News and Insights

The comparison is often made between business leaders and orchestra conductors - not playing a specific instrument, but rather bringing an ensemble together to create something exceptional.

In reality, a conductor's role extends way beyond waving a baton and is a great example of leadership. They require a crystal-clear vision, exceptional communication skills and have to adapt quickly and manage multiple stakeholders. To bring the comparison to life, we spoke to the acclaimed and multi-award-winning saxophonist, conductor and arranger Phil Meadows about what makes a great leader.

Phil is recognised as one of Europe’s most talented and creative musicians, celebrated for his innovative approach to music. He’s a double Parliamentary Jazz Award, London Music Award and Peter Whittingham Jazz Award winner, and has collaborated with renowned ensembles including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Metropole Orkest, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Scottish pop icons, Texas.

Holding a long-standing residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, and often managing ensembles of up to 100 people from diverse backgrounds, Phil has developed an exceptional leadership style.

Here are his top five insights for achieving this:

1. Foster an environment that caters for mistakes.

In music, as in business, true innovation comes from embracing risk. For me, the most exciting music stems from creative freedom and having the ability to freely explore thoughts and ideas without judgement.

When working with virtuoso musicians (or highly skilled teams), risk is accompanied by vulnerability. People open themselves up to criticism, putting their insecurities on display to develop their skill sets or contribute something new. When exploring new ideas, it’s crucial to foster an environment where mutual encouragement, shared learning and calculated risk-taking are valued and supported.

People who feel secure in their risk-taking, are more likely to contribute groundbreaking ideas.

2. Clarity of vision to inspire

When conducting orchestras, having a clear artistic vision is essential. I start all projects with in-depth research, exploring the music’s heritage and societal role. I aim to develop a programme, or performance approach that resonates with musicians, audiences and listeners alike and effective communication is key to achieving this.

Orchestral music is a team effort and to harness their skills, I need to clearly communicate my vision from the outset. I start before a note is even played by sharing playlists in advance and using the start of the first rehearsal both to provide cultural context and to outline the key goals for the project.

As rehearsals progress, I remain flexible and open to the musicians’ creative input and review my plan at the end of every session. Everyone brings unique strengths, and by listening and adapting the final performance benefits.

3. Diversity breeds creativity

I’ve always been passionate about bringing together different cultures and musical genres, and I’ve been fortunate to work on projects spanning Classical, Jazz, Nigerian Folk, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, Grime, Dance, Electronic, Contemporary Classical and Commercial Pop.

Many of the orchestral collaborations I work on bring together multiple genres, meaning each project has a unique set of influences and often demand skill sets that go beyond traditional orchestral norms. To achieve this, I assemble diverse teams of specialists from the genres involved, where possible integrating the non-classical musicians into the heart of the orchestral line-up.

This approach allows musicians to play to their strengths, share knowledge, and learn from one another. By fostering a melting pot of creativity, we’re then able to honour the roots and traditions of the music whilst creating a new space for collaboration to flourish.

My work with the Metropole Orkest and 101 Barz (Orchestra and Hip-Hop), Engines Orchestra x Femi Temowo (Orchestra with Nigerian Folk and Afrobeat) and the BBC Concert Orchestra and Texas (Orchestra and Commercial Pop) are great examples of fusing different musical communities and cultures.

4. Make listening to others a main focus

Every ensemble I work with is filled with incredible talent and expertise. Each musician brings a unique story, skillset and perspective that can add value to any project. I may craft the overarching vision and guide the orchestra, but the players know a lot more about their instruments than I do. They’ve dedicated decades to mastering their individual craft, so it’s important I listen and make space for their input.

The success of my projects relies on facilitating an environment where everyone feels confident to ask questions and comfortable offering suggestions, even within the traditional hierarchies and structures of an orchestra. Although the vision I develop provides direction, I always incorporate space for flexibility into the plan, recognising that the musicians’ insights are crucial to producing the best possible music together.

