This week Mike talks to Anton Hanley

Anton Hanley is the founder of TLA, a business that grew out of the early online automotive marketplace AskAPrice.com, which launched in 2002 from humble beginnings in Wigan. In the podcast, Anton explains how the company quickly established itself as a dominant player in new car lead generation at a time when few dealerships or manufacturers fully understood the value of digital customer enquiries. Over the years, TLA evolved alongside the automotive industry, helping brands adapt to changing consumer behaviour, digital marketing demands, and the growing importance of data-driven customer acquisition strategies.

Mike and Anton discuss the rapid transformation taking place across the automotive sector, including fragmented digital customer journeys, increasing pressure on OEMs to improve marketing ROI, and the growing influence of AI on customer engagement. They explore how TLA operates at the centre of these changes, the realities of scaling a business in a structurally shifting market, and how the wider automotive ecosystem must evolve to keep pace with new technologies, consumer expectations, and emerging competitors.

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This week Mike talks to Jason Cranswick

Jason Cranswick is the founder of Cranswick Consulting, a boutique advisory firm specialising in digital transformation, customer experience and operational performance across the automotive sector. With more than 30 years’ leadership experience spanning OEMs, franchised dealer groups, automotive services and digital ventures, he has held senior executive roles including Chief Operating Officer at Marubeni Auto Investment UK and leadership positions with Audi, SEAT and online vehicle marketplace disruptors. Known for combining strategic vision with hands-on operational delivery, Jason has built a reputation for helping businesses navigate change, accelerate growth and develop high-performing teams across the UK, Europe and South East Asia.

Mike and Jason discuss the realities of transformation, leadership and performance in the automotive sector, drawing on Jason Cranswick’s 37 years of experience across OEMs, large dealer groups, digital disruptors and advisory roles. The conversation explores why many businesses struggle to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, the importance of capability, mindset and leadership alignment, and how customer experience must ultimately drive measurable commercial performance. Jason also shares his views on AI, digital transformation and the pace of change facing the industry, arguing that the businesses that succeed over the next five years will be those that effectively combine technology with continuous human upskilling, while maintaining the agility and curiosity needed to adapt to constant change.

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In this episode of Ignite & Scale, Mike Allen talks to Sam Baker.

Sam Baker is the Managing Partner of Mobility VC, a global venture platform focused on investing in the underlying infrastructure that enables the future of mobility. His career spans impact-driven work at Kiva, followed by co-founding and scaling a mobility platform operating in over 100 cities worldwide. At Mobility VC, he leads a highly international, operator-led team that combines investment with hands-on support, leveraging deep global networks to help companies expand, form strategic partnerships, and scale across markets.

Sam explains that Mobility VC differentiates itself through a bottom-up, relationship-driven investment approach focused on resilience, long-term collaboration, and practical value creation rather than chasing trends. The firm primarily backs B2B mobility solutions that form the “behind-the-scenes” infrastructure of the sector, helping companies internationalize, access strategic partners, and navigate complex markets. He emphasizes the importance of founder resilience, realistic growth expectations, and leveraging diverse investor networks rather than rapid geographic expansion alone. The discussion also highlights a shift in venture strategy toward capital discipline, downside protection, and more flexible investment structures, including later-stage and hybrid deals. Sam underscores that successful outcomes often stem from long-term relationships with founders, adaptability in working with corporates, and a focus on meaningful, sustainable progress over short-term hype.

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