UNOFFICIAL PARTNER
THE SPORTS BUSINESS PODCAST
KARTHIK RAMULU
Sponsorship Communications Manager, DHL
Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen
Radha Balani at thinkBeyond. She effortlessly commands the room, be that 2 people or 200.
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours)
Tough one as there are so many out there every year. Loved Channel 4’s ‘We’re the Superhumans’ however I was lucky enough to work at Sport England shortly after the launch of ‘This Girl Can’ and saw first-hand the impact the campaign had – so it has to be that.
Best agency (that isn’t yours)
Ear to the Ground. They have really mastered the relationship between sport and music which shows in their work.
Best young industry talent
Emma Binch at Infrared. Really accomplished and will be going places in the next few years.
Best sporting event attended
Champions League Final 2017/18 in Kiev – lucky enough to be perfectly level with Gareth Bale when he scored that overhead kick. Closely followed by the League 1 Playoff Final 2015/16 when Barnsley beat Millwall 3-1.
Best sporting event on TV
I will always remember watching Euro 96 as a kid and just wishing I was older so could have attended a match. Watching England beat Netherlands was a particular highlight.
Best brand ambassador: Serena Williams
Best industry event or conference
That’s an easy one – the BT Sport Industry Awards! Although only ever worked the event, not had the pleasure to be a guest yet.
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business
Moneyball – lost count the number of times I have watched this film.
Best book recommendation
I don’t read as much as I should, although I just read ‘In a house of Lies’ on holiday and didn’t put it down - a real thriller.
Best bar or pub
Really depends on the occasion but enjoy my local The Hero of Maida (Maida Vale) for good food and drinks, the Sunday Quiz is always fun too. Also find myself spending a bit too much time watching sport in The Sheaf (London Bridge).
Best restaurant
The Three Acres in West Yorkshire. It is in the middle of nowhere and a pain to get to but the food is incredible.
Best holiday resort: San Francisco
Best box set
Walking Dead or Prison Break (although stop at the end of season 2).
Best influence on your career
Alex Coulson my boss at Sport Industry Group. He was the one who took a chance on me and gave me my first full time job in sport, I have always been very grateful for that. He taught me a lot about working in the sport sector and was happy to throw me in the deep end working on some big projects.
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6)
Tough one – Sir Alex Ferguson, Bruce Lee, Ada Hegerberg, Jon Richardson and Michelle Obama (happy for her to bring a +1). Heston Blumenthal to do the cooking.
Best job in the sports biz
Leading a brand’s sponsorship of an Olympic Games.
Best professional regret
That I didn’t stop being a dentist earlier! I worked as a dentist for about 5 years before changing career to work in the sport, means I have a slightly unusual CV.
Best skill you most covet
Public speaking. Some people just make standing in front of hundreds of people easy.
Best trait you admire in others: Honesty
Best overrated virtue
Prudence. I am not great with my money.
Best ambition
To visit all the continents on the globe.