Issue 5 2023 Making eCommerce Flow Aizad Hussain is the CEO of Sprint Logistics and has been at the helm of the company for 18 years. Before his current role, he was the CEO of Transworld, the business that preceded Sprint Logistics. Below, we profile his team and his leadership style as he is recognised as the Most Influential eCommerce Logistics Solutions CEO 2023 – UK. Featuring:
Welcome to the May 2023 issue of CEO Monthly. As always, CEO Monthly is dedicated to providing the latest news and features across the business world to our readership. By sharing knowledge, insights, expertise and success stories from around the globe, we aim to inspire individuals and promote positivity in a world that is in a constant state of evolution. It’s been one rainy May here in the UK, with the wet weather having tried its hardest to dampen the King’s coronation celebrations – but us Brits are resilient and it didn’t stop us venturing out to a nearby street party. Indeed, we have been grinning and bearing the rain, and we are finally making it to the other side, where the sun is beginning to break through and the rainy days are a thing of the past. Now, this month’s cover feature is Aizad Hussain, CEO of Sprint Logistics, a company which provides inbound freight, storage kitting, picking, packing, and shipping of hundreds of thousands of packages each year. Aizad has transformed Sprint Logistics into a leading logistics provider, continuing to guide his expert team to deliver the most outstanding customer experience with great speed, flexibility, and innovativeness. Also in this issue, we are excited to be featuring behemoth advertising agency, Ogilvy, which is led by CEO, Antonis Kocheilas. Having contributed to the growth of major brands, Dove, IBM, Coca Cola, Nestle, and others, we discover Antonis and his team’s secret sauce for getting a brand’s message out there – while making an impact. We hope you find this issue to be inspiring and insightful, and wish you a wonderful month ahead! Rebecca Scotland, Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News 6. Sprint Logistics: Making eCommerce Flow 7. Ogilvy: The Shift from Image to Impact: How brands can create an antidote to apathy 8. Jomo Technologies: Tech, Learn, Grow 9. Yarway Group: Fruits of the Spirit 10. Melton Building Society: Innovation, Inclusion, Growth 11. Alii Technology Group Pty Ltd: CEO with the Golden Touch 12. Giant iTab: One Giant Leap… 14. Kantar IBOPE Media: Media Moguls Secure Success 16. HGM Consulting (Canada): Strategy. Talent. Results. 18. CROWD - Creators: Most Innovative CEO 2023 - Netherlands (Built Environment) 19. ELEInternacional and Conversa Spanish Institute: Collaborative, Innovative, Empowering 20. Legacy Sportswear: This Sporting Life! 22. SLO Recovery Centre: Careful, Compassionate Recovery 23. e.Republic: Cathilea Robinett - Empowering Government and Education 24. Kauel: Innovative Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Business Improvement 26. Fleet Support SRL: Fleet Management You Can Trust 28. AvantGuard, Inc.: Working Smart and Working Hard 29. North Technology People: Visionary Recruitment 30. Affinitus Group Ltd: Leading with Empathy, Trust, and Support 31. Rondo Media: Adaptive and Creative 32. FGA Informatica - Manufacturing Expert: Innovative IT Solutions for Manufacturing 33. Outsource Global: Entrepreneurial Prowess Contents
NEWS TorchStone Welcomes Personal Protection Expert Christopher Keenan to Deliver Proactive Private Client Security Services
Proven tech leader tapped to add services and build infrastructure for the firm’s expanding user. EncorEstate Plans, a fintech company that provides estate planning software designed exclusively for financial advisors, announced that it has hired Riskalyze co-founder Matt Pistone as the firm’s first Chief Technology Officer, where he will focus on building out the company’s technology strategy to serve its growing enterprise business. Pistone will be responsible for the firm’s software development, including UI/UX design, API development and implementation, the product roadmap, and more. EncorEstate Plans empowers financial advisors to grow their practices through industry-leading estate planning, a highly important yet often overlooked aspect of client service. In the past two years, the number of advisors using an estate planning tool has increased 200%, and EncorEstate Plans is poised to capture that growth. EncorEstate Plans has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any software tool in the category, and the firm works with a wide range of registered investment advisors (RIAs), from small teams to the largest RIAs in the country. Since inception, the team has completed nearly 10,000 estate plans, working with thousands of advisors at more than 600 firms in all 50 states. Pistone’s leadership will accelerate the firm’s growth and catalyze innovation. “I’m excited to join the EncorEstate Plans team to build on an extremely solid foundation,” Pistone said. “As a startup, EncorEstate Plans already has strong revenue and product-market fit. I look forward to helping to take the company to the next phase of growth as we add more platform features and processes to better serve the needs of our advisors.” Prior to joining EncorEstate Plans, Pistone co-founded Riskalyze, where he served as the Chief Technology Officer for 10 years. He grew the engineering team from zero to more than 50 employees across three offices in two countries. “Matt is an outstanding technology leader who knows how to effectively scale engineering teams and develop best-in-class systems,” said EncorEstate Plans CEO Matt Morris. “As we build our infrastructure, Matt is the right person to lead our product teams and ensure we’re tapping into both existing and emerging technologies to meet the needs of our advisors and their clients.” According to a recent Merrill Lynch survey, only 55% of Americans ages 55+ have a will, and just 18% have the recommended essentials of a will, healthcare directive or proxy, and durable power of attorney. EncorEstate Plans is designed to address fundamental systemic challenges in the system, providing clients and their families with the peace of mind that comes with having an estate plan while also empowering advisors to grow their businesses. EncorEstate Plans Hires Riskalyze Co-Founder Matt Pistone as Chief Technology Officer Christopher Keenan has joined TorchStone’s growing leadership team as Vice President, bringing over 25 years of qualitative experience in worldwide security operations, including all aspects of high profile executive protection. TorchStone