Joe Pine
Co-Creator of The Experience Economy | Author, The Transformation Economy (HBR Press) | Co-Founder, Strategic Horizons LLP | 1,000+ Keynotes in 35+ Countries
Hamish Taylor
Former CEO, Eurostar Group & Sainsbury's Bank | Former Head of Brand Management, British Airways | Innovation & Customer Strategy Expert
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Before he turned 40, Hamish Taylor had led brands at British Airways, turned around Eurostar as CEO, and run Sainsbury's Bank. Known as the "Masterthief" for borrowing breakthrough ideas from unrelated industries, he has since advised more than 200 organizations in 30 countries. On stage, he shows leaders how to innovate faster, keep the customer promise, and bring people with them through change.
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Hamish Taylor biography
Innovation speaker Hamish Taylor is a former chief executive who has led and transformed businesses across aviation, rail, and banking, and one of Europe’s most practical voices on innovation and customer focus. Before turning 40, he held CEO-level roles in three industries, building a rare perspective on how great organizations create value for customers and keep reinventing themselves.
Taylor trained in brand management at Procter & Gamble and worked as a management consultant at Price Waterhouse before joining British Airways, where as Head of Brand Management from 1993 to 1997 he oversaw First, Club World, Club Europe, and Concorde, leading the relaunch that introduced flat beds in premium cabins. In 1997 he became Managing Director of Eurostar (UK), turning around a business with heavy losses, and soon led the Eurostar Group across the UK, France, and Belgium, earning the Rail Professional Business Manager of the Year award in 1998. He went on to serve as CEO of Sainsbury’s Bank, the joint venture between J Sainsbury and the Bank of Scotland.
The Masterthief Approach to Innovation
Taylor is best known for his “Masterthief” method of innovation: finding an unrelated industry that has already solved a similar problem and translating its solution. He borrowed ideas from yacht designers to reshape aircraft cabins, from Disney to improve airport queues, and from rugby refereeing to rethink risk and compliance in banking. He holds a master’s in economics from the University of St Andrews, where he was a Bobby Jones scholar, and an MBA from Emory University, which honored him with its Sheth Distinguished International Alumni Award. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Chartered Institute of Transport, he has advised more than 200 organizations in 30 countries.
As a speaker, Hamish Taylor combines boardroom credibility with vivid, often surprising stories from aviation, rail, and banking. He gives audiences practical tools to generate breakthrough ideas, put customers at the center of every decision, and engage employees through change. Leaders leave with fresh thinking and techniques they can apply the next day.
Hamish Taylor Speaking Videos
CBRE Hamish Taylor Breaking through normality to create Innovative Solutions
Kuala Lumpur Leaderonomics Show
Hamish Taylor Speaking Topics
Most innovation programs produce incremental features because teams look for answers inside their own sector. Taylor shows how to identify an industry that has already solved a structurally similar problem and translate its solution, illustrated with examples from yacht design, Disney, and rugby refereeing applied to aviation, rail, and banking. Audiences leave with a repeatable method for finding bolder ideas faster.
Drawing on his experience relaunching British Airways’ premium brands and turning around Eurostar, Taylor explains how to design propositions around what customers truly value. He reveals why standard research often confirms existing ideas instead of testing them, how to read subtle customer signals, and how to approach proposition design from a blank sheet.
Change programs often lose touch with what frontline employees actually do. Taylor shows how ambition, simplicity, and customer-focused design keep people aligned and motivated during change, and how leaders can keep customer outcomes visible to staff when the pressure is on.
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FAQs on Booking Hamish Taylor
Booking Hamish Taylor brings your audience a former CEO who has transformed businesses in three industries and turned innovation into a practical, repeatable skill. As head of brands at British Airways, CEO of Eurostar, and CEO of Sainsbury’s Bank, he delivered results under real commercial pressure, and his “Masterthief” method shows teams how to borrow breakthrough ideas from unrelated sectors. Engaging and full of memorable stories, he gives leaders tools they can use immediately. He is an ideal choice for innovation summits, customer experience events, and leadership conferences. To book Hamish Taylor, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.
The Masterthief method is Taylor’s approach to innovation: pair a business problem with an unrelated industry that has already solved a similar challenge, then adapt the solution. He has applied ideas from yacht design to aircraft cabins, from Disney to airport queues, and from rugby refereeing to banking risk and compliance.
Taylor was Managing Director of Eurostar (UK) from 1997 and later led the Eurostar Group across the UK, France, and Belgium. He then became CEO of Sainsbury’s Bank. Earlier, he was Head of Brand Management at British Airways, responsible for brands including Concorde, First, and Club World.
Taylor speaks on cross-industry innovation, customer-centric strategy, and employee engagement during change. Each session is tailored to the audience, from executive teams to front-line staff, and he also offers interactive masterclasses. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to customize a session for your event.
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Hamish Taylor as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Hamish Taylor's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Hamish Taylor or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
Hamish Taylor speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Hamish Taylor to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Hamish Taylor.
We only work with Hamish Taylor on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Hamish Taylor and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Hamish Taylor speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Hamish Taylor for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Yes, Hamish Taylor is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Hamish Taylor for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
