DRLondon: One of the UK’s best-known athletes and a leading psychologist, who is an expert in influence, are joining forces to speak at this year’s exclusive Leaders’ Lunch at WTM London – proving once again that Ideas Arrive Here. The 2019 invitation-only WTM Leaders’ Lunch, in association with Slovenia, will be headlined by Lord Sebastian Coe and Dr. Kevin Dutton.
In what promises to be an inspiring session, Dr. Dutton and Lord Coe will unpick the DNA of persuasion – a vital component required by all leaders to navigate and implement successful strategies to tackle the challenges they face in today’s travel industry. Lord Coe, who is President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Executive Chairman of CSM Sport & Entertainment, is a household name in the UK.
He made his mark as an athlete in 1977, winning the 800m at the European Indoor Championship. The following year he set a new UK 800m record and, in 1979, he broke the 800m, 1500m and mile world records in the space of 41 days. At the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980, Coe won the gold medal in the 1500 m, having won silver in the 800 m. Four years later in Los Angeles he also won silver in the 800m before becoming the only man to successfully defend the 1500 m title.
After retiring from athletics, he spent five years as a Member of Parliament, then moved to the House of Lords before becoming Chairman of the London bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. After London was appointed as host city in July 2005, Coe chaired the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
Coe was BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year 1979 and became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1982. Eight years later he was promoted to Officer of the same order (OBE), before becoming Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his services to sport. In the 2013 New Year’s Honours List he was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH). Lord Coe will headline the Leaders’ Lunch alongside Dr Kevin Dutton, an expert on the science of social influence with a PhD in psychology.
Dr. Dutton is a research Psychologist at the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, associate fellow at the Royal Society of Medicine and also at the Society for Scientific Study of Psychopathy. He is the author of two books; Flipnosis – The Art of Split Second Persuasion, which documents his quest – from the political genius of Winston Churchill to the malign influence of some of the world’s top con artists – to find the psychological ‘DNA’ of persuasion.
His second book, The Wisdom of Psychopaths – Lessons in Life from Saints, Spies and Serial Killers, explores the positive side of being a psychopath, and discover, first hand, in a ground-breaking ‘How to make a psychopath’ experiment, what it’s like to be one. WTM London Senior Exhibition Director Simon Press said: “World Travel Market’s invitation-only Leaders’ Lunch is always one of the highlights of the event and this year two experts in their field will discuss the issue of persuasion and how leaders can apply this in the field of business.
“Forty years ago, when WTM first started, Sebastian Coe was making a name for himself in UK athletics, setting a number of new world records. Since then, he’s had several successful careers off the track and we’re delighted to welcome Lord Coe to WTM’s 40th event. “With Lord Coe’s insight, coupled with the expertise of Dr Kevin Dutton, the Leaders’ Lunch promises to be thought-provoking and inspiring.” The WTM Leaders’ Lunch takes place on Monday November 4 in Platinum Suite 3, from 11:00-13:30.
