Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours):
Red Bull Stratosphere Jump was memorable and generated so much global interest, although the recent Kiyan Prince Foundation x EA Sports campaign was impactful and important
Best agency (that isn’t yours):
Two Circles. Good people and an agency with clear direction and data at the heart of their proposition.
Best sporting event attended:
Darts World Championship every year, thank you Matt Porter (see pic)
Best sporting event on TV:
Olympics still holds that magic
Best brand ambassador:
Anyone who cares a lot about the brand / product / service they are working with – authenticity is the key.
Best industry event or conference:
Leaders, but I’m a big fan of Sports Podge
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:
Jerry Maguire
Best book recommendation:
I’ve just started Powerhouse, the book on CAA, will let you know
Best bar or pub:
Employees Only, purely for the Espresso Martinis
Best restaurant:
Nobu
Best holiday resort:
Balearic Islands, great beaches, perfect temperature and very child-friendly
Best box set:
Tough, Sopranos or Game of Thrones (this question took the most amount of time to answer).
Best influence on your career:
Andy Sutherden and Steve Bradley at Hill & Knowlton, Simon Fuller, Robert Dodds and Simon Oliveira at XIX Entertainment – lots of good people!
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):
Muhammad Ali, David Mitchell, Barak Obama, Sir David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela....I’d be there just taking notes.
Best job in the sports biz:
I love my job, being able to work with athletes, brands and events, but otherwise, something that involves watching Tottenham Hotspur (appreciate this answer may draw some derision)
Best professional regret:
Best professional regret – Wish I had learnt an additional language (still time I guess)
Best skill you most covet:
Mentoring. It’s something I try to incorporate given it’s important, but it’s not easy given time pressures.
Best trait you admire in others:
People who are self-starters, and you can often tell quite quickly. The ability to work on your own initiative and the determination to get things done, especially when things don’t go as planned.
Best overrated virtue:
Patience, I say that being someone who is fairly impatient
Best ambition:
To keep learning and improving. You are in trouble when you stop.