A Different Perspective podcast

A Different Perspective is a Zeus podcast, hosted by Nick Searle, Equity Sales. Here, Nick interviews interesting characters from the world of business and finance, to uncover a different perspective.

Zeus is an independent financial services group working across public and private capital markets in the UK.  We work alongside many of the most exciting businesses in the UK and we are passionate about supporting our clients.  This podcast is a series of interviews with interesting characters from the world of business and finance, uncovering a different perspective.

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View the ‘A Different Perspective’ Reading list.

This week, Nick talks to Matt Timmins, Joint CEO of Fintel.

Matt was appointed to the FINTEL Board in May 2010 after joining in 2002, bringing extensive expertise in sales, marketing, and mergers and acquisitions. He has cultivated strong relationships with key distribution partners and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). With a background that includes various marketing roles at GE Capital, Misys, and DBS Financial Management, Matt combines deep industry knowledge with strategic leadership.

Nick and Matt talk about Matt’s career, how FINTEL grew out of SimpyBiz to becoming the UK’s leading financial services platform.

This week, Nick talks to Robbie Burns of The Naked Investor.

Robbie has been a journalist and writer since earning his journalism degree from Harlow College in 1981. He began his career as a reporter and editor for various local newspapers before becoming editor of ITV and Channel 4’s teletext services from 1988 to 1992. During this time, he also wrote ITV’s daily teletext soap opera, Park Avenue, for five years.

Afterward, Robbie transitioned to freelance journalism, contributing to newspapers such as The Independent and The Sun, and played a role in establishing CNN’s financial news service. In 1997, he became editor of BSkyB’s teletext services, where he launched their shares and finance section and developed entertainment phone lines, including a Buffy the Vampire Slayer hotline that earned him nearly £250,000.

In 2001, Robbie left full-time employment to focus on share trading and running a London café, which he later sold for double his initial investment. While at BSkyB, he began broadcasting a diary of his share trades, which gained significant popularity and was later moved to his website, nakedtrader.co.uk. The site became one of the UK’s most-read financial resources.

This week, Nick talks to Ed Fidoe, CEO of The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS).

Ed is the co-founder and CEO of The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS), a new university in east London that offers BASc and MASc which oriented around complex problems, not disciplines.

In 2012 Ed co-founded School 21 in Stratford with Peter Hyman and Oli de Botton. In 2017 the first GCSE class achieved grades that placed them in the top 5% of the country for attainment, and the school was awarded an Outstanding Ofsted. In 2014 Ed led the launch of Voice 21 to raise the status of oracy in schools.

Ed has also advised the leaders of several education institutions including Cambridge University, LSE, Teach First, Teach for All, Ark Schools and Eton College, as well as over 30 other clients in the private sector and government.

Previously Ed ran a theatre production company with the screenwriter Matt Charman and was a consultant at McKinsey & Co. He has served on the boards of Ashoka UK and Big Education.

Nick and Ed talk about Ed’s career and how Ed’s see the future of education with the LIS.

Ed’s book choices were:
The Entrepreneurial State by Mariana Mazzucato
The Rise of the Meritocracy by Michael Young
The Road to Somewhere: The Populist Revolt and the Future of Politics by David Goodhart

Ed’s music choice was: The Streets, Don’t Mug Yourself

This week, Nick talks to Peter Curk, CEO of ICONOMI.

With over a decade of experience across multiple sectors, Pete has held diverse roles in executive management, customer experience, marketing, and business development. Currently serving as CEO of ICONOMI, previously leading Big Bang Slovenija as Customer Experience & eCommerce Director. Peter co-founded Dia-Vit Ltd, securing Series A funding, and consulted on digital marketing and sales strategy at Deloitte Slovenia. Earlier roles include interim CMO at GoOpti and COO at Renderspace, focusing on UX design and performance marketing, along with a 10-year tenure at A1 Slovenija d.d., enriching their foundation in business development and leadership.

As the CEO of ICONOMI, ICONOMI is a digital asset management platform that enables users to easily manage, invest, and diversify in the world of cryptocurrencies. Founded with the mission to democratize access to the new economy, ICONOMI offers a user-friendly interface for both beginners and experienced investors to build and manage customized crypto portfolios. Through its platform, ICONOMI provides various digital asset management services, including a selection of pre-built crypto portfolios, allowing users to invest with ease and security. By bridging traditional and digital finance, ICONOMI empowers users to access and navigate the digital asset space effectively, making crypto investing more accessible, transparent, and manageable.

Nick and Peter discuss ICONOMI, Crypto ETF’s, legacy coding and blockchain and the wider crypto sector.

Peter’s book choice was: The Origin of Wealth by Eric Beinhocker

Peter music choice was: Songs of Joy and Devotion by Depeche Mode

This week Nick talks to Guy Gittins, CEO of Foxtons.

Guy became CEO of Foxtons in September 2022, bringing with him extensive experience in the property sector and leadership roles. Prior to rejoining Foxtons, he served as CEO of Chestertons, a renowned London-based and international residential property firm. Guy’s career began at Foxtons, where he worked until 2006 before taking on the role of Sales and Marketing Director for Peter de Savary. In 2010, he joined Savills and later moved to Chestertons in 2012, leading their flagship Chelsea office. In 2018, he was appointed CEO of Chestertons.

Nick and Guy discuss Guy’s career journey and the evolution of Foxtons, from its founding by Jon Hunt, to the present day.

Guy’s book choice was How to Build a Car: The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Formula 1 Designer by Adrian Newey.

Guy’s music choice was – Move your body by Marshall Jefferson.

This week Nick talks to Jeff Chatfield, Executive Chairman of Avation PLC.

Jeff serves as the Executive Chairman of Avation PLC and played a pivotal role in its founding and development. Throughout his career, he has held management and directorial positions in various companies across sectors such as the airline industry, data distribution, electronics, investment, broadcasting, and manufacturing. He holds both a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Engineering Science from the University of Western Australia. Additionally, he is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Directors.

