Nicknamed “The King of Customer Experience”, Consumer & Shopper Behaviouralist for CEO Glacier Consulting, Former Manager of Consumer Insight for Nielsen, Former Strategy Consultant for Accenture & Bestselling Author of ‘Taylormaking’
Ken Hughes’ Biography:
Ken Hughes is the Consumer & Shopper Behaviouralist of CEO Glacier Consulting, widely recognised as “The King of Customer Experience”. With more than two decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies across retail, technology, finance and healthcare, Ken has become one of the world’s most sought-after experts on customer engagement, innovation and consumer behaviour. Having delivered keynote presentations for global brands including Coca-Cola, IKEA and AXA, he is renowned for helping organisations understand evolving customer expectations and future-proof their strategies. As a TEDx speaker, bestselling author and university lecturer, Ken is a compelling voice on the future of business, retail and human connection in a digital world.
Ken’s career began as a Third Level Representative for Heineken before moving into consultancy and consumer insight roles that shaped his expertise in behavioural analysis. He joined Accenture as a Strategy Consultant, where he developed a strong foundation in business transformation and strategic planning. He subsequently held a series of senior positions at Nielsen, progressing from Account Manager to Category Management Consultant and later Manager of Consumer Insight. In 2001, he founded Glacier Consulting and established himself as a leading Consumer & Shopper Behaviouralist, working with organisations to better understand customers, shoppers and market trends through data-driven insights and behavioural science.
Alongside his consulting work, Ken is an acclaimed author and thought leader. He is the bestselling author of ‘Taylormaking’, a book exploring the cultural and commercial impact of Taylor Swift’s global success. He has been named one of the Top 50 Global CX Influencers and is internationally recognised for his expertise across customer experience, behavioural economics and retail innovation. In 2014, he delivered the TEDx talk ‘Time Bending – 365 Ways to Unlock Creativity & Innovation’, further cementing his reputation as a leading authority on creativity and business transformation.
Today, Ken continues to advise organisations on topics including innovation, the Internet of Things, big data, digital strategy, cyberpsychology, shopper marketing and retail futurology. He is also the only global keynote speaker delivering a dedicated presentation on The Taylor Swift Phenomenon, examining the business lessons behind one of the most influential brands in modern culture. Beyond the corporate world, Ken works as a life strategist and coach to elite athletes, entertainers and C-suite leaders, helping high performers unlock their potential and adapt to an ever-changing world.
Why Hire Ken Hughes?
Ken Hughes delivers high-energy, insightful presentations that blend behavioural science, future trends and practical business strategy. Drawing on decades of experience advising major global organisations, he helps audiences understand the changing relationship between brands, technology and consumers. His keynote sessions are engaging, entertaining and packed with actionable insights, covering topics from customer experience and innovation to digital transformation and retail trends. As a TEDx speaker and internationally recognised thought leader, Ken inspires audiences to embrace change, think creatively and build stronger connections with customers in an increasingly disruptive marketplace.
Ken Hughes‘ Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Ken Hughes’ remarkable career:
- 2024 – Continued to be recognised globally as one of the Top 50 Global CX Influencers.
- 2020 – Became internationally recognised as the only keynote speaker delivering a dedicated presentation on The Taylor Swift Phenomenon.
- 2014 – Delivered the TEDx talk ‘Time Bending – 365 Ways to Unlock Creativity & Innovation’.
- 2001 – Founded CEO Glacier Consulting and became Consumer & Shopper Behaviouralist.
- 2000 – Appointed Manager of Consumer Insight at Nielsen, leading research into shopper and consumer trends.
- 1999 – Worked as Category Management Consultant at Nielsen, advising businesses on category growth strategies.
- 1998 – Served as Account Manager at Nielsen, supporting clients with consumer and market intelligence.
- 1997 – Worked as a Strategy Consultant at Accenture, helping organisations develop transformation and growth strategies.
Videos
Ken Hughes’ Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Ken is one of those super professional speakers who just gets it. He surpassed all our expectations in terms of both content and sheer energy on screen.” – Microsoft
“Ken is an energetic, thought-provoking speaker. I’ve had Ken speak at two Google events now and Ken has scored higher than any other speaker I’ve ever had before, lasting a long time in the memories of the delegates” – Google
“We invited Ken to address our key executives around in-store marketing to shoppers with a particular emphasis on our digital strategy. Ken’s provocative and engaging style and his clear thought leadership opened up fantastic debates on the changing nature of shopper and consumer engagement for our brands and the business overall. His delivery and facilitation really brought the issues to life and I would highly recommend Ken to kick-start the debate when working on the challenge of integrating digital deep within your marketing programmes.” – Julie, Global VP Shopper & Customer Marketing, Unilever
“A heartfelt thank you to the truly inspiring and energising speaker, Ken Hughes. He captivated us with a genuinely delightful speech. There are not enough words to describe the impact this session had on our employees and how personal and engaging it was. Simply magnificent.” – ING
“Once again, Ken managed to inspire both our internal and external audiences equally regarding customer connection and marketing in this new world. Our customers loved it as did our own staff. I’ve never seen so many people so engaged for so long on a Webinar.” – PayPal
Speaking Topics
Ken Hughes‘ Official Keynote Topics:
- The Blue Dot Consumer – Understanding the Modern Customer Connection: An exploration of the modern consumer, their values, expectations and what brands need to do to win their race for relevance
- Taylormaking – How to Use CX to Build Brand Success: How emotive customer connections, continuous investment in customer and employee experience, and inviting customer collaboration build a brand tribal following. If Taylor Swift can do it, so can you
- AI, Data & Disruption – Winning the Race for Customer Relevance: A cultural evaluation of the effect AI will have on the consumer decision-making process and the world of marketing, branding and customer connection will change
- Igniting the Spark – How Creativity & Risk Drive the Innovation Engine: How agility, risk, play and creativity catalyse innovation at the personal, professional and organisational levels
How Much Does Ken Hughes Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Ken Hughes?
Ken Hughes’ speaking fees typically reflect his exceptional career and international demand. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.