Welcome to Leaders in Focus, featuring exclusive conversations with prominent figures shaping industries and driving positive change. In this episode, we welcome Mark Russell, CEO of The Children’s Society.

Hosted by Nick Robeson, Managing Partner at Boyden UK & Ireland, 'Leaders in Focus' features one-on-one conversations with C-Suite leaders, delving into their businesses, passions and journeys that define their success.

Welcome to Leaders in Focus, featuring exclusive conversations with prominent figures shaping industries and driving positive change. In this episode, we welcome David Bird, Retail Director at Thames Water. David has been a key player in one of the UK's biggest corporate turnarounds since he took on the role in 2022. With a background in leading large-scale transformations across healthcare, telecoms, and transport, David brings a wealth of experience to Thames Water.

During our conversation, David shared some fascinating insights into the cultural changes happening at Thames Water. He talked about the importance of operational efficiency, reducing customer complaints, and building trust within the organisation through open and honest communication. Despite facing intense scrutiny and dealing with legacy issues, David's leadership has led to significant progress in areas like reducing leakage and improving service delivery.

David also touched on his strategies for retaining and attracting talent in a high-pressure environment. He emphasised the purpose-driven mission of Thames Water, which serves 16 million customers, and the need for investment in digital infrastructure. He outlined their ambitious five-year regulatory plan designed to prepare the organisation for future environmental and population challenges.

In conversation with Boyden’s Nick Robeson, David reflected on maintaining personal resilience, the importance of a structured turnaround strategy, and how a strong sense of purpose can inspire teams to achieve great results. Join us for this compelling dialogue as we explore David’s journey of leadership, innovation, and transformation at Thames Water.

Welcome to Leaders in Focus, featuring exclusive conversations with prominent figures shaping industries and driving positive change. In this episode, we welcome Paul Ludlow, the President of Carnival UK & P&O Cruises, who over the last 23 years has become a driving force in his organisation, leading operational excellence, customer-centricity, and employee wellbeing.  

During the conversation, Paul shared his insights on what it's like leading one of the world’s largest and most complex entertainment companies. Under Paul’s leadership, the company continues to evolve, adapting itself to dynamic customer expectations and cultivating a challenger mentality that encourages constant growth.

Paul’s leadership style is built on trust, communication, and empathy. He is a firm believer in empowering his team, giving them the autonomy to thrive whilst maintaining open channels of communication. He emphasises proactive engagement from his leaders, valuing transparency and initiative to ensure alignment across the organisation. His high-trust approach allows his team the freedom to excel, provided they keep him informed of key developments.

Built on trust and communication, his leadership style also centres heavily around employee wellbeing. Responsible for over 15,000 people working both on-ship and shoreside, Paul stresses the need to create a supportive and enriching environment for each team member. He considers their wellbeing and success as integral to the company’s success and believes that without a motivated and energised workforce, it would be difficult to deliver memorable holiday experiences to guests.

Join us as Paul Ludlow, in conversation with Boyden’s Nick Robeson, shares his transformative leadership journey at Carnival UK and P&O Cruises. This insightful dialogue highlights how Paul places customer satisfaction, innovation, and employee wellbeing at the heart of his vision for the company’s future.

Welcome to Leaders in Focus, featuring exclusive conversations with influential figures driving innovation and progress in critical industries. In this episode, we welcome Geraint Evans, CEO of the UK Major Ports Group. With a unique blend of experience from both the public and private sectors, Geraint is well-equipped to manage one of the most strategic sectors of the UK economy.

Since becoming CEO, Geraint has been pivotal in aligning private sector investment with government initiatives, all while navigating the complex intersections between infrastructure, logistics, and energy. During our conversation, Geraint shared insights into UK ports' crucial role in national development, particularly in the context of energy transition, new fuels, and the green economy. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the private sector, government, and international investors to unlock future opportunities.

Join Boyden's Nick Robeson as he dives into a thought-provoking discussion on Geraint's leadership journey, the strategic vision for UK ports, and their vital role in shaping the future of the UK's economy.

Welcome to Leaders in Focus, featuring exclusive conversations with prominent figures shaping industries and driving positive change. In this episode, we welcome Kath Evans, the Director of Nursing (Children) at Barts Health and the Clinical Lead for Babies, Children & Young People at North East London Integrated Care System (ICS).

