Richard Huntingford

Richard Huntingford

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Richard Huntingford Biography

Richard Huntingford is an inspiring, entertaining and charismatic keynote and after dinner speaker with specific expertise, practical knowledge and experience of starting, managing and leading companies of all shapes and sizes on a variety of journeys.

Speaking Expertise

A natural communicator and story-teller, his talks are full of highly practical insights and a wealth of anecdotes to illustrate the management and leadership challenges he faced during his successful executive career. His particular areas of expertise are entrepreneurial leadership, building new businesses, driving business performance through competitor differentiation and superior customer service, creating a company culture, motivating staff and management communication.

Board Member and CEO Roles

Richard Huntingford is a highly-respected executive and public speaker with over 30 years experience of Board and CEO roles, including CEO of Chrysalis plc, the global music and media group, and Executive Chairman of Virgin Radio. He is best known as the Founder of HEART FM, the UK’s leading commercial radio brand.

A proven strategist, with excellent communication skills, he has extensive experience of growing businesses and building teams (including managing creative talent), of brand development (both launches and re-brands), of change management (including mergers and acquisitions) and of managing multiple stakeholders.

At Chrysalis, Richard was instrumental in the development of the company from its origins as a cutting-edge indie record label to a global media and entertainment group which, over the years, encompassed a broad range of businesses including radio, music, television, books and digital media. In the process, the company’s stock market value increased over twenty-fold from £15 million to £375 million in a 10 year period.

Specifically, Richard was responsible for creating and implementing the vision and strategy for a new, brand-led radio business capable of challenging the dominant incumbent operators EMAP, Capital and GWR. His market-led strategy combined organic and acquisition-led growth, the corner-stone for which was HEART FM which Richard founded as a green-field start-up in Birmingham in 1994. The station enjoyed immediate success and further HEART stations soon followed, including the flagship HEART 106.2 which, in a short space of time, toppled Capital Radio’s 30 year dominance of the London market-place. Sister brands GALAXY and LBC followed and met with equal success and before long the business had 450 employees delivering revenues of £65 million and profits of £15 million – all generated from an initial investment of £3 million. In July 2007, the business was bought by Global Radio for £170 million.

In September 2007, Richard was appointed Executive Chairman of Virgin Radio with a brief to develop a new business plan to enable the speedy sale of the business for its owner. In this role, he not only had to manage a challenging sale process (due to the economic downturn and the termination of the Virgin brand license from Virgin Enterprises) but also keep management and staff motivated through a very uncertain period. Richard’s business savvy and people skills led to the successful sale of the business in June 2008 to Times of India for £53 million.

Non-executive business positions

Richard has also held a number of non-executive positions including NED of Virgin Mobile plc (2005-6) prior to its acquisition by NTL. He currently has a number of Chairman and NED roles in both public and private companies and charitable organisations, including Boomerang Plus plc, Creston plc and Prince's Trust Trading Limited, as well as being an investor and mentor in start-up and SME businesses. Richard is married with two grown-up daughters and a teenage son and lives in Barnes, London. He enjoys travel, eating out, playing tennis, watching sport and live music.

For further information or to book Richard Huntingford, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

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Richard Huntingford News

A selection of relevant news related to Richard Huntingford, After Dinner Speakers and Keynote Speakers, Business Speakers, Entrepreneurs, Innovation Speakers, Leadership Speakers, Marketing & Branding and Sales/Customer Service stories. For more information on Richard Huntingford or details as to how to book Richard Huntingford 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

Entrepreneurs’ Forum Boasts Speakers Corner's Best

20th May 2011

The North East of England is the venue for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, where a handful of Speakers Corner’s top talent take the stage to inspire business leaders and aspirational executives from all over the UK. Hamish McRae, Sarah Willingham, Tim Smit, James Timpson, James Cracknell, and Simon Calver are all on the programme, as are Kanya King, Douglas McWilliams, Karen Mattison, John Timpson and Richard Huntingford – all inspiration and charismatic public speakers.

Mary Perkins Wins Director of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award

2nd November 2011

Director Magazine has awarded Dame Mary Perkins, Specsavers queen, entrepreneur, and retail keynote speaker, the Director of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.

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.

Will Whitehorn Appointed as Chair of Catapult Board

27th March 2013

Keynote speaker and former President of Virgin Galactic, Will Whitehorn, has been appointed as chairman of the new Transport System Catapult.

Simon Calver Becomes an Author

28th February 2013

After dinner speaker and current CEO of Mothercare, Simon Calver, has decided to write a book about his time working as the head of Lovefilm, the movie rental service.

Mike Southon Presents Richard Branson at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress

14th March 2012

Richard Branson greeted hundreds of entrepreneurs and delegates at the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Liverpool. The event’s facilitator was Mike Southon, serial entrepreneur and best-selling author.

Top 10 Speakers for 2012

27th December 2011

As the year draws to a close, Speakers Corner looks forward to the promise of the intriguing and opportune months ahead. 2012 is set to be a year of economic optimism, business innovation and a host of rising stars on the corporate circuit – all primed to motivate, educate, stimulate and entertain.

