Speaking
James is an experienced keynote speaker, interview host and podcaster (as a regular host of KPMG’s Turnaround and Restructuring Hub podcast), known for his compelling insights and authentic delivery. Drawing on four decades of hands-on leadership and advisory roles, James brings clarity and depth to complex topics, making him a sought-after voice at industry conferences, corporate events, and leadership forums. His specialist subjects— leadership in times of crisis, global consumer and retail trends, and why businesses fail —are grounded in real-world experience and delivered with a mix of sharp analysis, relatable storytelling, and practical takeaways.
James has addressed diverse audiences, from boardrooms to international summits, offering perspective shaped by years of guiding companies through periods of uncertainty and transformation. Whether unpacking the root causes of corporate failure or highlighting emerging shifts in global consumer behavior, James consistently challenges conventional thinking and equips his audiences with tools to lead with resilience, purpose, and strategic foresight.
Speaking topics
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With almost three decades working with retail and consumer brands, participating in global retail study tours with Westfield and attending numerous global retail conferences, James is a passionate, engaging and insightful story teller of how the shape of global retail models are changing in response to rapidly shifts consumer behaviour. He is a frequent speaker and commentator on the consumer and retail sector, and his entertaining, high energy style makes him a compelling keynote speaker, interview host or podcast guest.
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Most business leaders will experience genuine crisis, maybe once or twice in their career. Restructuring professionals manage crisis as their day job. James is uniquely positioned to speak on human behaviour in times of crisis, how leaders respond to and learn from crisis situations and how values based leaders grow their reputations by not only what they do in a crisis, but how they do it.
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Business failure is, as they say, like life, death and taxes. Many people believe businesses fail because of economic conditions, government policy or competitor behaviour. While each of these can contribute to business failure, James sheds light on the real reason most business fail, what you can do to avoid business failure and the steps to take to develop a business turnaround strategy.
