The Ankura Podcast

Blockchain and cryptocurrency have become buzzwords, but what do they truly mean for industries and society? Join John Frehse as he chats with expert Andrew Sotak on this episode of The Impact Exchange.  Andrew shares his insights on:  • What blockchain is at its core • The impact of crypto on global regulations  • Real-life forensic cases in the crypto world • Future trends in digital assets

With the football transfer window now open, have you ever wondered about the intricacies behind those multimillion-dollar player moves? With over 22,000 transfers globally last year, the football transfer window is big business, totalling $8.6 billion! In the latest episode of The Business Behind Sport, Jonny Gray is joined by Paolo Lombardi, Managing Director of Lombardi Associates, to share his...

Why are there so many unfinished construction projects? Is it true in construction that you can only pick two: better, faster, or cheaper?  In this episode of The Impact Exchange, John Frehse sits down with Ankura’s Chris Nutter to explore the world of value engineering, a process developed during World War II that is used today to balance cost, function, and quality in construction projects.  Chr...

In the latest episode of The Business Behind Sport, hear from Moses Swaibu, a former professional footballer who spent a spell in prison after he was drawn into the dark world of match-fixing. In a candid conversation with Jonathan Brown, Moses reveals how he was targeted by organized crime syndicates to manipulate matches and the impact his actions had on his life and career. Moses' brother,...

Are you being watched?! 2025 has witnessed a surge in sophisticated cyberattacks, with ransomware attacks rising by 126% globally. In this episode of The Impact Exchange, John Frehse speaks with Han Lai about the critical importance of cybersecurity and the hidden risks we all face in our connected world. Discover why information security matters and learn the first steps to take if your data is c...

Dive into the world of global trade in the latest episode of The Impact Exchange with John Frehse as he’s joined by trade expert Kate Kalutkiewicz! Kate unpacks the complexities of trade policies and tariffs that are reshaping industries worldwide. From her experiences in the Trump White House Administration to leading trade policy at Amazon, Kate brings unparalleled insights into how these change...

Join John Frehse and Michelle Mader on the latest episode of The Impact Exchange as they explore the future of healthcare. Gain insights into the strategic investments required to shape the future and understand what innovations will benefit society at large. Discover how the healthcare sector is transitioning towards tech-driven home care solutions, enhancing both comfort and cost-efficiency, and...

Dive into the dynamic world of sports branding on this month’s episode of The Business Behind Sport! Join Tom Allwood, co-founder of MATTA, and Jonny Gray as they unravel the secrets of building unforgettable sports brands.  From igniting Women’s Elite Rugby in the U.S. to revitalizing established brands, Tom shares his strategic insights on turning visions into fan communities. Whether you’re sta...

In this episode of the Ankura podcast, Lorynn Demetriades is joined by Rebecca McGregor from Linklaters and Ankura colleague Steven Richards to explore the underlying concerns and pressures that lead auditors to engage more aggressively with the investigative process and best practises that companies can employ when faced with enhanced audit scrutiny related to investigations or issues that are fl...

Why do technology projects often miss the mark? Join John Frehse in this episode of The Impact Exchange as he chats with Mirinda Lowe. Mirinda emphasizes the importance of treating technology implementations as business transformations to ensure success. Key elements for a successful technology rollout include: • A compelling reason for the initiative • Clearly defined roles • A strategic roll-out...

Our latest episode of the Ankura podcast is out now and features Nitish Upadhyaya, Behavioural Insights Director at Ropes & Gray! Focusing on the importance of organizational culture, Nitish shares his expert insight to help us answer:  • What are the main drivers for a shift in how businesses interpret the importance of company culture? • Is culture being prioritized enough at the Board level...

Dive into this fascinating discussion on the art of discourse in the latest episode of The Impact Exchange with John Frehse and Bret Stephens, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for the New York Times.  In a world of increased polarization, Bret educates us on the discourse of civil society and explores the architecture of argument and the cultural forces shaping our conversations today. 

