John Hayes
Specialist Areas: Business, Entrepreneurship, Consumer Behaviour, Customer Service, Marketing & Branding, Sales
Firmly at the helm of the Champions Speakers, John Hayes has been the CEO since 2003. For well over a decade, he has grown the business into the monolith of entertainment and events that it is today. John is also credited for the success of Champions Speakers' sibling companies, including Champions Music and Entertainment and Influencer Matchmaker, a testament to his outstanding influence as an authoritative business leader. John also has a passion for sporting, political and entertainment memorabilia, which are dotted around each of our offices. He has even previously sponsored Johnny Herbert's Formula 1 car!
In the early years, John and his son, Matthew, worked from their home, before commissioning purpose-built premises for their team to grow. In 2019, John opened the Digital and Media Centre, followed by our first office in Dubai. Considering his long and successful career, it is no surprise that John is an authority on business management and entrepreneurship. Champions Speakers' outstanding customer service is credited to John's friendly and down-to-earth approach to client relations, which combines with our marketing and sales strategies to solidify our position as market leaders. Given his extensive expertise in these areas, John has become a leading expert on the keynote speakers that specialise in such subjects - with some of his favourite speakers including the likes of Geoff Ramm, Alex Hunter, Jo Fairley, Baroness Karren Brady, Alan O'Neill and Jordan Belfort.
John is an avid fundraiser and prides himself on his close connection with a range of great causes. Most notably, he has raised over £2 million for the children's charity, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. John has been a dedicated supporter of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, contributing significant funds and raising awareness through various events. His efforts have provided essential resources, helping to enhance the care and support offered to terminally ill children and their families. He has also been an avid supporter of charities such as the Lord's Taverners, Giving Africa and Birmingham Children's Hospital.
From 2003, all the way to the present day, Champions Speakers and John have been honoured with several accolades, including the Sunday Times' FastTrack100, Telegraph 1000 Britain's Brightest Businesses and the Santander Breakthrough50 Award, to name a few. Recognising the crucial importance of understanding the future of work, John is committed to making a difference in the corporate sector. Such passions have recently been recognised, with Champions Speakers named as one of J.P. Morgan's Top 200 Female Powered Businesses in the UK, ranked at 106th - demonstrating John's commitment to creating a pioneering female workforce, and spearheading gender diversity in the workplace. His stature as a businessman has also seen John featured on Bloomberg and in various publications for the Leicester Mercury.
John's numerous accolades have bolstered his reputation as an inspirational businessman and entrepreneur. Most recently, John was named as a Midlands finalist in the 2025 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, in the Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year category. These awards, recognising his innovation and leadership, have enhanced his stature within the business community, inspiring peers and aspiring entrepreneurs to strive for excellence and ethical business practices in their own ventures. John has also built a strong following on his LinkedIn profile, where he shares a variety of content from special company occasions at Champions Speakers to the latest industry news and exciting images from the charity events he organises.
John's Top Articles:
With extensive expertise in business management, entrepreneurship, consumer behaviour and sales, John often uses his detailed knowledge in such areas to author a variety of articles for Champions Speakers. Below is a collection of his top articles, written using exclusive vetted market research from official corporate and public speaking engagements:
