BEN JONES

Sports Director/Creative Director

Best box set: The Wire

Best influence on your career:

Paul Arden and my Dad

Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):

Lee Harvey Oswald, Richie Manic, The man in control of Area 51, Barrack Obama, Thierry Henry, Paul Arden

Best job in the sports biz:

Running your own sports agency with a group of brave, creative clients.

Best professional regret:

Not getting into directing younger and bottling out of pulling the wool over the eyes of The Sun newspaper with a fake story on the front page.

Best skill you most covet:

Ability to connect and work with people. It’s the only skill that you can’t do without in the new future of work

Best trait you admire in others:

believing in your creative vision and never wavering in the face of pressure to change.

Best overrated virtue: Compassion

Best ambition:

to do great stuff and be remembered for it.

Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:

Mark Whelan, Havas

Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours):

Under Armour Rule Yourself Michael Phelps

Best agency (that isn’t yours):

Dark Horses

Best young industry talent:

Alex Groom, Cake (Havas)

Best sporting event attended:

Euro96 England Vs Holland.

Best sporting event on TV:

Liverpool vs Arsenal and that goal….

Best brand ambassador:

Jordan and Nike for sheer longevity and success

Best industry event or conference: Sports Business awards

Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business: Raging Bull.

Best book recommendation:

Sports – Addicted Tony Adams. Non Sport – Paul Arden – Its not how good you are.

Best bar or pub:

The Queens - Crouch End

Best restaurant:

Afghan Kitchen Islington

Best holiday resort:

Bodrum Peninsula