In this episode, Robin has the pleasure of speaking with Alison Jones, Customer Director at Coop. A cornerstone of our high street since 1844, the Coop has encountered, and crucially survived, many challenges over the years, largely thanks to its clearly defined brand purpose and values. Hear how those values helped support both colleagues and communities during the pandemic, how they’re actively taking the brand to a younger, health conscious, socially aware market and how the pioneering Coop Live Arena project in East Manchester ties innovation with those core Coop values around ethics, community member value and benefits.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fightback: An innovation podcast

Co-op's Fight featuring Alison Jones, Customer Director

In those heady days before lockdown, Robin spent some quality time with “girl crush” Margaret Jobling talking about the challenges of ‘turning the oil tanker’ that is British Gas ‘into a speed boat’ in her then role as CMO of Centrica (she’s now CMO of NatWest). How do you keep a 200-year-old institution as market leader in a sector disrupted by nimble, tech-lead innovative brands? How does a product first organisation pivot to become customer first? And how do you change the culture of such a large, complex business to embrace their ‘Here to solve’ mantra? All this and critical advice on paw-renting two very different dogs in this week’s episode of Fightback.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Centrica's Fight featuring Margaret Jobling, CMO

In this episode, Robin talks with CMO of Smart Tech at Vodafone Pamela Brown about the challenge of launching a brand new product in a pandemic; her hatred of the term “Internet of Things”; the fight to keep a heritage business relevant in a hugely competitive market and her vision for the future of telcos and smart devices. Pamela also shares why keeping calm, staying grounded and having fun are vital, especially in these difficult times.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vodafone's Fight featuring Pamela Brown, CMO of Smart Tech

With over 300 years of legacy proving both a blessing and a curse, Alex Naylor, MD of Communications at Barclays, is fighting on many fronts: with neo banks around CX; with other big retail banks for their very survival and with the threat of financial services aggregators transforming customer relationships forever. In this episode, Alex talks about the power of ideas, how creativity is about joining the dots in unexpected ways and how COVID has reinforced his belief in the art of the possible and the triumph of human endeavour in the hardest of times.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Barclays Fight featuring Alex Naylor, MD of Communications

In this episode, Robin gets to chat with someone from her home town! Robin and Ira Dubinsky, Director of Innovation and Customer Experience at KFC, have a fun and very warm chat about food from home, where his inspiration comes from, the importance of a true founders story, what modern customer experience should be and how to start a movement to get poutine on the menu at KFCs in the UK.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Blending consumer expectation with digital: The new secret recipe at KFC

In the opening episode of Series 2, Robin has the pleasure of speaking with the inspirational Karen Blackett OBE. Karen juggles two extremely senior roles at Group M and WPP with being a single mum and championing diversity and inclusion throughout the industry. Here, Karen talks about how WPP is in an evolution not a fight; the key learnings about leadership in a pandemic, her hope for more equity in top global roles, how diversity is good for the soul and for the bottom line and why now is the time for every organisation to put race on their agenda if we are to achieve sustainable change. It’s a call to arms and a fantastic listen, and we can all learn something from Karen’s authenticity, passion and experience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The fight for the future of agencies with Karen Blackett OBE

Get ready for Series 2 of Fightback with fascinating stories from marketing, innovation and business leaders at WPP, KFC, Barclays, Vodafone, Centrica and Co-op. First episode drops 20 October! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fightback Series 2 Preview

In this week’s episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Rachel Eyre of Sainsbury’s. As Head of Future Brands, Rachel and her team are bringing the best of startup food and drinks products to their 27 million weekly customers. We talk crickets to kombucha, and how Sainsbury’s scale and depth of marketing experience is one of their greatest assets. We also hear who’s keeping her up at night and why being able to lead change might well be the most important skill for any innovator.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Creating Future Brands at Sainsbury’s

In this episode, Robin speaks with Stephen Scott (Scottie), Chief Digital Officer at Avios. They cover off a whirlwind of topics including how the loyalty sector is evolving, why Avios is moving to a product led organisation, where Agile and Design thinking fit into their evolving target operation model and why it’s better to go through people than around them to drive change. Oh and how Scottie is not quite ready to trust in electric aircraft for a safe landing!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Innovating the model of innovation at Avios

In this episode we meet Nick Tate, Head of Next at GSK. We talk about finding meaning in your job, how large corporates such as GSK have a responsibility to impact the world around them in a positive way, and how being nosey is a foundational skill for success in innovation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Beyond pills, potions and lotions - the story of what GSK does next

In this week’s episode, Robin speaks with Craig Foster of Homeserve where we find out what happens when you have an ambitious CEO, a curious new MD and a marketing guy that moves to the shed in the car park. We talk about the importance of being clear on what business you are truly in, and the failure that can come with ignoring the changing market around you as well as ways to overcome the sucking sound of the core. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How to disrupt yourself from the shed in the car park – the story of Homeserve’s LeakBot

In this episode, Robin speaks with Jeremy Smith from NatWest. It’s an amazing glimpse into NatWest’s unique venture model, as well as an important lesson in having the right executive buy-in and sponsorship and a great discussion about why London is the world leader in fintech startups.We also touch on how Open Banking is driving innovation, how to grow new brands both from the inside and through partners and why co-location away from the mothership is super important.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

NatWest Ventures and the importance of the growth mindset

In this episode, Robin interviews Rich Corbridge, Director of Innovation and Dave Robinson Head of Data and Personalisation at Boots.In this lively chat, they talk about the future of the high street chemist and their recent launch of in store video GP consultation; their “willful disruption” innovation approach; the cultural changes they are spearheading including the permission to fail; their work with the NHS; their approach to data and loyalty, and how they work with partners from Microsoft to startups to win their fightback.They finish up with a few predictions and a wish list of innovations they wished they’d been part of.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From shopkeeper to customer keeper: willful disruption at Boots

Fightback is a business innovation podcast that celebrates the stories of the people doing the hardest job in innovation today: transforming UK heritage brands from the inside.Each episode is a conversation with a leader sharing their Fightback experience; their views on what disruption they’re facing in their industry, what they’re doing about it and what they’ve learned. They share insights, experiences and practical advice for listeners to take to their own Fightback.In series 1, we speak with innovation leaders from Boots, NatWest, Sainsburys, GSK, Avios and Homeserve.Your host: Robin Charney, Director of Digital and Innovation, AAR

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Fightback: An innovation podcast

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