Kath is a dedicated healthcare professional with a remarkable journey in the NHS, starting as a nurse in Wales and ascending through various leadership roles across the organisation. With a diverse background spanning clinical practice, education, management and national-level programs, Kath has consistently championed innovation and collaboration to enhance healthcare services for children, young people and their families. Her extensive experience includes being an Assistant Director of Nursing, Lead Nurse for acute and community children's services and a Lecturer at Middlesex University.

Kath's passion for improving child health outcomes is evident in her current role, where she oversees a population of 2 million people in Northeast London. She focuses heavily on addressing poverty and health inequalities. Her vision extends beyond the hospital setting, emphasising the importance of partnerships with voluntary organisations, primary care teams and community nursing to shift care into communities and support children's overall well-being.

During our conversation, Kath shared her personal drive, drawing inspiration from the stories and experiences of young people she has encountered throughout her career. She highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for children and youth to have their voices heard, advocating for initiatives that directly address their needs and concerns. She spoke passionately about the need for long-term strategies and holistic approaches to tackle complex challenges that impact child health outcomes, such as mental health and social determinants of health.

In conversation with Boyden's Nick Robeson, join us in this insightful dialogue as we explore Kath Evans' exceptional journey and her vision for transforming child health services through innovative and inclusive leadership.

Thank you to Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity (RDMCC) for making this interview possible, where Kath Evans is a Trustee.

The charity was established in 1991 by author Roald Dahl’s widow, Dame Felicity Dahl, to provide specialist nurses and support for seriously ill children and young people. There are currently over 120 Road Dahl Nurses caring for more than 33,000 seriously ill children, working in close partnership with the NHS. Learn more about the work of this marvellous charity at https://www.roalddahlcharity.org/.

Welcome to Leaders in Focus, featuring exclusive conversations with prominent figures shaping industries and driving positive change. In this episode, we welcome Andrea Czapary Martin, the CEO of PRS for Music, a dynamic global leader, transformation specialist and recently recognised 'Businesswoman of the Year’.

Andrea has accomplished remarkable growth by implementing strategic transformations and operational excellence in several CEO roles across various industries. She possesses expertise in digital, tech and metadata, and has successfully led PRS for Music's evolution through innovation and data-driven insights, skillfully navigating the complexities of the music industry.

During our conversation, Andrea highlighted her pivotal role in using technology and data to revolutionise royalty management and payments, positioning PRS for Music at the forefront of industry innovation. We discussed Andrea's dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion by advocating initiatives that promote gender diversity, neurodiversity and diversity of thought.

Andrea's leadership style emphasises communication, transparency and authenticity, which are testaments to her leadership acumen. She spoke passionately about building high-performing teams and empowering employees to drive innovation and intrapreneurship within the organisation.

In conversation with Boyden’s Nick Robeson, join us in this insightful dialogue as we explore Andrea's extraordinary innovative and inclusive leadership journey at PRS for Music.

Welcome to Leaders in Focus, featuring exclusive conversations with prominent figures shaping industries and driving positive change. In this episode, we welcome Neil Davy, a distinguished leader and the Chief Executive Officer of Family Business UK.

Prior to assuming his current role, Neil carved an impressive path in the corporate world. Serving as the Group Director of Responsible Business and Public Affairs at Capita Plc and holding the position of Global CEO at Corporate Citizenship, an international management consultancy focusing on sustainability, Neil has been at the forefront of responsible business practices.

His journey began in Asia, where he initiated his career in international development with the UNHCR. Transitioning into marketing services and management consultancy, Neil's professional trajectory led him through Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Tokyo before ultimately settling in London. Here, he took on global client roles, servicing a diverse portfolio that included FTSE100 and privately owned international companies.

Beyond his corporate endeavours, he dedicates his time to serving as a RNLI crew member on the East Sussex – Kent coast and engaging in coastal rowing.

In conversation with Boyden’s Nick Robeson, join us in this insightful dialogue as Neil shares his wealth of experience and sheds light on the challenges of leadership, the art of change and the advocacy efforts driving meaningful impact.

Hosted by Nick Robeson, Managing Partner at Boyden UK & Ireland, 'Leaders in Focus' features one-on-one conversations with C-Suite leaders, delving into their businesses, passions and journeys that define their success.