The Business Case - with Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark

Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an engaging conversation with Ian Corfield, CEO of Secure Trust Bank. In Season 2 Episode 11 of The Business Case, Secure Trust Bank CEO Ian Corfield explains his plan to simplify the bank, exit low-return businesses, and focus on higher-return growth. The strategy centres on technology, targeted lending and disciplined capital allocation, with a goal of 10%+ growth and 16%+ ROE by 2028.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an engaging conversation with Richard Pindar, Chief Executive Officer, and Paul Pindar, Chair of Literacy Capital plc. In Season 2 Episode 10 of The Business Case, Richard and Paul discuss the story behind Literacy Capital, which they co-founded in 2017, and its approach to investing in and supporting growing UK private businesses over the long term. They share insights into Literacy’s distinctive investment model, working closely with management teams to help businesses grow and create additional value, while maintaining a disciplined approach to selecting new investments and managing the existing portfolio. The conversation explores private equity, capital allocation, portfolio management, value creation and the opportunities and challenges facing smaller UK businesses. Richard and Paul also reflect on their respective leadership roles, the evolution of Literacy Capital from its origins with £54 million of capital to a listed investment trust, and the company’s long-term approach to building successful businesses while supporting its unique charitable objective of improving literacy among children in the UK.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an engaging conversation with Benjamin Faes, Chief Executive Officer of RWS Holdings plc. In Season 2 Episode 9 of The Business Case, Benjamin discusses his journey into leadership at RWS and the Group’s transformation as it focuses on technology, AI and profitable organic growth. He shares insights into RWS’s global technology and language services business, its proprietary technology and specialist expertise, and the opportunities created by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. The conversation explores RWS’s refreshed growth strategy, operational efficiency, innovation and the role of technology in reshaping the language and content services market. Benjamin also reflects on his extensive career across the technology and media sectors, including senior leadership roles at AOL and Google, and how his experience in digital transformation is helping RWS navigate its next phase of growth and create long-term value for customers and shareholders.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an engaging conversation with Marc Bishop Lafleche, Chief Executive Officer of Ecora Royalties plc. In Season 2 Episode 8 of The Business Case, Marc discusses Ecora’s evolution into a leading critical minerals-focused royalty company, providing investors with exposure to the global mining sector through a diversified portfolio of royalties and streams. He shares insights into the company's strategic pivot towards commodities essential to electrification and the energy transition, the unique advantages of the royalty and streaming business model, and how Ecora seeks to generate long-term cash flow while supporting the development of world-class mining assets. The conversation explores disciplined capital allocation, portfolio management, leadership, and the role of critical minerals in meeting growing global demand. Marc also reflects on his journey from investment banking to leading Ecora, the opportunities and challenges shaping the mining industry, and how the company is positioning itself to create sustainable long-term value for shareholders.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an engaging conversation with Helen Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Grainger plc. In this episode, Helen discusses Grainger’s position as the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, specialising in the ownership, development and management of high-quality rental homes across the country. She shares insights into the growing build-to-rent sector, the changing needs of renters, and how Grainger is creating professionally managed communities designed for long-term living.

The conversation explores Grainger’s strategy for delivering sustainable growth through investment in new developments, disciplined capital allocation, and operational excellence. Helen also reflects on the evolving UK housing market, the opportunities and challenges facing the residential rental sector, the importance of customer experience, and how Grainger is balancing growth, sustainability and long-term value creation for residents and shareholders alike.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an engaging conversation with Alk Brand, Chief Executive Officer of Wynnstay Group plc. In this episode, Alk discusses Wynnstay’s role as a leading supplier to the UK agricultural sector, supporting farmers through a comprehensive range of products and services spanning feed, seed, fertiliser, grain marketing, animal health, machinery, and specialist retail. He shares insights into the importance of building long-term customer relationships, navigating changing market conditions, and maintaining a resilient business in an industry shaped by economic, environmental and regulatory pressures.

The conversation explores Wynnstay’s strategy for sustainable growth, including investment in its operational capabilities, expanding its product and service offering, and helping customers improve productivity while adapting to the evolving needs of modern agriculture. Alk also reflects on leadership, the value of people and partnerships, the opportunities and challenges facing UK farming, and how Wynnstay continues to create long-term value for its customers, colleagues and shareholders in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an engaging conversation with Steve Murray, Group Chief Executive Officer of Chesnara plc. In this episode, Steve discusses Chesnara’s evolution into a leading European life, pensions and investment company, specialising in the consolidation and management of life and savings businesses across the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. He shares insights into the company’s three-pillar strategy of maximising value from existing business, acquiring life and pensions businesses, and enhancing value through profitable new business. The conversation explores Chesnara’s disciplined approach to acquisitions, including the transformational acquisition of HSBC Life (UK) and the proposed acquisition of Scottish Widows Europe SA, as well as the opportunities these transactions create for future growth and cash generation. Steve also reflects on leadership, capital allocation, customer outcomes, dividend growth, and the long-term trends shaping the life and pensions sector as Chesnara continues to scale its platform and deliver value for policyholders and shareholders alike.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an insightful conversation with Andrew (Andy) Thomis, Chief Executive of Cohort. In this episode, Andy reflects on the journey of co-founding Cohort and growing it into a leading defence and security technology group, serving customers across the UK and international markets. He discusses the evolving defence landscape, the increasing role of innovation and specialist expertise in national security, and how Cohort has built a portfolio of high-performing businesses through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The conversation also explores leadership, long-term value creation, and the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the defence sector.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an in-depth conversation with Allan Lockhart, Chief Executive of NewRiver.

In this episode, Allan discusses the evolution of UK retail real estate, how shopping centres and retail parks have adapted to the rise of online shopping, and why he believes the sector is now in its strongest position in over a decade. The conversation also explores NewRiver’s growth journey, investment strategy, use of consumer data, and the future of UK retail property.

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Join hosts Mark Wharrier and Phil Clark for an in-depth conversation with Colin Godfrey, Chief Executive of Tritax Big Box REIT. Since its IPO in 2013, the company has grown into a FTSE 100 leader with a portfolio valued at nearly £8 billion. 

In this episode, Colin reveals how Tritax became the largest listed investor and developer in UK logistics and why their "mission-critical" warehouses are the backbone of modern supply chains. We explore the company’s ambitious roadmap to 2030, driven by three core levers: an embedded 28% rental reversion, a valuable 33-million-square-foot development pipeline, and a pioneering 1GW "power-first" data centre strategy.

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