Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:
James Curleigh, Levis. If you haven’t seen him present, look him up on YouTube.
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours):
Vitoria Football Club, My Blood is red and black
Best agency (that isn’t yours):
Fuse, I have been fortunate to be their client twice; great people and culture.
Best young industry talent:
Marcus Rashford. My five year old son is learning about him at school and came home and told me, “he uses his voice to make a change”.
Best sporting event attended:
Ryder Cup, Gleneagles in 2014. Standing on the first hole since sunrise with tens of thousands of fans – spine tingling atmosphere.
Best sporting event on TV:
NFL on a Sunday night when I was a kid.
Best brand ambassador:
Worked with? Jose Mourinho, otherwise Brand Beckham.
Best industry event or conference:
Any event where Chatham House rules apply.
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:
Point Break. Does a group of surfers robbing a bank count?
Best book recommendation:
Maverick by Ricardo Semler. The company’s work culture was years ahead of it’s time (it was published in 1993!).
Best bar or pub:
Anywhere that overlooks the sea
Best restaurant:
La Guarida, Havana.
Best holiday resort:
A game reserve in Africa
Best box set:
Suits
Best influence on your career:
My first boss, Daniel Mathieson, now Head of Sponsorship at Barclaycard, taught me the fundamentals and doing it the right way.
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):
Eric Cantona, Dame Tessa Jowell, Joe Wicks, Mark McCormack, Bethany Hamilton, my mum.
Best job in the sports biz:
CEO of Manchester United.
Best professional regret:
Being in a car park lining up guest coaches as Liverpool completed the comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul. Technically I was there!
Best skill you most covet:
Ability to switch off
Best trait you admire in others:
Humility and loyalty.
Best overrated virtue:
Being busy.
Best ambition:
Use the power of sport to make a difference.