Renault’s EV “Trojan Horse” & AI in Modern Marketing: Brand, Heritage, and the Tech vs IRL TensionTom interviews David Isherwood, UK Marketing Director at Renault, who shares his 20+ year career at the company from graduate roles and showroom experience to HQ positions in Paris, returning in November ’22 to lead UK marketing ahead of new launches led by Renault 5. They discuss how the auto industry has rapidly changed through the internet, new entrants, and the shift to EVs, creating a need for customer education around charging and total cost of ownership while still building desire with strong creative and clear brand DNA. Isherwood explains Renault’s “French, electro, pop” positioning, using heritage as an asset without clinging to the past, and balancing brand-building with performance marketing. He outlines responsible AI use across marketing and retail touchpoints, including website Q&A tools, in-car assistance, governance, and lessons from imperfect sentiment analysis, while predicting greater data integration and growing competition for attention.00:00 Meet David Isherwood00:26 Career Journey at Renault01:14 Industry Shifts and EV Rise02:26 Renault 5 Brand Statement04:04 Selling and Educating EVs06:23 AI in Modern Marketing09:24 Responsible AI and Governance11:13 Brand Building vs Performance13:21 Heritage and F1 Relevance15:52 Retail Experience and AI Tools17:24 Timeless Brand Principles20:22 Agencies and AI Creativity22:12 Future Trends and Integration24:20 Closing Thanks and Wrap Up

Tom interviews CTO Leighan Mason about why AI will reshape businesses like steam power and electricity did, arguing the winners won’t be those who merely adopt tools but those who rebuild operations so AI can understand and run them. Leighan shares his unconventional path from teaching and marketing into engineering roles at British Airways and 3M, contracting at Swinton Insurance and WeBuyAnyCar, then building Victorian Plumbing’s tech function from scratch through an IPO, warehouse migration, robotics, and a multi-tenant platform launch. He explains “AI operability” as creating explicit, reusable digital capabilities. Turning what the business knows, decides, and does into software an AI can act on, so information flows, routine work automates, change becomes safe, and costs structurally drop. They discuss why most CEOs underinvest due to near-term bias, how transformation compounds via a cost-and-attention flywheel, and why AI-native entrants pose an existential threat, with part two promised on execution details.00:00 AI Revolution Begins01:03 Meet the CTO01:50 Leighan’s Career Path03:57 Building Tech from Scratch05:28 What Is AI Operability08:24 Why CEOs Miss It10:23 Patterns from Past Revolutions16:03 Amara’s Law and Reality Check18:24 Defining Digital Transformation20:04 Who Wins the AI Era25:50 Limits Trust and Direction27:25 Common AI Budget Mistakes29:55 What Success Looks Like33:38 The Transformation Flywheel39:01 AI Native Threats42:30 Wrap Up and Part Two

Run Clubs, Brand Partnerships & the IRL Community Comeback in the Age of AI | Ben Olayinka (Run & Rave)Tom interviews Ben Olayinka, a Berlin-based run club leader and DJ, about building real-world community as tech and AI reshape daily life. Ben shares his journey from growing up in Nigeria to studying computer engineering in the US, working in tech in Germany, and launching a running club three years ago to recreate a “party” feeling through running, music, and connection. They discuss what makes a great run club (a network of people connected to each other), why run clubs are booming amid social disconnection, and how communities function as a new kind of influencer built on trust. Ben explains his shift from failed cold outreach to consistent Instagram storytelling that drives inbound brand partnerships, including long-term activations with Saucony and an event with Igloo. He covers team-building, measuring impact, and why community marketing is efficient “permission marketing” where value alignment means nobody loses.00:00 Welcome and Intro00:56 Ben’s Journey to Berlin02:24 Why Run Clubs Thrive03:57 Run Clubs as Influencers05:31 Landing Brand Partners08:02 Early Sponsorship Lessons09:34 Music Meets Running11:03 Build a Strong Team12:42 Brand Activations That Work17:04 Content Driven Partner Pipeline18:31 Does Size Matter20:14 Reporting and Measuring Impact21:47 Future of Community Marketing23:35 Closing Thanks and Reflections

Canva, ChatGPT & the Future of Creative Work: AI-Augmented Design, Brand Consistency, and What’s NextTom interviews Ronnie (a Canva educator and content creator) about how AI is reshaping creative work, design, and marketing. Ronnie traces his journey from NGO documentary work to building a major Canva-focused education business, then expanding into AI after discovering ChatGPT in late 2022/early 2023. He describes how his audience responds to Canva updates, his values-based avoidance of “get rich quick” AI content, and his core AI tech stack (ChatGPT, DALL·E, Leonardo AI, Canva’s Magic Studio/Canva AI, Perplexity). They discuss AI as a workflow “thought partner,” concerns about dependency, whether AI diminishes traditional design skills, and the importance of fundamentals and human oversight. The conversation explores job displacement, hybrid human+AI teams, enterprise brand governance via Canva brand kits/templates, rapid advances in image/video generation, and how brand strength goes beyond logos to distribution and visibility.