Global, a premiere risk mitigation and security firm, announced that Christopher Keenan has joined the team as Vice President. Christopher brings over 25 years of experience in worldwide security operations, management, and leadership, including 18 years as a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Christopher will be based out of TorchStone’s Los Angeles office; however, he will be supporting TorchStone’s corporate clients, high-profile political figures, celebrities, family offices, and other private clients across the world. He will provide executive protection, event and venue security coordination, threat and vulnerability assessments, risk mitigation, secure travel operations and logistics, internal program audits, and training. Christopher has extensive experience providing protection for ultra-high-net-worth clients and their families, leading all aspects of their security, including estate security at multiple residences; ground, air, and maritime travel; screening and vetting of household staff; and corporate, legal, and law enforcement liaison. While Christopher was with the State Department, he conducted complex criminal, human trafficking, terrorism, counterintelligence, and fraud investigations; protected U.S. and foreign dignitaries, and managed the comprehensive physical, personnel, and classified information security programs at multiple U.S. embassies and consulates. Highlights of his public sector career included protecting the Secretary of State, from Colin Powell through Mike Pompeo, including full-time assignments with Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton. He also established the State Department’s presence as the first accredited agency liaison officer at EUROPOL in The Hague. He served on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, investigating international and domestic terror threats to the U.S. He also led the protective security program as the agent in charge for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, supervised the investigative unit at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and led high threat protective operations in the Middle East, West Africa, and the Palestinian territories. TorchStone’s Founder and CEO, Frank Rodman shared, “We’re excited to welcome Christopher to our global leadership team. His expertise in wraparound protective services for highly public figures, great attention to detail, care, and engaging presence made him a natural fit for TorchStone’s culture and clientele.” Christopher is a graduate of Purdue University where he double majored in Psychology and Sociology. He also served in the U.S. Army where he earned both Airborne and Ranger qualifications and was part of a light infantry quick reaction force covering Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. TorchStone Global is a leader in global risk mitigation and security, delivering proactive guidance and protection for prominent clients around the globe. TorchStone provides managed professional security services and protective intelligence to high-profile individuals, families, corporations, professional sports leagues, athletes, entertainers, and politicians, including major primary candidates in each of the last five U.S. presidential election cycles. Combining state-of-the-art proactive strategies with experienced professionals and cuttingedge technologies, TorchStone provides discreet, relationshipbased security solutions for their clients around the globe. For more information, please visit: http://www.TorchStoneGlobal.com.
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 6 Mar22259 Making eCommerce Flow Aizad Hussain is the CEO of Sprint Logistics and has been at the helm of the company for 18 years. Before his current role, he was the CEO of Transworld, the business that preceded Sprint Logistics. Below, we profile his team and his leadership style as he is recognised as the Most Influential eCommerce Logistics Solutions CEO 2023 – UK. Sprint Logistics is a company that specialises in facilitating the e-commerce process by handling the physical aspects of shipping. They provide inbound freight, storage, kitting, picking, packing, and shipping for hundreds of thousands of parcels annually. It works with a diverse customer base across the UK and Europe, offering efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality solutions for direct-to-consumer, businessto-consumer, business-tobusiness, and marketing fulfilment marketplaces. Sprint Logistics is committed to providing an excellent customer experience, reflected in the core values of being fast, flexible, innovative, and passionate about serving its clients. The company prides itself on offering valueadded solutions to complex challenges and is dedicated to delivering the best possible service to its customers. Essentially, Sprint Logistics is a reliable and customerfocused logistics company that aims to make e-commerce flow by providing seamless and efficient solutions for its clients. Before his time at Transworld and Sprint Logistics, Aizad served as a young Group Managing Director of NTL:home, now known as VirginMedia. Before that, he worked as a Senior Associate at Morgan Stanley in the Investment Banking division. Throughout his career, Aizad has gained extensive experience in product development, sales, marketing, deal-making, and finance. He has used this experience to shape Sprint Logistics into the successful logistics company that it is today. As CEO, Aizad is responsible for overseeing the company’s strategic direction, ensuring that the company stays at the forefront of the industry, and maintaining the company’s core values. He has been instrumental in driving Sprint Logistics’ growth and expansion, as well as in developing its unique technology platforms, such as BOLT. Under his leadership, Sprint Logistics has become a leading logistics provider, serving hundreds of thousands of parcels annually across the UK and Europe. Aizad Hussain’s vision and leadership have been crucial in establishing the company’s reputation for efficiency, costeffectiveness, and excellent customer service. The staff at Sprint Logistics play a critical role in the company’s success. As a logistics company that strongly emphasises delivering excellent customer experiences, the employees are the key to achieving this goal. Sprint Logistics’ teams are dedicated to providing fast, flexible, innovative, and passionate solutions to complex challenges. They have a wealth of industry experience, enabling them to handle a range of issues that may arise during the e-commerce process. The company strongly