All Change: 2025 Financial MarComms Leaders’ Planning Special [London Breakfast Discussion]
Last week in London, we hosted a breakfast panel titled "All Change: 2025 Financial MarComms Leaders’ Planning Special ," in collaboration with our partners Vested UK.
The panel included Suman Hughes, Vice President, Communications, Europe at Mastercard, Neville Vyas, Head of Marketing EMEA & APAC at Impax Asset Management, Jordan Wood, Research Director at Opinium and moderator by Elspeth Rothwell, EMEA CEO of Vested UK.
The event highlighted the rapid speed of change and economic turmoil both locally and globally, with the success of financial marcomms leaders hinging on adaptability, strategic focus, and the ability to navigate complexityFrom strategy shifts and acquisitions to office expansions and restructures, nearly everyone affirmed 2024 as a year of transformation. Yet, the focus was on leveraging this energy to propel into 2025. Read Vested's in-depth recap > "Fewer, Bigger, Better - how financial services will evolve in 2025"
Key takeaways included:
As salary and bonus challenges persist, retaining and nurturing talent remains critical. Leaders advocated for:
- Upskilling and Opportunities: Investing in team growth through new projects and learning initiatives.
- Flexibility in Work Patterns: Tailoring approaches to support individual and team needs.
To thrive as change agents, leaders encouraged:
- Cross-Team Collaboration: Fostering stronger relationships by engaging directly with business units, whether in open offices or sales meetings.
- Earning Respect: Securing a respected “seat at the table” by demonstrating the strategic value of communications leadership.
- Focus on the practical challenges of tighter budgets, ROI measurement, and navigating uncertainty. Creativity is positioned as the essential tool to adapt, whether through budget optimization, team motivation, or strategic pivots.
As change remains a constant, the discussion highlighted the need for adaptability, focus, and creativity in navigating the evolving landscape of financial services marketing.
A heartfelt thanks to all our expert panelists for their insights & partners at Vested UK for facilitating these crucial discussions, as well as the stellar group of Financial Narrative members in attendance.
