Joe Johnston - Launch

This month we chat with Alec Samways, Founder and CEO of Splendid Communications and leader of The Splendid Collective. Alec has spent more than two decades helping brands build cultural relevance as well as deliver commercial results. But is what he does PR?!We chat with Alec about building brands that earn attention and become part of people’s lives, rather than simply appearing in marketing channels. Drawing on his work with brands including Smirnoff, Spotify, Marmite, Greggs and Tesco, Alec explains why cultural credibility leads to a genuine understanding of people.Alec also discusses the importance of having a curious mind....You can connect with Alec on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alecsamways/As always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

This month we chat with Niall Ratcliffe, CEO of Noticed. Noticed has grown rapidly in the last few years to become one of the UK's largest B2B agencies. We chat with Niall about the creation and growth of his agency after his time at university in America. He explains where the business idea came from, how he applies 'first principles' thinking, and why LinkedIn is so important for B2B brands.Niall is ambitious and enthusiastic, and he names several high profile contacts as influences!You can connect with Niall on LinkedIn here: Niall Ratcliffe | LinkedInAs always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

This episode is a bit different. Usually, Tom sits alongside Hanne as they interview people from the marketing world. This time Hanne interviews Tom!Tom is joined by Luan Wise as they chat about their new book 'Marketing and Psychology: Understanding Customer Behaviour With The ABC Approach' (published by Routledge).Luan Wise is a seasoned industry practitioner with 25 years of agency, client-side, and consultancy experience. She is a Chartered Marketer, fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM), and is currently pursuing a PhD by portfolio at the University of Lancashire, UK. She has also written several other books, including 'Planning For Success' and 'Smart Social Media'.You can connect with Luan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luanwiseAs always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Joe Johnston is a very smart marketer. As Head of Experimentation at Launch, Joe's role is to recommend and test ways to improve the effectiveness of his clients' marketing activity. He applies behavioural science principles and research-based insights to make marketing campaigns more effective. Listen in to hear Joe chatting through his approach to experimentation and his approach to solving a wide range of marketing challenges. He also explains his career so far, from starting in public relations, to roles in digital marketing, conversion optimisation, and now more general experimentation. It's a fascinating journey, driven by a passion for knowledge and an inquisitive mind. Away from the day job, Joe is also the Lead Organiser of The Marketing Meetup in Bristol.You can connect with Joe on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-johnston-838bb428/As always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Megan Fellows is not just an experienced digital marketer, but also a perennial student! She studied a degree, then a Masters degree, and now a PhD. All of this whilst handling digital marketing roles in retail, education, and financial services sectors.We discuss Meg’s career path to date, leading to her current role handling CRM for Screwfix.She explains what a CRM role involves, how previous roles led her to this point, and what she aims to discover through her PhD.  You can connect with Megan on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-fellows-643573140/As always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Phil Treagus-Evans is man of many talents. Having harboured entrepreneurial dreams from an early age, he started his social media agency, Giraffe Social, after graduating from university.Running an agency wasn't enough for Phil though! As a voracious reader, he also had an ambition to write a book. So, in 2025 he published Human First Marketing, a book encapsulating his thoughts about social media marketing, supported by references to academic theory and tactical implementation.Phil talks us through his journey, from student, to agency boss, to author. He explains lessons learned along the way, and advice for marketers on how to take a 'human first' approach.You can connect with Phil on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-treagus-evans/Giraffe Social: https://www.giraffesocialmedia.co.uk/You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Human-First-Marketing-Trusted-Remembered/dp/1068454202/As always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Suso (Susan) O'Brien has held marketing roles at some of the world's most famous brands, including several years as Brand Director at Sky, and her most recent role as Global CMO at Just Eat.From telephone calls in New York taxis, to hiring Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry to front the Just Eat adverts, Suso talks us through her career - and it's not all glamourous! She explains how she climbed the first rungs on the career ladder, as well as the need to be resilient and focus on long-term brand outcomes.Suso has held both consultancy and in-house roles and she also explains the pros and cons of each. Whether you are an experienced marketer or have aspirations for a long career in marketing, you'll enjoy listening to Suso's brand insights and career experiences.You can connect with Mel on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susoltd/As always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Melanie Nicholas has held roles that many marketers dream of, including Managing Director at Universal Pictures, Marketing Director at Polygram, and Head of Brand at Odeon Cinemas. Mel is at least part of the reason you know about movies such as Fast and Furious, Despicable Me, and the Jason Bourne series. Mel has worked with, and for, some huge brands and very famous celebrities.  She talks us through the challenges and pressures of her various roles, and parellels with wider marketing positions.Mel's career has since evolved to become a maketing 'fixer', working as a consultant, and interim or fractional CMO. We chat with Mel about the highlights of her career, the pros and cons of working in the entertainment industry, and more recent work with hospitality brands.You can connect with Mel on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanienicholas/ As always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Gareth Helm has had a stellar career in marketing, including roles at some of the world's biggest brands. Most recently he was Chief Marketing Officer for McDonalds, and then Chief Marketing Officer at Homeserve. His career though has included roles with Innocent Drinks, Zoopla, Nestle and Unilever among others. Wow!Gareth is now a non-executive director and provides career development and strategic advice through a project called Sideminds. He has also found time to write an award-winning book - The Marketing Leader's Code.We chat with Gareth about his career path, navigating huge changes in the digital landscape, and his advice for listeners on how to climb the career ladder.You can connect with Gareth on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehelm/As always, you can also reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].

Louis Havriliuc has created an amazing digital marketing simulation tool called Simbound.  If you want to find out how to undertake an effective digital marketing campaign, Simbound is a great way to learn.  The online platform allows learners to create a range of digital marketing tools and experiment with different techniques to understand their effectiveness.  We discuss the aims and purpose of Simbound with Louis, and his plans to keep developing the tool to consider aspects such as ESG and the role of AI.You can connect with Louis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisdoruhavriliuc/ You can also find out more about Simbound on the website: https://www.simbound.com