In this episode of the Boss N’ Data Podcast, Joshua Smith is joined by Rich Hunt, Director of Data & Insight at Openreach, to unpack what it really takes to lead data teams through constant change.

Openreach’s team has won DataIQ Best Data & AI Team of 2025 and in this episode, Rich shares how Openreach approaches transformation, from moving to a hub-and-spoke analytics model, to navigating a major migration and keeping teams focused on outcomes.

They dig into the realities data leaders face: long timelines, rising costs, stakeholder skepticism, and the risk of data teams becoming detached from business value.

They also discuss GenAI skepticism vs hype, and why building change resilience is now part of the job.

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand:

• What Openreach does and why its data challenges are uniquely complex
• How to structure data teams to stay close to decision-making while scaling capability
• How to defend long-term data investment when ROI isn’t instant
• How to keep data work relevant: translating business priorities into data-led impact
• Agentic AI: cutting through hype and skepticism
• What change resilience looks like inside a complex, regulated organisation.
• Practical advice for leading teams through change
• The next big shift for data leaders to prepare teams for

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not reflect those of their current or former employers.

About the Guest

Rich Hunt is the Director of Data & Insight at Openreach, a senior data leader with 16+ years’ experience. He leads end-to-end data capability and has been accountable for connecting business strategy to data-led solutions, including leading Openreach’s migration to cloud and supporting cultural change around data. Openreach’s team has won DataIQ Best Data & AI Team of 2025.

👉 Connect with Rich Hunt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huntr/

About Your Host

Joshua Smith has been a Data and AI talent specialist since 2011. He is Sales Director at MBN Solutions, responsible for leading and supporting the growth and diversification of MBN’s client portfolio, and building MBN’s position as a leading Data & AI talent consultancy across the UK, Europe, and US.

Explore industry updates and the latest in data and AI talent on MBN Solutions’ LinkedIn page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Boss N Data Podcast, host Joshua Smith sits down with Chris Mitchell, Head of Data & Marketing Operations at Sky Business and former WPP agency leader, to unpack how world-class organisations are building marketing operations that actually drive growth.

With over two decades bridging data, marketing, and operations, Chris has helped major brands embed data-driven culture, reduce churn, and align analytics, BI, and marketing into one cohesive growth engine.

From offline segmentation and direct mail to AI and automation, his career charts the full evolution of how businesses use data to make smarter, faster decisions.

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand:

• Why most companies don’t have a data problem - they have a usage problem
• How Sky uses marketing operations as a growth engine by uniting BI, data science, and execution
• The simple model that helped Sky reduce churn through data-led customer engagement
• What to look for (and avoid) when investing in MarTech and AI tools
• Why AI needs people and how to use it to enhance, not replace, decision-making

About the Guest

Chris Mitchell is an innovative and enthusiastic leader with over two decades of experience delivering data and digital transformation across multiple sectors.

Chris advocates for using data as a strategic growth engine - driving incremental revenue, customer engagement, and organisational adoption of best-practice frameworks.

His approach has underpinned award-winning marketing campaigns and helped major brands embed a culture where data is at the heart of every decision..

👉 Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mitchell-49636a4/

About Your Host

Joshua Smith has been a Data and AI talent specialist since 2011. He is Sales Director at MBN Solutions, responsible for leading and supporting the growth and diversification of MBN’s client portfolio, and building MBN’s position as a leading Data & AI talent consultancy across the UK, Europe, and US.

Explore industry updates and the latest in data and AI talent on MBN Solutions’ LinkedIn page.

Disclaimer

The views expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not reflect those of their current or former employers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Boss N Data Podcast, host Joshua Smith sits down with Harry Davies, VP of Marketing Investment & Effectiveness at Sage, formerly at Google and Amazon, to unpack the truths about marketing effectiveness.

Harry shares invaluable insights from a career spanning government behaviour change campaigns, launching Amazon Marketing Services in Europe, and leading measurement and data science at Google Cloud. Today at Sage, he’s helping drive £2.1Bn in recurring revenue by shifting from pure demand gen to a balanced brand + activation approach.

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand:

• Why sales and marketing so often pull in different directions - and the practical fix.
• How to measure what really works in marketing (beyond vanity metrics).
• The power of combining experiments, econometrics, and attribution.
• How buyer behaviour is changing and what it means for sales and marketing leaders.
• Where AI is already making marketing effectiveness faster and smarter.
• Why you should start small, solve frontline challenges, and scale from there.

About the Guest

Harry Davies is an experienced Marketing Strategy and Operations leader, currently VP of Marketing Investment & Effectiveness at Sage. He previously led measurement and data science teams at Google and Amazon and sits on the Advisory Board of the International Journal of Market Research. Harry is a regular speaker on marketing strategy, science, and effectiveness.

👉 Connect with Harry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrydavies/

About Your Host

Joshua Smith has been a Data and AI talent specialist since 2011. He is Sales Director at MBN Solutions, responsible for leading and supporting the growth and diversification of MBN’s client portfolio, and building MBN’s position as a leading Data & AI talent consultancy across the UK, Europe, and US.

Explore industry updates and the latest in data and AI talent on MBN Solutions’ LinkedIn page.

Disclaimer

The views expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not reflect those of their current or former employers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.