye

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

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Amanda Rosevear, host and General Manager of ALF Insight, chats to Becky Hipkiss, who leads new business at marketing agency, We Are Futures.

In 2025 Becky was named as BD100’s Rising Star with judges citing her "purpose-driven mindset, tenacity and clear results" and in this conversation, she shares her expertise on effective outreach strategies, relationship building, and pipeline health.

Discover practical tips on how to cut through digital noise and build meaningful connections that lead to long-term success.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:27 Bad Outreach Red Flags

03:59 Channels That Cut Through

06:57 Email vs LinkedIn Messaging

10:41 Creating Cut Through

13:04 Building a Flexible Framework

18:22 Staying Top of Mind

23:06 Pipeline Roles and Relationship Equity

27:16 Metrics That Matter

30:22 Personalisation at Scale

33:32 Team GB Outreach Win Story

38:55 Quick Fire Questions

42:48 Wrap Up and Key Takeaways

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

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In this episode, General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear, is joined by Rob Biagioni, CEO of Time Out.

Rob shares his journey through the media industry, offering insights on adapting to digital transformation, and strategies for engaging audiences in a rapidly changing landscape.

This includes how Time Out is pivoting in the face of AI challenges, why they won’t succumb to the drive for ‘negative news’ clicks and how their 4,000+ members of the ‘Time Out Loud’ community is being used for editorial direction and advertiser insight work.

00:00 Introduction and Rob's Career Beginnings

02:51 Rob's Journey from Sports Science to Media

08:41 Leadership lessons

10:08 Joining Time Out 

11:25 Time Out Markets model

13:10 The Evolution of Media and Audience Engagement

18:14 Moving Away from Page Views to Core Value

19:06 The Power of Human Reviews and Authentic Content

21:29 Using Community and First-Party Data for Insights

30:44 Adapting to Platform Changes and Diversification

34:02 The Future of Media and AI Challenges

34:44 Leadership, Culture, and Learning from Mistakes

35:19 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 episode, Amanda Rosevear, General Manager for ALF Insight, is joined by Charlie Celino, Commercial Services Director at News UK. 

Charlie shares insights on navigating the evolving media landscape, the impact of AI on news and advertising, and proactive strategies for future success. 

Discover how News UK is leveraging technology and innovation to stay ahead in a turbulent industry.

00:00 Introduction and Background of Charlie Celino

02:59 Role of Commercial Services Director at News UK

04:45 Challenges in the News Industry: AI and Trust

06:21 Advertiser Relationships and Brand Safety Concerns

13:02 Proactive Strategies in a Changing Landscape

16:09 Embracing AI: Opportunities and Internal Initiatives

22:24 Revolutionising Sales with Digital Tools

31:16 The Future of Media Consumption

34:37 Quickfire Insights on Sales and Authenticity

40:24 Charlie’s life as a movie and favourite hype songs

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 OnBD with ALF, Amanda Rosevear, General Manager of ALF Insight, chats to James Walmsley, Ad Director at Immediate Media. 

James shares insights from his career in media sales, including what he loved about his early days at MTV and why he’s stayed at Immediate Media for so many years.

He discusses the industry's challenges, including the shifting digital landscape and the resurgence of print media. 

James also tells us about the idea behind Atria, a new collaborative initiative among major UK publishers aimed at simplifying media buys and driving investment into trusted, editorial brands and why he thinks joining forces with ‘competitors’ is a positive move.

00:00 Introduction

00:47 James’s Career Journey

04:11 Life at Immediate Media

05:56 Challenges and Innovations in Publishing

07:27 Focus on Video and Social Content

09:14 Subscriber Growth Strategies

12:40 Launch of Atria: A New Marketplace

20:31 The Future of Publishing and AI

22:06 The Importance of Human Connection in Media

23:15 The Value of Trusted Brands

24:56 Launching a New Initiative

25:59 James's Passion for Media Sales

29:03 The Future of Print and Digital Media

31:42 Advice for Aspiring Salespeople

36:00 James's Career Reflections and Hype Song

37:39 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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In this episode, Amanda Rosevear, General Manager of ALF Insight, chats to Kim James, Chief Growth and Business Development Officer at Havas Media Network. 

Kim shares her journey through the media industry, starting as a graduate TV buyer to her current role at Havas Media Network. 

Discover her thoughts behind the importance of building communities for business development and the strategies Havas uses to maintain relationships with prospective clients over long periods. 

