Thank you for downloading this programme, clashing egos and hidden agendas in this edition of the bottom line with Stephanie Flanders and a panel of guests from the world of business.

Hello and welcome to the programme. It seems every week we read about another battle in the boardroom, a surprise coup at the top perhaps, or a personality clash that's ended up hitting a company's

bottom line. My three guests today have all spent plenty of time at the top table. I'll be asking

them their tips for mastering boardroom politics and coming out ahead. We'll also talk about the

risks and opportunities that lie in store for small start-ups that decide to take on the big guns.

But before any of that, let's meet my three guests.

First up is Stuart Fletcher, Chief Executive of Bupa, the Private Healthcare Company.

Now, Stuart, I'm interested you've been in the job six months, having spent 25 years in the drinks industry at Diageo.

Drinks, healthcare, transferable skills?

Totally. I know, seriously. I think, you know, an international business is an international business.

And of course, the products and services are different. But, you know, most of my time in Diageo was spent in the international world,

and that's what Booper is.

You know, more than two-thirds of our business is outside of the UK today.

And so whilst healthcare as a business is, you know, very different in products and service terms to the drinks business,

the fundamentals of strategy, leadership, making sure you've got great innovation of the same.

Just to remind people, I mean, so you're about private healthcare insurance, care homes.

What's the bulk of your business?

Yeah, we're a private medical insurance business,

but with a significant presence in care homes for the frail and elderly,

also home health care in the UK.

And we operate hospitals and clinics in a number of countries, including public-private

partnerships in Spain.

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