Topics:
Business Speakers
Change and Turnaround Speakers
Leadership Speakers
Marketing & Branding
Sales/Customer Service
Alan Hughes Biography
Alan Hughes is an adviser and keynote speaker on practical business leadership, marketing and real customer service.
Background and Career- A Man of Many Talents
Alan has led many lives and his CV is brimming with experience. He has been the Chief Executive of First Direct Bank; Chairman of the National Identity Scheme Assurance Group; Member of the Cabinet Office Delivery Council; Non-Executive Director & Audit Committee member of the Identity and Passport Service; visiting lecturer at INSEAD France, Saïd Business School Oxford and Warwick Universities; and a member of the Leeds University Business School Advisory Board. He is the recipient of the Outstanding MBA Teacher Award 2007/8 by Warwick Business School.
Alan has increased profits and customer satisfaction of every business he has run. He trebled the size and profits of First Direct over 5 years, increased its lead as the UK’s most recommended bank, introduced internet and offset mortgage services. As General Manager in charge of Marketing at HSBC, he was responsible for re-branding Midland Bank, increased loyalty and sales.
Experienced Speaker
Recent clients for speaking events have included: Allianz Germany; Chordiant Software Inc.; First Direct; Johnson Controls Inc.; the Metropolitan Police; Morgan Sindall plc; Novartis Switzerland; O2 UK & Germany; Royal & Sun Alliance; StratX France; UK Government; Work Foundation; Institute of Customer Service, and has advised the National Health Service on leadership and the Governors of the BBC on developing accountability.
Speaking Themes
Leadership and Communication - communication of the shared context, shared values and shared results that foster involvement
Customer Service and Operational Effectiveness - engaging people and deploying the right measures and purpose-driven processes for operational performance
Marketing Effectiveness - marketing driven by the customer, not focussed from the business at the customer.
Speaking Topics
Alan Hughes - adviser and speaker on practical business leadership, marketing and real customer service.
- Business
- Leadership
- Marketing & Branding
- Sales/Customer Service
For further information or to book Alan Hughes, call us at Speakers Corner on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Alan Hughes News
A selection of relevant news related to Alan Hughes, Keynote Speakers and Motivational Speakers, Business Speakers, Change and Turnaround Speakers, Leadership Speakers, Marketing & Branding and Sales/Customer Service stories. For more information on Alan Hughes or details as to how to book Alan Hughes for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Angelina Jolie Undergoes Double Mastectomy
15th May 2013
The Hollywood actress, Angelina Jolie has had a double mastectomy in order to reduce her chances of breast cancer.
The Apprentice Returns for 2013
8th May 2013
The 2013 series of The Apprentice has begun and Lord Alan Sugar had this year’s hopefuls selling a host of items including toilet roll, high visibility jackets and Chinese lucky cat statuettes.
Ronnie O’Sullivan Wins Fifth World Title
7th May 2013
Snooker player, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins to win the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Line Up Announced for Science 2013
3rd May 2013
The Cheltenham Science Festival is considered to be the country’s number one science festival and this year’s line up has now been announced.
Self-Help Books; A Billion Dollar Industry
30th April 2013
Self-help books are increasingly popular among the British public than ever before and an increased number of us are turning to self help books in the hope that they will solve lives problems.
Danny Cohen Appointed Director of BBC Television
25th April 2013
It has been announced that BBC One Controller, Danny Cohen has been appointed as Director of BBC Television.
Olympic Champion, Sir Chris Hoy, Retires
19th April 2013
Sir Chris Hoy has decided to retire from cycling after winning six Olympic Gold medals and becoming the most successful British Olympian ever, taking the title from Sir Steve Redgrave.
Mike Forde Links Business to Football
18th April 2013
Business speaker and one of the UK’s leading sports executives, Mike Forde has compared the ideas and practices used in professional football to those used in business environments.
Willie Harcourt Cooze Releases New Chocolate Range
16th April 2013
Entrepreneur and star of Channel 4 show ‘Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory’, Willie Harcourt Cooze, has recently released a new range of chocolate desserts and gifts, which are now available all over the UK.
Sir Terry Leahy Adjusts to Life After Tesco
11th April 2013
Business speaker and former CEO of Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy stepped down from his position at Tesco in 2011 at the age of 55, he has since started working with several charities, invested in small businesses and written a book.