Kim emphasises the necessity of a team effort in successful pitches and tells us how Havas is working to expand their pitch bench. 

The episode also discusses the evolving role of procurement in the pitch process and how Havas is addressing these changes through technology, robust qualification processes, and data-driven strategies.

00:00 Introduction

00:43 Meet Kim James: A Journey in Media

03:29 Strategies for Business Development

05:12 Building and Leveraging Communities

14:45 The Art of Pitching

21:38 The Changing Landscape of Pitch Processes

26:07 Utilising Technology and Data in New Business

33:36 Final Thoughts and Advice

37:58 Conclusion and Farewell

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

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In this special episode of 'OnBD with ALF' host and General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear welcomes co-founders of the BD100, Jody Osman and Rich McHardy, to discuss everything you need to know about submitting your application to the prestigious awards. 

Rich and Jody share why they created the BD100, and talk us through the nomination and submission processes, along with tips for crafting a standout entry. 

They also explain additional categories such as Win of the Year, Team of the Year, and the newly introduced Industry Impact Award. With key insights and advice, this episode is essential for anyone in business development looking to boost their sales strategies and gain recognition. 

Listen now to learn how to get involved and make the most of the BD100 community.

00:00 Introduction

02:06 The Importance of the BD100 Community

04:44 How to Get Nominated for the BD100

24:04 Additional Categories and Awards

26:47 Key Dates and Final Tips

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

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In this episode, General Manager of ALF Insight and podcast host, Amanda Rosevear meets Katie Street, Founder and MD of Street Agency and podcast host of 'Marketing in the Madness.' 

Katie shares her journey from falling into sales at a young age to running her own successful marketing agency. They delve into the importance of human-centred, people-powered marketing in the age of AI, discuss content creation strategies, and provide insights on building a personal brand in business development. 

Listen in for actionable advice and inspiring stories to elevate your sales game.

00:43 Meet Katie Street: Career Journey and Insights

04:30 The Power of People-Powered Marketing

06:33 Challenges and Strategies in Personal Branding

11:40 Creating Valuable Content for Your Audience

18:44 Effective Audience Engagement and Outreach

24:06 The Overwhelming Email Overload

24:36 Human-Centric Marketing Strategies

25:12 Company-Wide Marketing Efforts

26:39 The Future of Personal Branding

29:07 Gen Z and the Evolution of Sales

32:11 Creating Authentic Content

36:55 Quick Fire Questions with Katie

42:49 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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In this episode, General Manager of ALF Insight and podcast host, Amanda Rosevear, interviews Debra Sharron, a seasoned sales trainer and founder of Media Sales Training. 

They discuss Debra’s journey into media sales, the current trends and challenges in the industry, and expert advice on sales success. The conversation also touches on the importance of consultative selling, the significance of face-to-face meetings, and strategies for building relationships with clients. Debra also shares insights on how to avoid being ghosted by prospects and explains why there’s a need for authenticity in sales. 

Plus, Debra answers our quickfire questions that reveal her thoughts on sales, success and her favourite hype song.

00:00 Introduction 

02:00 Debra's Journey into Media Sales

06:21 Current Trends in Media Sales

09:14 Consultative Selling in Today's Market

12:18 The Importance of Face-to-Face Meetings

20:40 Challenges Faced by Salespeople

24:05 Impact of Hybrid Working on Sales

30:30 Building Relationships in Sales

34:24 Keys to a Successful Sales Team

36:57 Quickfire Questions with Debra

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

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In this episode, Amanda Rosevear speaks with Nick Adams, CEO of Sense, about the evolution of new business strategies in the experiential marketing sector. 

Nick shares insights from his extensive career, discussing the challenges agencies face in winning clients today, the importance of data in sales, and the shift towards more transactional relationships. 

Find out how Sense identifies their top prospects, the opportunities of collaborating with other agencies and the value of building genuine relationships in a fast-paced industry.

00:00 Introduction

00:43 Meet Nick Adams, CEO of Sense

01:09 Nick Adams' Career Journey

03:22 Evolution of New Business Strategies

06:08 Balancing Outbound and Inbound Marketing

11:10 Challenges in Winning New Clients

12:10 Specialising vs. Generalising in Brand Experience

18:58 Importance of Data in New Business

23:17 Impact of COVID on Client Relationships

26:08 The Shift in Client Expectations

27:14 The Importance of Chemistry in Client Relationships

29:47 The Future of Relationship Building in Sales

32:26 Adapting New Business Strategies

34:00 Collaborations and Audience Segmentation

38:30 Quickfire Questions with Nick

43:30 Final Thoughts 

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

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In this episode, General Manager of ALF Insight and podcast host, Amanda Rosevear, sits down with Steve Cox, former Marketing Director of JCDecaux, to find out about his 40 years of experience within the media and advertising industry.

