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Keynote SpeakerShaun Smith

The customer experience expert. Founder, Smith+Co

Shaun Smith began his career in the airline industry working with British Airways in a number of senior customer service and operations roles. He became Head of Customer Service, Sales and Marketing Training worldwide for British Airways at the time the airline was becoming privatised in the mid-1980s and was... Read more

Watch Shaun Smith in action

Popular Talks by Shaun Smith

  • On Purpose – delivering a branded customer experience people love
  • The bold practices
  • Delivering your customer experience across multiple channels
  • Enabling and inspiring your people to deliver the experience
  • Practical roadmaps for implementing and measuring the experience

Biography

Shaun Smith began his career in the airline industry working with British Airways in a number of senior customer service and operations roles. He became Head of Customer Service, Sales and Marketing Training worldwide for British Airways at the time the airline was becoming privatised in the mid-1980s and was one of four senior managers on the Steering Group that managed the highly regarded ‘Putting People First’ initiative. He later moved to Hong Kong as Managing Director of Cathay Performa Consulting (a subsidiary of The Swire Group) where he led a team, consulting with major organisations throughout Asia in the area of services strategy.

Whilst working in Hong Kong, Shaun was appointed as Group Advisor to Inchcape Group, consulting to over 30 business units covering marketing services, retailing, shipping services and motor distribution to help them move from competing on price and product to competing on customer service. Over the next five years he was responsible for designing and leading deployment worldwide, working closely with the individual BU Managing Directors and their teams.

Shaun Smith returned to the UK in the late 1990s as Senior Vice-President of the Forum Corporation, when he ran Forum’s customer experience consulting practice.

In 2001 Shaun Smith founded the highly regarded customer experience consultancy, Smith+Co, which is firmly rooted in the ‘keep it simple’ ethos. Smith+Co has worked on customer experience initiatives for leading brands like Burberry, Premier Inn, PayPal, O2, Westpac, Estee Lauder, Symantec, Best Western, Waterstones and IHG.

Shaun has featured a number of times on CNBC and CNN and is sought after to speak internationally on key business issues. He has spoken in 25 countries to a wide variety of leading brands and has chaired and moderated events for a number of major companies including Vodafone, RBS and Salesforce. He is a former Fellow of the Professional Speakers Association and Member of the Global Speakers Federation. Shaun was presented with the top industry award, the PSAE (Professional Speaking Award of Excellence).

Shaun Smith has also appeared a number of times at the prestigious London Business Forum. His approach is refreshingly simple, authoritative and always stimulating.

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What clients say about Shaun Smith

“Shaun’s presentation was fantastic. Everyone loved the way Shaun interacted, he really got the audience engaged. For me, he was the highlight, I think the delegates took so much away they can use in practice. So glad you recommended him, he is a great choice for anyone!” Anna Roberts, Align Technology
"We arranged for Shaun to present to the top 500 of one of our key clients in Poland on Customer Excellence. He was absolutely fantastic. He was able to engage the audience and explain the principles of Customer Excellence in a way that they could understand and act upon. The energy was high, there was lots of laughing and the points were driven home. We liked his presentation so much we asked him to speak at the PwC Management conference for in Poland. He delivered a completely different presentation, tailored to our circumstances and managed to wow the audience again. What can I say – I am impressed!” Andrew Friars, Managing Partner, PwC Consulting Central Europe

How to book Shaun Smith as a keynote speaker

How do I book Shaun Smith for a keynote speech?

You can book Shaun Smith through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Shaun's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Shaun Smith's speaking fees?

Shaun Smith's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Shaun tailored to your event.

What topics does Shaun Smith speak about?

Shaun Smith speaks on Customer Experience, Marketing. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Shaun to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Shaun Smith available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Shaun Smith for events worldwide, subject to Shaun's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Shaun Smith deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Shaun Smith is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Shaun Smith?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Shaun can accommodate.

Can Shaun Smith tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Shaun Smith on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Shaun can offer.

What languages does Shaun Smith present in?

Shaun Smith delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Shaun Smith a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Shaun Smith's areas of expertise include Customer Experience, Marketing. To get a clear sense of Shaun's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can Shaun Smith speak at?

Shaun Smith can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Customer Experience, Marketing is relevant. Details of Shaun's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does Shaun Smith offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Shaun Smith is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Shaun Smith?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Shaun Smith, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Shaun's current availability for your dates.