Strategy, Story & Stakeholders

Traditional corporate fluff doesn’t fly in high-performance, high-stakes environments. In this episode of Strategy, Story & Stakeholders, host Max Forsyth sits down with Caroline Vasquez, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at DRW. Caroline has spent her career operating at the sharp intersection of finance, technology, and global markets — fostering deep corporate trust through volatil...

In this episode of Strategy, Story & Stakeholders , Max Forsyth sits down with Sophie Timms , Corporate Affairs Director at Kier Group . With over 25 years of experience across financial services and infrastructure, Sophie has a unique perspective on what it takes for communications leaders to move beyond being "note-takers" to becoming strategic drivers at the Exco table. Sophie shares the le...

Most healthcare brands struggle to tell a cohesive story that encompasses complex services and stakeholder trust — CVS Health is transforming that challenge into a strategic advantage. In this episode, Brian Henry, SVP and Chief Communications Officer at CVS Health, reveals how the company is shifting perceptions from neighborhood pharmacy to a comprehensive, trusted health tech powerhouse with a...

How do you build a multi-billion dollar financial infrastructure in a sector often dismissed as "the Wild West"? For Katie Evans, Chief Business Development and Communications Officer at Swarm, the answer lies in three things: regulation, radical simplicity, and the "Power of Three." In this episode, Katie joins Max Forsyth to discuss Swarm’s strategic evolution and its recent acquisition by Inven...

In a world often defined by noise and uncertainty, how can a 100-year-old icon use the power of story to inspire confidence in the future? In this episode of Strategy, Story & Stakeholders , host Max Forsyth is joined by Stacey Jones, Chief Communications Officer at Honeywell , for an uplifting conversation on the evolution of a global giant. Speaking in February 2026, Stacey shares the inside...

In this episode of Strategy, Story & Stakeholders , host Max Forsyth sits down with Craig Spence , the Chief Brand and Communications Officer for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) . With over 15 years at the helm of the IPC’s narrative, Craig shares how the Paralympic Games serve as a monumental catalyst for global social change. This isn't just about sport; it’s about a movement th...

In this conversation, Jenny Hall, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Royal Mail, discusses her role in leading corporate affairs and ESG initiatives within one of the UK's most scrutinised organisations. She shares insights on the importance of communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, and the challenges of managing a large workforce while navigating public scrutiny. Jenny emphasises the ne...

Ed Whitehead, Advisory Director - Corporate Reputation at Ipsos, joins Strategy, Story & Stakeholders to take us through the Ipsos Reputation Council 2025 Report: The Eye of the Storm. We examine the changing nature of crisis communication, arguing that organisations must stop treating crises as one-off incidents and instead recognise them as a permanent fixture of modern business.  We ex...

What separates a "good" communications director from a true strategic business partner in the C-suite? According to Tabita Andersson, author of Chief Communications Officers at Work , the answer isn't creative flair or perfect copywriting—it's deep business acumen. In this episode of Strategy, Story & Stakeholders , Max Forsyth sits down with Tabita to explore the evolution of the CCO role. Dr...

In the second episode of Strategy, Story & Stakeholders, we sit down with Rebecca Matts to explore the nuances of corporate affairs. Rebecca shares her path from starting as a junior marketing executive at Clifford Chance to becoming a trusted communications and corporate affairs advisor at firms including HSBC, UBS, BlackRock. Nomura, SThree and Hines, revealing how she aligns communications...

Summary In this episode of Strategy, Story and Stakeholders, host Max Forsyth speaks with Charlotte Otter, an expert in executive communications who previously led executive communications and internal communications for SAP, the global tech giant with 130,000 employees, and now author of 'We Need New Leaders.' They discuss the evolving dynamics of leadership communication, the importance of self-...