Sparks Studio

Why Research Matters – Annabel Venner

Global brand director Annabel Venner talks to us about marketing research, what it can and can’t do, and why it matters.

Interview – Lesley Everett

Lesley Everett is a globally recognised personal brand leader and CEO of Walking TALL consulting. In this interview with Sparks, she shares her perspective on what makes a credible and compelling internal brand, and how culture is embedded and worked out through individuals.

Interview – Mark Rockliffe

At times of crisis, many firms double–down on sales and conversions, and branding slips off the agenda. With a distinguished career in distribution, Mark Rockliffe shares his understanding of how brand supports sales and the importance of balancing the short and long term needs of the business.

Interview – Countrywide

When Octopus Investments took a stake in Countrywide Healthcare, the new investors brought Sparks in to rebrand the company. We talked to Alastair Kitching from Countrywide and Edward Keelan from Octopus Investments about what the rebrand did for the firm and the value of their investment.

Interview – Co:Cubed

With experience at Unilever and with several of the FTSE 100, Jeremy Bassett is a globally recognised expert in business innovation. We sat down to learn from his perspective and swap notes on innovation, branding and staying relevant in a changing market.

Interview – Iress

Iress is an Australian technology company that supplies software to the financial services industry in the UK, APAC, North America and South Africa. It has 1,950 staff, and works with 9000 businesses and 500,000 users. As a software provider it is by nature in the background, and after nearly three decades in business it could easily be taken for granted. We spoke to Matthew Holland, head of corporate marketing, about why they refreshed and refocused their brand.

Interview – Theos

Founded in 2006, Theos is a think tank that aims to bring balance to the debate about religion in public life. We began working with Theos in 2015 to develop a brand that celebrates the historic value of faith’s influence on society. Theos’ Director Elizabeth Oldfield discussed with us how they use research to challenge and change ill–informed ideas, and why that’s important.

Interview – Aberkyn

Aberkyn began in 2012 as a joint venture with the management consultancy McKinsey & Company. Its 100 facilitators work globally to help organisations accelerate transformation, using leadership and team development, change management and wilderness trails. Mike Carson, an Aberkyn founder, met us to talk about growing a new organisation out of one with a rich history.

Interview – Brothers We Stand

We talked to Jonathan about why his ethical menswear brand is different, how he’s winning followers, and the importance of telling stories to stay relevant in a fast–changing market.