Andy Haywood, former Chief Modernisation Officer at Yorkshire Water and NED at Furness Building Society, joins Emma Carroll, Source’s Head of Content, on the latest episode of our Business Leader’s Voice podcast.  

In this episode, we talk to Andy about how best to approach transformation work, the traps businesses often fall into, and why it’s important to give projects ‘the room to breathe’. With experience of the high-profile Co-operative Group turnaround, through to stints in retail, banking, and utilities, Andy reflects on the recurring transformation challenges he’s faced and on working with consulting firms.  

He shares his insight into the following issues and more:  

• The most common transformation pitfalls, such as focusing too much on the numbers at an early stage 
• Navigating media attention, including how to turn negative media glare into positive internal change 
• Avoiding ‘deal fever’ to make the space and time for transformation projects 
• The best way to sequence the planning and financing of transformation programmes 
• What business leaders want to see from consulting firms, from pitch stage through to delivery 
• How consulting firms can help cut through the politics in client organisations and what this looks like in practice 
• Why it’s important for businesses to keep a sense of ownership over their transformation projects when working with consultants 

If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t miss our sister podcast, The Future of the Firm. In our latest episode, we discuss what clients are looking for from a restructuring firm and where the current hotspots are in the market.