

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 world'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 5 Live'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. You can get in contact with the team by emailing bigboss@bbc.co.uk
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 3, 2020 • 52min
Financial markets recover after worst week in a decade
The Bank of Japan, Bank of England and European Central Bank all pledged to increase liquidity to help economies through any disruption caused by the Covid-19 virus. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Feb 18, 2020 • 52min
Japan's economy shrinks at fastest rate in five years
Fears of a recession grow after the country's GDP fell by 1.6% in the final quarter of 2019, as the full economic impact of the coronavirus is still to come. Devin Stewart, senior fellow at the US-based Eurasia Group Foundation, tells us what this means for the world's third largest economy.Is an iPhone shortage on the horizon? Manufacturer Apple says production is down and has warned it won't meet its previous revenue guidance. Our business reporter Zoe Thomas brings us up to date from San Francisco.And we find out the fate of The Skagway News, based in Alaska. Its owner announced he was giving away the local paper at the end of last year. But did he find the perfect new owner?Sasha Twining is joined throughout the programme by Sushma Ramachandran, independent business journalist and columnist for the Tribune newspaper, in Delhi, and Alexis Goldstein, activist and financial reform advocate, who's based in Washington.(Picture: A woman wearing a mask in Tokyo. Credit: David Mareuil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Jan 21, 2020 • 51min
Huawei chief fights extradition to the US
Huawei's chief operating officer appears in a Canadian court to fight extradition to the United States on charges of fraud and breaching sanctions on Iran. The United States Census for 2020 is launched in Alaska, an important exercise for economic planning - we hear from Gabriel Layman, the Chief Operating Officer of Cook Inlet Housing Authority, about the quirks of gathering such huge amounts of information. And baseball is hit by a cheating scandal which could prompt advertisers to walk. And in Japan, a major restaurant chain is feeling the effects of the country’s ageing population.
We discuss all this with live guests Sushma Ramachandran, an independent business journalist for The Tribune newspaper in Delhi, and Tony Nash, chief economist at Complete Intelligence in Houston, Texas.(Image: A silhouette in front of a Huawei sign. Credit: Wang Zhao/ Getty Images)

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.)