Nick and Jeff discuss Avation PLC and the wider aircraft lessor sector.

This week, Nick talks to John Roberts, CEO & Co-Founder of AO.com.

John began his career as a waiter and kitchen salesman. In 2000, he founded Appliances Online after a friend bet him £1 to start a business. His entrepreneurial journey gained momentum when, in 2014, he led AO World’s listing on the London Stock Exchange, which was valued at £1.2 billion at the time. John has stated that he built AO on his personal mottos: “treat every customer like your gran” and “make your mum proud.” In 2021, he was ranked 30th in the Financial Times’ list of the UK’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs, and he has won multiple awards, including the This is Manchester Supernova Award and the Retail Week Retail Activist Award.

Over the past year, John has become an advocate for restoring over £1 billion in lost youth infrastructure funding, reforming the Apprenticeship Levy, and exploring solutions for improving the care system for looked-after children. He has said that most of his earnings go to charity.

Nick and John discuss his career path, the founding of AO.com and his philanthropy.

John’s book choice was Invention: A Life of Learning Through Failure, by James Dyson and his music choice was Don’t Stop Me Now, by Queen

This week Nick talks to Carl Herberger, CEO of Corero Network Security.

Carl oversees the business strategy and execution at Corero Network Security, a leading provider of DDoS protection solutions. Corero specialises in automatic detection and protection systems, offering network visibility, analytics, and reporting tools. The technology safeguards against both external and internal DDoS threats, particularly in complex edge and subscriber environments, ensuring continuous internet service availability. Corero operates from centres in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA, and Edinburgh, UK, with its headquarters in London. The company is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Nick and Carl discuss the technology safeguarding landscape along with Corero’s core business.

Carl’s book choices were: Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor E Frankl, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, Animal Farm by George Orwell and Built to Last by James Collins.

This week, Nick talks to Christian Purcell, Co-Founder of DropPoint.

Christian is the co-founder of DropPoint, a UK-based platform that helps individuals declutter by connecting them with local charitable causes seeking in-kind donations. Through its searchable directory, users can easily find grassroots projects and organizations in need of specific items, allowing them to donate unwanted goods and support their community. DropPoint aims to make the donation process simple and effective, encouraging people to give back in a meaningful way.

Christian’s earlier career includes various roles such as Project Manager and Carrier Analyst at wnDirect, Customer Service Advisor and Stock Controller at Arco Ltd, and Contract Administrator at Briggs Amasco Ltd. Christian also combines his role at DropPoint with working for parcelLab as senior technical business analyst.

Nick and Christian discuss the formation of DropPoint.org, how it works and what the future holds.

Christian’s book choices were The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie.

In this week’s episode Nick talks to Stewart Hall, CEO and Co-Founder of Public Policy Holding Company (PPHC).

Stewart has held the position of CEO and Co-Founder of PPHC since 2014. He is also the Co-Founder and Chairman of Crossroads Strategies, LLC (CRS). Stewart began his career as Legislative Director to Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) from 1992 to 1996, where he developed extensive expertise in defense policy, appropriations, financial services, and Senate procedures. In 1999, he entered the private sector by co-founding Federalist Group, LLC.

Under Stewart’s leadership, Federalist Group was acquired by Ogilvy Public Relations, a WPP company, in 2005. The company subsequently doubled in size over the next four years while he remained at the helm. In 2010, Stewart co-founded CRS, and in 2014, CRS was merged to create PPHC – an innovative organization that integrates multiple disciplines of the public policy sector into a single, multi-brand entity.

As CEO of PPHC, Stewart has overseen the company’s impressive growth, achieving a compound annual growth rate of over 30% annually through a combination of mergers, acquisitions, and organic expansion, and expanding the workforce to over 350 employees nationwide.

Stewart holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and both an MA and Ph.D. in Government from the University of Virginia.

Nick and Stewart discuss Stewart’s career and talk all about Public Policy Holding Company.

Stewart’s book choice was the The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym “Publius” to promote the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/full-text.

In this week’s episode, Nick talks to Americo Lemos, CEO at IQE Plc.

Americo Lemos joined IQE in January 2022, bringing with him extensive experience from his previous role on the executive team at GlobalFoundries, a leading semiconductor design and manufacturing company headquartered in New York. At GlobalFoundries, he served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Asia Pacific and China Country President, where he focused on enhancing the company’s efficiency and growth in these vital regions. Prior to this, Lemos was the Senior Vice President at Qualcomm, overseeing its data center business. His career also includes a tenure as Vice President of Platform Engineering at Intel, where he led strategic partnerships with Chinese semiconductor companies from 2009 to 2015. Additionally, he has held senior positions at Texas Instruments, Quanta Computer in Taiwan, and Skyworks.

Nick and Americo discuss his career and a deep dive into the world of compound semi conductors.

This week Nick talks to Martin Higginson, Founder & CEO Huddled Group plc.

Martin is a seasoned Technology, Media, and Telecoms (TMT) entrepreneur with a history of founding, selling, and listing multiple businesses. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1982 with the sale of his first business, a BMX magazine, to IPC Magazines. After three years with IPC, he established the publishing and telecoms company Megafone, which he later sold to Scottish Power plc. At Scottish Power, he became Managing Director of the Internet and Interactive division of Scottish Telecom, overseeing Demon Internet. Martin then founded Monstermob Group plc, which listed on AIM in 2003 and grew to a Top 50 AIM listed business with a market capitalisation of £192m before its sale to Zed Worldwide in 2006. He has since founded Cityblock plc, NetPlayTV plc, and Digitalbox plc, which was ranked as a FastTrack 100 Company in 2016 and 2017. Martin is now Founder and CEO of Huddled Group plc.

