BREAKFAST EVENT

The CEO’s Guide to AI:
 Empowering SMEs for Competitive Advantage

Date: 28th May 2025

Venue:  Holiday Inn Reading-South M4, Jct.11, Basingstoke Road, Reading, RG2 0SL

Time: 08:30am - 11:30am

Engaging, informative, and focused on real-world applications, this breakfast event promises to provide SME leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to harness AI effectively and drive their businesses forward. Join us to stay ahead of the curve and turn AI into your competitive advantage, before your competitors do.

 

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What we intend to deliver:

  • A comprehensive understanding of what AI is (and isn’t) and how AI has evolved and is transforming the SME landscape.
  • Why and how AI is going to change the way we do business and how it can drive competitive advantage now
  • Pragmatic insights and real-world examples relevant to SME leaders.
  • Clear, actionable steps that SME MDs/CEOs/Owners can take today to leverage AI for growth.
  • What are the legal implications
  • Where is the risk and how to mitigate it

 

What the audience will get:

  • A clear roadmap on integrating AI into their business and marketing strategies.
  • Enhanced knowledge to make informed decisions about AI investments.
  • Tools to improve efficiency, decision-making, and customer engagement.
  • Ideas to future-proof their business in an increasingly AI-driven market.

 

Register here:

Guest Speakers

 

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Ged Leigh
Regional Director
Yorkshire & Scotland

Ged is an accomplished B2B Marketing Director with over 25 years of experience in senior roles at private equity-backed and SME companies.

As an advocate for A.I., he is keen to accelerate A.I. literacy for all. He is a skilled practitioner in creating marketing strategies that transform how businesses attract, retain, and engage customers across national and international markets. With his expertise and forward-thinking approach, Ged is passionate about integrating A.I. into marketing practices to drive innovation and success.

AI speaker

Haja Deen
CTO & Founder AI Navi

Haja Deen is a globally recognized technology thought leader and entrepreneur with a proven track record in digital transformation. He has driven innovation at leading companies including NTT, Saint-Gobain, and pladis Global. As co-founder of two tech startups, Haja launched a food ordering app that attracted 20,000 users in 24 hours and built an award-winning property technology firm that democratized investments.

Holding a BSc in Computing and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, he was honored as an Exceptional Global Digital Talent by Tech City UK. Author of Build the Right Thing, Haja now consults with leadership teams to shape AI strategies and drive organizational change. 

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David Fenton
Regional Director
Thames Valley

As Regional Director for the Thames Valley, I work closely with SME business leaders to uncover their unique challenges and align them with the expertise of our fractional marketing directors. My role is to ensure every business benefits from a tailored marketing approach, supported by proven strategies that deliver measurable results. 

With over 30 years of experience across construction, DIY, printing, and managed services, I bring a wealth of marketing expertise to the role. 

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Sarah Clark
The Legal Director

Sarah is a ‘people first’ senior business leader; an experienced General Counsel (GC) and a barrister with 20 years’ experience at the independent bar, in-house and in law firm practice across a wide range of sectors from publishing to financial services.

From an early career at Red Lion Chambers, honing her advocacy and influencing skills, the past ten years have seen Sarah’s focus shift in-house; from working in private practice designing value propositions and innovative legal solutions for GCs, to sitting in the General Counsel seat herself.

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Brian Profitt
Freeman Clarke

Brian joined Freeman Clarke in 2020 to work with clients as a Board Technology Advisor focusing on value creation, growth and innovation.

Brian is technology partner in a PE firm, NxD and advisor to start-ups (healthtech, music technology, AI, telematics and 500 startups in the world’s largest accelerator) and turnaround CTO (e.g. building the connected car platform with Samsung).

He has won multiple technology awards, European Startup Mentor of the Year, HealthTech Innovator of the Year, Global Top 100 CIO, creating and delivering business and digital business strategies at the highest levels in Government (CTO in the Cabinet Office), FTSE100 (Prudential, Corus, BA, BT) and Fortune 500 companies (Mars, Cargill, Marsh) as well as many startups and SMEs.

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