emphasises hiring and retaining the best talent and investing in their development, training, and career progression. The staff’s commitment to delivering high-quality services is evident in Sprint Logistics’ investment in technology and infrastructure. It has developed its bespoke warehouse management and shipping platforms so they are designed to meet the needs of modern multi-channel environments. The team has played a crucial role in developing, implementing, and maintaining these platforms. Furthermore, Sprint Logistics’ staff operate out of 250,000 sq. ft of warehouses across the UK and EU, which require efficient and organised management to ensure that goods are stored, handled, and shipped correctly. Therefore, the employees’ experience, skills, and attention to detail are essential in ensuring that the company meets its clients’ needs and maintains high customer satisfaction. Their skills, experience, dedication, and commitment to delivering high-quality services are crucial in providing excellent customer experiences and maintaining the company’s reputation as a reliable and efficient logistics partner. Regarding what is ahead for the company, Sprint Logistics has ambitious plans for the future, with a primary goal of completing the rollout of their cloud-based WMS, BOLT - Business Operations and Logistics Technology. The company has invested several millions of pounds in developing this platform, which launched in April 2022. Once fully rolled out, BOLT will provide Sprint Logistics with the most outstanding functionality and operational flexibility to manage all seven facilities through a single platform. The company believes its technology is unique and will be a significant source of competitive advantage over time. In addition to the BOLT rollout, Sprint Logistics will continue to focus on providing excellent customer experiences through their efficient and costeffective logistics services. The company plans to expand its client base further, working with both new entrepreneurs and established businesses across various industries in the UK and Europe. Finally, Sprint Logistics will maintain its commitment to its core values of being fast, flexible, innovative, and passionate to serve and provide solutions to complex challenges. The company will continue to invest in its staff, technology, and infrastructure to remain at the forefront of the e-commerce logistics industry, providing its clients with the highest level of service and support. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Sprint Logistics. Jan23800 Contact: Aizad Hussain Company: Sprint Logistics Web: sprintlogistics.com
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 7 Mar22259 The Shift from Image to Impact: How brands can create an antidote to apathy Since its founding in 1948, Ogilvy has been growing major brands and businesses like Dove, IBM, Coca Cola, Mondelez, YUM, Nestle, and many others through borderless creativity – operating, innovating, and creating at the intersection of talent and capabilities. Ogilvy’s experts in public relations, consulting, advertising, health, and experience work fluidly across 131 offices in 93 countries and have managed to make Ogilvy the most-awarded creative agency network in the world for the third straight year. In 2020, Antonis Kocheilas became the global CEO of Ogilvy Advertising, with the sole responsibility of harnessing Ogilvy’s global capabilities in branding, advertising, and content creation for the growth of its clients. His next-level dedication, hard work, and thought leadership haven’t gone unnoticed, and he was recognised as the UK’s Most Influential International Advertising CEO in 2023. Since David Ogilvy established the agency 75 years ago, the Ogilvy values have remained the same, despite the world having changed so much. “We have never lost sight of our purpose in the world,” says Antonis. “We exist to inspire people and brands to make an impact.” “We have succeeded because, despite massive social shifts over the years, we have always operated in the way David Ogilvy envisioned. He created a culture that deeply respected and cared about its people and its clients. We honour his legacy by showing that same commitment.” Ogilvy’s greatest asset is – and always has been – its people. It is entirely devoted to its diverse workforce, empowering each individual to be their best authentic, creative, and professional self, and inspiring them to make an impact. The company remains laser-focused on fostering a connected culture, where talent is rewarded through best-in-class learning and development, as well as careergrowth opportunities. “Talent, I believe, is most likely to be found among nonconformists, rebels, and dissenters.” – David Ogilvy When he took the reins at Ogilvy Advertising almost three years ago, Antonis Kocheilas brought a strategist’s flair to the CEO role. He is a big-picture thinker who loves to craft holistic brand strategies that deliver world-class comms, galvanise stakeholders, and ultimately drive business growth and brand impact. With more than two decades’ of experience in the industry, Antonis has delivered outstanding work for clients, which has been celebrated by numerous Effie (Marketing Effectiveness Awards) and Cannes Lions creative awards, including the inaugural Craft Grand Prix. There’s no doubting the vast impact Antonis has had at Ogilvy, as he has made the most of the team’s creative talent and the company’s global reach to make similar impact for Ogilvy client brands and businesses. He has an interesting insight on how a brand can be sure it’s approaching marketing in the right way. “In the old world, we had an abundance of available attention amidst a dearth of media,” he says. “This caused brands to chase impressions, looking to build by making themselves visible at every opportunity. But now, the opposite is true. We have an abundance of media, and a scarcity of attention. Brands now cater to an audience that’s beyond being simply receivers of messages, and buyers of brand products and services. The public today is submerged in the experiences that brands create and the content they serve. Brands have become immersive forces in people’s lives.” “With this relationship shift, marketers must make a major change,” he continues. “They must move from creating marketing in which people are targets, to marketing that people are a part of. Brands used to operate as lighthouses. They emanated a big, bright signal that stretched far and wide, grabbing people’s attention and offering them an aspirational destination. But because of how technology has radically