Nick and Martin discuss Martin starting out as a photojournalist, starting his own magazine and his entrepreneurial journey to date.

Martin’s book choice was Outliers by Martin Gladwell.

This week, Nick talks to Dr Daniel Daniel.

Dr Daniel Daniel has over 24 years in dentistry and a deep understanding of cryptocurrency. Daniel specialises in teaching busy professionals, like dentists, how to invest in crypto confidently. His journey started at Dalhousie University, where he developed a passion for maths and finance. He then completed a dentistry degree and founded EMC Dental, initially focused on dentistry education. More recently, Daniel’s interest in crypto grew, and he created The Crypto Investing Program, a one-week course designed to simplify crypto investment for busy professionals, making it accessible and profitable.

In this episode, Nick and Daniel discuss Daniel’s career path and the pivot to crypto. They delve into the Bull-Run Method, a strategy for making significant crypto returns with just 10 minutes of daily effort and discuss why the upcoming six months could be the final bull run in crypto and how to capitalize on it.

Daniel’s book choices were: Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari and Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell.

This week, Nick talks to Magnus Houston.

Magnus has diverse career background that spans professional motorcycle racing for Suzuki GB, where he competed in a support race to the World Superbikes, and self-taught creel fishing. He has founded and managed multiple seafood companies and has experience in the alternative investment sector. Additionally, Magnus is a graduate of MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
With Magnus’ previous company, Fishbox, he digitized a traditional business model, creating a system with four times as many data collection points as Tesco Club Card Points. The real driver of subscription numbers was his comprehensive approach to marketing; handling every aspect of the process, from crafting the brand to creating aspirational videos, working with influencers, and managing social media posts.

Nick and Magnus talk about his extraordinary career to-date, including a serious accident in his motorcycle racing career that put him in a wheelchair, to then becoming a fisherman without any prior experience.

Magnus’ book choices were: The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers Hardcover by Ben Horowitz,
The Pyramid of Lies: Lex Greensill and the Billion-Dollar Scandal Hardcover by Duncan Mavin and The World for Sale by Javier Blas.

This week Nick talks to Marc Adams, CEO of Acquisitions4you, a specialized business consultancy firm that focuses on facilitating mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for small to mid-sized companies.

Acquisitions4you provides end-to-end support throughout the acquisition process, ensuring that their clients achieve strategic growth objectives.

Before Acquisitions4you, Marc served as an Advisor at Flatworld Solutions, having significantly enhanced client profitability by outsourcing specialized tasks in financial service and insurance, creating over $100M in value. As a NED at JBTM Group, Marc achieved similar value creation through strategic growth and productivity improvements. As MD EMEA at RSA Security, Marc led a team to deliver $25M in software sales with significant year-over-year growth. Marc’s tenure at Thomson Reuters involved turning around the EMEA business and expanding in emerging markets. Earlier roles include senior sales and engineering positions at Centennial Software, Clearswift, EMC Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Monotype, and Intersolve, where they consistently drove successful mergers and acquisitions, brand equity, and exit strategies.

Nick and Mark talk about Marc’s life and his career and focus on Marc’s new book – Secrets to 10xing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax-Free, the book gives guidance on how you can reshape the destiny of your business with strategies proven to not only multiply its worth but also to ensure a lucrative exit when the time is ripe. They cover chapters from the book, Power of Digital Marketing and Tax-Free Selling: Preparing for the Exit.

Marc’s book choices were: Secrets to 10xing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax by Marc Adams and DotCom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online by Russell Brunson.

In the 50^th episode of A Different Perspective, Nick talks to Mark Sheppard.

Mark is the Co-Founder of Manchester and London Investment Trust. Manchester and London Investment Trust is a global equities fund with a bias towards blue chip, high quality, global, growth stocks that are primarily developed market listed.

In this episode, Nick and Mark explore the transition from human labour to automation and all aspects of AI. Leveraging Mark’s expertise in computing, he guides the conversation beyond the usual news headlines, providing deep insights into the stages of the AI landscape and its effects. Mark says we need to pay attention, the world changes when we sleep.

Mark’s book choices were Investing with Keynes: How the World’s Greatest Economist Overturned Conventional Wisdom and Made a Fortune on the Stock Market by Justyn Walsh and The World without Work by Daniel Susskind.

In this week’s episode Nick talks to Brian Cook, Fitness Entrepreneur.

Brian Cook is a seasoned entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience, having launched close to 200 locations for various boutique fitness brands. He holds a B.S. in exercise physiology from Northeastern University and an M.B.A. from Babson College.

His latest venture is StretchMed, a franchise specialising in 1-on-1 stretching sessions, which he established in November 2019. StretchMed now operates over 20 locations across five states, focusing on relieving chronic pain, enhancing mobility, rejuvenating the body, and promoting better movement. Outside of work, Brian, a former hockey player, divides his time between Boston and Puerto Rico.

Brian and Nick discuss Brian’s career and work in the fitness space.

Brian’s book choices were: E-Myth Mastery by Michael E. Gerber, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and Good to Great by Jim Collins.

In this week’s episode Nick talks to Houman Ashrafzadeh.

Houman is a serial entrepreneur with diverse experiences in business, finance, and management consulting, Houman has developed a unique skill set and a problem-solving approach to business challenges. Houman has current roles as Co-Founder of Urban Greens and CEO & Founder of Padium.

Nick and Houman discuss his career start moving from Sweden to London to study and Houman’s move into finance and brokering. Houman later found that he needed to strike out on his own setting up his brokerage firm 360 in 2013.  Now in 2024 Houman partners in Urban Greens, a salad bar franchise, with 4 locations across London. Recently, Houman launched Padium, a pay and play club for padel in Canary Wharf. Padel was invented in the 1960s in Mexico and is a racquet game that combines the tennis scoring system with the tactical ricochet shots of squash.

Houman’s book choice was The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries.

Giles and his brother Nick co-founded the Bremont Watch Company in 2002, specialising in the creation of luxury mechanical watches. As one of the select British watch manufacturers,  Bremont was, in 2008, awarded the title of Best British Emerging Luxury Brand. By 2009, Bremont’s reputation for crafting classic aviation-inspired watches propelled them to become the 20th largest chronometer manufacturer globally, reflecting the growing demand for our distinctive designs. Last year Giles and Nick sold a stake to the US hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

Nick and Giles delve into Giles’ early business ventures, highlighting his passion for flying. They recount Giles’ initial foray into the financial sector, followed by the bold move of reviving a struggling aircraft business alongside his brother, Nick. The brothers’ early involvement in an internet business, which concluded with a successful exit, paved the way for them to establish Bremont. This venture was deeply rooted in their lifelong fascination with clocks, watches, and timepieces, a passion inherited from their father, whose tragic death in an aircraft accident served as a poignant inspiration.

Giles book choice was Gipsy Moth Circles the World by Francis Chichester.

This week, Nick talks to Judith Batchelar OBE.

Judith Batchelar OBE is a distinguished figure with over 35 years of experience in the food and drink industry. Her career began in manufacturing before she transitioned into retail, working at Marks and Spencer. From 2004 to 2021, she was pivotal at Sainsbury’s as the Director of Sainsbury’s Brand, overseeing all aspects of the company’s product offerings, including policy formation on ethical and sourcing issues, product technology, development, safety, and packaging, as well as corporate responsibility and public affairs. Batchelar’s academic background includes being a biochemist and nutritionist, holding an Honorary Doctorate in Agriculture from Harper Adams University, and affiliations as a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and the Royal Society of Arts and Manufacturers.

Nick and Judith discuss Judith’s career in the food industry, Judith’s passion for food and dietary improvements and the reduction in ultra processed foods. Judith also looks at how the UK needs to adapt for climate change and the effect on our food production, and finally the recent IPO of Micrsosalt, of which Judith is chair.

Judith’s book choices were: Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier.

This week, Nick Searle talks to Sid Lall, Fund Manager.

After joining Giles Hargreave in 2007 to work on the Marlborough Special Situations Fund, Sid was instrumental in the design and launch of the Marlborough Multi Cap Income Fund in 2011 and has remained its lead manager. The Marlborough Multi Cap Income Fund was the first among their funds to surpass £1bn in assets under management (AUM) for both Marlborough and Hargreave Hale. Hargreave Hale was acquired by Canaccord Genuity in 2017.

It was ranked at the top of its peer group in 2013 and in the top quartile for total returns over 1, 3, 5, and 10 years by the end of 2021.

Sid’s expertise has primarily been in small to mid-cap stocks, but it has expanded from UK small mid cap income to leverage his original expertise in European small mid cap (at DSP) and build on global equities, which are also held in the non-qualifying quota within the Marlborough Multi Cap Income Fund.

Nick and Sid talk about Sid’s life and career journey from growing up in Calcutta to leaving India for the UK, with scholarship under Lord Inchcape, studying at Edinburgh University and his first steps into business and finance, working with Giles Hargreave and what makes a good company stock to invest in.

Sid’s book choices were Maestro: Greenspan’s Fed and the American Boom, The Contender – The Story of Marlon Brando by William J. Mann, My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand and Hedgehogging by Barton Biggs.

This week Nick talks to Zeke Faux, Investigative Reporter and Author.

Zeke Faux is an investigative reporter for Bloomberg and author of the 2023 book “Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall”. The book examines the wild characters of the cryptocurrency world.

Nick and Zeke discuss the downfall of the FTX exchange in 2022 led by Sam Bankman-Fried, purchasing a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT, Jean Chalopin the co-creator of Inspector Gadget and his role in the Tether story as well as touch on the darker side of crypto.

Zeke’s book choice was The Lost City of Z by Davin Grann.

This week, Nick speaks to Hugh Hendry, The Acid Capitalist.

Nick and Hugh talk through Hugh’s thoughts on the outlook for 2024 and go on a macro Acid Capitalist trip along the way.

They discuss when will the Fed cut interest rates, the 1970s and Hugh’s white paper on the parallels between the monetary landscape and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, suggesting that attempts by central banks to control economic temperature may lead to unintended consequences. They also cover Hugh’s view of Japan, Greyscale, Bitcoin and the price of Gold. Hugh also discusses arguing with his ‘Ai version of himself’.

Nick’s book suggestion is The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin.

This week, Nick speaks to Mark Mills, Entrepreneur and Advisor.

Mark is an Advisor who has built and sold businesses throughout his career. Mark set out to build and exit Cardpoint plc which he grew from a start-up in 2000 to revenues of £100m annually in 2006 with resulting EBITDA of £19.8m in that financial year. Mark’s expertise is derived from his own experiences and since 2007, Mark has been applying his unique process to other businesses and helping the owners to exit.

Recognizing common denominators of successful businesses, Mark emphasizes the importance of great customers, suppliers, teams, and stakeholders. With an entrepreneurial spirit deeply rooted in his DNA, Mark has served as the Founder and Chairman of www.mark.co.uk since August 2013.

In this episode, Nick and Mark discuss how Mark started in business, his journey, his business principles and how he aids business owners in preparing for sale and maximizing capital value upon exit.

Mark’s book choice was Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki.

This week, Nick speaks to Graeme Carling, Chairman & Co-Founder of The Carling Group.

Graeme is a notable entrepreneur, with a reputation for successfully negotiating deals in his own inimitable style: bold, direct, and uncompromising. He has decades of experience in bringing together fragmented markets and successfully negotiating high-value deals.  In 2019 Graeme, as CEO of investment company United Capital, began acquiring multiple businesses in the UK building services sector, growing group turnover to £40 million. With Graeme leading his expert team, United Capital continues to make significant acquisitions, with a potential acquisition pipeline value of over £1 billion.

