Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast with Mike Allen

Today on Ignite & Scale, we’re discussing a topic that sits at the heart of one of the biggest frustrations consumers and businesses face when buying and owning vehicles. For decades, much of the automotive industry has been built around selling cars. Yet for customers, buying a vehicle is often stressful, time-consuming, and uncertain. Our guest believes the industry has focused too heavily o...

This week, Mike talks to Ryan Mendy. Growing up in East London, Ryan Mendy went on to become an entrepreneur, investor and business ecosystem builder who has spent more than two decades at the intersection of capital markets, technology and high-growth companies. Having held senior roles at Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and across the public markets, advising on IPOs, corporate transactions and g...

This week Mike talks to Anton Hanley Anton Hanley is the founder of TLA, a business that grew out of the early online automotive marketplace AskAPrice.com, which launched in 2002 from humble beginnings in Wigan. In the podcast, Anton explains how the company quickly established itself as a dominant player in new car lead generation at a time when few dealerships or manufacturers fully understood t...

This week Mike talks to Jason Cranswick Jason Cranswick is the founder of Cranswick Consulting , a boutique advisory firm specialising in digital transformation, customer experience and operational performance across the automotive sector. With more than 30 years’ leadership experience spanning OEMs, franchised dealer groups, automotive services and digital ventures, he has held senior executive r...

In this episode of Ignite & Scale, Mike Allen talks to Sam Baker. Sam Baker is the Managing Partner of Mobility VC , a global venture platform focused on investing in the underlying infrastructure that enables the future of mobility. His career spans impact-driven work at Kiva, followed by co-founding and scaling a mobility platform operating in over 100 cities worldwide. At Mobility VC, he le...

In this episode, Mike talks to Ben Chodor Ben Chodor is the CEO of CallRevu , a communications intelligence platform used by thousands of dealerships to turn everyday customer interactions into actionable insight and revenue growth. With a background spanning SaaS, digital media, and communications at scale, he is known for a pragmatic, results-driven approach that aligns product, customer needs,...

This week episode of Ignite & Scale Mike Allen talks to Neil Shah Neil Shah is a senior leader at the London Stock Exchange , where he works closely with ambitious tech and tech-enabled businesses from early scale through to global leaders. He focuses on how companies access capital, scale effectively and navigate strategic options, giving him a front-line view of what separates high-performin...

In this episode of Ignite & Scale , we explore how customer insight is reshaping the automotive industry. Mike Allen welcomes Scott Gairns, Managing Director of Sophus3 , who shares his experience working with leading automotive retailers and OEMs to turn fragmented customer data into actionable insight. With the industry undergoing rapid transformation — from electrification to digital retail...

From Ford Britain to the Future of Automotive — with Andy Barratt Andy Barratt spent nearly 25 years at Ford Motor Company, rising to Managing Director of Ford Britain — a business responsible for 450,000 vehicles annually and $14 billion in revenue. Since then, he's held senior leadership roles across the Middle East and now advises organisations on transformation and growth. In this episode, And...

Guest: Stuart Widdowson – Co-Founder & Fund Manager, Odyssean Capital 🔍 Episode Overview In this episode, Mike Allen welcomes Stuart Widdowson, one of the UK’s most respected small and mid-cap fund managers and co-founder of Odyssean Capital. With over two decades investing across public and private markets, Stuart shares deep insights on valuations, market inefficiencies, and why applying a...

Host: Mike Allen – Cambria Private Capital 🔍 About This Episode In today’s episode, Mike Allen sits down with Anthony Brennan, Board & Business Development Director at Autonomy, part of the MTC Group. Autonomy is redefining how dealerships and OEMs deliver digital experiences by designing platforms that combine freedom, flexibility and scale. This conversation dives into how Autonomy was buil...

Show Notes – Strong on AI, Automotive 🚘🤖 In this episode of Ignite & Scale, we sit down with Devin Daly, founder and CEO of Impel, the first unicorn on our podcast. Devin takes us inside the incredible journey from investment banking to building a global AI powerhouse transforming automotive retail. Impel now powers 36bn shopper interactions, driving over $9 billion in sales across 51 countr...

In this episode of Ignite & Scale , Mike Allen sits down with Charlie Cook, founder of Rightcharge , to explore how a climate-driven mission evolved into one of the UK’s most innovative EV charging businesses. What began as a simple comparison tool has since transformed into core EV charging payments software—a tech platform designed to make charging payments seamless and accurate for both dri...