Steve shares a comprehensive overview of his illustrious career, from his early days in television to his recent venture into consultancy. He offers invaluable insights into effective sales strategies, emphasising the importance of understanding audience mindset and context. 

Steve also introduces his five-step sales process to ensure successful pitches and shares practical advice for smaller media owners aiming to compete with industry giants. 

00:43 Meet the Legend: Steve Cox

01:20 Steve Cox's Journey in Media

03:58 Transition to Out-of-Home Advertising

05:36 Challenges and Strategies for Smaller Media Owners

09:06 The Five-Step Sales Process

19:06 Common Mistakes in Media Sales

22:55 Understanding Audience Behaviour

23:41 Marketing to Brands and Agencies

24:40 The Importance of Agency Relationships

25:39 Targeting Small and Local Brands

26:49 Effective Communication with Agencies

31:30 The Value of Agility and Passion

33:35 Quickfire Questions with Steve

42:20 Final Thoughts

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

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General Manager of ALF Insight and podcast host, Amanda Rosevear, interviews Dawn Le Men, Sales Director at Boom Radio, to discover the importance of the ‘silver pound’ audience and how Boom Radio has gone from strength to strength in the radio industry.

Dawn discusses her extensive career in media, including the transition from television to radio, and the unique challenges and successes of working in a start-up environment. 

Amanda and Dawn talk about the challenges of selling to brands, the impact of industry changes and the rise of AI. 

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:00 Career Journey in Media

05:54 Transition to Radio and a Startup Environment

11:51 Success of Boom Radio

14:37 Understanding the Silver Pound Audience

19:17 Challenges in Selling to Brands

22:16 Navigating Industry Changes

24:33 Memorable Wins and Lessons Learned

29:02 Quickfire Questions and Personal Insights

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

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Podcast host and General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear, speaks with Ian Harris, founder of Agency Hackers.

Ian shares his journey from journalism to building a thriving membership community for independent agency leaders. 

He discusses the importance of truly understanding what people want, the challenges agencies face in growth and client acquisition, and the successful formula behind his events and why Ibiza has proved to be such a popular location. 

Amanda and Ian also discuss the importance of inclusivity in industry, leveraging LinkedIn for personal branding and business growth, and the value of authentic communication and relationship building in business development. 

00:00 Introduction to Agency Hackers and Ian's Journey

07:19 Building Community: The Success of Agency Hackers

10:10 The Formula for Successful Events

16:55 Challenges in Agency Growth and Client Acquisition

23:19 Implementing Effective New Business Processes

28:09 Inclusivity in Agency Leadership

29:52 The Viral Success of Ibiza Events

31:33 Navigating LinkedIn for Business Growth

36:00 The Balance of Personal Branding

41:09 Effective Communication in Business Development

46:17 The Importance of Relationship Building

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

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In this episode, host and General Manager of ALF Insight, Amanda Rosevear, chats to Laura Vipond, Chief Growth Officer at Ogilvy. 

They discuss Laura's career journey, the importance of new business culture, and the strategies Ogilvy employs for agency growth. Laura shares her knowledge of how best to understand client needs, the evolving pitch process, and why she promotes the Positive Pitch Pledge, aimed at improving the pitching experience for both agencies and clients. 

The conversation also touches on the importance of emotional intelligence in business development and the long-term strategies for building client relationships.

Plus, Laura answers the OnBD Quickfire Questions revealing which animated movie title best describes her career.

00:00 Introduction to Laura Vipond and Her Career Journey

03:53 Understanding Agency Growth Models

08:13 The Importance of New Business Culture

11:06 Ogilvy's New Business Strategy

15:02 Identifying and Filling the Pipeline

18:47 The Long Game: Asparagus Growth Strategy

21:12 Evolving Pitch Processes and Client Expectations

27:04 The Positive Pitch Pledge

32:50 Quickfire Questions and Key Takeaways

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

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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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Rory chats to Emilie Vanpoperinghe, CEO and Co-Founder of Oddbox, the subscription box company that saves imperfect and surplus fruit and vegetables from going to waste. Emilie explains how the idea for the business came about, why pricing 'wonky' vegetables can be challenging and the company's plans for the future.

