I got into the event industry because I wanted to work in an industry that was varied and where I could see tangible results for the work I put in. Plus, I have always loved sport and team environments.
I have worked here since - in the industry since 1991, and at IMG since 2007.
I was attracted to this particular role because of the variety and chance to work on events that we can own, make all the decisions and therefore mould ourselves and be 100% accountable for.
Not many people know that this will be the 20th year of the tennis classic at Hurlingham, now known as the BNP Paribas Tennis Classic. To put perspective to the dates, Ken Rosewell and Rod Laver even played in the first one. And Mansour Bahrami, the great on-court entertainer, has played in all 20.
My worst experience at an event was when the water supply to the Royal Albert Hall was cut off, we came within one and a half minutes of having to close the Masters Tennis event down. John McEnroe was in a tie break to decide his match and 3,500 people were glued to their seats. I wasn’t looking forward to ushering everyone out of the building. Especially McEnroe.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s mistakes can be a good thing. You always learn more from them. Just come clean and own up and make sure you find a solution.
The best event I’ve been involved in was... it’s very difficult to choose. If I was pushed to narrow it down, it would be a toss up between starting the Japan Sevens Rugby in Tokyo, and the first year of the Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall (now known as The Statoil Masters Tennis) - not knowing whether the court would work and then actually seeing Borg and McEnroe start their match. Or when we put together a triathlon for Eurostar where we created a course for competitors to swim in Paris, cycle in Brussels and run in London – all in the same day.
If I could do it all over again I would spend less time worrying about what people think if something goes wrong. Most of the time, if you put on a good show and everyone is enjoying themselves, people tend not to notice.
The one thing I can’t stand is the word 'can’t'.
Outside of work I spend my time with my family.
If money were no object I’d try to give a job to everyone I meet who is keen to get into the business and who has passion, drive and enthusiasm.
The one thing I can’t do my job without is the people I work with, working in a great team makes it all happen and fun to be involved in.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be... although not strictly in the industry, it would probably have to be someone like Jonathan Agnew. So that I could watch and babble on about cricket all over the world.
If I ruled the event industry I would create an academy for enthusiastic young talent to be given a start and gain experience. This industry is not easy to get into, but anyone who is committed enough deserves the chance.
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