In this episode of Ignite & Scale, we sit down with Johan Sundstrand — serial entrepreneur and founder of Phyron, one of the most innovative AI scaleups transforming automotive retail. Johan’s entrepreneurial journey spans over two decades, from building Kalix Finans in fintech (scaled to 60,000 users and acquired by Folksam), to founding Freya News (later acquired by Jabmo), and leading Jabmo...

🔍 Episode Overview: In this episode, Mike Allen sits down with John Veichmanis, CEO of Carwow, to unpack his leadership journey and the bold vision he’s shaping for one of the UK’s most influential automotive platforms. They explore: John’s early career and what drew him to Carwow How he’s steering the business as a true marketplace leader Lessons from shifting consumer behaviour and dealer expec...

In this episode of Ignite & Scale, Mike Allen sits down with Ken Cumming, founder of Redhead Automotive, a consultancy renowned for transforming dealer profitability across the UK and Northern Europe. Ken brings decades of operational experience—from Toyota GB to global consulting with ASE—and shares powerful, no-nonsense insights on what actually drives results in the automotive retail world....

Episode overview: In this data-rich and candid conversation, Philip Nothard, one of the UK’s most respected automotive analysts, joins Mike Allen to unpack the major shifts shaping the sector in 2025. Fresh from Autopalooza and the FT Future of the Car Summit, Philip shares insights from the latest Cox Automotive Insight Quarterly report and explains what they mean for founders, operators, and inv...

🔥 Episode Overview: In this high-impact episode, Mike sits down with Ashley Tott—entrepreneur, investor, and one of Sweden’s most sought-after scale-up advisors. With a background in corporate finance, private equity, and board leadership, Ashley brings sharp insight into how founder-led businesses can break through the €10m turnover ceiling and achieve repeatable, structured growth. From recruit...

In this powerful kickoff to Series 3 of Ignite & Scale, Mike Allen sits down with Angela Montacute, the CEO of Digital INNK, to explore what it takes to scale a SaaS business in one of the most challenging sectors: automotive. Angela shares the origin story behind Digital INNK, the moments that proved real product-market fit, and the hard-won lessons of building a lean, effective team while se...

Ignite & Scale – Final Episode of Series 2 In the final episode of Ignite & Scale Season 2, Mike sits down with Dave Timmis, founder of Leasing.com, to discuss his 25-year journey in the UK car leasing industry. From the early days of ContractHireAndLeasing.com to leading the UK’s largest car leasing comparison platform, Dave shares valuable insights into:  • The Evolution of Leasing.com:...

In this episode of Ignite & Scale , host Mike Allen engages in a compelling conversation with Owen Edwards, an expert in automotive business consulting at Grant Thornton UK LLP. They delve into the intricacies of scaling businesses within the automotive sector, discussing strategies for sustainable growth, the impact of emerging technologies, and the evolving landscape of automotive finance. O...

Jeff Barnes, Managing Partner at Angel Investor Network and Host of Angels, Exits, & Acquisitions In this episode of Ignite & Scale - The Cambria Private Capital Podcast , Mike Allen sits down with Jeff Barnes to unpack his FOCUS framework—a powerful tool for entrepreneurs and investors alike. They explore: • FOCUS Framework: Jeff’s step-by-step approach to building clarity and alignment i...

In this episode of Ignite & Scale , host Mike Allen is joined by David Spickett, CEO and Co-Founder of The Car Crowd, to explore the innovative concept of fractional ownership in classic cars. Together, they discuss how The Car Crowd is democratising access to classic car investments, the intricacies of managing such a platform, and the passion that drives a community of investors and automoti...

In this episode, Mike is joined by William Taaffe, Chief Operating Officer at Lockdown Cyber Security, to explore the critical topic of cybersecurity for modern business leaders. As the digital landscape evolves, so do the threats that companies face. William shares valuable insights into the current cybersecurity challenges and offers practical advice on how businesses can proactively protect the...

Guest : Jeremy Evans, Chief Executive at Marketing Delivery Host : Mike Allen, Cambria Private Capital Summary : Mike Allen interviews Jeremy Evans to discuss how digital and CRM marketing are transforming the automotive industry. Jeremy shares insights on how data is driving customer engagement, the importance of personalisation in marketing strategies, and the future of digital tools in automoti...