changed the world, and people’s behaviour, brands, and their audiences now have a new relationship. An effective brand today is more like a flashlight. It’s a companion that a person carries with them wherever they go, which helps them define their own journey. “Successful modern brands are servant leaders, making an impact on people’s lives, or rather – crucially – helping people make an impact in their own lives.” As a marketing and brandbuilding thought leader, Antonis agrees that nowadays, effective marketing must go much deeper than just shaping an image. It needs to move from creating an image and mirroring cultural trends to making an impact – on people, on the planet, and on business performance. This shift that brands must make from image to impact is crucial because of the public’s current view of brands. Ogilvy’s proprietary study with the WARC (World Advertising Research Centre) shows that people believe brands have a role to play in making the world a better place. But at the same time, the sentiment is that if most brands disappeared, the world wouldn’t be much different. This paradox shows beyond any doubt the apathy that brands need to overcome to win a larger share of the future. Audiences are being more selective in their brand choices, while holding their chosen brands to a higher standard, meaning these organisations can no longer market as they used to. “Brands must be companions, not destinations,” says Antonis. “They must include, not exclude. Above all else, they must have impact. “The brands that do will sustain growth in this ever-uncertain future, and they’ll do so by making an impact on people, on the planet, and on their companies’ performance. And that is what Ogilvy is here to do: inspire brands and people to impact the world.” Mar23467 Company: Ogilvy Web Address: www.ogilvy.com
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 8 s a CEO with Canadian and Pakistani heritage, Ali has established himself as a man whose passion for his background helps to drive his business further than most would expect. He recognised there was a severe negligence in the ecommerce sphere when it came to the South Asian sector, and proceeded to dedicate himself towards eliminating this glaring issue. With an advanced skillset that’s been cultivated throughout many years of rigorous training, Ali has managed to represent what it means to be an inclusive and diverse ecommerce channel. Ali views himself as a CEO who truly holds Jomo Technologies’ original core goal close to his heart. Founded on a desire to present ecommerce to underserved sectors, Jomo Technologies has accumulated a success that’s both impressive and inspiring. Ali frequently expresses his gratefulness for the position he’s in, and he utilises this position to bring a change that’s overwhelmingly positive. Ali expresses how his leadership style is defined by continuous learning, in addition to the positive impact that his business is having on people all throughout South Asia. It’s this humble attitude towards being a CEO that allows both Ali and Jomo Technologies to truly flourish. Tech, Learn, Grow When it comes to being a CEO, most aim to use their position to make a difference. It’s often the driving factor for these brilliant minds, but having a unique attribute can really help propel one’s business to reach new heights. Ali KhanBajauri is no exception. Co-Founder and CEO of Jomo Technologies, Ali is spearheading the movement towards introducing an ecommerce platform tailored towards one of the most underserved ethnicities in our modern day. With such an openhearted mindset and outlook of his business, Ali has brought together passionate individuals to forge the tremendous team that operates Jomo Technologies. Through treating each member of his team as an integral part of the business’s success, Ali has enforced a sense of community within Jomo Technologies that carries over into its practises. Without Ali’s thoughtful approach towards being an involved CEO, Jomo Technologies wouldn’t have been able to attain the incredible success it’s seen since its inception. Additionally, thanks to these close-knit connections, not only within the team, but between customers and vendors alike, Jomo Technologies has perfected the art of customer service. Ali entered into his position with a determination to guarantee fantastic customer service that could, eventually, expand past South Asia towards Canada and the US. As such, he ensured that every service accessible was both streamlined and helpful, all to set Jomo Technologies apart from the rest. At its core, Jomo Technologies is an ecommerce platform that serves an ethnicity that is often overlooked within the field. Each vendor is carefully chosen, in a hope to cultivate a working environment that encapsulates Ali’s selfless vision. He values his position immensely, and expresses how fortunate he has been when it comes to his success. He recognises the people that helped him to get this far, and expresses this gratitude through the inspiring attitude that he exhibits throughout his business. Ali’s ambitions are second to none. He’s always looking to seek new challenges, and to deliver positive disruption that’s sure to guarantee sustainable human development impacts. He’s very serious about excelling both himself, his business, and his team, all to guide them towards reaching their fullest potential, and feel as thought they’re making a real difference in the world of ecommerce. Without Ali, South Asia may have continued to remain overlooked, and it’s his dedication to his heritage that has gifted this sector with an ecommerce platform that’s bound to stand the test of time. Contact: Ali Khan-Bajauri Company: Jomo Technologies Web Address: https://jomo.pk/ Mar23541 A
