Retail

Consumer Services

“I can't recommend Suzie and her team highly enough. Not only did she place me based on my technical experience, but she paid equal attention to my cultural fit at the organisation, and my personality match with the female leader I was to be working for. As a result, the role was a perfect fit for what I was looking for, and I enjoyed several very happy years there. Suzie is so passionate and knowledgeable, if I'm ever in the market, she is the first person I call. Over the years she has also acted as a guide and consultant when I've been promoted internally and is always at the end of a phone. Her expertise is unparalleled in my view, and I appreciate working with a smaller, boutique search firm - as opposed to a larger, and perhaps more clinical, corporate”.

Katherine Walker, Product, Brand and Marketing Communications Director, Shell Energy Retail

Consumer Services

The energy and utilities sectors are undergoing a major shift. The biggest challenge is twofold: the need to meet rising energy demand while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and reach Net Zero quickly. On top of this, customers are adding to the pressure by demanding a better customer experience.

The challenges facing utility companies around the globe include increased competition, limited government subsidies, stricter CO2 regulations, customer churn and technological disruption. As initiatives for a sustainable energy mix evolve, utility companies that invest wisely, position themselves to benefit from the changing industry landscape.

To remain competitive over the next decade, utilities will need to make significant investments and have focused efforts to renew and expand their generation capacity, improve operational efficiency and retain and expand their customer base.

The Insurance sector is currently going through a huge transformation and this disruption is not just digital. Consumer expectations have changed and in an era of overwhelming choice, loyalty is no longer a guarantee. There is a clear shift towards a more service-driven model. The arrival of more nimble competitors either in the form of insurtech platforms or technology giants is increasing the pressure on the existing well-established businesses.

In an age of immediacy, constant change and overwhelming choice where loyalty is no longer a given, the industry has to extend beyond its core products and services if it is to retain its customer base. Growth will come from new service-based models, innovative products and a greater focus on prevention. The winners will be those that can forge alliances with innovative start-ups; ally with insurtech; and consolidate with their peers. How can insurers use technologies such as analytics, blockchain and cloud to their advantage? Insurance companies need to know how to deploy the right technology for the right purpose or they risk being left behind.