Alan O’Neill

Last Updated on 7 January 2020 by Jan-Paul Steggerda

In a dynamic world, he knows what it takes to drive change in a business – from top to bottom… and back to front. It’s about having a Customer-centric Culture, Engaged People, and a Supercharged Sales effort.

One sector in particular that has probably seen more disruption than any other is retail. Alan was the lead consultant that navigated Selfridges through significant change ‘bricks only’ to ‘clicks and bricks’. Up to 2004, Selfridges was a sleeping giant – but is now officially the best department store in the world… and one of the most profitable (per m²). Change is all about people and culture and the Selfridges story is one that resonates for all industries.

It’s not just retail, across B2B, B2C and the Public Sector, his clients include global brands like AIB Bank, GAM, Harrods, Lilly, Intel, Lufthansa, Mercedes, Moet Hennessy, Ramada Hotels, Scottish Power, Sherry Fitz, St. Gobain, The UN, Vodafone, etc.

A consultant, trainer, non-exec director and a visiting professor with ESA Beirut, he is also a trusted mentor to many C-Level executives that seek his support. Alan has a reputation for making the complex simple… being down-to-earth and practical… with a commercial focus that brings everything back to the customer. Alan now writes for several publications, including a weekly advice column for the Sunday Independent – Ireland’s leading business newspaper and for Gulf News. He is author of Premium is the New Black – Put the customer at the heart of your decision-making.

It is this unrivalled business acumen that has seen Alan chair and speak at conferences around the world and conduct master-classes with C-Level executives. He asks hard and uncomfortable questions, e.g. Should you refresh your culture to prepare for emerging global challenges? How will you overcome cynicism and resistance to change? How do you overcome complacency and lack of accountability? How will you differentiate with a customer-experience culture? How do you retain the best talent? How do you increase sales in a challenging and disruptive global market?