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 9 Mar22259 Fruits of the Spirit Yarway Group (Yarway) is a collection of companies established on Christian values with the aim of making an eternal impact on people’s lives. Luke Whiting, the CEO, is responsible for setting the vision and strategy of the organisation, ensuring that it remains ahead of the curve and fulfils its purpose. Here’s more about the company and Luke as he is named Most Influential Social Impact CEO 2023 – UK. Yarway Group intends to build an international presence and change people’s lives through education. It is committed to achieving its collective goals through the ‘fruits of the spirit’, setting its core values as the organisation’s driving force. However, embedding these values takes time, mainly as it has acquired companies within the group. In doing so, Yarway has inherited these companies’ assets and cultures, which may have decades of systemic thinking and behaviour. CEO, Luke Whiting is a young entrepreneur who started his first business at 23. Like any entrepreneur, he has experienced challenges and made mistakes in decision-making, hiring, and strategy. However, his faith has significantly influenced his leadership style and decision-making process. He has learned to put Jesus in charge and listen to his wise counsel, being a sounding board for any critical decisions in the business. Whiting draws inspiration from Jesus as a leader and aspires to emulate his example. As a young entrepreneur, he recognises the potential for the ego to interfere with making the best decisions for the business. So instead, he sees himself as a steward for God’s business and adopts a servant leadership philosophy. Leading by his core values, otherwise known as the ‘fruits of the spirit’ – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – is a conscious effort for Whiting, reflecting his commitment to his faith and the success of the business. Regarding the firm’s clients, Yarway is committed to changing people’s lives through education, with a mission that guides its business objectives and team operations. The company is dedicated to serving learners and employers by providing educational services delivered through its aforementioned core values. Yarway offers various governmentfunded and educational services across its subsidiary companies. It aims to scale and grow across all industries and sectors to provide education and training for individuals of all ages. Currently, the company focuses on post-16 provisions. However, its ambition is to expand into the pre-16 provision and early-year education, with the ultimate goal of being the first global conglomerate of businesses that provide regulated education to all ages. Yarway’s clients, therefore, include learners of all ages and employers who seek to provide education and training opportunities to their staff. Through its diverse educational offerings and commitment to core values, Yarway is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of its clients and make a lasting impact in the field of education. Since becoming CEO of Yarway Group, Luke has faced many obstacles. One of the most significant challenges has been managing the company’s growth and scaling from a team of eight employees to over 50. This transition required careful financial planning to ensure stability while investing in development. Additionally, inheriting different company cultures required a patient approach to ensure a smooth integration of the acquired companies. As the founder of the business, Luke has had the opportunity to work in various roles within the company, from strategy to operations, delivery, compliance, and administration. This breadth of experience has allowed him to set ambitious but realistic performance metrics for the business and manage internal expectations effectively. In his current role, Luke focuses exclusively on business growth and strategy, responsible for implementing and reviewing the business and operational plans to drive the business forward. Overall, Luke’s experience and leadership have enabled Yarwayp to navigate these challenges and continue to grow and expand its offerings in the field of education. Over the past 6-12 months, the Yarway Group has been undergoing a consolidation period, streamlining its business model and organisational structure from individually run subsidiaries to a more efficient collective. The focus of the company is on settling into this new formation while at the same time prioritising further growth and scaling. In the next 12 months, Yarway plans to diversify its revenue stream by expanding its commercial training through ALD. Additionally, the company aims to build on its recent new contract awards by winning more tenders for Revelation Academy, Heathercroft Training Academy, and Mindflex. Moving forwards, Luke will continue to identify acquisition opportunities in the market and explore diversification opportunities into edtech. Yarway Group is determined to become the first global conglomerate of businesses that provide regulated education to all ages. These strategic initiatives will help the company achieve this goal. Overall, Yarway Group has ambitious plans for the next 12 months, and it is well-positioned to achieve its objectives with its focus on operational efficiency, growth, and diversification. Company: Yarway Group Contact: Luke Whiting Web Address: yarwaygroup.com Mar23378
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 10 Mar23232 Headquartered in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, Melton Building Society is dedicated to offering various mortgage products, savings accounts, and financial services products to assist customers in achieving their homeownership and financial objectives. Melton Building Society is recognised for its unwavering commitment to customer service and its ability to provide personalised, flexible, and efficient service to its members. Simon Taylor is CEO, responsible for developing and implementing the Society’s strategic plan, fostering a positive and inclusive culture, and supporting employees’ growth. He is in charge of balancing the interests of savers and borrowers in today’s Melton Building Society is a mutual Society that has been providing specialised mortgage lending and savings services since its founding in 1875. We spoke to the company’s CEO, Simon Taylor to discover how he has come to be recognised as the Most Influential Mortgage & Saving Products CEO 2023 – UK. challenging environment of rising living costs and interest rates. In addition, he leads the executive team in executing the Society’s mission and operating in the best interests of its members, who are its ultimate owners. Simon’s leadership style as CEO of Melton Building Society is characterised by his dedication to challenging work and his desire to effect meaningful change. He focuses on enhancing and improving business operations rather than settling for the status quo. What’s more, Simon is peoplecentric in his leadership style, believing that the key to bringing out the best in employees is empowering them to make decisions and generate new ideas in a supportive and collaborative environment. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, leading to improved performance and a sense of engagement among the workforce. As he has progressed through his career, Simon’s leadership style has adapted to his various roles, from leading teams to managing departments, regions, and now the Building Society. His breadth of skills and experience enables him to lead his team confidently and effectively, promoting a culture of innovation, inclusion, and growth. Melton Building Society works with a unique set of customers distinct from traditional banks. As a mutual Society, the Society is owned by its members, with borrowers and savers becoming members when they open an account or take out a mortgage. Unlike PLC banks, whose primary responsibility is to serve their shareholders, Melton Building Society’s primary obligation is to operate in the best interests of its members. As a local Building Society based in Melton Mowbray, the Society recognises its responsibility to the community and strives to understand the needs of its members while providing support through its branches on the high street, via phone, post or online channels. Through its in-depth understanding of the local area, Melton Building Society has become a trusted source of assistance and advice for members seeking financial guidance. The Society’s purpose is to “build thriving communities”. It works hard to achieve this goal by serving its members and being there for the community. Looking forward, Simon’s future at Melton Building Society looks bright as he strives for personal and professional growth in his role as CEO. With a supportive and ambitious Board that shares his passion for the Society, Simon is encouraged to continue developing himself and his career, always seeking new opportunities to stretch and challenge himself. As a passionate advocate of continuous personal development and learning, Simon is committed to being a better leader daily. He draws inspiration and knowledge from his Executive colleagues and team members. His dedication to ongoing self-improvement and his leadership abilities position him well for continued success in his current role and potentially future opportunities. Ultimately, Simon’s future looks promising as a leader who values personal growth and development. He will continue significantly contributing to Melton Building Society and the broader financial services industry. We can’t wait to see what the future holds and the continued success he will achieve in his role and the industry. Contact: Rachel Kolebuk Company: Melton Building Society Web: www.themelton.co.uk Innovation, Inclusion, Growth
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 11 CEO with the Golden Touch Fast growing tech company, Alii, CEO, Chamil Fernando has been awarded as the Most Influential CEO 2023 – Australia (Accounts Payable Software) award on the back of exponential growth and success. Alii, a software agnostic procure-to-pay and accounts payable solution provider, has emerged as one of the most talked-about organizations across various sectors in Australia and New Zealand, thanks to the extraordinary leadership of its CEO, Chamil Fernando. Since taking over the reins in 2021, Fernando has transformed the company from a relatively unknown entity to a success story that has transformed the FinTech market in ANZ. Under Fernando’s leadership, Alii has grown over 400% in just over 12 months, driven by organic referrals from satisfied clients who have experienced the solution’s overall efficiencies and time-saving benefits. The company’s success has also been attributed to its comprehensive and allinclusive system offering, including an invoice fraud detection feature that helps organizations mitigate the risk of invoice fraud. The platform is cloud-based and built on the Microsoft Azure platform, providing clients a safe and secure environment. Chamil’s extraordinary leadership in transforming the business exponentially in a short time frame has earned him the Most Influential CEO 2023 – Australia (Accounts Payable Software) by CEO Monthly. He believes that the critical elements of success are having a good product, a positive company culture, gender balance and equality, building leadership capability, and providing a safe environment for team members to learn and grow. Fernando’s influence and leadership capability are known, having previously held various executive roles, including CCO, COO, and Board Member. He is highly regarded and influential, with a proven track record of creating success in his roles and managing large enterprise projects. Often referred to as the ‘golden touch’, he has been recognised by the Alii Board, staff, and customers for his extraordinary leadership in transforming the business quickly. He shared, “Alii team members have played a crucial role in the company’s success, as it is built on great company culture and values. During recruitment, we hire based on 60% personality and attitude, with the remaining 40% on the individual’s skill set and experience. This approach allows us to maintain our company culture and values and provide the capability to upskill employees willing to learn and grow.” Furthermore, excellent customer service and support have been at the heart of Alii’s growth and praised by its clients. The company fosters an internal culture where everyone works as a team and supports each other. Fernando promotes a no-blame approach, focusing on the learning and growth of its employees. The staff’s dedication to providing excellent customer service and ability to work collaboratively and supportively have been a key essence to the company’s success. Alii is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation, with a commitment to customer success. Fernando’s leadership and the company’s focus on diversity, inclusivity, and innovation are sure to propel Alii to even greater heights in the future. Company: Alii Technology Group Pty Ltd Contact: Ellen Gauld Web Address: myalii.cloud Mar23517
