About

Marketer. Facilitator. Coach. Professor.

Three decades of building brands, facilitating workshops, and helping people do the best work of their lives.

I operate from South London, but work with organisations across the UK, Europe, and beyond.

MBA, Marketing - Bradford Business School

Accredited Executive Coach Academy of Executive Coaching - Coaching Practitioner Diploma, 2019

Marketing Professor Richmond American University London - Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Challenger branding partner Collaborates with eatbigfish on A Beautiful Constraint methodology

My story

Built on 30 years of doing the real thing

I'm Tony Franco, a marketer, facilitator, coach, and occasional professor. Over 30 years, I've helped some of the world's most iconic brands think differently, from Avonmore and Nescafé to Pladis and Google.

In 2004, I founded Franco London, a consultancy built around a single belief: that the best work happens when people are properly supported to do it. Today, I work as a "Company of One," partnering with a select network of trusted collaborators, including the challenger-branding experts at eatbigfish.

I've recently taken on a role as Marketing Professor within the Business School at Richmond American University London, teaching undergraduate modules in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The journey so far

Global brand management

Spent the early part of my career managing iconic Nestlé brands - Buitoni, Nesquik, and Nescafé - in both the UK and France, gaining first-hand experience of what makes great brands tick.

Agency strategy

Moved to the agency world at Added Value, consulting across diverse categories and developing the consulting, facilitation, and training skills that underpin everything I do today.

Franco London (2004–present)

Founded my own consultancy two decades ago, working with over 50 organisations, including Google, Meta, AB InBev, Charles Schwab, and Motability, across facilitation, training, and coaching.

I believe that…

Everyone is creative and resourceful

I don't believe in telling people what to think or do. My job, whether I'm facilitating a workshop, delivering training, or coaching someone, is to create the conditions where people find their own answers.

Curiosity beats certainty

Remaining open-minded is fundamental to every project I work on. Asking naive questions, looking for ways forward in unusual places. Seeking solutions from all walks of life. Thinking beyond the obvious.

All Great Marketing is Founded on a Great Insight

Deep, enduring consumer understanding is at the heart of every successful brand or innovation. I always strive to understand the consumer perspective in every brief I receive. I’m endlessly fascinated by how people think and behave.

Great facilitation changes thinking

Getting people together to create, debate, think and agree is vital to the success of a project. People need to feel part of the solution and planning and delivering great workshops is fundamental to this.

Constraints Drive Creativity

I love working on ambitious challenges in dynamic industries. I thrive on constraints. In fact, much of my work draws on the principles of A Beautiful Constraint, a framework I use to help teams become more inventive and resourceful.

Who I Work Best With

FMCG brands: I first learnt about marketing in the food and drink arena. This is still my passion and an area I regularly return to when training and consulting. I work across many categories, but I’m most comfortable in this arena.

Innovation teams: This is the subject I enjoy most. I love developing new business ideas and concepts. I particularly enjoy the energy of creative, idea-generation workshops and helping organisations change the world.

Leadership teams: Often, I’m asked to plan and facilitate large senior leadership events, typically on a Global or Regional basis. I love rising to the challenge of managing ‘alpha’ personalities and encouraging them to collaborate more effectively.

Agencies: My briefs with marketing service agencies usually revolve around training and coaching. Typically, facilitation skills, as well as delivering great presentations and creative thinking. I also work closely with communication agencies in developing brand positioning projects. They often take part in my workshops

Start-ups: I don’t just work for the large multinationals (although this has been my bread and butter for many years). I enjoy working with founders and quirky start-ups who are just beginning their journey. Here, my coaching and mentorship skills really come to the fore.

What’s the common theme? Ambition. People who want to succeed and make their mark in the world. My job is to enable them to do their best work.

Interested in working together?

Whether you have a specific brief or just want to explore what's possible, I'd love to have a conversation. Please call me or fill in the form below. I respond within 24 hours.