Tom and Nick Price - the founder and CEO of Nmatic - discuss where advertising and production are heading in the AI Era. Nick built from the ground up a native AI creative production agency. He talks through the process and methodology of working with AI - and how it enhances - rather than takes away. Tom questions if "agencies are dead" - as is often heard in passing and they both discuss the tensions with creative output and the "uncanny valley" and that awkward that is felt when human likeness is close but not close enough. Nick shares Nmatic's work with Phonak and describes some of his current client relationships and tells viewers about opportunities to get into the space and encourages creatives to embrace the evolution.

The Future of Sonic Branding with Roscoe Williamson of Massive Music. This episode of The AI Brand Voice features a deep dive into the world of sonic branding with Roscoe Williamson, Global Strategy Director at Massive Music. Host Tom Morrell explores Roscoe's 15-year career working with global brands like TikTok, Samsung, and Colgate, shedding light on the critical role of sound in branding. Roscoe discusses the evolution of audio branding, the impact of AI on the music industry, and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in music. He also shares insights from recent research comparing AI-generated music with commercial and bespoke tracks, emphasising the importance of human touch in creating memorable and effective brand sounds.00:00 Introduction to AI Brand Voice00:54 Guest Introduction: Roscoe Williamson03:00 The Evolution of Sonic Branding06:45 Creating Effective Sonic Brand Identities08:48 AI's Role in Audio Branding12:58 Challenges and Ethical Considerations19:20 Future of AI in Music and Branding27:53 Research Insights on AI-Generated Music41:18 Practical Applications and Compliance49:10 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsIf you’re a marketer, brand leader, or business executive looking to understand how the rules of the game are changing with the emergence of AI technology - tune in and subscribe to the channel for more insightful conversations.

What does AI governance really mean for brands — and how can companies turn ethics into operational excellence?In this episode of The AI Brand Voice, Tom Morrell speaks with Ben Legg - former COO of Google Europe, military engineer, McKinsey strategist, Coca-Cola executive, tech CEO and now portfolio career leader — about the lessons he’s learned over a four-decade career at the intersection of leadership, technology, and ethics.Ben shares his unique career journey"

• From military engineering to McKinsey and Coca-Cola
• Leading Google Europe’s monetisation strategy during its hyper-growth years
• Navigating early discussions on AI principles, governance, and ethics inside Google
• Building and scaling tech companies around the worldTransitioning into a “portfolio career” advising boards, Wall Street, and startups
• How AI governance and ethical standards build brand trust
• Operational challenges of embedding AI ethics into fast-moving organisations
• Lessons from Google on transparency, accountability, and responsible innovation
• The future of work — portfolio careers, flexible models, and AI’s role in transforming professions
• Why agile adaptation and strong values are critical for brand leaders in the AI era




Together, we dive into:Timings: 00:00 Introduction and Career Overview01:20 Decade One: Military Engineering01:44 Decade Two: Strategy and Marketing02:05 Decade Three: Big Tech Leadership02:27 Decade Four: Portfolio Career04:37 Insights on AI and Ethics10:30 Balancing Innovation and Compliance17:14 Building Trust and Transparency in AI19:33 Building Trust in a Digital World21:12 Transparency in AI Models25:00 Navigating AI Standards and Policies29:45 The Future of Work and AI36:49 Embracing AI in the Workplace38:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If you’re a marketer, brand leader, or business executive looking to cut through the hype and understand how AI ethics, standards, and governance shape trust, brand reputation, and long-term growth, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

In this episode, Tom sits down with Harry Verity former tech journalist for The Guardian and The Independent, now turned AI evangelist.We hear about Harry's journey into AI consulting and how he's on a mission to bring clarity to the world through practical, grounded AI. He also shares insights into The AI Founders — his dynamic entrepreneurship community based in Bali (‪@harryverity‬). As a copywriter himself, Harry dives into where copy and content writing are headed in the age of AI, and what’s needed to evolve your skillset to stay relevant.We unpack the so-called AI “hype train” — where it's going, why much of it is misleading, and how to cut through the noise. This episode is about turning overhype into real, applicable insight.