Former Saatchi & Saatchi exec to speak in Tees Valley

Industry leaders from across the Tees Valley are to get advice from an expert who has turned brands into household names.

Teesside University Business Exchange will hear from former Saatchi & Saatchi executive Les Stern on Thursday (December 12).

During his career Les has advised such big name brands as Tesco, Nokia, HSBC, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Channel 4, B&Q and the Metro Centre.

The Business Exchange is a network of senior leaders from businesses and organisations in the North East and North Yorkshire, which meets every month at Teesside University, Darlington.

The network was launched by Teesside University to enable industry leaders to share knowledge and experience, boosting economic regeneration and enabling business to grow and prosper.

Laura Woods, director of Academic Enterprise, said: “The synergies produced by like-minded regional business people coming together offers tremendous value, not only for the attendees themselves but for the businesses and organisations they represent, helping us achieve our aim of inspiring and growing the regional economy.”

The free events provide an opportunity for business networking at the highest level, as well as hearing from inspirational business leaders and being able to exchange valuable business knowledge.

Each event features a high-profile national or regional business speaker sharing their business knowledge, followed by a question and answer session, and networking time.

Les - now Senior Brand Consultant at Violet Bick Brand Consultants – often describes himself as a Geordie cliché.

The son of a coal miner he graduated from Oxford before joining Procter & Gamble and enjoying a 35-year career in advertising.

He spent twenty years with Saatchi & Saatchi (subsequently Cordiant) and for most of that time he acted as a branding and positioning consultant to household names.

Les has lived and worked in London and New York and has also worked extensively across European and Asian markets.

He believes that to be successful all companies, regardless of their size, should approach branding in the same way as global corporations.

Those attending the Business Exchange also have the chance to take part in a range of taster sessions organised by Teesside University Business School Business Engagement Team – the taster sessions are based on master classes and workshops planned for 2014.

The taster sessions include learning the latest secrets to performance enhancement and how to make your communications more effective.

The Business Exchange with Les Stern, former Saatchi & Saatchi executive takes place on Thursday, December 12, from 3pm to 6pm. The Business Exchange meets at Teesside University Darlington, Vicarage Road, Darlington, DL1 1JW.

Businesses wanting to attend are urged to book a place online at www.tees.ac.uk/exchange

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