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My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons

Nathan Coe, CEO at Auto Trader: Yes, someone listed a tank on our platform

My Duvet Flip by Jack Parsons

Jack Parsons

Business, Careers

4.25 Ratings

🗓️ 22 May 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Episode Guest

Jack Parsons interviews Nathan Coe, the Chief Executive Officer of Auto Trader UK, where he has been a driving force behind the company’s operational and technological evolution for over 18 years. Since joining the company, Nathan has held several senior leadership roles including Operations Director and Product & Technology Director, where he oversaw critical functions such as product development, marketing, data, and technology.

Appointed CEO in February 2020, Nathan brings a wealth of experience in corporate strategy and digital transformation, built on earlier roles in corporate development at Telstra and Sensis. His tenure reflects a deep commitment to innovation and efficiency within the automotive marketplace sector.


Episode Timestamps

0:00 – Meet Nathan Coe: CEO of Auto Trader & His Duvet Flip

0:31 – First Jobs, Family Background & Early Career Aspirations

2:09 – From PWC to Purpose: Moving Beyond Money-Driven Goals

3:36 – Proving People Wrong & Embracing the Inner Rebel

5:00 – Was There a Grand Career Plan? (Spoiler: No)

6:45 – Breaking into Competitive Graduate Roles

8:44 – Tips for Interviews, Standing Out & Being Authentic

11:20 – What Auto Trader Looks for in Candidates

12:58 – The Importance of Teamwork, Collaboration & EQ

14:45 – Inside Auto Trader’s Quirky Culture & Values

17:01 – Inclusion as a Strategy, Not Just a Policy

19:14 – Longevity at Auto Trader: 10-Year Avg. Tenure

20:45 – Nathan’s First Car (and Why the Window Fell In)

22:33 – Buying Your First Car: Insurance, Costs & Tips

25:00 – How Auto Trader Helps You Buy Smarter with Tech

26:51 – The Tank Listed on Auto Trader (Yes, Really)

28:30 – Content Responsibility & Platform Trust

30:00 – Behind the Scenes: AI & Data Science at Auto Trader

31:36 – Career Paths at Auto Trader: Tech, Product, B2B & More

33:30 – From Magazine to Digital: A Tough but Bold Transition

35:12 – Launched Before Google: Auto Trader's 1995 Website

36:49 – Why Owning Cars Still Matters in the Digital Age

38:41 – Making Car Buying Seamless with Tech

40:22 – What’s Next for Auto Trader? The Digital Future

42:36 – Impacting Millions: Auto Trader’s Reach in the UK

44:10 – Leadership Philosophy: Care Deeply, Stay Grounded

45:51 – Advice on Resilience: No One Promised It’d Be Easy

47:29 – Nathan’s Duvet Flip: Empowering Others to Break Limits

49:00 – Closing Thoughts & A Legacy of Impact


Episode Partners

✈️ easyJet

Explore exciting career opportunities at easyJet, one of Europe’s leading airlines. Whether you're passionate about aviation, customer service, engineering, or corporate roles, easyJet offers a dynamic work environment focused on innovation and growth.

https://bit.ly/3yCRlNS


📊 Compare the Market

Discover how you can make a difference at Compare the Market, the company behind one of the UK’s most popular comparison sites. From tech and data to marketing and operations, they’re on a mission to simplify decisions for millions.

https://bit.ly/4i53Svj


Disclaimer:

The content provided on Duvet Flip is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts, guests, brands or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the show's producers, sponsors, or affiliates. The information shared is not a substitute for professional advice, including but not limited to career counseling, financial guidance, legal consultation, or mental health support.


Listeners and viewers are responsible for their own decisions and actions based on the content provided, and Duvet Flip assumes no liability for any outcomes resulting from reliance on the information shared. By engaging with the show, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer.

If you’re struggling with debt, trusted advice and free support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/debt-advice

If you’re struggling with mental health of any kind, you can find free support here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

We're always looking for people that can kind of come together as part of a team,

0:04.1

tackle problems without airs and graces or, you know, too much emotion.

0:08.6

Just try and put the problem on the table and say, well, let's look at it.

0:11.3

Let's look at the facts.

0:12.6

Especially when you're young, or anyone, but when you're young, go in, show how you can get on with all types of people from different backgrounds.

0:19.8

How can you be a team player and then what is your expert skills if it's yeah what's your superpower yeah

0:26.6

totally hi my name's Nathan Coe I'm the CEO of AutoTrader we have 1,250 employees and this is

0:35.0

my duvet we had a tank listed on auto trade. That was

0:38.4

there was loads. It's interesting. Like weird stuff that you can be on there so there was a tank on there.

0:42.7

Yeah, there was a tank. Sorry for the pun but there's more on the bonyct or a trader than people might realise, right?

0:48.3

The pun is pardoned. What's your advice to people to be resilient and to focus?

0:53.3

Start by not expecting it to be a beautiful golden staircase with perhaps a red carpet.

0:59.0

You just priming my shoes?

1:00.0

Yeah, I did notice those earlier.

1:03.0

What's your dovet flip? It gets you out of bed in the morning to flip the dovet.

1:06.0

Hello, Sergei.

1:15.6

Hello Mr. Alexander.

1:16.6

Are you looking for a credit card?

1:18.6

Oh, he's good.

1:20.6

With Otto Sergei's handy credit card feature, he'll check your chances of approval before you apply without impacting your credit score.

1:28.4

Taking the guesswork out of finding a credit card.

1:31.1

Simples.

...

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