In this month’s episode of The Business Behind Sport, we focus on sports marketing with Luca Massaro, Founder and Chief Executive of WePlay.  Sports marketing has changed significantly over time, and global fan engagement is now a key driver for sports organisations. Luca shares his insights with Jonny Gray on how and why sports clubs and athletes are growing their fan base and involvement, in add...

Today, consumers have a relatively positive outlook on the economy, while the economy is showing us signs that we shouldn't. In this episode of The Impact Exchange, John Frehse sits down with Ankura's own Keith Jelinek, performance improvement and retail expert, to discuss the implications of rising consumer debt levels, including the consumer spending index, consumer sentiment and outlo...

In this episode of The Impact Exchange, John Frehse catches up with Head of Ankura's Disputes & Economics practice in Australia, Christine Oliver, on all things valuation. How do company stories play into valuations? What do the numbers tell us about what a business is worth? What company data does Christine consider when performing valuations work?

Dive into the world of sports law in this month’s episode of The Business Behind Sport. Jonny Gray speaks with Sean Cottrell, CEO of LawInSport who shares his expert insights on: The dynamic growth and transformation of sports law The issues currently impacting the industry ‘Lawfare’ in football and explore how sports law is poised to evolve with competition law Future trends

In this episode, Charli Curran speaks with legal and reputation management experts Sarah Henchoz (A&O Shearman) and Antony Dunkels (Brunswick) to explore the multi-faceted challenges when organizations are faced with allegations of harassment, abuse, and discrimination involving executives or high-profile representatives. Key insights include: • Collaboration between external experts in invest...

In this episode, John sits down with Ankura colleague and sovereign debt restructuring expert Spencer Jones to discuss the implications of countries running out of money.  Be sure to listen to this fascinating conversation and hear directly from an expert who has advised 30 countries and governments through times of financial distress.

In this first episode of The Impact Exchange, John Frehse sits down with Ankura colleague and change management expert Kevin Cowherd to discuss why change is so important to an organization, why so many of us fail to change and what leaders can do to facilitate effective change. Listen now to hear more on what leaders can do to successfully lead their organizations through change and transformatio...

🎙️✨ After winning the Sports Education award as part of the International Sports Convention (ISC) International Sports Awards, Jonny Gray and Jonathan Brown share some of their favorite moments, key learnings and insights our guests have discussed during previous conversations on this episode of The Business Behind Sport. This episode is a must-listen! Relive the unforgettable stories that made o...

FIFA recently confirmed Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 2034.  In this exclusive interview, Jonny Gray speaks to Polly Handford, General Counsel of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) to discuss the local reactions in the Kingdom to the news, as well as what hosting the World Cup means for Vision 2030 and what the organization of the tournament will look like. 

Dive into the latest episode of the Ankura podcast with Sasi-Kanth Mallela as he hosts a discussion with Satnam Tumani, Partner at Edmonds Marshall McMahon, and Tapan Bebnath, Head of Integrity, Regulatory Affairs & Data Privacy - Process Automation at ABB.  These experts, all former members of the Serious Fraud Office, share their invaluable insights on navigating high-stakes investigations a...

This month on The Business Behind Sport, Jonny Gray is joined by forensics expert Charli Curran from Ankura and Kat Craig, a multi-award-winning human rights lawyer and the founder and CEO of Athlead, a sports and social impact consultancy. They discuss trauma-informed governance in sport, focussing on the evolution of safeguarding over the last 10 years. They also address where the gaps in safegu...

Tune into the latest episode of The Business Behind Sport featuring Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, as she shares her journey from Olympic ski racer to influential sports leader, as Secretary General of both the International Ski and Snowboard Federation and the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations.  As the snow sports season begins, join hosts Jonny Gray and Torie Hamilton-Wilson a...

In this episode of the Ankura podcast, Lorynn Demetriades sits down with corporate communications and crisis management experts Patricia Rodriguez and Dana White to explore how strategic communication can make or break an investigation's outcome.  Key insights include: The role of strategic communications in shaping public perception Collaboration between investigations and communications tea...