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 12 One Giant Leap… Having launched the concept of giant smartphones back in 2011, tech pioneer Mark Jones has taken Giant iTab from a fledgling company to a highly respected global brand with multiple awards and global partners around the world. We speak to Mark and find out more about his innovative range of products that have propelled him forward in the digital era, as he is crowned Most Influential CEO 2022 – London, United Kingdom. ike many before him, Mark Jones started out as a one-man band working from his dining room table with an abundance of ideas, a very small budget, and an acute passion for film. Having worked in film & media for MGM and Sony Pictures, Mark recognised the undeniable benefit of digital presentation and is a true believer in the universal truth that‘content is king’. Combining a degree in engineering and experience working with touchscreen manufacturing, he saw the potential for a ‘giant smartphone’, having observed that 50% of attendees at a leading tech exhibition were looking at the large touchscreens on offer, whilst the other half were on their new iPhones – leading to his eureka moment for combining the two! From relatively modest beginnings, he quickly made friends with major brands and built a network of reliable ‘best of breed’ technology supply partners who have helped form the backbone of Giant iTab’s client portfolio for many years. Recognising the enormous contribution made by digital pioneers like Tim Berners-Lee and Steve Jobs, Mark often refers to his own company as “standing on the shoulders of giants”. Mark’s current role as a proactive CEO is balancing the executive management of Giant iTab, whilst being at the epicentre of generating the vision to take the company to even greater heights. This involves succession, bringing in experienced people to take over the day-to-day running of the business, and creating more time for driving new product development, building professional teams, and securing more global business. As an independent, family-owned company with a dynamic team of specialists that services the full spectrum of the event industry – from exhibitors, through to conferences, organisers, venues, experiential agencies, and stand builders – Giant iTab’s international footprint and partners span across four continents. The company’s work ethic and drive rotate around its core values and purpose: “making presentation technology more familiar and more engaging by leveraging the most significant digital device in the world… the smart phone.” Before they became event profs, the giant smartphone concept was originally designed to be sold into the retail and e-commerce market – and then serendipity herself delivered the events business into the team’s hands! Leveraging the success of the smartphone, Mark has carved an important “niche” in the market as a global supplier to blue chip companies and the exhibition and events market, providing a range of giant smartphone solutions which have been proven to create better visibility for their clients, sponsors, and exhibitors, by Jun22056 L providing more engagement and an improved customer experience for visitors to events, exhibitions, and conferences all over the world. As a result, the company has won multiple awards including We had a good idea and worked hard to make it happen. We were also fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. The events business was showing interest in the use of technology to deliver a better visitor experience, and smartphone apps were being created as digital show guides for almost every large event. The need to make a big impact in a short amount of time became a key market driver for the growing exhibition and event sector. - Mark Jones, Founder CEO “ “
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 13 the prestigious EN Best Supporting Supplier Award and EN Best Sales Tool 2022, forging Giant iTab into the event tech history books. After speaking with Mark, it’s clear that from his more than 6 years as CEO, his leadership style has been shaped around the events industry, even becoming a notable thought leader. He’s created a progressive and highperforming team supported by a healthy work environment, with the foundation of his leadership style being based upon core values revolving around honesty, work ethic, performance, generosity, people first, service and support. It’s evident he adds value to everything he’s involved in within his company, and this shows as Giant iTab has translated it’s attentive level of care into higher client retention and stronger brand loyalty year on year. Mark handpicks each staff member to ensure they possess the qualities best suited to the core values of the company, and that they can demonstrate the skills needed, not just to fulfil the requirements of their individual positions, but to showcase that they have the communication, selfawareness, and technical skills needed to engage with senior members of staff and clients at all levels. This high calibre of personnel creates a competitive and progressive environment, simultaneously supporting each other to reach a common goal, which ultimately, is the driving force behind the company’s continued successes. In light of the global Covid-19 disruptions, rendering the live events and conference industry to zero, Giant iTab’s bounce back has been nothing short of phenomenal. Having been chosen to build custom giant smartphone solutions for TikTok, the fastest growing social media brand in the world, at a time where live events and conferences were completely off the cards, Mark took it upon his shoulders to rise to the challenge and deliver an amazing series of innovative products. When live events were finally back on, Mark understood the necessity to diversify and adapt to the challenging circumstances by introducing ‘smartphone sanitisers’ so events can demonstrate they are following government guidelines to combat Covid-19 and provide a safe environment for staff and visitors, truly bringing to life that “necessity is the mother of invention”. Mark’s trailblazing and thoughtful nature during these challenging times has enabled Giant iTab to continue to procure highprofile partners as well as create a very pragmatic and elegant new solution to its product range. With the growing appetite for success and innovation, Mark and his team are always developing their product range, with the ultimate goal of improving user experience and options for their clients. Their most recent project involves the design, manufacture, and marketing of their 7th generation model, the ‘G007’ – otherwise known as the ‘Salesmate or Executive Sales Tool’. This is your very own ‘portable’ giant smartphone - perfect for the ‘on the go’ event prof. or salesperson looking for a lightweight sales tool to carry with them and present all their apps, websites, social media, and other digital content more effectively. The fact that this particular giant smartphone comes in a custom briefcase compliant with airline handluggage allowances, makes it the ‘must have’ sales tool of today! Company: Giant iTab Contact: Mark Douglas Jones Email: [email protected] Website: www.giantitab.com Mark’s Simple Tips for CEO Success “Be optimistic. Believe in yourself. Trust in your own capabilities. Know your CEO style. Revisit your assumptions on a daily basis. Stay focussed on what your best at. Set achievable goals. Communicate effectively. Search for the best in everyone and build the loyalty of a good team around you by showing you care. Leverage technology. Take the role of CEO with pride and act as a true north compass bearing with all your company’s, colleague’s and client’s best interests at heart. Celebrate your journey” Giant Smartphone Range at News International, The Times Head Office
