Alex was part of the team that launched the award-winning US airline Virgin America before leading Virgin’s entire digital strategy, including Sir Richard Branson's personal strategy. In speeches and workshops, Alex demonstrates how to create a meaningful bond with customers by showing the human side of brands, building relationships online and in the real world, exploring the psychology of brand loyalty, and revealing some of the best tactics for keeping customers happy and loyal.
Alex Hunter is a brand and customer loyalty expert who worked as Global Head of Digital for the Virgin Group. He helps organisations bring “WOW” to their customer experience and branding. Alex has helped hundred-year-old companies reinvigorate their purpose, global conglomerates tell their story better, and plucky Davids vanquish their Goliaths.
At the Virgin Group, Alex oversaw the Virgin brand’s entire global digital strategy, as well as Sir Richard Branson’s personal digital strategy. Before joining the Virgin Group, Alex was part of the founding team of award-winning US airline Virgin America. His work at Virgin America was covered by Time magazine, CNN, and CNBC, and was crucial in establishing the extraordinary customer service that Virgin America became known for.
Alex’s key message focuses on branding, and customers, exploring all aspects of loyalty, customer experience, and marketing. He argues that too many organisations view digital as a destination when in fact many of the principles that have made them successful in their field readily apply online, too. Using examples of companies like BA, Apple, and Coca Cola, Alex examines how to build a consistent, seamless, outstanding relationship with customers throughout their relationship with a brand, wherever and however their interactions take place.
Alex also looks at how technology can improve the understanding of customers and help personalise the service businesses offer rather than simply being a tool of cost cutting. He delivers examples of exceptional (and exceptionally bad) customer service, from organisations big and small.
An investor in, and advisor to start-ups, Alex has served on the Board of Trustees for the non-profit Drinkaware. He has also served as an advisor to the Prince of Wales Rainforest Trust, specifically around refining and communicating the Trusts’ message.
A highly sought-after speaker, Alex has appeared all over the world at industry events such as ad:tech, Future of Web Apps (London, Las Vegas, Dublin, and Miami), Thinking Digital, Marketing 2.0, CIO Connect, iStrategy, Tech4Africa, MARKA, and Internet World.
Alex speaks with real authority on the successes (and setbacks) of online business, and how peer-to-peer collaboration is changing the consumer experience. His own enthusiasm onstage perfectly echoes his argument that an ability to build relationships with customers online and make them care is what makes you stand out in the increasingly competitive digital space.
JLA Agent Jethro Fox