Annual Conference 2010 : Speakers 

Back to the Annual Conference 2010 Event Page. Click on the speaker to view their biography.

James Averdieck
founder and managing director, Gü Chocolate Puds

Born in Yorkshire in 1965, James was educated at Uppingham School before studying Economics at Durham University from 1985 to 1988.

After leaving university, James joined the graduate programme at strategy consultants, Arthur D. Little, where he stayed for two years, working in Europe, US and the Middle East. He enjoyed consulting and learnt about the key drivers to a successful business, but wanted to get closer to the coal-face.

James spent the next 9 years in Food industry working for both Safeway and St Ivel and learnt about Sales and Marketing and running businesses. With St Ivel he moved to Belgium and became a convert to Belgian gastronomy and, as he says, ‘went native on the chocolate front’. It was in Brussels that the seed was sown for his UK chocolate venture. James saw the opportunity of marrying high quality chocolate patisserie with efficient UK supermarket distribution.

James realised that UK consumers were demanding more quality and moving away from mass-produced ‘branded’ products. By marrying up high quality chocolate patisserie with efficient UK supermarket distribution, James was confident he could take on the big players.

He wanted to create a brand “more focused than the big brands on using high-quality raw materials to deliver uncompromisingly good products.”

Gü, the brand, is about chocolate extremism – evoking nostalgic memories and magical smells of baking with chocolate. The brand was well received by the supermarkets, launching first in Sainsburys and Waitrose with the others following apace.

It has offices in London and Paris, selling in UK, France, Ireland and Belgium. In the process, James has realised his chocolate dream of selling soufflés to the French and chocolate to the Belgians.

Damon Buffini
chairman, Permira

Damon Buffini is a founding partner of Permira and was Chairman and Managing Partner from 1997-2010. Under his leadership Permira’s funds under management have grown from €1.9 billion to over €20 billion and the firm’s number of offices has risen from four to 12.

Since 2000 Permira has helped to build numerous successful businesses across Europe including: Travelodge, one of Europe’s largest hotel groups, which under Permira ownership opened 100 new hotels; global aviation services group Jet Aviation, which created approximately 2,400 new jobs while backed by the Permira funds; and Inmarsat, the global satellite operator, which invested US$2 billion in new technology while in the Permira portfolio.

Over the past ten years Permira has returned more than €10 billion of realised profit to its investors. Today, Permira’s portfolio is comprised of 23 companies including New Look, Birds Eye iglo, and Hugo Boss and NDS (www.permira.com).

Damon is also co-founder of Breakthrough, a joint initiative between Permira and CAN that seeks to grow charities and social enterprises by utilising the knowledge, skills and capital of the private equity industry. Since its foundation Breakthrough has supported 8 social enterprises including Law for All; Speaking Up and Teachfirst (www.breakthroughfund.org.uk).

Damon has a keen interest in education and social exclusion. He is president of Fairbridge, a nationwide charity that works to supports over 4000 young people per year (www.fairbridge.org.uk) and Cambridge University Endowement Fund Advisory Board. He is a Board member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (www.rsc.org.uk).

He was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he read Law and at Harvard Business School, where gained an MBA.

Nick Ferrari
LBC 97.3

It seemed inevitable that Nick Ferrari would have a career in the media, but even he could not have imagined the phenomenal success he’s enjoyed with an impressive career spanning radio, television and press, both in the UK and internationally.

After leaving college, Nick joined the Kentish Independent newspaper. In 1981, he moved to the national press at the Sunday Mirror. A year later, he joined The Sun as Showbiz Reporter and was soon promoted to Editor of Bizarre (The Sun’s celebrity gossip page), Deputy News Editor of The Sun and then Editor of Sunday (News of the World magazine).

In 1989, he became Launch Editor of the Sky News channel and was later promoted to Vice President of News and Programming at Fox TV in New York. Nick moved back to print press in 1993 as Assistant Editor of the Daily Mirror. Two years later, he became Director of Programmes for the launch of L!ve TV.

In 1999, Nick moved into the radio industry as a presenter with Talk Radio. In 2001 he moved to LBC 97.3 and became presenter of the weekday breakfast show.

In addition to his breakfast show, Nick is a weekly guest on ITV1’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show and a regular contributor on Newsnight, Daily Politics and Sky News.

Martin Glenn
ceo, Birds Eye Iglo Group

Martin Glenn was appointed CEO of the Birds Eye Iglo Group in November 2006. Previously he was President of PepsiCo UK, one of the UK's leading soft drinks and snack food manufacturers, where he is acclaimed for creating a new uplifting corporate image for the company. Martin was President of Walkers Snack Foods, whom he joined in 1992, working his way up from Director of New Product Development, Vice-President of Marketing to become Walkers President in 1998, and PepsiCo UK President in 2003.