Media Moguls Secure Success
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 5 2023 15 Mar23510 The media and advertising ecosystem is one which depends on data to thrive, and that information is precisely what the team at Kantar IBOPE Media. Led by Antonio Wanderley, the business has become a major part of how leading businesses work. Now named Most Influential CEO 2023 - LATAM (Marketing Data & Analytics) in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2023, we take a closer look at precisely how he has brought about such enviable success. The media industry is one which is constantly changing, and staying ahead relies on being able to predict precisely what the market demands as early on as possible. The team at Kantar IBOPE Media, under the leadership of Antonio Wanderley, have managed to secure a prominent position thanks to a digital transformation in 2014. As CMO, Antonio was able to reinvigorate Kantar IBOPE Media for a whole new generation leading a merger with the leading global company (Kantar Media) to form Kantar IBOPE Media. Kantar IBOPE Media focuses on the needs of media producers as well as sellers and buyers of advertising. If a company has a touchpoint with media and advertising, they will want the impressive services of Antonio and his team. The team’s data is a vital part of informing all advertising trading transactions the length and breadth of Latin America. Antonio’s style of leadership has seen him establish a remit that covers not only Latin America, but Spain, Asia and Africa too. Having such reach has meant that his leadership methods have been forced to change when compared to the smaller responsibilities he once held. “I have more and more shifted into more horizontal structures,” he tells us. “We focused on creating and empowering leadership teams, rather than individual leaders. These teams are held accountable for delivering against a small number of high-impact OKRs.” This approach to the sector has worked well indeed creating a business model which is always moving forward but always testing itself to ensure the best path possible. Key to this success, therefore, is finding the right talent to achieve exceptional results and managing their performances successfully. “To assure focus and consistency, we create management principles that guide our team’s decision-making and behavior. These principles are reviewed and updated annually during our planning process.,” he explains. “these include being impatient with internally focused decisions, putting clients above politics, and holding everyone accountable for delivering to clients, not just their own part of the process..” That everyone is empowered to deliver with such care and attention is why Antonio and his team have been able to secure such tremendous success so far. Needless to say, however, that the growth of the media landscape has forced Antonio to adjust swiftly to meet changing demands.“It is always very hard to change while winning,” Antonio says wryly, “Developing and solidifying a culture of proactively disrupting ourselves is a major task. This means being willing to challenge the status quo and make changes ahead of the curve.” Needless to say that Antonio and his team have managed to establish their attitude as disrupters at precisely the right time. Change is hard, but if companies do not change then they will become irrelevant in the rapidly changing world in which we live. “I believe many companies are talking about digital transformation,” he says, “but few companies take any serious steps towards it, and only a handful of those have been successful at it!” In a world where forms of broadcasting have been usurped by streaming, professionally produced content by user generated content and linear mass advertising by targeting, change is vital. None of this even considers one of the biggest forces for change in the 21st Century, namely the blockchain and AI. The instability of the world today is why the team focuses so much on being experts at adaptation. It means that Kantar IBOPE Media will thrive beyond the limits of what media companies currently demand. “We managed to change,” says Antonio, “and we were able to take an approach which is scalable and could benefit our clients too.” Despite all this talk of change, however, it’s clear that Antonio does, in fact, value those aspects which will never waver despite the state of the markets. This include, frankly, the incredible team which he has managed to build around him and which has been able to secure such amazing success for Kantar IBOPE Media. “It’s seems counter intuitive but I have focused on what’s constant and not what’s changing,” he says. “I feel most people do the opposite.” In an era where automation is playing a bigger and bigger role, his aim has been to humanise his approach to leadership and interpersonal connections in order to support clients. One of the key aspects where Antonio has been able to provide incredible support has been through the development and empowerment of a diverse talent base that can bring vital new perspectives to the table. Kantar IBOPE Media is not just a large media empire that stagnates, but one which depends on a unique set of skills and creativity that will unlock growth for many years to come. Looking ahead, it’s clear that Kantar IBOPE Media has a great future ahead. The team have been able to take Brazil to the global forefront of media measurement. “It’s arguably the most developed market globally in terms on media currency data,” Antonio tells us. “In the immediate future, our focus is to scale this solution to the next LATAM markets such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru as well as to other continents. Spain and Vietnam should be the next markets that Kantar IBOPE Media aims to penetrate. We can see that Antonio is an immensely responsible leader, pushing his business to adapt constantly while also supporting his team to thrive in a traditional manner. People come first at all times at Kantar IBOPE Media, and that’s why the team has been able to secure such tremendous growth over the years. Company: Kantar IBOPE Media Name: Antonio Wanderley Email: [email protected] Twitter: @antoniowand Web: https://kantaribopemedia.com/
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