Nick and Graeme discuss Graeme’s business journey, The Carling Group’s portfolio at present and some of the sectors that interest Graeme.

Graeme’s book choices were – Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki and three books by Steven Pressfield – Do The Work, Turning Pro and War of Art.

This week, Nick speaks to Edwin Brenninkmeyer, CEO of Oriens Aviation.

Edwin is founder and CEO of Oriens Aviation, an exclusive distributor for Pilatus and Tecnam aircraft in the British Isles. The company, as the Authorized Centre for Pilatus and Tecnam aircraft, is dedicated to providing a comprehensive suite of services for private aircraft owners and operators.

Edwin comes from a family business background, holding an MBA from Oxford University, where he specialized in business aviation and airport operating models. Edwin leverages this knowledge, coupled with his aviation venture capital experience, to form a consultancy focused on advising on the commercial aspects of aviation in Europe. His continued investments span both aviation and non-aviation businesses.

In their conversation, Nick and Edwin delve into the intricacies of Oriens, exploring the private aircraft sector and the dynamics of running an aviation business with an ethical value chain. Edwin shares insights on how he envisions new technologies shaping the future of aviation and covers all you need to know in chartering or owning an aircraft.

Edwin book choice was Reach for the Sky by Paul Brickhill.

This week, Nick speaks to Swen Lorenz, CEO & Founder of Sarnia Asset Management, a fund manager based in Guernsey, Channel Islands.

Sarnia Asset Management is in the process of launching several high-performing niche funds in public equity. Swen has a 25-year track record start-ups, turnarounds, fund management and also runs an investment website and blog, Undervalued Shares.

Nick and Swen discuss Swen’s background, becoming editor-in-chief of a well-respected German investment publication at only twenty one, travel, philanthropic ventures, and the evolution of Undervalued Shares.

They discuss that Swen is in the process of launching a formal offer to buy the Sark real estate portfolio owned by Alistair Barclay, the heir of Sir David Barclay. If a transaction does take place, the Sark Property Company that Swen set up together with the Seigneur of Sark will own 20% of the surface area of Sark with a portfolio of residential, commercial and hotel properties. This company would then also aim to go public in London in 2025.

Swen’s book choice was The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz.

This week, Nick talks to Anthony Chow, Co-Founder of Agronomics.

Anthony co-founded Argonomics in 2018 alongside author, entrepreneur and investor, Jim Mellon. Agronomics is the leading London listed company in the field of cellular agriculture. Cellular agriculture is the production of agriculture products directly from cell cultures that would have otherwise been derived from traditional agriculture methods.

Nick and Anthony discuss cellular agriculture, looking at some of Anthony’s key investments and discussing what the sector will look like in the next 5-10 years.

Anthony’s book choice was Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future by Ed Conway.

This week, Nick talks to Richard Mulholland, Founder of Missing Link.

Richard founded Missing Link in 1997, after a career as a rock n’ roll roadie, operating lights for legendary bands including Def Leppard and Iron Maiden. Richard is an expert in persuasive communication and is a global keynote speaker, talking across the world on subjects such as strategy, leadership and sales.

Richard and Nick discuss the changing world of presentations, human connection and communication, tools to communicate persuasively and how to inspire action.

Richard has written three books: Legacide, Boredom Slayer, and Be Here Dragons. His other book choices were – Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith, Your Business Brickyard: Getting back to the basics by Howard Mann and Profit First by Mike Michalowicz.

This week, Nick talks to Stephen Julius, Entrepreneur & Investor.

Stephen Julius is an entrepreneur and investor focusing on acquiring controlling stakes in bankrupt or distressed, luxury consumer brands, mainly in the power sport industry, and then re-launching the companies.

With a love for iconic, product brands, a passion for design, and an interest in fostering craftsmanship within a manufacturing environment, Stephen has brought the following brands back to life: Chris-Craft Corporation, Riva Yachts and Indian Motorcycle Company.

Stephen and Nick discuss Stephen’s background in a Benedictine Monastery and starting out at The Boston Consulting Group. They talk about Stephen’s career, starting with his first investment in Italy, his investment strategy and key lessons learnt throughout his career.

Stephen’s book choices were The Odyssey by Homer and La Serenissima: The Story of Venice by Jonathan Keates.

This week, Nick talks to Emily Williams, Co-Founder of IW Aviation.

Formerly Board Sales Director at NetJets Europe, Emily has spent a decade advising HNWIs and globally recognised corporations on their aviation needs.

Her detailed knowledge of the industry includes operations and manufacturers, having built-up vast experience in strategy planning and long-term business analytics for her clients.

Emily and Nick discuss starting out in Ogilvy & Mather, before joining NetJets, shortly after the merger with Marquis Jet Europe. They talk about what it’s like to work with Warren Buffett, her ten-year career at NetJets, and the journey of founding and building her business, IWA.

Emily’s book choice was Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle.

This week, Nick talks to Bob Holt OBE, acclaimed business leader and philanthropist.

Bob Holt, former Director of Mears Group, built the company from a minnow to a market leader. He has since taken his significant experience to several other company boards. Seen as a no-nonsense hands-on achiever with significant experience at Board level, Bob recently turned around Revolution Beauty.

Nick and Bob discuss Bob’s start in Oldham in the family’s greengrocers to being Tottenham Hotspur’s CEO among many other leadership roles in his career. Bob also discusses his philanthropic pursuits as the founder of The Mears Foundation, The Footprints Foundation and The Holt Trust.

Bob’s book recommendations were the works of Tom Bower.

This week, Nick talks to Andy Lee, Founder and CIO of Parallaxes Capital.

Andy founded Parallaxes Capital in 2017. Previously, he was with Lone Star Funds, focused on investing in the Americas. He began his career at Citigroup. Andy graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Masters in Accountancy and a Bachelors in Finance and Accountancy.