5. Build on people’s weaknesses through their strengths

My approach to skill development uses existing strengths to develop areas of weakness and was key in my work with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra’s under-18 programme, where I spent a decade nurturing young talent. It continues to guide my methodology for world’s top professional orchestras and forms a core part of my PhD research.

The approach is grounded in the science of learning, with a focus on the retention of new information. Essentially, it’s about linking new skills to what we already know and ensuring we don’t overwhelm ourselves by trying to learn too much at once.

The science behind this is detailed and my approach combines two theories, but its practical applications are reasonably straightforward. Pressing (1984) determined that we can most effectively learn one new skill at a time, whilst using two sets of established knowledge clusters to support the process. Wolfe (2010) developed the ‘working memory’ concept which combines the need for multi-sensory instruction (learning through a variety of methods that support each other to aid long-term retention) and the reinforcement of new information repetition.

Essentially the approach strengthens our neural pathways, making it easier to recall and apply what we’ve learnt. But put simply, it’s about linking new skills to what we already know and ensuring we don’t overwhelm ourselves by trying to learn too much at once.

You can see Phil perform live throughout the year. His dates can be found here.

In the latest edition of our valuing digital marketplace videos, Isa Maidan discusses supply-side resilience and the key factors you can use to demonstrate to investors the value and resilience of your marketplace.

A marketplace's resilience on the supply side impacts how it's affected by the ups and downs of the economy. This, in turn, impacts its valuation. Isa looks at some of the elements private equity firms are most likely to assess, including:

1. How key your sales channel is to suppliers
2. Fragmentation of supplier base
3. Differentiation of supply

Video: supply side resilience

We're delighted to announce our investment in Croud, the global full-service digital marketing company. This investment sees ECI take a majority stake in the business, enabling Croud's leadership team to continue scaling as a global leader in digital-first, tech-enabled marketing over the next five years.

Following a highly competitive selection process, ECI was chosen as the ideal partner for Croud’s next stage of growth, with a clear alignment of ambitions and values and a successful track record in media, data and technology investments including MiQ, Investis Digital, Imagesound and Clarity Blue.

In partnership with ECI, Croud is set to expand the business through further acquisitions and organic growth. The investment will enable Croud to retain its leadership in media, data and creative services benefiting current clients, such as Amazon Prime, Aston Martin, Coach, Nespresso and the VF Group (including Timberland), who will continue to access the most competitive marketing capabilities.

The transaction marks an exit for LDC, following a successful five-year partnership with its threefold growth attributed to:

• A disruptive operating model conceived at Croud’s inception. This includes the Croudie Network, a global marketplace of 2,900 digital marketing domain experts. They deliver, alongside Croud’s in-house digital marketing specialists, cost-efficient resourcing and flexibility. Enabled by Croud Control, a proprietary tech platform delivering AI-powered planning, workflows, automation and execution of digital marketing campaigns.
• Geographical expansion with Croud’s rapid growth in the US market under the leadership of Kris Tait, US MD and Dean Gardner US COO, driven by major account wins including Nespresso, and the recent Vert Digital acquisition (Atlanta-based digital media agency) growing Croud’s US footprint.
• Portfolio breadth, with the acquisition of Born Social and its strong leadership under Ben Tyson, CEO, and Charlotte Hamill, COO. The award-winning social-first creative agency has gone on to win prestigious clients such as Barclays and Ford, as well as expanding its Diageo relationship with Smirnoff in the US and achieved a 45% CAGR since its acquisition.
• Acquisition and successful integration of acquired media, data and technology companies, such as Impakt Advisors (data advisory) and Metageni (a leading attribution services and platform provider) to accelerate the growth of Croud’s marketing technology business.

Core to delivering this strategy has been the experienced leadership of the business. Last year the company appointed Avinash Kaushik, the Google Senior Executive, as Global Chief Strategy Officer and Board Director. More recently the company appointed Rick Stallings as its first Global Chief Data Officer, and Dani Jordan as its first Chief Marketing & Integration Officer.

