Have you ever wondered why the average life expectancy of a company is now less than 20 years? As an innovation leader in industry, Nigel Kermode will describe why acting as a change agent is necessary, yet frequently meets resistance. He will cover his early inspiration for a career in Research and Development and will explain the differences between sustaining and disruptive innovation in the marketplace. This background will involve real-life successes and failures that many of us will be familiar with.  It will also explain the many hurdles an innovator has to overcome and why being the incumbent in a market is often a distinct disadvantage. The discussion will not shy away from finance, manufacturing, regulatory, legal and environmental issues! Finally, Nigel will conclude by looking at three specific examples he worked on in his career from Ariel, Flash and Gillette which illustrate three different types of innovation and the specific challenges faced by the innovator wanting to change the status quo. 

Wine and nibbles will be available in the interval.

Nigel Kermode was brought up in Birmingham in an area dominated by the car industry. He graduated from Southampton University with a degree in Chemistry which was followed by an internship at Kodak. He then studied for a D.Phil at the University of Sussex during which he was sponsored by ICI. The connection to Rottingdean (and the Whiteway Centre where Teresa and Nigel had their wedding reception!) was made when Nigel met Teresa who worked in the next laboratory and who lived in the village. After graduation Nigel joined the R&D department at the Procter and Gamble Company in Newcastle. Nigel has led innovations across Cleaning and Beauty Products including assignments in Wella and Gillette.