Andrew’s book choice was The Five Secrets of a Sales C.O.A.C.H. by Hilmon Sorey and Cory Bray.

This week, Nick talks to promotional merchandise entrepreneur, Martin Varley.

Martin has founded several businesses within the promotional merchandise industry and has extensive knowledge of supply and distribution in the sector.

Martin left school at fifteen and worked as a photo journalist before embarking upon his entrepreneurial journey. He started his first promotional product company, which he grew and sold to Bemrose Corporation Plc. Whilst working with Bemrose, Martin launched 4imprint, which is now a UK Plc with a £1.3bn market cap. Martin then went on to found Galileo Innovation and Corporate Solutions, and following a series of deals, he created Altitude Group, serving as CEO from 2005 to 2017, before becoming a NED.

His latest project is Merchr.com, a content monetisation platform that gives brands, influencers, musicians, sportspeople, attractions, charities, schools, entrepreneurs, and more, a unique opportunity to create their own merch collection with no inventory, no risk and a 24-hour shipping guarantee.

Nick and Martin discuss Martin’s background and upbringing, the importance of building trust in sales, investing in your team and Martin’s passion for aviation.

As always, Nick and Martin discuss Martin’s book recommendations: Good To Great by Jim Collins and Odyssey by John Sculley.

This week, Nick speaks to serial technology entrepreneur and author, Michael Tobin OBE.

With over 30 years’ experience in the telecoms and technology sector, Michael is the former CEO of Telecity. Michael built Telecity from a £6m market cap to a £2.6bn business.

Michael has since founded Tobin Ventures, and holds multiple NED and Chairman roles with progressive businesses in the datacentre and technology industries. Michael is also Chairman of Audioboom.

Nick and Michael discuss Michael’s upbringing, his route to becoming CEO of Telecity, his management of several successful exit strategies, and his maverick management techniques.

Michael’s book choice was 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke

This week Nick talks to James Ashton, Author and CEO of Quoted Companies Alliance.

James has been a financial journalist for over 20 years; as City Editor and Executive Editor at the Evening Standard, and also worked at Reuters and the Sunday Times. James is the CEO of the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA), which is an enabling, principles-based, corporate governance code for companies focused on growth.

James is also an accomplished author, and his third book The Everything Blueprint: The Microchip Design that Changed the World tells the story of UK’s technology success ARM.

Nick and James discuss James’ background, what drove him to join Fleet Street, joining QCA, perceptions of public markets and what needs to change to keep UK Capital Markets relevant on the international stage. James also discusses the process of writing his latest book and the high-tech, international story of ARM.

James’ book choices were Philip Agur’s The Bank That Lived a Little – Barclays in the Age of the Very Free Market and Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe.

This week, Nick talks to Harris ‘Kuppy’ Kupperman, Founder & Chief Investment Officer of Praetorian Capital Fund LLC. Harris Kupperman is a renowned Investment Manager, who specializes in leveraging changing trends to guide stock selection and Event-Driven strategies. He is the founder of Praetorian Capital Management LLC and actively shares his investment process and insights on his blog, Kuppy’s Korner.

He is also a contributor to KEDM.com, a newsletter focused on Event-Driven investing. In addition, Harris holds the positions of Chairman and CEO at Mongolia Growth Group (YAK: Canada and MNGGF: USA), a publicly traded company, which provides him with a unique perspective as both an operator and financier.

Kuppy’s book choice was The First Tycoon by T.J. Stiles.

Listen to last week’s live recording of A Different Perspective podcast, featuring host Nick Searle with guests, macro trading legends Hugh Hendry and Barry Norris. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at St Ethelburga’s in the City of London on 21^st June.

Nick, Hugh and Barry discussed the rate rise dilemma faced by the FED and Bank of England and what needs to break, are we over peak ESG and what is the future for active fund management.

Hugh Hendry is a hedge fund manager and podcast host. Hugh was previously at Baillie Gifford and Odey Asset Management, and his Eclectica macro hedge fund was famously up 50% in 2003 and up 50% in the month of October in 2008, earning him a reputation as a contrarian investor.

Barry Norris is the Founder of Argonaut Capital, an equity fund management company based in London. Barry is the Fund Manager of the Argonaut Absolute Return Fund, a leading equity long/short fund, managed using contrarian top-down macro views and a bottom-up “earnings surprise” stock-picking process. He also writes the widely followed “Argonautica” blog and creates Argonaut’s distinct “Stockumentary” videos.

This week Nick talks to George Latham, Managing Partner at WHEB Group.

George has over 25 years of experience in sustainable investment. He currently holds the position of Managing Partner and Chief Risk Officer at WHEB Asset Management since 2012. Prior to that, he led the sustainable investment team at Henderson Global Investors which established the positive impact investment strategy that continues at WHEB.

Additionally, he played a key role in designing and launching Threadneedle Asset Management’s sustainable investment strategy in the late 1990s. George holds a degree in Geography from Oxford University, served as a British Army infantry officer, and is an Associate of the CFA UK. He is also an ambassador for B Corps UK.

George’s book choices were – The Infinite Game: How great Businesses Achieve Long -Lasting Success by Simon Sinek and Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein.

This week Nick talks to Isobel Stirling, Founder of Inner Friend, a holistic health, wellbeing and spirituality company.

Isobel is a successful corporate fashion and media executive and entrepreneur who worked in publishing prior to founding her own company. She worked with Anna Wintour at Conde Nast in a high-performing and competitive environment and learnt the skills of brand building and storytelling from the best in the business.

Isobel and Nick discuss Isobel’s background and career, living in twenty year sprints, launching vogue.com, content creation in an increasingly competitive space, and building Farfetch for IPO.

Isobel’s book choice was Becoming Supernatural by Dr Joe Dispenza.