The deal, which exchanged in October will complete next month.

Before summer even got going, it's now almost Halloween! So as the nights draw in and the mercury drops, it's a great time to start a new book. For inspiration, here’s what the ECI team are reading as we start to enjoy the season of long shadows.

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Louis Jans

The Year of the Locust, by Terry Hayes

This is Terry Hayes’s highly anticipated second book, following my all-time favourite fiction novel “I am Pilgrim”, published in 2013 and I was extremely excited to read it.

It’s a modern day spy novel where a secret agent is tasked with chasing down a highly trained and intelligent “super terrorist” across the globe. It’s a real nail biter that you don’t want to put down, so you’ll get through the 700 pages in no time.

The Year of the Locust is a very good read that I enjoyed immensely, but in my opinion, it fell just short of the very high bar set by I am Pilgrim. If you’re into fiction/spy novels, both books are great, but if you do have to choose one, go with Hayes’ first.

Christy Welsh

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Hansel

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel is a refreshing departure from traditional finance books, which often emphasise technical, maths-based strategies for building wealth. Instead, Housel focuses on the human side of money, exploring how personal experiences, emotions, and perceptions shape our financial decisions and success.

Through 20 concise, insightful chapters, he presents key psychological principles - many of them counterintuitive - that influence how we think about and manage money. The book's engaging anecdotes and accessible storytelling make complex ideas relatable, leaving a lasting impression long after you've finished reading.

George Moss

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts is an epic novel based on the author's extraordinary real-life experiences. The story follows Lin, an escaped Australian convict who flees to Mumbai, in search of freedom and reinvention. Once immersed in the vibrant and hectic city, Lin forms deep connections with locals, navigates the criminal underworld, and even finds himself living in a slum.

The book captures the rich, contrasting tapestry of India - its beauty, poverty, spirituality, and corruption. With a blend of action, philosophy, and romance, Shantaram explores themes of redemption, the human condition, and the moral complexities of life. At nearly 1,000 pages, it’s an immersive read, offering a mix of thriller and introspective reflection. If you enjoy vivid character development and complex cultural settings, you’ll love this book as Roberts’ writing is both poetic and gritty, making it a compelling adventure for those seeking depth and escapism.

Brett Pentz

The Forever Dog by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker

The Forever Dog by Rodney Habib and Dr. Karen Shaw Becker offers a science-driven guide to extending the lifespan and health of your canine companion (and is reminiscent of our successful investment in MPM). Drawing on the latest medical research, the book delves into key factors that influence dog health, including diet, physical activity, stress management, and the importance of social interaction.

Habib and Becker advocate for a proactive approach, encouraging pet owners to adopt healthy practices, such as integrating nutrient-rich foods and supplements into their dog’s diet and addressing lifestyle factors that can prevent disease. The book also highlights the emotional and practical bonds we share with our pets, which I’ve seen first-hand with my well-travelled 13-year-old Beagle mix who has lived in both the US and UK. For business owners, particularly in the pet food and wellness sectors, the book offers valuable insights into emerging trends. Overall, The Forever Dog provides a thoughtful roadmap to ensuring a longer, healthier life for beloved pets – I’ll let you know its efficacy when my dog hits 15 or maybe even 20 years old!

David Shiel

Unruly by David Mitchell

If you think you know England's monarchs you might be in for an hilarious history lesson. In Unruly, David Mitchell uses his sardonic style and throws out the stuffy textbook approach to reveal a side of English royalty you never expected. Forget stoic leaders – Mitchell paints them as a motley crew of lucky, sometimes downright bizarre characters.

From the non-existent King Arthur to the appropriately named King Cnut, he wittily describes power struggles, treachery and bizarre deaths as he dismantles the myth of the infallible monarch. He reminds us that history is often funnier – and messier – than we imagine in an entertaining tour through England's unruly past.