Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:
It wasn’t a pitch but watching Geoff Wilson’s tour de force to a bemused audience trying to keep pace at SEAT Las Vegas in his Northern Irish brogue was something to behold
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours):
Nike Scorpion Football in 2002 – integrated, multi-platform, music… one of the first to utilise digital assets properly (showing my age)
Best agency (that isn’t yours):
Whichever one Sally Hancock is running at the time of asking
Best young industry talent:
We’ve got some pretty good ‘uns – watch this space!
Best sporting event attended:
I’ve done 3 Ryder Cups but le National was on another level. Also fortunate enough to have seen United win two Champions Leagues.
Best sporting event on TV:
Ryder Cup but for very different reasons – nothing beats being there but being able to follow multiple matches means it’s made for TV
Best brand ambassador:
At this point in time anyone not launching an NFT collection
Best industry event or conference:
SEAT (US Version) – it was a shame (but not surprising) it wasn’t embraced over here
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:
Moneyball is the obvious shout but I loved Major League
Best book recommendation:
Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock blew my mind
Best bar or pub:
The Dark Horse, Bath
Best restaurant:
Too many to choose from but if you’re ever out West give the Olive Tree in Bath a go
Best holiday resort:
Best holiday venue is the Western Cape but we’ve come to love Dubai – perfect for kids
Best box set:
Succession – never watched a show where I hated every single character but couldn’t stop watching it. No syrupy ending either. Realpolitik
Best influence on your career:
I’ve been lucky to have had some amazing leaders from whom I’ve learnt my trade - Steve Nuttall, Sally Hancock, Peter Kenyon amongst them but a special thank you to Alan Pascoe (below) who gave me my break
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):
Eric Cantona, Graham Hancock, Ricky Gervais, PJ Harvey, Chuck D assuming everyone actually has to be alive to join
Best job in the sports biz:
Pro Golfer
Best professional regret:
I was too keen to start work post-Uni; I had the opportunity to take further qualifications in law which I wish I’d done
Best skill you most covet:
The ability to speak in multiple languages
Best trait you admire in others:
Authenticity – people who have principles and stick to them, all too rare
Best overrated virtue:
Being first to market is not necessarily the be all and end all, especially in the tech space
Best ambition:
My wife and I both climbed Kilimanjaro a few years ago - we are trying to work out what might follow that