by zeus
A Different Perspective is a Zeus podcast, hosted by Nick Searle, Co-Head of Equity Sales. In the different perspective podcast we speak to interesting characters within finance and business to understand more about their personal journey and ambitions. This is co-mingled with a discussion about their business. It’s more about the formation of the individual than the business per se; thus trying to gain that different perspective. This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.
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Publishing Since
5/30/2022
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April 30, 2025
<p>This week Nick talks to Chris Gillespie.</p><p>Chris’s career in financial services spans over 40 years. He brings extensive experience from senior leadership roles within consumer finance businesses. Prior to joining <a href="https://handt.co.uk/pages/chris-gillespie">H&T</a>, Chris served as Managing Director of the consumer credit division at Provident Financial PLC. Chris maintains a strong interest in matters affecting the wider industry and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. </p><p>Nick and Chris discuss his extensive career in financial services, beginning at Barclays Bank and spanning several leadership roles including at Provident Financial. He shares insights into the unique hybrid model of H&T, which blends financial services and retail, operating across 285 stores nationwide. Chris highlights the evolving perception and customer base of pawnbroking in the UK, the simplicity and accessibility of its loan model, and its growing role in small business financing. He also discusses H&T’s broader services—including foreign exchange, retail of pre-owned jewellery and watches, and cheque cashing—all aimed at increasing store footfall. Emphasising the business’s community roots, counter-cyclical nature, and expansion potential, Chris notes the importance of trusted staff and store locations. The company remains focused on UK growth through store expansion and technology investment, with a strong commitment to customer service and transparency. </p><p>Chris' book choice was:<br><a href="https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/lord-of-the-rings-book-j-r-r-tolkien-9780048231550">Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien</a></p><p>This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.</p>
April 15, 2025
<p>This week Nick talks to Judith MacKenzie. </p><p>Judith joined Downing in October 2009, bringing with her extensive experience in venture capital and fund management. Prior to this, she was a partner at Acuity Capital, where she managed AIM-listed VCT and IHT investments, as well as a small-cap activist fund. Before Acuity, Judith spent nine years as a senior investment manager at Aberdeen Asset Management Growth Capital, where she co-managed five Aberdeen VCTs, focusing on technology and media investments across both public and private companies. In 2010, she founded Downing Fund Managers, the boutique investment division of Downing LLP. Judith currently serves as Chair of the Quoted Companies Alliance and holds active board roles in both private and public sectors.</p><p>Nick and Judith discuss her journey into finance, inspired by working in her parents’ small businesses in the Scottish Highlands. Her early exposure to economics and investing sparked a lifelong interest in smaller companies. She discusses her career progression from stockbroking to fund management, emphasising her focus on UK micro-cap and smaller companies through Downing’s IHT (Inheritance Tax) service. Judith explains the appeal of AIM-listed firms due to their tax benefits and potential for strong returns, highlighting a hands-on, diligent investment approach that mirrors private equity standards. She identifies three key types of companies she targets: value compounders, self-help businesses, and balance sheet leaders—mentioning Ramsdens, James Latham, and Flowtech as examples. Judith critiques the negative narrative around AIM, advocating for its role in supporting entrepreneurial growth and job creation. She expresses hope for a shift back to active investing and UK-focused capital deployment, especially in light of current global economic uncertainties and US-centric fund flows. </p><p>Judith's book choice was:<br><a href="https://vassalstate.co.uk/">Vassal State: How America Runs Britain by Angus Hanton</a></p><p>Judith's music choice was:<br><a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/1sTsuZTdANkiFd7T34H3nb">Human by The Killers</a></p><p>This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.</p>
April 1, 2025
<p>This week Nick talks to Parmy Olson. </p><p>Parmy Olson is a prominent technology journalist and author, currently a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. She previously covered tech and innovation for The Wall Street Journal and Forbes, with a focus on AI, robotics, and emerging technologies. In 2012, she published <a href="https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/we-are-anonymous-book-parmy-olson-9780434022083">We Are Anonymous</a>, an acclaimed deep dive into the hacker groups Anonymous and LulzSec. Her 2024 book, S<a href="https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/parmy-olson/supremacy/9781035038220">upremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World</a>, explores the rivalry between tech giants like OpenAI and DeepMind in the pursuit of artificial general intelligence, earning the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award.</p><p> Nick and Parmy discuss the intense race to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the far-reaching implications of that pursuit. Their conversation highlights the contrast between the idealistic visions of DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis and OpenAI’s Sam Altman—who saw AGI as a force for solving global challenges—and the reality that both ultimately became deeply tied to tech giants like Google and Microsoft to fund their ambitions. Parmy explains how this reliance shifted the focus away from social good and towards corporate interests. Together, they explore the broader consequences of this power shift, including the lack of meaningful regulation, ongoing ethical concerns around bias and safety in AI models, and the growing dominance of a few large tech firms. They also reflect on the social risks—from job losses and the disruption of traditional career paths to the emotional dependency people are beginning to form with chatbots—raising important questions about the kind of future society is heading towards. <br> <br> Parmy's Book Choice was: <br><a href="https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/born-to-run-book-christopher-mcdougall-9781861978776">Born to Run by Christopher Mcdougall</a><br>Parmy's Music Choice was:<br><a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/1bt6q2SruMsBtcerNVtpZB">Rumours by Fleetwood Mac</a></p><p>This content is issued by Zeus Capital Limited (“Zeus”) (Incorporated in England & Wales No. 4417845), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) for designated investment business, (Reg No. 224621) and is a member firm of the London Stock Exchange. This content is for information purposes only and neither the information contained, nor the opinions expressed within, constitute or are to be construed as an offer or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. Zeus shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, including lost profits arising in any way from the information contained in this material. This material is for the use of intended recipients only.</p>
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