This week Nick talks to Jason Tebb, CEO of OnTheMarket.

Jason has a wealth of experience in property having previously founded his own estate agency business, Ivy Gate (backed by former Dragon, James Caan) and as Regional Managing Director at LSL Property Services PLC. He was also an area director at Chestertons, held various senior positions at Foxtons and has experience in both property development and funding sectors.

Jason and Nick discuss Jason’s background and career, joining OnTheMarket and the focus for the business, and opportunities for the future in the sector.

This week Nick talks to Ken Wotton, Managing Director, Public Equity at Gresham House.

A renowned investor, Ken trained as an accountant and worked as an equities analyst before running client money. Ken now heads up the Gresham House Public Equity Team that manages c. £1bn. of assets across three open-ended funds.

Ken and Nick discuss Ken’s background and career, his investment strategy at Gresham House, the importance on focusing on company fundamentals instead of sentiment and opportunities for the future.

Ken’s book choices were The Big Short by Michael Lewis and Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance.

This week Nick talks to Jasmine Skee, CEO of Guild Esports.

Jasmine has had a distinguished career, working in music marketing and sponsorship. She was responsible for masterminding the rebranding of 15 UK music venues, including the O2 Arena. She also launched the O2 Academy TV YouTube channel, creating bespoke content with artists such as Kasabian.

Jasmine and Nick discuss Jasmine’s background and career, the approach that Guild Esports is taking, her view on the future of the sector and her vision for Guild Esports.

Jasmine’s book choice was Daring Greatly by Brene Brown.

This week Nick talks to Mark Costar, Senior Fund Manager at JO Hambro.

Mark, along with his colleague Vishal Bhatia run the JO Hambro UK Growth Fund. Mark and Vishal aim to identify mispriced or undiscovered growth stocks with a smaller company bias, the fund also contains stocks which have a high margin of safety but significant upside potential.

Mark and Nick discuss what first interested Mark in the markets and his early career, how Mark identifies mispriced or undiscovered growth stocks and growth opportunities in the UK market in 2023.

Mark recommends: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, The Avoidable War by Kevin Rudd, Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake and The Sea Is Not Made of Water Life Between the Tides by Adam Nicolson.

In this special episode, the legendary Acid Capitalist Hugh Hendry joins Nick for a truly different perspective.

Hugh, on this birthday, made a very timely surprise, in person, appearance to talk with Nick about the financial woes of the last week.

The discussion includes the Federal Reserve’s expected response to the liquidity crisis, the imminent downfall of venture capitalists, private equity and commercial real estate, inflation, interest rates and what Hugh’s been trading and what he’s looking to buy.  There is also mention of a Jimi Hendrix playing rock goddess and time spent with Brad Pitt’s healer in LA.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUGH!

Follow Hugh on Twitter or Instagram. or listen to his podcast, Acid Capitalist wherever you get your podcasts.

This week Nick talks to Ian Strafford Taylor, CEO of Equals Group.

Ian co-founded FairFX, which became Equals Group, in 2006 becoming CEO in 2012.  Having previously held a number of senior investment banking roles, Ian left UBS, after 13 years, as Global Head of Securities Borrowing & Lending, Fixed Income Repo and Prime Brokerage. Ian is a chartered accountant, qualifying with Arthur Andersen in 1985.

Ian and Nick discuss Ian’s career, the evolution of Equals Group and opportunities for the business going forward.

Ian recommends Tom Clancy as a good read and also his love of cryptic crosswords, preferring the The Times on the way into the office and The Telegraph on the way home.

This week Nick talks to Richard Staveley, Lead Fund Manager of Rockwood Strategic.

Richard Staveley has over twenty years’ experience of equity investment and fund management.

Rockwood Strategic Plc is an Investment Trust which invests in a focused portfolio of smaller UK public companies. The strategy identifies undervalued shares, where the potential exists to improve returns and where the company is benefitting, or will benefit, from operational, strategic or management changes. These unlock, create or realise shareholder value for investors.

Richard and Nick discuss Richard’s career to date, the micro-cap market and indicators for the future.

This week Nick talks to Mark Cutler, CEO of Van Elle Holdings.

AIM listed Van Elle is the UK’s largest ground engineering contractor, offering end-to-end capabilities across residential, infrastructure and construction.

A graduate of Imperial College London, Mark is a chartered civil engineer with over 30 years’ experience in the infrastructure, construction and utility sectors and has held various senior leadership roles with major UK contractors including Cerillion, Morgan Sindall and Balfour Beatty.

Nick and Mark discuss his background and career to date, what sets Van Elle apart from its competition, the strategy going forward and opportunities in a fragmented market.

This week Nick talks to Zoe Watkiss, Co-Founder of SunGod, the performance eyewear brand for Bike, Run, Snow & Everyday.

Zoe is a serial entrepreneur having launched Hats for the Hill whilst at university. She now divides her time between London and Verbier.

Zoe founded SunGod with her now husband Ali to build a better performance eyewear company, through community and sustainability. Collaborations include Team Ineos, McLaren F1, The SAILGP Great Britain team and The England Rugby team. SunGod is now challenging the established brands for global market share.

Zoe talks about her influences, and motivating factors that have contributed to SunGod becoming a genuine UK success story.

In this extended episode, Nick Searle speaks to William Green, Author of Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World’s Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life. William also hosts a podcast, the Richer, Wiser, Happier podcast.

Over the past twenty five years, William has interviewed many of the world’s best investors. He shares insights from his career and the best advice he has received from the greatest minds in finance.

In this episode, Nick Searle speaks to Bobby Vedral, Partner and Portfolio Manager at Toscafund Asset Management.

Bobby has over 20 years of financial market experience. Prior to Toscafund was a Partner at Goldman Sachs and worked at UniCredit/HVB and Deutsche Bank. He is the author of the macro-political newsletter, MacroEagle.

