
Monday
I get up just before 7am. My daughter Esme and I leave home at the same time, as she goes to meet a friend to walk to school with her. I insist she sends me a text to say she has met up with Ella. All I get is a rather abrupt "Here x".
On the train, I reflect on another successful Nabs Rugby 7s Tournament the day before. John Ayling & Associates beat Yahoo in a cracking final – well done to them. I have been on the organising committee for 18 years with Tim McCabe and Mike Hope Milne.
Hopefully we made around £25,000 for Nabs. My first stop is Starcom MediaVest, where we have organised a launch event for a partnership we are doing with More Than Insurance – More Than Mondays, led by Steve Taylor (creative commercial director).
Back in the office, I have a meeting to discuss final planning for some exciting developments we have for Kiss with the launch of digital radio stations Kisstory and KissFresh, and KissKube (an app with new functionality), as announced on Wednesday.
The strategy is to give consumers more of what they want, while attracting new audiences. The afternoon is set aside for one -to-ones with my team.In the evening, my wife Rachel meets me in Claridges where Magic is presenting a session from Dido. I host Alan Brydon (Havas Media) and his wife, Rozalla, along with Pedro Avery (Arena Media) and his wife, Sophie. What an excellent evening. Steve Parkinson (MD, Bauer Radio London) and his team certainly know how to put on an event.
Tuesday
First thing, we have a creative solutions weekly status meeting. These proposals take time to put together and it's important to ensure we are mobilising the right people to work on briefs.
Late morning, Tom Curry (commercial director, trading) and I have our regular catch up with Chris Amor at Opera.
I finish the day updating Tim Lofthouse at P&G on the latest news and developments at Bauer Media. I haven’t seen him for a while, so there is a reasonable amount to get through.
I arrive home just in time for my haircut with Debbie –I don’t really take up much of her time! Then I take Esme to her swimming club, return home to eat dinner and then go back to collect her at 9.30pm. My other job is as a taxi driver for my daughter – I just don’t get paid.
I finish the evening with a phone call to Robbie McIntosh, who has decided to come to Australia to watch the Lions with me.
Wednesday
Mark Hassall, 'The Great Man' has organised for me to present an overview of Bauer Media Group to Jenny Biggam, Mark Jarvis, Liam Mullins and the team at the7stars. While we still have separate radio, magazines and television teams for implementational planners and buyers, we are developing a much broader Bauer Media approach through our insight, agency strategy and client teams.
On my return to the office, I have a catch up with my boss, Karen Stacey. When I get home, Rachel offers to go and collect Esme from tennis. I discover the All Blacks versus the Barbarians from 1973 on ESPN Classic and settle into the sofa – I should go to the gym really, but that may have to wait until the weekend.
Thursday
Karen and I have a monthly meeting with Dee Ford, group managing director, radio. We discuss how we can continue to improve the way advertisers can access our audiences through our brands and platforms. We also want to do more to use consumer insight to shape our ideas, something we did to good effect with O2 GoThink Big, heat 4 and More Th>n Mondays.
Later, I have a meeting with Dilupa Nanyakkara (commercial director, strategy) to discuss final preparations for a panel session we are hosting at Starcom MediaVest next Wednesday. Lucie Cave (editor in chief, Heat magazine), Rickie and Melvin (Kiss Breakfast), Ric Blaxill (music and content director) and Dave Young (programme director, Box TV) are going to talk about their approach to creating experiences for their audiences.
At home, it is the 'Masterchef Final' – Rachel and Esme are huge fans, I am not allowed to talk during it and I get drawn in.
Friday
Today it is the annual Bauer Radio Awards; it was the Magazine Awards last night. We have a couple of hours’ work this morning and then Bauer Radio descend on the Park Plaza at Westminster from all over the country.
In all, Dee Ford presents 20 awards. I am on a table with some of our judges, John Quinn (GTN), Cate Murden (MindShare), Stacey Pratt (Mediacom), Linda Smith (RAB) and Jane Ostler (Digital Radio UK). We really appreciate them giving up their time to judge the entries– they get a true inside view of Bauer Radio to see what it means to the winners.
From the national sales team, Laura Campbell, Stephen Naughton, Rachael White and Luke Fitzpatrick all enjoy success in the 'Talented and under 30' category, while Laura also wins Sales Person of the Year.
We spill out of the Park Plaza at about 7pm towards another bar and I finally get home at about midnight.
Personal CV
Age: 48
Favourite media: All things Sky
Biggest inspiration: Last year Team GB, this year hopefully the British and Irish Lions
Dream job: Chiropractor
One thing not a lot of people know…I played in the NABS Rugby 7s for 20 years; I think that is quite an achievement