

Big Boss Interview
BBC News
Big Boss Interview is where the most high-profile chief executives and entrepreneurs come to give you their insights and experiences of running the UK's biggest and well-known businesses. The series is presented by Sean Farrington, Felicity Hannah and Will Bain, who you'd normally hear presenting the business news on BBC Radio 4's Today programme as well as BBC 5live's Wake Up To Money. Each week they'll be finding out just what it takes to run a huge organisation and what the day to day challenges and opportunities are. A new episode will be dropping every Friday morning, and you can get in contact with the team that makes it by emailing bigboss@bbc.co.uk
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 16, 2020 • 50min
US and China sign the first stage of trade deal
Speaking in Washington, US President Donald Trump said the pact would be "transformartive" for the US economy. Chinese leaders called it a "win-win" deal that would help foster better relations between the two countries. We hear from Greg Gilligan who chairs the American Chamber of Commerce in China and Steve Lamar, head of the American Apparel and Footwear Association.Russia's government has resigned, hours after President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes. We explore the implications.Also, we take an in-depth look at the meat and dairy industry and ask whether it is sustainable. Will diets have to change? How fast will the food industry have to adapt?Plus, a familiar name in Japanese politics is again making waves - but for reasons outside of politics. The environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi - son of the former PM Junichiro Koizumi - has caused a sensation by taking paternity leave. Why is that still such a controversial move in Japan?Presenter Fergus Nicoll is joined by guests Christine Spadafor in Boston and Stefanie Yuen Thio in SingaporePHOTO: Getty Images

Jan 7, 2020 • 52min
What will Iran do next?
The NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said members were united in their concerns about what he called Iran's destabilising operations in the region and in their resolve that Iran should never acquire nuclear weapons. But he said it was a US, not a NATO, decision to kill the senior Iranian general Qasim Soleimani in Iraq last week. After Iranian threats of retaliation, the world awaits who will make the next move? Meanwhile, South African entrepreneur Richard Maponya has died, aged 99. We look back on this retail titan, known as the 'Father of Black Business'. Plus a moment of gratitude for Office Boys in Indonesian offices by workplace commentator Asmara Wreksono.And joining us throughout the programme are Rachel Cartland, author, writer and expert on Hong Kong and Houston based Tony Nash, chief economist at Complete Intelligence.(Picture: Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Picture Credit: AFP Photo/ Ho/ Iranian Presidency)

Dec 26, 2019 • 49min
Changing World of Work
A look at the changing world of work. How will technology will play a growing role in all areas of our working lives and how essential is it to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce? Washington based Sabina Dewan from Just Jobs Network, an international think tank focussed on creating more and better jobs worldwide joins the discussion. Adrian Blair, formerly Global COO of Just Eat and CEO of Receipt Bank, a fintech company which enhances workflow globally also joins Sasha Twining's workplace discussion.(Photo: Global communication network concept Credit: Getty Images)

Dec 24, 2019 • 52min
Boeing replaces CEO amid 737 safety concerns
US plane maker Boeing has replaced its chief executive Dennis Muilenburg in the wake of two deadly 737 Max crashes and the plane's subsequent grounding. We speak to Scott Hamilton, an aviation industry consultant with Leeham news and analysis in Seattle. Plus, UK defence and aerospace company Cobham has been bought by a US private equity firm in a $5bn deal that could test the new government's tolerance of foreign takeovers. Also in the programme, how green is the internet? We examine the energy consumed powering the web. And if you're looking for a last minute Christmas bargain, a small newspaper business in Alaska is looking to be snapped up. The asking price? Free - we find out why.All this and more discussed with guests Erin Delmore, a political reporter in New York, and journalist Jyoti Malhotra in Delhi.(Photos: File photos of David Calhoun (L), and Dennis Muilenburg (R). Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Dec 10, 2019 • 52min
Former head of the Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker, dies
Over the weekend, at the age of 92, one of the giants of American economic policy and former head of the US central bank Paul Volcker, died at his home in New York. He was perhaps best known for his dramatic hiking of interest rates in the early eighties to fight inflation. We explore his enduring legacy. Meanwhile, shares in Tullow Oil fell as much as 70% after the company announced a boardroom shake-up, scrapped its dividend and cut its production forecasts. Chief executive Paul McDade and exploration director Angus McCoss are stepping down immediately. We talk to Eklavya Gupte, senior editor of Europe and Africa News S&P Global Platts. Robin Harding, Tokyo Bureau Chief or Financial Times and Alexis Goldstein, an activist and financial reform advocate in Washington join the discussion. (Picture Credit: Getty Images)