Richard Reed Tells of Innocent Success

19th December 2011

Innocent co-founder Richard Reed tells Director Magazine how his company kept control after breaking corporate tradition by selling a £30m stake to Coca-Cola in 2009. Innocent has maintained its position as arguably the most successful UK brand of the new millennium, and Speakers Corner proudly presents a host of Innocent speakers, all ideally placed to motivate and entertain on the corporate circuit. Joe McEwan, Dan Germain and Jessica Sansom, as well as Reed himself are all in high demand for corporate events.

Tony Fernandes and Arianna Huffington Amongst 100 Most Creative People In Business

2nd June 2011

Entrepreneur Tony Fernandes; media mogul Arianna Huffington; facebook genius Chris Cox and happiness expert Tony Hsieh, are some of the top names on a list of the 100 Most Creative People In Business, compiled by industry magazine Fast Company.

Bill Gates Amongst Hosts at TED 2011

3rd March 2011

Bill Gates, technology pioneer, businessman and philanthropist, is amongst the acclaimed hosts at this year’s TED Conference in California.

Q & A with Richard Huntingford

Richard Huntingford answered some probing questions for Speakers Corner. For speaking secrets revealed - read on! To book Richard Huntingford 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 start?

Richard Huntingford: Having retired from full-time executive roles, I have been building a portfolio of part-time interests (Non-exec Chairman/Director, consultant/mentor roles) over the past year and it was suggested that I should add Speaking to my portfolio. Having done plenty of speaking in the past in my various CEO roles – and having always enjoyed it – I have jumped at the opportunity to bring some of my 30 year long career learning and experience (warts and all) to a wider audience.

Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?

Richard Huntingford: It was at a media industry conference attended by all the seasoned established industry players in 1992, I think, when Chrysalis was just starting to throw its hat in the ring as a potential newcomer to the Radio sector. None of the audience knew who I was and seemed pretty disinterested at the prospect of me telling them anything they didn’t know already. By the end, I think many of them realised that we had some serious plans to disrupt their cosy industry “club”!

Speakers Corner: And your last event?

Richard Huntingford: Two very different events in the same week. Firstly, a speech on how to build High Performance Teams at the annual senior management conference of a FTSE 100 Property company. Secondly, the key note speech at a Charity Ball for 900 guests which raised £250,000 during the course of the evening.

Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?

Richard Huntingford: Speaking to a radio sales executive conference held at the Royal Society – principally because I had been useless at science at school and therefore took huge pleasure in imagining how appalled my old science teacher would have been at me taking centre-stage at such a hallowed venue.

Speakers Corner: If you could speak at any event, past or future, what would it be?

Richard Huntingford: Any corporate event being held in Sydney between 3rd and 7th January, 2011 so that I can enjoy England retaining the Ashes at the same time!

Speakers Corner: Who would you most like to share a platform with?

Richard Huntingford: Bill Clinton

Speakers Corner: On average, how many times a year do you speak at corporate events?

Richard Huntingford: I hope to speak at a dozen or so events a year.

Speakers Corner: Do you use PowerPoint?

Richard Huntingford: I’m not a big fan of PowerPoint presentations but can use it if required.

Speakers Corner: Are you as happy speaking to 50 as to 1,000 people?

Richard Huntingford: Yes – happy with any size audience.

Speakers Corner: How do you like to be introduced?

Richard Huntingford: Richard Huntingford, former CEO of Chrysalis Group plc and Founder of Heart fm.

Speakers Corner: Do you always like to do a briefing call before the event?

Richard Huntingford: Yes, essential in my view if I’m to meet expectations and deliver value for the client.

Speakers Corner: What are the most asked for topics?

Richard Huntingford: Entrepreneurial leadership in a corporate organisation; building new businesses; driving business performance through customer differentiation and superior customer service; creating a culture and leadership ethos to inspire, empower and motivate staff; communication as a leadership tool; Heart FM - a brand-building success story.

Speakers Corner: Is your speech interactive with audience participation?

Richard Huntingford: I like to take plenty of questions from the audience.

Speakers Corner: Do you have any funny/embarrassing speaking anecdotes you care to share?

Richard Huntingford: Plenty – more than I’d care to remember, including many from the world of showbiz!

Speakers Corner: Your favourite film?

Richard Huntingford: Joint favourites: Chariots of Fire; Meet the Fockers

Speakers Corner: Favourite book?

Richard Huntingford: Joint favourites: The Making of Modern Britain (Andrew Marr); According to the Rolling Stones.

Speakers Corner: Favourite holiday destination?

Richard Huntingford: Sandy Lane, Barbados.

Speakers Corner: What’s your tipple – wine, beer, champagne?

Richard Huntingford: Wine – and the occasional vodka and tonic (with a slice of lime, not lemon).

Speakers Corner: Country or townie?

Richard Huntingford: Townie (in spite of growing up in Suffolk).

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