Jonathan Neill

Commercial Director

Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:

Tanayah Sam is an amazing speaker with a harrowing but uplifting life

story, who is now doing fantastic things helping young people find a path through life using sport.

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Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours) 

Channel 4, Meet the Superhumans - it changed perceptions.

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Best agency (that isn’t yours):

I really like TwelfthMan – great people, great culture and great work. Plus they have a cool bar in their office.

Best young industry talent:

Rachel Stringer – she’s doing great things in TV presenting, and expanding into production, content and esports. She’s also a member of our fantastic Business Advisory Group at RLWC2021.

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Best sporting event attended: 

England v Scotland at the old Wembley for Euro 96. I went with my Dad who got me into football, it was a boiling hot day, we’re both Spurs fans and Gazza scores that incredible second goal.

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Best sporting event on TV:  

FIFA World Cup – a festival of football.
 

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Best brand ambassador:

Michael Jordan – created his own multi-billion dollar brand at Nike which has also had a huge cultural impact.

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Best industry event or 

Very fortunate to have been with AEG to The Grammys in Los Angeles on a couple of occasions, where their philosophy is “this isn’t to talk work, it’s to get to know you better.”

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Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:

Graham Taylor – An Impossible Job.

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Best book recommendation: 

The Glory Game, Hunter Davies. I love the nostalgia of sport and this is

such an insightful book after the author spent a season with the Tottenham

team during 1971/72.

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Best bar or pub:

The Bridewell in Liverpool, it’s a pub in an old prison – best landlords in the

business too!

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Best restaurant: 

The Cliff, Barbados – such a unique and amazing location.

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Best holiday resort:

Sugar Beach, St Lucia.

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Best box set:

The Blacklist or Ozark.
 

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Best influence on your career:

My parents – role models, taught me principles and defined who I am.

Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):

Bill Nicholson, Oliver Reed, Winston Churchill, Tina Turner, Neil Armstrong, Queen Elizabeth II.

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Best job in the sports biz:

Playing for Tottenham Hotspur.
  

Best professional regret: 

I don’t really do regrets - perhaps not working overseas as yet.

Best skill you most covet:

Being multilingual.

Best trait you admire in others: 

The ability to come up with great, original and simple creative ideas.

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Best overrated virtue: 

Moderation.

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Best ambition: 

Fulfil my potential and enjoy what I do.
 

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