Bobby shares insights on his strategy for the past decades, his views on the current market, how high interest rates will alter the strategy going forward and his views on cryptocurrency.

In this episode, Nick Searle speaks to Barry Norris, Founder of Argonaut Capital Partners.

Argonaut Capital is a specialist equity fund management company based in London, managing both long only and long/short equity funds.

Barry talks us through his journey to starting his own fund, explains what motivated him to create a documentary titled ‘What have fossil fuels ever done for us’ and why he is sceptical about renewable energy sources.

Watch Barry’s stockumentary or subscribe to his podcast on the Argonaut website.

In this episode, Nick Searle speaks to Tim Steer, former top-ranked UK fund manager and author.

Tim started his career as sound engineer to the stars – touring with the likes of Meat Loaf, Diana Ross, Leo Sayer and Thin Lizzy.

He then qualified as an accountant before moving into investment analysis and fund management, becoming one of the most highly rated fund managers in Britain. Since 2000 he has also written regularly for the Times and Sunday Times, as well as contributing to the Financial Times.

Read more from Tim by purchasing a copy of his book, The Signs Were There.

View the ‘A Different Perspective’ Reading list.

In this episode, Nick Searle speaks to Helena Marston, CEO of Purplebricks.

Helena joined Purplebricks in May 2020 as Chief People Officer and took on the role of Chief Operating Officer at the end of 2021 before becoming Chief Executive Officer in April 2022.

Prior to Purplebricks, a passion for driving significant performance improvements in leadership and organisational culture led Helena to hold several senior leadership roles at Virgin Media, Kuwait Energy, Jaguar Land Rover and Vodafone. Helena shares with Nick insights from her background, her motivation, and discusses her interest in human behaviour.

Helena’s book choices are Executive Intelligence: What All Great Leaders Have in Common by Justin Menkes, The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez and the Art of War by Sun Tzu.

In this episode Nick speaks with Alex Hoye the co-founder of the disruptive ski brand The Faction Collective.

After a conventional path of Stanford, Harvard Business School, Disney, McKinsey and even an AIM listing Alex co-founded The Faction Collective.

The Faction Collective produces the skis your kids want to ski. The conversation takes in the ethos and strategy of Faction with strong shadows of Alex’s inspiration Yves Chouinard.

Nick Searle speaks to Simon Young, Fund Manager.

An extremely experienced portfolio manager, Simon has focused on income mandates for many years. Following Cambridge University, Simon joined Mercury Asset Management which became Blackrock, and has also worked at Aviva and AXA Asset Management.

Simon and Nick discuss Simon’s background and career progression, the appeal income mandates and cash generative companies and views on how macro headwinds will affect consumer spending over the next six months.

Nick Searle speaks to Richard Simpson, CEO of Watkin Jones Group.

Richard moved into real estate after starting his career in the British Army. He describes his career progression at Unite and the transition to CEO at Watkin Jones.  Nick and Richard discuss the current economic backdrop and the impact on the business, the outlook and trends in the UK real estate industry.

Watkin Jones is the UK’s leading developer and manager of residential for rent focusing on the build to rent residential, purpose built student accommodation and affordable housing sectors.

This week the legendary Acid Capitalist Hugh Hendry joins Nick for a truly different perspective.

Previously at Baillie Gifford and Odey Asset Management Hugh’s Eclectica macro hedge fund was famously up 50% in 2003 and up 50% in the month of October in 2008. Monikered as a contrarian investor, Hugh certainly has some very different views as Nick runs through a tally of macro thoughts and themes.

Follow Hugh on Twitter or Instagram, or listen to his podcast, Acid Capitalist wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Nick Searle speaks to Mike Allen, Head of Research at Zeus.

Mike explains how he entered the industry, and explains how the research offering is structured at Zeus. He also gives some thoughts on his top picks in these turbulent markets.

Mike’s book choices are The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham and A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough.

In this episode, Nick speaks to ex-hedge fund manager, Richard Howarth.

Richard had a very successful career at Brewin Dolphin, Clerical Medical and Insight yet decided to retire six years ago as ‘money can’t buy you time’.  Richard now lives in Switzerland skiing in the winter and climbing in the summer whilst continuing to invest in the markets.

In this episode, Nick speaks with Albert Ellis, CEO of Staffline Group plc.

Staffline provides recruitment and outsourced human resource services. Staffline is an interesting business for our current economic times of high employment and wage increases. Albert has had a very varied career, from starting as a professional musician to running his own hair salons, before working in recruitment.  As always, Albert shares with us some great life lessons.

In this episode Nick talks to Martin Gilbert and Campbell Fleming of AssetCo.

Martin founded Aberdeen Asset Management in 1983, culminating in the merger with Standard Life to create the UK’s largest financial services firm in 2017. Martin serves on many boards, including being Chairman of Revolut and a Senior Independent Director at Glencore.

Campbell is CEO of AssetCo and was previously global Head of Distribution and Marketing at Standard Life Aberdeen.

Martin and Campbell lay out their vision for AssetCo, and the asset management industry, what drives them to ‘go again’, thoughts on current market movements and have some pearls of wisdom for people starting out on their careers.

This week, Nick talks to Fergus Wylie of SIFA Strategy. SIFA Strategy was established in 2016, recognising the material importance of ESG, and the need for management teams to embed it within their business and reporting in response to increasing influence on the cost of capital and drivers of reputation. Fergus discusses why he founded SIFA Strategy, how he views ESG, how management teams can begin to tackle the topic of ESG and current criticism of ESG.

This week, Nick talks to Adam Bond, CEO of AFC Energy. Adam has been the CEO at AFC Energy for eight years. We learn about Adam’s background and positioning himself to further a career in alternative energy (and specifically hydrogen). A topical focus with our current energy security and climate change agendas, Hydrogen is well placed to be the fuel of the future and AFC is at the bleeding edge.

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