Nov 26, 2019 • 53min
Uber loses London licence
Uber initially lost its licence in 2017 but was granted two extensions, the most recent of which expires on Monday. The firm will appeal and can continue to operate during that process. We talk to Shona Ghosh, UK technology editor for Business Insider, about what this means for the company. Meanwhile, the chief executive of Australia's third-largest bank, Westpac, has resigned following investor pressure. The bank was last week accused of 23 million counts of breaching anti-money laundering rules. We talk to the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney about the reaction. (Image: The Uber App - Picture credit: Getty Images)

Nov 19, 2019 • 51min
Hong Kong Polytechnic University Standoff
Unrest continues in Hong Kong after more violent clashes between pro-democracy demonstrators and the police. Dozens of protestors have left the Polytechnic after more violent clashes with police. Throughout the programme we hear the views of Rachel Cartland, a long time civil servant in the Chinese city, who worked with the territory's Chief Executive Carrie Lam.Our other guest over the hour is Professor Peter Morici, from the University of Maryland in Washington and he has some interesting views on Ford unveiling an electric version of its iconic Mustang sports car. We also hear from motoring journalist Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, from Transport Evolved, who took a ride in the car.We hear from the literary world after a tiny hand-made book written by Charlotte Bronte at the age of 14 was bought at an auction in Paris by the Bronte Society, which will ensure it returns to the North of England.As the UK prepares for one of the most uncertain general elections for many years we get an explanation of the policies of the Green Party, from its Brexit and finance spokesperson Molly Scott-Cato.(Picture: Hong Kong Polytechnic. Copyright credit Philip Fong.)

Nov 12, 2019 • 52min
Chinese firm plans British Steel rescue
To the relief of the UK government, Chinese firm Jingye has promised to rescue British Steel, an iconic company that employs 4,000 people. We ask Martin Jacques, author of When China Rules the World, whether the UK is being drawn into China's Belt and Road plan.Protests in Lebanon show little sign of easing up; the entire financial and political system is the focus of the anger. The BBC's Ivana Davidovic has been finding out more.There is an argument that the American Dream is dead and that meritocracy and hard work aren't valued any more. But some do still live the dream and we hear from one such success story; Rob Bernshteyn, CEO of fintech company, Coupa Software which is worth around US$1.6 billion. Vast parts of Australia's east coast are bracing for potentially catastrophic bushfires today and we're joined by the BBC's Phil Mercer in Maitland, an inland city 165 km north of Sydney. China's annual Singles Day has morphed into an enormous frenzy of shopping and green groups are warning all this comes at a huge cost to the environment. We hear from Tang Damin, a plastics campaigner with Greenpeace in Beijing.And joining us throughout the programme are Simon Littlewood in Singapore - he's President of AC Growth Delivered. And in California, Alison Van Diggelen, is host of Fresh Dialogues.Photo description: British Steel's Scunthorpe works
Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Oct 29, 2019 • 53min
Virgin Galactic rockets on New York Stock Exchange
Virgin Galactic had its first day as a listed company in New York. At their peak, shares rose just over 10%. Founded in 2004, Virgin Galactic has spent more than $1bn developing its programme, which is years behind schedule and took a hit after a fatal accident in 2014. We explore the future for this fledgling industry with Chief Executive George Whitesides. Meanwhile, Google is reported to be in talks to buy Fitbit. We speak to Carolina Milanesi, tech analyst at Creative Strategies. And how the world should prepare for the onslaught of so-called 'deep fakes' - the computer generated videos that allow the nefarious to put words in the mouths of the famous. (Picture Credit: Getty Images)

Oct 7, 2019 • 53min
Prince Harry sues UK tabloids in phone-hacking claim
The prince has begun legal action against the owners of the Sun and the Daily Mirror. We speak to Brian Cathcart, founder of Hacked Off, which campaigns for press accountability in the UK, as Buckingham Palace confirms documents have been filed over the alleged illegal interception.US company Purdue Pharma has been in the headlines recently after it was accused of fuelling the opioid crisis with its drug OxyContin. Recent court filings now show that the company sent up to $13 billion of profits to its owners, the Sackler family - the largest estimate so far of how much the family made from Purdue. Jared S Hopkins, reporter at the Wall Street Journal, explains the story. Jamie Robertson is joined throughout the programme by Alexander Kaufman, senior reporter at the Huffington Post in New York, and Sharon Brettkelly, bureau chief at Radio New Zealand in Auckland.(Picture: The Duke of Sussex. Credit: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)


