In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with David Hynam, CEO of LV= about leading a financial mutual with no shareholders, over a million members, and a purpose that dates back to 1843.

David joined LV= in 2022 with more than 30 years of experience across financial services and insurance, including senior roles at Barclays, AXA UK, Friends Life, and Bupa UK. In their conversation, David and Belden discuss:

· What mutuality really means in practice, and how it creates a different kind of accountability than shareholder ownership.

· David’s conviction that colleagues give their best when they feel pride in their workplace.

· How LV=’s five-pillar strategy came together, and the disciplines David uses to keep the organisation aligned to it.

· Why the CEO’s wish list is not a strategy, and how successful strategies come out of leadership teams who are willing to challenge each other.

· David’s belief that the best CEOs are settled and optimistic even amid uncertainty, and why learning to live with uncertainty is part of the job.

LV=: https://www.lv.com/

Menkus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, a strategy firm for businesses with a broader purpose. His McKinsey training combined with more than 30 years working at Board and ExCo level gives him both the analytical rigour and the relational experience that these complex, high-stakes leadership situations demand.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a weekly podcast. It explores how senior leaders bring purpose to life through strategy and reflects the same questions that drive the consulting work.

In the episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden speaks with James Murray, Chief Executive of HCML, a leading provider of healthcare services to the corporate and private medical insurance markets. Over the course of the episode, James makes a strong moral and business case for investment in high-quality healthcare. In their conversation, they discuss:

· How HCML helps patients navigate a healthcare system he describes as “impenetrable,” particularly for longer-term, more intensive care.

· Why £1 of investment in healthcare yields £4 of returns, resulting in a healthier and more productive society and workforce.

· How PE backer Apposite Capital is supporting HCML’s growth strategy and keeps HCML executives in the driver’s seat.

· Why after decades in the industry, James is certain that he will never leave. In his words, the work is “good for the soul.”

HCML: https://hcml.co.uk/

Menkus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, the strategy firm for businesses with a broader purpose. His McKinsey training combined with more than 30 years working at Board and ExCo level gives him both the analytical rigour and the relational experience that complex, high-stakes leadership situations demand.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a weekly podcast. It explores how senior leaders bring purpose to life through strategy and reflects the same questions that drive the consulting work.

In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Mark Tapscott, Co-Founder and CEO of Longbow, an electric sports car company whose aim is to engineer cars that are fast, ultra-lightweight and will stand the test of time. Mark co-founded Longbow in 2023 after two decades launching electric vehicles into new markets, including for Tesla and BYD.

In their conversation, they discuss:

· Why the UK is the best place in the world to design and assemble sports cars, and the market factors behind his thinking.

· Lightweighting as an efficiency philosophy Mark believes will shape the future of transportation, not just sports cars.

· Longbow's strategy of periodically "breaking and rebuilding" the company as it scales, and building small, expert teams that can innovate quickly.

· The importance of short-term planning and long-term branding, and how to gather a dedicated pool of loyal customers.

· How listening to customers and expert advisors are essential ingredients for success.

Longbow: https://longbowmotors.com/

Menkus & Associates: https://www.menkus.com/

Supported by Norman Broadbent: https://www.normanbroadbent.com/

Belden Menkus is the Managing Director of Menkus & Associates, the strategy firm for businesses with a broader purpose. His McKinsey training combined with more than 30 years working at Board and ExCo level gives him both the analytical rigour and the insight that complex, high-stakes leadership situations demand.

Belden hosts The Purposeful Strategist, a weekly podcast. It explores how senior leaders bring purpose to life through strategy.