Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:
Andy Taylor, co-founder of Little Dot Studios - he wasn’t ever pitching, only ever trying to develop exciting collaborations.
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours):
I thought the ECB’s Express Yourself campaign ahead of the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup was very strong.
Best agency (that isn’t yours):
Following on from that, I’ve always admired the creative campaigns that I’ve seen MATTA put together.
Best young industry talent :
Alex Mott, who leads production for us - so professional, collaborative and pastoral with such excellent leadership skills, you would hardly know he’s still relatively early in his career.
Best sporting event attended:
I used to go to various Rhineland football stadiums when I lived in Duesseldorf and Cologne. The atmosphere and German football supporter culture at Dortmund v Bremen at the Westfalenstadion was a highlight. In particular, the stadium chanting the song ‘Du Hast Die Haare Schoen’ (you’ve got nice hair). Abusively ironic? Genuine complement? Hard to say.
Best sporting event on TV:
The ODI Cricket World Cup final 2019
Best brand ambassador:
Nike’s collaborations have always been superb: Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods (the latter two until later controversies).
Best industry event or conference:
Edinburgh International TV Festival has produced (the two times I’ve been) the most candid and insightful panels. I also enjoyed getting the Caledonian Sleeper up there…
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:
Senna
Best book recommendation:
A Classless Society: Britain in the 1990s - a thought-provoking, funny and captivating retelling of the cultural and political movements that gave rise to many things we take as read today - not least, the Premier League.
Best bar or pub:
My unpopular opinion is that the idea of a pub is usually better than the reality.
Best restaurant:
I’m contractually obliged to say Tayyabs in Whitechapel
Best holiday resort:
Queenstown, New Zealand for skiing, mountain biking or hiking.
Best box set:
The Day Today
Best influence on your career:
Inevitably, my first manager - in my case Damien Marchi (now at Vivendi) when I was at FremantleMedia. He showed me how to be assertive while staying collaborative.
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tim Key, Michael Atherton, Deborah Levy, Bob Mortimer and my mate Nye.
Best job in the sports biz:
Being Rob Key
Best professional regret:
Not playing more sport
Best skill you most covet:
Live production
Best trait you admire in others:
Optimism
Best overrated virtue:
Being busy.
Best ambition:
Be better