Feature

Brand Manager of the Week: Alex Seeberg, Marketing manager, Auto Express and Carbuyer.co.uk

- Describe yourself in three words

Loyal, inquisitive, lush.

- How would you define marketing?

Helping to sell magazines while annoying editorial.

- What would you be if you weren't a brand manager?

A midwife.

- What advice would you give someone starting their marketing career today?

Try to get involved in as many areas of marketing as you can and learn from your peers.

- What attracted you to your current job?

I heard a lot of great things about (owner) Dennis Publishing and was keen to progress my career.

- What was your first job?

Part-time assistant at a Dolcis shoe shop. I was determined to earn my own money at 14; my wage was £1.44 per hour.

- What's your greatest ambition?

To win employee of the year at Dennis - the winner gets to go to Mustique and stay for 10 days in our chairman's house, which he bought from David Bowie.

- If you were a brand, which would you be and why?

Mini. It may have changed over the years, but the foundation of this small car and its cheekiness has remained the same - and that's the way we like it.

- What hobbies do you have?

Walking, reading, travel.

- What are your favourite marketing campaigns?

Honda's 'Cog' and 'Impossible Dream' ads, and Hoffmeister's 'For great lager, follow the bear.'

- What is your all-time favourite slogan?

'Beanz Meanz Heinz.' It hasn't changed for more than 40 years because it hasn't had to.

- If you weren't you, who would you be?

David Attenborough - he has such unbelievable passion and knowledge and you would want to talk to him for hours. Richard Branson is a very close second.

- What makes you angry?

Bullying.

- What is your favourite pub?

The Windmill Pub near where I live - it can entertain my child for hours with its huge climbing frame and massive beer garden, so I can enjoy a large glass of wine.

- What have been your best and worst freebies?

The best is going to the Monaco Grand Prix. The worst ... when I worked on Bizarre magazine, I got a free gimp mask.