103 How to lead your business in a time of crisis with Kevin Gaskell Speaking Business podcast

At the time of recording we have just heard in the UK that British Airways will be making 12,000 people redundant. Oasis, Warehouse and Carluccio’s amongst other household names have gone into liquidation.  Our country is in its second month of lockdown and many businesses find themselves unable to trade and are doing their best to just keep themselves afloat.
My guest this week is an expert in leading businesses through crisis so that they not only survive but grow.  During his career he has founded start-ups, driven turnarounds and led major brands.  He has built over 3 billion pounds of shareholder value. He’s led transformational growth at 14 companies and now acts as Chairman to a number of growing businesses.  Let’s get some timely advice from this week’s business expert, Kevin Gaskell.
Bio
Kevin Gaskell is an extraordinary leader who led iconic brands Porsche, BMW and Lamborghini to unprecedented levels of success before creating global businesses from scratch. A corporate trailblazer, serial entrepreneur and world class team builder recognised as one of the most outstanding leaders of his generation.
As a CEO, chairman, founder and investor Kevin has enjoyed success in sectors including automotive, data, technology, manufacturing, brand marketing and professional services. He has repeatedly led teams to achieve extraordinary performance in companies ranging from 7 to 7,000 employees. He believes that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results – and he has the experiences to prove it. Passionate about the development of leadership skills he is frequently sought to reinvigorate teams and companies. His firmly delivered belief it’s that success begins and ends with the people and the engagement and inspiration of every member of the organisation.
Over a number of years Kevin has set the business world alight with success after success. His fin tech business Traderoot Technology was nominated as e-commerce business of the year; Achilles won the Sunday Times award for the best private equity investment of the year; ITS Technology reached the final of the World Communication Awards; Market Research platform Delvv.io won the EMEA Innovation Award; he integrated 31 companies to create EurotaxGlass’s, the world’s largest automotive data company, and his landscape gardening business has just been recognised as APL Supreme Champion. He is a man who demonstrates that the principles of outstanding leadership are transferable across business sectors.
It was leading the turnaround of Porsche from close to bankruptcy to market leader that saw Kevin Gaskell, at the age of 32, recognised as one of the most capable leaders of his generation. He consolidated that recognition with 4 years as Managing Director of BMW (GB) during which he led the business to record growth and a 500% improvement in profitability.
Since his roles in the automotive sector he has led businesses to massive success in the digital, technology, data, brand marketing, market research, construction, retail, professional services and manufacturing sectors. Such flexibility and adaptability has confirmed his position as an extraordinary and inspirational leader.
A highly motivational and engaging speaker, he believes that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results – and he has the experiences to prove it. He has led global corporations, start-ups, private equity portfolio companies and organisations large and small to create shareholder value in excess of $5billion. He has also found the time to walk to both the north and south poles and climb the world’s highest mountains to fund the construction of a cancer treatment unit.  In January 2020, along with 4 team-mates, he set a new world record for the fastest ever Atlantic crossing by a 5 man rowing boat!
Using an energetic and inclusive style he shares the tools and techniques which have enabled his teams to deliver results which even they considered impossible – unti