MD at Kara Change Management, Bestselling Author of ‘Culture Matters’ & ‘This Is So Selfridges!’, Retail & Change Expert
Alan O’Neill’s Biography:
Alan O’Neill is a seasoned business consultant, speaker and author, currently serving as Managing Director of Kara Change Management. He is a keynote speaker specialising in change management, corporate culture, customer experience and retail transformation. He is best known for leading a major transformation at Selfridges, helping the retailer achieve global recognition as one of the world’s top department stores.
Alan began his career in retail management, becoming owner and managing director of a company called Hallmark in 1981. Ten years later he became Partner & Owner at Harvest Resources, laying the groundwork for his shift into consultancy. In 1998 he founded Kara Change Management, which became the platform for his global consulting work. Over the years, he has advised household-name brands across industries including retail, hospitality, finance and consumer goods. His early exposure to hands-on retail operations gave him deep insight into leadership, customer service, and organisational behaviour.
During his decades long career, Alan has authored influential business books that articulate his philosophy and methods. His works include ‘Premium is the New Black: Put the Customer at the Heart of Your Decision-Making’ and ‘Culture Matters: The Four ‘Must-Have’ Values to Supercharge Your Business’ as well as ‘SHOW ME THE LID ON THE BOX: How to Manage Change with Least Resistance’. His frameworks – especially his signature 7-Steps to Profit model – have helped global organisations like Selfridges, Toyota, Getty Images, Harrods, Primark, Intel and Moët Hennessy transform their culture, align strategy and drive commercial growth. Thanks to his guidance Selfridges reportedly ramped up profits significantly and earned repeated acclaim as ‘Best Department Store in the World’.
Why Hire Alan O’Neill?
People hire Alan because his expertise is practical, proven and deeply relevant to organisations navigating change, disruption or transformation. His talks cover change management, corporate culture, customer experience, retail strategy, and the intersection of human leadership with evolving business pressures. These topics matter because in today’s fast-changing landscape companies that align culture, customer focus and execution outperform those that don’t. Hire him and your team will gain clarity, renewed focus and actionable strategies to build sustainable growth and a customer-centred culture.
Alan O’Neill’s Career Highlights:
Below showcases Alan O’Neill’s career in business and retail management:
- 2025 – Spoke at the ‘Beyond the Checkout: Building Resilience for the Global Customer’ Retail Tech Leaders Dinner at Selfridges London
- 2023 – Author of ‘SHOW ME THE LID ON THE BOX: How to Manage Change with Least Resistance’
- 2021 – Author of ‘Culture Matters: The Four ‘Must-Have’ Values to Supercharge Your Business’
- 2019 – Author of ‘Premium is the New Black: Put the Customer at the Heart of Your Decision-Making’
- 1998 – Appointed Managing Director of Kara Change Management
- 1991 – Became Partner & Owner of Harvest Resources
- 1981 – Became Owner & Managing Director of Hallmark
Videos
Alan O’Neill’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“We in BT have worked with Alan O’Neill, not just to help with our own customer service, but to educate our customers on how they can help their customers. You can’t ask for any more than Alan’s track record of success. His insights garnished from customer service case studies across all industries make him a front runner in his field.” – Joe, Head of Unified Communications, BT Telecom
“We’ve worked with Alan many times across the years and engaged on several subjects, but his passion for customer experience is always apparent – he gets it. He knows what customers and businesses expect, as well as being able to stand at the side and point out the routes for success. His insight has never been so relevant as it is today and tomorrow!” – Steven, Transformation Director, Allied Irish Banks GB
“As the internal lead for a culture refresh program in our multinational group, we engaged Alan O’Neill for external support. His empathy for the business and our people was refreshing. His clarity of thought and practical approach made the journey a lot easier. What I particularly like about Alan’s approach is how he links culture to real commercial results. I can relate to so many of his anecdotes.” – Martin, CEO, European Recycling Platform Ireland
“We in BWG have successfully engaged with Alan on a number of strategic projects in recent years. Alan brings a unique customer experience perspective and dimension to sales and marketing strategic discussions. I would recommend him to any person or organisation that is focusing on improving sales performance.” – Leo, CEO, BWG Group
“Having made a number of acquisitions in recent years, we prioritised culture as the golden thread to bring all business together. Alan O’Neill navigated us in embracing and tailoring his guiding principles. They have made a big impact on our own teams and our customers.” – Jan, CEO, Landbell Group
“Alan’s business acumen, genuine passion for great customer service, and his hands-on experience overseeing large-scale change within organisations such as Selfridges is unique. It makes him one of the most impressive speakers on change management and customer experience I have ever come across. Alan is a popular speaker at events around the globe with organisations who want to learn from his insights and his bold tactics to help build a world-class customer-centric culture and ultimately increase sales – Frances, Managing Director
“I am proud to say that I have witnessed Alan delivering outstanding seminars, presentations and small group development sessions and rarely have I experienced such a captivating leader and presenter. He has the unique talent of holding his audience in the palm of his hand and his extensive retail knowledge and experience is second to none.” – Alshaya Group
Speaking Topics
Alan O’Neill’s Official Keynote Topics:
- AI and Human Leadership
- Change Management
- Corporate Culture
- Customer Experience
- Navigating a Post-COVID Economy
- Retail Strategy
- The 7-Steps to Profit
How Much Does Alan O’Neill Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Alan O’Neill?
The cost of hiring Alan O’Neill depends on the event format, location, and length of appearance. For a tailored quote, speak with a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.