Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:
Katie Matthews now at Little Dot Studio’s. A huge influence on my career- she was a joy to be alongside in client pitches. Very knowledgeable and great and what she does.
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours):
I’ve always enjoyed campaigns by Adidas but one that stands out for me is the Gillette Champions campaign when Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry were revealed as the new faces of the brand. At the time they were the biggest and most respected names in world sport, it was just iconic to see those three individuals together
Best agency (that isn’t yours):
Working alongside Uni4m Media CEO and Founder, Andreas Georgiou for five years on the Bellator MMA account. I’ve known Andreas for over a decade and having a good relationship always helped us create incredible content for the brand across both digital and PR
Best young industry talent:
I work with some fantastic individuals at The PHA Group who are incredibly passionate about the sports industry and the clients they work on. They are highly motivated to succeed and great at what they do, so honourable mentions to Adam Rowe and George Rathbone (below).
Best sporting event attended:
I was lucky enough to be at the 2010 FA Cup Final with my Dad to see Chelsea win the double against Portsmouth for the first time in our history. Fun fact it was the first FA Cup Final where both teams missed a penalty in 90 mins.
Best sporting event on TV:
It’s got to be the Olympics. For three weeks there’s wall to wall sport on the TV and you get to see so many different athletes competing at the highest level and winning medals in their respective sports.
Best brand ambassador:
Off the back of the Lionesses success at the European Championships in 2022, Lauren James has really emerged as one of the most recognisable names in women’s football. She is a fantastic ambassador for football and for British sport generally. McDonalds, Google Pixel and Sure are just some of her current ambassadorial roles and she’s the perfect role model for the women’s game.
Best industry event or conference:
I’d have to say the International Sports Conference. Maybe it’s the location, the speakers, the familiar faces you bump into. It’s a great event and well worth attending if you haven’t been before.
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:
Can I go for a documentary instead? While it was a tough watch for Sunderland fans “Sunderland Till I Die” was the first of many great behind the scenes docuseries we’ve seen. It’s paved the way for similar series at other football clubs but there’s lots of learnings to take from the original and just how much an impact a football club can have on its local community
Best book recommendation:
Sir Geoff Hurst’s Last Boy of ’66: memoir is released in October. A must read for any football fan. I’ll certainly be buying a copy.
Best bar or pub:
The Temple Bar in Dublin. Although you’ll find me sipping a non-alcoholic beer or two…
Best restaurant:
For those who know me, I grew up in a town called Ware. There is a little Greek restaurant called “The Village Taverna” on the high street serving the most amazing Meze
Best holiday resort:
You can’t beat the quintessentially British countryside. The New Forest is such a beautiful place to visit with my wife and young family and only a few hours away from home.
Best box set:
Suits or Peaky Blinders.
Best influence on your career:
He won’t mind me saying it but... Tom Inskip. I’ve worked with Tom for over a decade in the sport and fitness team at The PHA Group. Tom took me under his wing when I first joined the agency, and we’ve achieved some fantastic results working together. He’s a great mentor and has had a huge impact on my professional career and development.
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):
Peter Jones, Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michelle Obama and Sir David Attenborough.
Best job in the sports biz:
At the time of writing, you’d have to say Gareth Southgate but things can change very quickly…
Best professional regret:
No regrets, just learning and improving everyday.
Best skill you most covet:
Time. Both how you use your own time and how you make time for others. Its cliché but time never stands still so you have to take every opportunity to be productive but also maintain a balanced and fulfilling professional and personal life at the same time.
Best trait you admire in others:
Integrity. Being honest, trustworthy, and being seen as a role model.
Best ambition:
To continue working on some incredible accounts across the sport and sports tech industry and building on a decade’s worth of experience. Being the best mentor to my colleagues and best Dad to my children