The Executive Partnership Behind Stanley’s Hypergrowth | Kate Ridley & Graham Nearn

What does it take to evolve a 100-year-old brand while navigating hypergrowth, global expansion, and changing consumer expectations?

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Kate Ridley, Chief Brand Officer at Stanley 1913, and Graham Nearn, Chief Product and Sustainability Officer, explore how a strong executive partnership can become a strategic advantage. Drawing on their experience leading Stanley through transformational growth, Kate and Graham discuss the importance of candid communication, secure vulnerability, and continuous alignment when making high-stakes decisions.

They share lessons from major collaborations, including LoveShackFancy and Jennie Kim, and explain how data and emotional conviction can work together to determine which growth opportunities are worth pursuing.

The conversation also explores how leaders can identify capability gaps, turn employee feedback into meaningful investment, and evolve a heritage brand without losing its core identity. From psychographic segmentation to culturally relevant international partnerships, Kate and Graham offer practical insights into building trust, sustaining momentum, and creating lasting value for consumers and employees.

What You'll Learn:

• How to leverage "secure vulnerability" as a leadership superpower
• Why pre-alignment and continuous dialogue prevent costly launch failures
• The critical difference between "should" and "could" in growth decisions
• How to diagnose and articulate complex capability gaps to stakeholders
• The evolution framework for stewarding 100-year legacy brands
• How to identify and activate international growth through culturally relevant partnerships

About the Guests:

Kate Ridley is an accomplished brand leader with more than 25 years of experience across product creation, merchandising, and marketing in sport, lifestyle, and fashion. She specialises in developing brand strategies that drive sustainable growth and profitability, while leading major launches and transformation programmes. Kate brings together purpose, culture, creativity, and collaboration to build brands that create lasting impact.

Graham Nearn is a global product and brand leader with more than 20 years of experience across sport, lifestyle, food, beverage, and performance. At Stanley 1913, he leads global brand, product creation, and design, driving innovation and the “Built for Tomorrow” vision. A former professional athlete and certified coach, Graham is passionate about building high-performing teams, empowering diverse talent, and creating purpose-driven brands.

Host and Guest Resources:

• Kate Ridley on LinkedIn
• Graham Nearn on LinkedIn
• Stanley 1913 Website
• ADWEEK Website

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