In the Top Two Challenges, Emilie shares her thoughts on what is the biggest challenge for Oddbox and the most pressing challenge for the grocery industry as a whole.

Code ALF will give new Oddbox customers 50% off their first box. Offer excludes the fruit booster box. Valid until 31st August, 2023.

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

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Nicola Hamilton, Senior Director of Branding & Communications at GoCardless, outlines how businesses can get paid more easily and conveniently by using their service. She outlines that the challenge for GoCardless is the inertia of companies not realising how much money and time they can save by moving away from outdated, manual methods to automated, online payments. As someone who's worked in the industry for over 15 years Nicola counsels that fintech companies now need to focus on profitability more than growth.

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

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In 2018, Finn Lagun went on Dragon's Den but failed to convince Peter Jones & Co to invest in his home delivery pasta business. Now the business has a multi-million pound turnover and is majority owned by the pasta giant Barilla. Rory quizzes Finn about moving from 'pasta through your letter box' to a business which has now expanded into retails outlets and offers fully prepared takeaway delivery.

Plus in our 'Top Two Challenges' feature, Finn shares his thoughts on the biggest challenges facing Pasta Evangelists and also the direct-to-consumer food industry in general.

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

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Rory Sutherland is joined by Khartoon Weiss, Global Head of Agency & Accounts at TikTok.

Since launching in 2016, TikTok has seen a meteoric rise to success, currently boasting 1.2 billion monthly users across the globe. 

Rory and Khartoon discuss the unique elements of the platform that make it so appealing and examine how brands can harness the existing creativity and community to engage users and achieve the ultimate goal of marketing - changing behaviour. 

Plus in our 'Top Two Challenges' feature, Khartoon shares her thoughts on the biggest hurdles facing both TikTok and social media in general.

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

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Rory meets Tim Keaveney, Co-Founder of Homethings, a challenger brand offering sustainable household cleaning products delivered direct to your door. 

As a winner of Sky’s Zero Footprint Fund, Tim reveals their plans for their first TV campaign and discusses how perceptions are changing about the efficacy of ‘green’ products.

Plus, in the Top Two challenges, Tim shares the biggest issues facing both Homethings and the home care sector in general. 

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

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Lars Silberbauer has been named as one of the most innovative and influential marketers in Europe. Before joining HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, as Chief Marketing Officer in September 2022, he held positions with the International Olympic Committee, MTV, Viacom and Lego. 

Rory talks to Lars about 'Circular', the new subscription service for Nokia phones which is looking to revolutionise the relationship we have with our handsets and provide a sustainable solution to e-waste.

Plus in the Top Two Challenges feature, Lars shares what he thinks is the biggest challenge for Nokia phones moving forward and for the mobile phone handset 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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With a distinguished career in textiles and fashion retail, Lynne Walker is Director of Primark Cares. Lynne talks to Rory about the phenomenal high street success of Primark and how the brand approaches marketing, the environment and sustainability.

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

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Marcia Kilgore is a serial entrepreneur, having successful launched companies such as Bliss Spa, Soap & Glory and FitFlop. Her most recent company is Beauty Pie, which she describes as her 'best idea yet'.

In this episode Rory Sutherland chats to her about the idea behind the brand, the benefits of operating a membership model, how they reach new customers and the biggest challenges facing Beauty Pie and the beauty retail industry at large.

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

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Rory meets Nikki Garg, Co-Founder of the Good Pea Co, a disruptor brand producing plant-based milk made from pea protein. Nikki shares the background story to the product, discusses the challenges of being a start-up during lockdown, explains why sustainability and health is at the heart of everything they do and reveals why peas might just save the planet.

On Brand is brought to you by https://www.alfinsight.com/

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Kian Golzari is one of the world's leading product development and sourcing experts. He's personally sourced over 2,500 products for the likes of Bed, Bath and Beyond, Procter & Gamble, Visa, Panasonic and even Google. Rory quizzes him on all aspects of his work including working in China. If you're thinking of developing a new product Kian is your go-to guy. You can find out more at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcnsghoDG2AObm8l-lGzxCQ?sub_confirmation=1 and remember On Brand is brought to you by https://www.alfinsight.com/

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