Alan Hughes Reviews
Alan Hughes has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Alan Hughes for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Alan Hughes for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
It was refreshing to have an inspiring discussion about customer service. Alan's mixture of personal annecdotes, humorous and real life examples created an exceptional learning opportunity and the feedback we have received has been uniformly excellent
Over the last 7 years We have engaged Alan to work with Senior Managers from large conference platforms to informal discussions over dinner. He has a powerful message about the effectiveness of customer focus, liberating employees and the vital importance of values backed up by a track record which prooves it works. Alan`s style is incisive, laced with good examples and engaging. He remains one of our most well recieved speakers and puts his all into making each event impactful.
Alan Hughes draws on a vast wealth of experience and knowledge on delivering service excellenc, and is able to deliver deep insights in a clear and meaningful way. He is a captivating and thought-provoking speaker.
Since I had the pleasure to meet with Alan on an INSEAD program few years back, he always has been a great source of inspiration for me and everyone who had a chance to work with him directly. Each time we had an opportunity to work together, I always could see his involvement and passion in sharing his amazing experience with our participants. His expertise coupled with his people skills made it always a pleasure and an engaging learning experience.
Over the last 7 years We have engaged Alan to work with Senior Managers from large conference platforms to informal discussions over dinner. He has a powerful message about the effectiveness of customer focus, liberating employees and the vital importance of values backed up by a track record which proves it works. Alan`s style is incisive, laced with good examples and engaging. He remains one of our most well received speakers and puts his all into making each event impact-full.
Alan Hughes draws on a vast wealth of experience and knowledge on delivering service excellence, and is able to deliver deep insights in a clear and meaningful way. He is a captivating and thought-provoking speaker.
I have heard Alan speak to a senior practitioner audience for Cranfield School of Management, to director-level civil servants for the Cabinet Office and to marketing/CRM specialists at a London conference. Alan has inspired me deeply and never fails to inspire these diverse audiences. His message is one of leadership - how to lead an organisation that puts the customer first. He speaks with the authority of deep experience: through Cranfield's field research, I have seen at first-hand his profoundly beneficial impact on numerous organisations from banking to the public sector. He has a chief executive's eye for simplicity and for what really matters: good strategy and processes, yes, but above all, the right people with the right culture. And his delivery is superb. We all crave to be led by leaders, not managers; Alan provides a role model which we can all aspire to.
Alan was interesting, entertaining and very engaging. His messages about customer experience, brand and values resonated perfectly with ours and helped us to explore what Macmillan is doing in these areas. The number of questions showed how well he had engaged with the audience.
I just wanted to pass on our thanks to Alan for his talk at our staff conference yesterday. He was interesting, entertaining and very engaging. His messages about customer experience, brand and values resonated perfectly with ours and helped us to explore what Macmillan is doing in these areas.
Alan is an inspirational speaker and presented engagingly with the audience. Hi focus on customer care is excellent and fitted the group perfectly.
Q & A with Alan Hughes
Alan Hughes answered some probing questions for Speakers Corner. For speaking secrets revealed - read on! To book Alan Hughes for your event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Speakers Corner: How did the corporate speaking all start?
Alan Hughes: From doing public speeches as Chief Executive of First Direct Bank and as Marketing chief for HSBC
Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?
Alan Hughes: Yes, at the Guildhall in London to the council, as a young trainee banker.
Speakers Corner: And your last event?
Alan Hughes: Of course. Last year I spoke to top management teams at the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police, and at corporate infotainment events, for example.
Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?
Alan Hughes: Speaking to 2,500 at a corporate sales and motivation event.
Speakers Corner: If you could speak at any event, past or future, what would it be?
Alan Hughes: It would be an audience of any size but who are open minded about leadership, marketing and customer service.
Speakers Corner: Who would you most like to share a platform with?
Alan Hughes: Steve Jobs: great at brand, great at marketing, makes things happen.
Speakers Corner: On average, how many times a year do you speak at corporate events?
Alan Hughes: Five or six
Speakers Corner: Do you use powerpoint?
Alan Hughes: Sometime yes, sometimes no, depends upon the nature of the event. When I do use it, I use video and cartoons.
Speakers Corner: How do you like to be introduced?
Alan Hughes: Alan Hughes, former CEO of First Direct
Speakers Corner: Do you always like to do a briefing call before the event?
Alan Hughes: Yes, always
Speakers Corner: What are the most asked for topics?
Alan Hughes: Leadership, customer service, marketing.
Speakers Corner: Is your speech at all interactive with audience participation?
Alan Hughes: The Q&A session is often the best part.
Speakers Corner: • Do you have any funny/embarrassing speaking anecdotes you care to share?
Alan Hughes: These are what I build my speech around
Speakers Corner: What’s your tipple?
Alan Hughes: Beer
For further information or to book Alan Hughes, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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