January 17, 2026
Its been an incredible 2025 and the Christmas to New Year period saw a wilder set of geo political developments which have had us all glued to Sky News. I deliberately waited until now Saturday 17th January to write my predictions for 2026. Today is Derby Day in Manchester, the 'phoney war' of the Fletcher Interim period is over and at Old Trafford today United will get their 'new' Manager bounce.
I could have called it a new 'Head Coach' bounce but all true Football fans will be happy to know I deal with that below, in clinical top corner fashion. So now to my guesswork for 2026 across the spectrum of Finance, Football and World Events. Here is my Top 9 at 9.
Scenario Planning
This is the year of such Geo Political upheaval that any C Suite Leader not currently updating his or her 'Corporate Threat Assessment' based on a combination of a thorough understanding of their Operating Model versus current threat vectors is being a tad remiss and even open to accusations of sleeping at the wheel. The mantra is simple 'Know your own Patch, Game Play your threats & Draw up Contingency Plans!'
Stick to the Knitting
Football tends to ape Management and funnily enough every Business Managerial Leader tends to ape the world of Sport and Football in particular. Sadly, at present both sides are making a 'hames' of this and neither are succeeding. For the benefit of all 'would be' Football Club Owners you do not appoint an ex Footballer to be Director of Football you appoint a Business person, with commercial acumen and every negotiating skill your Football Manager does not possess. Tactics, Systems and Training Sessions are the preserve of those who played the game.
I did not need to be a highly paid Pundit to break that down for you, yet that happens way beyond the corridors of Old Trafford. Knock it on the head in 2026.
M&A
Well 2025 saw yet another approach for FTC, which brings to 3 the number of approaches since 2021. Like Alonso, recently of the Real Madrid Parish, I suspect that many more suitors will come calling but I know what I want in 2026, do you? I discovered a Book over Christmas which effectively described the 'Key Person of Influence' in a Business, the front man, the ambassador, the creative driving force. That is me and a factor that will not change prior to retirement. Maybe I should be the one on the acquisition trail in 2026...
The R Word
I shall not claim any clairvoyance on this one, turn on YouTube and listen to any number of Commentators, Experts and even Pundits telling you to get ready for the R word at some point in 2026, hence the Scenario Planning above, Book a session if you need one. This is the Year in which the dogs in the street will be chatting about how to buy Gold to protect their savings but how does a Business do it? How do you prepare for the R word?
Your Career
AI will replace it. Well it will at some point surely? So why not plan on that basis? Why not think through the stages of your Career on its current trajectory? Map it out, allow for promotion, redundancy and redirection. It happens to us all at some point so don't sit there at 35 thinking you will still be rocking it at 65 doing the same thing. Career Planning possibly the most underrated, underused pastime in the World, yet 5 days a week what do you all do? Drop me a line if you need help.
MED January
You know me I love Sport and I exercise most days. I am fascinated by what creates elite athletes from training, through recovery to nutrition to attitude. I could have said RED January and you would groan at putting on the Trainers but I waited until 17th January when most of you have dropped your NY Resolutions to tell you about MED January. What is it?
Move Every Day! It does not matter whether you out of shape, unfit or lacking in motivation make it a habit to Move a little everyday. Move, Walk, Trot, Jog, Run and Sprint by March. Movement in every hour, how ever small, keeps the body ticking over, You don't need to run Marathons or climb Mountains (yet) just Move, Breathe and do it again.
BPO Travel Agent
No, this isn't about AI. If you are intent on BPO in 2026 or even in mid flight you really need to take your head up out of Transition plans and Service Agreements and consider the impact of X,Y and Z, see Prediction 1 above. I suspect that BPO decisions will be driven in 2026 on factors not hitherto seriously considered and this will lead to a realignment in the BPO industry. Not sure where to go? Come in, pick up my Brochure and lets talk.
AI - 'All In' for 2026
I shall be appearing on the topic shortly, Invitations to follow. In the meantime if you are a Finance Leader you will like my 12 Month Roadmap, so reach out if you are serious about AI in 2026. However, I diverged there for just a second from my Prediction.
The experts mentioned above, I am no expert on the R word but they all concur that the AI bubble will burst similar to the Dotcom bubble in 2001 and given that such Companies account for is it 40% (?) of the Markets then the upheaval will affect us all. I could have talked about Agents and Prompts and yada yada but if your thinking at that level you may save 2.5 FTE in Accounts whilst your Business goes bust and you find out when the lights go out. Just food for thought.
It similar to Directors of Football, if they ever mention systems, tactics or their ideas, send them to train the Youth team in Doncaster on a wet Wednesday.
Man United
Top 4.
Arsenal Champions, City runners up, Liverpool third and United fight Villa for 4th. Arsenal could do 'a' Double but not sure which one. Chelsea will implode and Villa will get tetchy during the run in or squeaky bum time as the Big Man used to call it..
I wish you all a fruitful, inspiring and successful 2026. Keep the head down when required and walk tall every other day.
Cheers,
Michael.