Malph Minns
Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen: Huss Fahmy (Arsenal) – he doesn’t pitch, he explains why so clearly and comprehensively it leaves you unable to disagree
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours): Sky’s creation and sponsorship of Team Sky. Clear objectives, strategy, tactics and measures of success added to real vision, balls and hard work.
Best agency (that isn’t yours): Can I choose a sports business instead? If so, Sheridans. Smart commercial minds and nice people.
Best young industry talent:
Jon Tilbury Executive Director at National Student Esports (NSE) – part of Benchmark Sports
Best sporting event attended: Champions League Final 2005, Istanbul
Best sporting event on TV: The Summer Olympics
Best brand ambassador: David Beckham
Best industry event or conference: Best event - Sport Industry Awards from a perspective of it being great to catch up with so many people in one place. Sadly, I think there’s a lot of room for improvement from an industry conference perspective. I’ve not been in years, but there were a couple of good speakers from the US I heard at Leaders last time I was there.
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business: Remember the Titans
Best book recommendation: If a sports book, then Pitch Invasion by Barbara Smit. Otherwise anything by Malcolm Gladwell (with the exception of Tipping Point). Although Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth helped explain to me how I have ended up where I have
Best bar or pub: Anywhere with an open fire, great view, dog and peace and quiet
Best restaurant: A good one I have been to recently is Pollen Street Social
Best holiday resort: I’m not into holiday resorts. The favourite place I’ve travelled is Salento in Colombia
Best box set:
Band of Brothers or Billions – basically anything beginning with ‘B’
Best influence on your career:
Corin Dimopoulos (at the time he was Director of Marketing Sky Sports, Sky News & Cycling) – the first and only person to tell me to do what I thought was right by following my instincts, use my experience and giving me real permission to fail (not just saying it as it sounds the right thing to say). He is also a great manager of people
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6): Malcolm Gladwell, Muhammad Ali, Bill Shankly, Banksy, Sir Alex Younger and my mum (she’d be fascinated by the discussion)
Best job in the sports biz:
Peter Moore’s – CEO at Liverpool FC
Best professional regret: Staying too long in jobs. Personally, I believe your learning and ability to effect real change in places tails off pretty compared to new opportunities
Best skill you most covet: The ability to manage people and get the best from them or active listening. These could well be related …
Best trait you admire in others: Ability to switch off from work
Best overrated virtue: Conformity
Best ambition: To be happy and content