Gary Linke
Owner
Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:
Barry Hearn- you can’t help admire someone who gets straight to the point.
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours)
Nike “Just Do It” in the maverick era of Cantona.
Best sales agency (that isn’t yours)
CSM (large) led by Kevin Vandrau, SportQuake (medium) owned by Matt House
Best sporting event attended
Rugby Union World Cup Final 2003. Have been very lucky to be in attendance for
Agueroooo’ and Andy Murray’s first grand slam in the US Open, both in 2012.
Best sporting event on TV:
Nadal v Federer Wimbledon Final 2008
Best brand ambassador:
Michael Jordan and David Beckham- still going strong.
Best industry event or conference:
Sports Industry Awards (event) and Leaders (conference)
Rights Owners Unsung Heroes
Andy Dodd (ex EFL), a hard working genius and Rhodri Jones (Super League), knows it all, gets things done and makes commercial partners’ lives better
Best book recommendation:
“Winning The Customer – Turn Consumers into Fans and get them to spend more”
Lou Imbriano ex CMO of the New England Patriots
Best bar or pub:
The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead (in my youth)
Best restaurant:
UK- Sushi Samba (Heron Tower) venue for my celebration client dinner in 2019, ROTW The Codfather (Cape Town)
Best Bosses
Brian Phillpotts (EFL)- tough but taught a very “green” brand manager football commercials and Blake Solly (Super League) , bought into my style and left me to do my stuff and be “me”.
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):
Kate Linke (wife), Noel Gallagher, Vincent Kompany, Pep Guardiola, Roger
Federer and John McEnroe
Best job in the sports biz:
Representing CFG in partnerships (I tried!).
Best professional regret:
Not moving jobs a lot to gain new experiences
Best skill you most covet:
I have a strong long term memory and this was tested at the EFL when I won “The
Contract Quiz” much to the disappointment of the account managers.
Best trait you admire in others:
Ability to multi- task and handle pressure at C-Suite level. Like great players, the
best seem to have time on their hands e.g. Richard Scudamore never looked flustered.
Most overrated virtue:
Being good at sport to be good in the Sports Biz
Best ambition:
To be healthy and happy and attend more global sports events!!
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:
Jerry Maguire- “Show Me The Money”
Best holiday resort:
Sydney
Best box set:
Breaking Bad (non-sport), The Last Dance (sport)