Gav Thompson’s tongue cancer diagnosis in 2008 wasn’t just life-changing, it was potentially life-shattering. He didn’t know whether he would ever be able to speak, eat or sing karaoke again. The situation was complicated by the fact that he was only 11 months into a new role as Head of Brand Strategy at O2 and trying to set up GiffGaff. After a near death experience on the operating table and with months of rehabilitation just to get his speech back ahead of him, how his colleagues and the company responded to his diagnosis and treatment was incredibly important. Not only did it shape how he felt about returning to work, but also how quickly he returned and in what capacity.