Ashley Highfield
managing director & vice president, consumer & online UK, Microsoft

Ashley Highfield is Managing Director & vice president, Consumer & Online UK; part of a newly established global organisation within Microsoft responsible for consumer services across PC, mobile and internet platforms including Windows, MSN, Hotmail, and Internet Explorer. He is also responsible for Microsoft’s online advertising business.
Highfield joined Microsoft in January 2009 from his position as CEO of Kangaroo, the proposed video-on-demand joint venture between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Previously he was Director of New Media & Technology and an executive board member for the BBC for 8 years, and prior to that was MD of Flextech Interactive and a member of the executive of Flextech plc (now Virgin Media).

Highfield is a Governor of the British Film Institute, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society, a member of BAFTA, a Chartered (Information) Engineer, and a non-executive director of William Hill plc.

Vernon Hill
co-founder and vice chairman, Metro Bank

Vernon Hill started Commerce Bank as a one-branch bank with nine employees and $1.5 million of capital. By 2007 it was the 18th largest bank in America with 15000 employees, 500 offices and $50 billion of assets. He did it by creating a better customer experience. Customers became fans, making Commerce America’s most loved bank in the annual JD Power Surveys. Shareholders loved it, especially when it was purchased in 2007 for $8.5 billion.

General Sir Mike Jackson GCB CBE DSO served as Chief of the General Staff (CGS) from February 2003 – August 2006, after a highly distinguished career in the British Army spanning more than four decades. He is now Senior Advisor at PA Consulting Group.

Prior to his appointment as CGS, General Sir Mike Jackson served most recently as Commander in Chief Land Command (from 2000), Commander Kosovo Force (in 1999), Commander ACE Rapid Reaction Corps (from 1997) and Director General Development and Doctrine.

General Sir Mike Jackson has seen considerable active service: he commanded at company and brigade level in Northern Ireland, as a divisional commander in Bosnia, and as a corps commander in Macedonia and Kosovo.

Daren Jacobs
associate, Olivier Mythodrama

Daren delivers Leadership Development to Senior Executives around the globe. An Associate with Olivier Mythodrama he employs great leadership myths from Shakespeare; lessons from theatre and Archetypal Psychology, combined with organisational development thinking to create transformational learning experiences for leaders.

Daren gained a degree in Philosophy and Psychology before running the Brighton branch of The Big Issue Magazine. He then trained as an actor at The Drama Studio, working as a professional actor for 10 years in theatre, television and film.

Six years ago, Daren began his training in Mythodrama methodology. He now leads Mythodrama programmes in both public & private sectors all over the world. He also coaches senior executives, helping them to realise their potential.

Martha Lane Fox
UK digital champion, Race Online 2012

Martha is the UK Governments Digital Champion – she chairs the Race Online 2012 Campaign, advises Directgov and sits on the Efficiency and Reform Board in the Cabinet Office. Martha is also Non-executive Director for M&S, C4 and MyDeco. In 2007 she launched Antigone, her own grant giving foundation. In 2005 she cofounded and now chairs Lucky Voice which currently has 5 venues and a growing online business. In 1998 Martha co-founded lastminute.com with Brent Hoberman. It is Europe’s largest travel and leisure website. In 2000 they floated the business and she remained on the board until its sale in 2005.

Stephen Miron, joined Global Radio in December 2008 as Chief Executive. Stephen runs the day-to-day operations of all Global Radio brands which include 95.8 Capital FM, Classic FM, LBC, XFM and the Heart network. The business employs in excess of 1800 employees across 71 Stations, making Global Radio the largest commercial radio group in Europe.

Prior to Global, Stephen was Managing Director of the Mail on Sunday & Mail Digital. He was famed for masterminding the high-profile giveaway of Prince's latest album in a promotion that rocketed sales of the Sunday newspaper.

Outside of Global Radio, Stephen is a Trustee of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation.

Mark Price
managing director, Waitrose

Mark was appointed Managing Director, Waitrose in April 2007, and is responsible for the 228 Waitrose shops of the John Lewis Partnership.

Mark joined the Partnership on the Graduate Training Scheme in 1982, before becoming Managing Director of John Lewis High Wycombe and then John Lewis Cheadle.

Mark transferred to Waitrose in February 1998 as the Partnership’s first Marketing Director, and in 2000 was additionally given responsibility for retail operations, becoming Director of Selling & Marketing.

Immediately prior to his current role, Mark had been at John Lewis since 2005, in the roles Managing Director, Partnership Development and John Lewis Development Director.

As well as being Managing Director of Waitrose, Mark is also a member of the CGF Food Forum Board of Directors, President of the grocery industry charity, Caravan, and is Chairman of The Prince of Wales’s Rural Action Programme.

Steve Radcliffe
partner, Steve Radcliffe Associates

For over 15 years, Steve has been coaching and developing senior leaders in the fields of business, government and education. He has worked with Marketing Directors of many brands including Boots, Persil, Dulux, Fisher-Price and the BBC. Previously he has been a Marketing then Managing Director after excellent grounding at P&G and in the ad agency world. His book, Leadership Plain and Simple, is guaranteed to make you a more confident, effective leader.

Camillo Pane
general manager, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) UK.

Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is a FTSE top 25 company – a powerhouse in the global healthcare, household and personal care sectors, with a record of consistent growth and performance over the last 10 years which surpasses that of all its global peer group. The company’s success comes from a strong commitment to innovation and overachievement. Its portfolio of 17 iconic global Powerbrands like Vanish, Finish, Airwick, Harpic, Nurofen, Gaviscon, Veet and Strepsils, supported by local heroes brands, are found in kitchens and bathrooms around the globe; and hold the number 1 or 2 position in all their global markets.By thinking fast and acting even faster, up to 40% of Reckitt Benckiser revenues come from new products developed in the last three years.

Since December 2009, Camillo has been general manager of RB’s UK Household, Personal Care and Healthcare commercial businesses, which were integrated into one business unit in April 2010, creating one of the primary FMCG non food companies in the UK. Prior to this he was general manager for the UK Healthcare business unit.

Camillo has spent over 14 years with RB, and is a real example of the company’s ‘global citizen’ strategy, gaining international experience initially in a marketing role for Household brands in his home country, Italy. He then moved to the USA where he was appointed category marketing director for the Autodish and Homecare categories.

In 2001 he moved to Sao Paulo as regional marketing director for Brazil and Latin America. Camillo came to the UK in 2003 when he was promoted to global category director for Air Care before moving into the Healthcare business.
Prior to Reckitt Benckiser Camillo spent time in marketing with Kraft Jacob Suchard in Milan.

Laura Tenison MBE
founder and managing director, JoJo Maman Bébé

As the founder and Managing Director of JoJo Maman Bébé, Laura has grown the company organically from its start-up in 1993 to our current size and to become the UK’s foremost niche market, specialist in the pregnancy and baby market. Offering fashionable maternity wear, a Breton inspired children’s collection and original nursery products, gifts and toys, JoJo gives you everything you need from pregnancy to pre-school.

Laura Tenison previously ran a small fashion company before setting up a French property business based in Brittany. When she sold this venture, her aim was to bring Breton nautical style home and offer gorgeous, practical and affordable fashion for mothers and babies in Britain. With real time sales via all channels; the website, 200 page catalogue and the 28 stores, JoJo offers a truly multi-channel service.

The business ethos is based on a strong code of ethical business practice, possibly more akin to a social enterprise than a commercial retail chain. The people and the planet are ranked higher on the agenda than bottom line profit. The company prides itself on its longstanding employees with the majority of the founding members still part of the team. Emphasis is placed upon the service offered to customers and the value for money in the product plus the quality of life of the employees and third party workers above all else.

Laura Tenison is a trustee of the company charity, Nema, based in Mozambique. The tie in was initiated to ensure that company donations make a real difference to the lives of less fortunate children and to reduce infant mortality in this stunning but extremely poor area of Africa. ‘Nema’,(registered charity number 1113131) which translates as “happiness after hardship” is currently receiving assistance from JoJo in the form of UK administration; HR, bookkeeping, website development, funding of charity overheads, ongoing in-house donations and fundraising. This year Nema with the assistance of JoJo will build and support a school in rural Mozambique provide dozens of children with secondary school scholarships as well as funding other projects relating to health and water.

Dennis Turner
chief economist, HSBC Bank plc

Dennis Turner is the Chief Economist of HSBC Bank plc in the City. His role involves advising lending bankers on economic trends not only at national level, but also on industries and regions.

Before joining Midland Bank in 1978, he worked for four years in Whitehall, for the National Economic Development Office. This was during the Labour government’s Industrial Strategy Initiative, which was an attempt to improve the performance of the UK’s manufacturing sector.

His first job on leaving university (Swansea and University College, London) was as an economist for a national trade union. Here he was responsible for the preparation of pay claims, arbitration cases and the union’s submission to various statutory bodies set up under Edward Heath’s Industrial Relations Act.

His principal interests outside office hours are music and football. He is a director of Fulham Football Club and his publications include the definitive history of Fulham, the need for an Industrial Investment Bank in the UK, analyses of the textile and construction industries, and critiques on the recordings of Van Morrison, Joe Cocker and Ray Charles.

J. Walker Smith, Ph.D.
executive chairman, The Futures Company

J. Walker Smith is Executive Chairman of The Futures Company. Described by Fortune as “one of America’s leading analysts on consumer trends,” he is co-author of four books, including Rocking the Ages: The Yankelovich Report on Generational Marketing (1997), Generation Ageless: How Baby Boomers are Changing the Way We Live Today (2008), Coming to Concurrence: Addressable Attitudes and the New Model for Marketing Productivity (2005), and Life Is Not Work, Work Is Not Life (2001), one of the Wall Street Journal’s ten best work/life books of 2001. He is also co-author of A Darwinian Gale: The Recovery Consumer in the Era of Consequences (2009), a groundbreaking white paper on the post-recession economy. Walker is a columnist for Marketing Management and Media, and for eight years he was a weekly commentator for the public radio show Smart City. Walker holds a doctorate in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.