Today’s guest is Mark Sandys, Chief Innovation Officer at Diageo. The conversation covers so many aspects of marketing that Mark has seen throughout his career. We talk about Mark's entry into Diageo as a graduate trainee in 1997 to his rise within the company to his current role. Mark shares his views on the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and how that helped progress his career in a bit of a sliding doors moment. We talk about the evolution of his marketing philosophy and the insights gained from observing consumer behaviour across the globe. We discuss the direction of innovation in the drinks market, with a focus on trends such as non-alcoholic beverages, celeb endorsed brands (still working on Ryan Reynolds as a guest) and the expanding influence of tequila. Mark discusses Diageo's innovation strategy centred on long-term planning and creating new systems and platforms rather than just products. We conclude with some advice from Mark to young marketers about understanding the entire P&L to make marketing choices that drive profit.
01:18 Experiences and Insights from Working at Diageo
08:46 Career Transitions and International Experiences
14:59 Understanding and Adapting to Different Markets
21:29 The Importance of Continuous Learning and Adaptability
30:48 Guinness's Growth Post-Covid and getting a better Guinness at home
37:31 The Concept of Platforms, Not Products
49:32 The Role of Acquisition in Innovation Strategy
52:56 The Future of Spirits: Tequila and Whiskey
57:56 The Importance of Leading the Business
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