Keynote SpeakersJohn Vincent MBE, co-founder of LEON, is an inspirational speaker who shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, and building successful brands.
John co-founded LEON with Henry Dimbleby in 2004 to make it easier for everyone to eat well.
Previously, John worked as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company, where business travel made him realise that the only food available on the go made everyone fall asleep and wake up fat!
Aiming to create “a McDonald’s in heaven”, John and Henry opened the first LEON on Carnaby Street in 2004, working with chef Allegra McEvedy.
Shortly after, the Observer Food Monthly Awards named it ‘Best Newcomer’.
John took over Leon’s day-to-day operations in 2014. He led menu innovation and co-authored several Leon cookbooks.
By 2021, LEON had grown to around 70 outlets, and EG Group acquired it.
John co-authored the School Food Plan for the UK Government in 2013. This persuaded the Government to put cooking back on the curriculum and provide free school meals for all infants.
He was awarded an MBE in 2015 for his services to school food.
John is married to TV newscaster and presenter Katie Derham, and they have two daughters.
John Vincent Guest Speaker:
A naturally gifted speaker, John brings humour, charm, and a sharp business brain to any conference or meeting.
Speaking themes:
Leading Through Uncertainty with Calm, Clarity, and a Bit of Humour
In a world where crisis can strike without warning, John Vincent teaches leaders to anticipate the unexpected and respond with purpose, not panic. Drawing from his experience leading LEON through national terror attacks, the COVID-19 lockdown, and complex government collaborations, John shares actionable principles that helped his teams stay grounded under pressure. With his sharp insights and trademark humour, John explores how leaders can navigate uncertainty without sacrificing compassion.
Wellbeing That Works: How Real Wellness at Work Protects Teams and Drives Performance
John Vincent was an early pioneer of workplace wellbeing. He’s led wellness retreats and other programs for his entire LEON team. In this talk, he explains how a truly human approach to wellbeing isn’t just nice to have; it’s essential to resilience, safety, and productivity. John makes the case that investing in wellbeing pays off in the most measurable (and unexpected) ways.
Seeing the Whole: How Systems Thinking Can Change Your Business—and Maybe the World
John Vincent has spent his life joining the dots – from philosophy and economics to fast food, government, and environmental policy. In this talk, he unpacks the power of systems thinking: the ability to see beyond silos and short-term fixes, and design solutions that actually stick. Whether he’s talking about redesigning school food across the UK, launching nature-based initiatives with big business, or challenging reductionist thinking in public health, John reveals how seeing the whole leads to better outcomes for people, profit, and planet.
