Listen Hires Ex-Diary of a CEO’s Emma Williams

Leading podcast production company, Listen is proud to announce the appointment of Emma Williams as Director of Marketing and Partnerships, a newly formed role that will see her lead the company’s commercial and growth strategy across their award-winning visualised slate, expanding originals and Labs, it’s marketing and consultancy division.

Emma brings 15 years of PR and media expertise, including a standout three-year stint at The Diary of a CEO, where she was involved from its startup phase. She played a pivotal role in the podcast’s rapid growth, securing extensive press coverage and booking major guests such as Stephen Fry, Lewis Capaldi, and Louis Theroux. Emma also expanded the podcast’s distribution to 14 airlines, including BA, Emirates, and JetBlue, and launched the first video podcast fast channel on Samsung TV Plus across the UK, Germany, Austria, and The Netherlands. Additionally, she worked on the USA chart-topping podcast, Modern Wisdom, hosted by Chris Williamson, securing high-profile guests and new distribution opportunities to broaden the show’s reach and impact.

At Listen, Emma will enhance and grow the existing podcast slate, while driving fresh creative and commercial opportunities for talent-led original podcasts. Through Listen Labs, she will enhance and grow the premier podcast consultancy, trusted by top brands like Netflix, The Telegraph, and Sheerluxe. Emma brings her exceptional partnership expertise, having driven innovative collaborations with leading brands including WHOOP, The Financial Times, and Mercedes.

Josh Adley, Managing Director at Listen, says: “Emma joins us at a hugely exciting time for the company, 2024 has been our most widely recognised and commercially successful year to date. As we move into the next phase of Listen’s growth, Emma’s unrivalled experience of building global podcast brands and securing flagship commercial deals will add significant value to Listen’s shows. The insight she will bring to Listen Labs will be invaluable to our clients.”

Emma Williams adds: “With its reputation as a leader in visualised podcasts, I’m incredibly excited to be joining Listen at such a pivotal time. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the team and contributing to the ongoing success and growth of its exceptional diverse podcast slate and beyond!”

The Listen team have never been busier, with the recent launch of M&S’s Proper Tasty Pub Quiz, hosted by chef Tom Kerridge and broadcaster Chris Stark, a new season of The Traitors: Uncloaked confirmed, and a continued focus on the third series of Olivia Attwood’s So Wrong It’s Right, following its British Podcast Award win last week. Plus, Rylan and Scott Mills continue to bring their signature charm and wit to new BBC visualised podcast, Pop Top 10, taking audiences on a nostalgic journey through pop culture.