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Monday

Like all good English commuters I spend my time on the platform awaiting the 7.48am Harpenden to Farringdon (aka the Hertfordshire Media Express) studiously ignoring anyone I know, even my older brother Marc.

On the journey in I use my iPhone to flit between Lutontown.co.uk (where I discover that the Tevez deal has yet to be concluded) LinkedIn , Facebook and BBC.co.uk.

As chief operating officer, a key element of my role is to ensure that all divisions of MediaCom’s business are integrated and aligned. This involves spending time with my delightful colleague Aki Mandhar, head of MediaCom Career, during which we discuss how to further express the MediaCom employer brand into new territories.

Lunch at my desk is a habitual occurrence. Over sandwiches and crisps I catch up with MediaCom’s head of TV, Phil Hall, to review our forecasts and obligations for H2.

The afternoon is spent on the well-worn carousel of back-to-back meetings, covering new business, commercial development, and investment strategy, the latter with MediaCom’s Apprentice superstar, Claudine Collins.

My one work rule is that Monday’s business must finish by 7pm as I need to be home by 8pm to fulfil my role as the star-player in our local five-a-side football league, though this evening, through no fault of my own, we lose (again).

The evening wraps up, as they all do, plonked in front of the BBC News at 10.

Tuesday

Despite the stereotypical typecasting, most agency folk in fact are:
a) not that good at golf, and
b) do not spend most of the summer on the golf course. That said, Tuesday morning finds me teeing off for a ritual 18 holes of humiliation on the annual MediaCom client golf day.

Through no fault of my own, I lose (again). I must confess it’s moments like these I have reservations about the power of social media, as it would appear that not only all my work colleagues are instantaneously aware of this, but also my wife. Damn you Twitter, damn you Facebook profile updates!

Having collected the wooden spoon and the derision of my colleagues and clients, I’m home in time to spend some rare weekday evening time with my wife, kids and puppy.

I’m an avid Xbox-er and the later evening is spent in combat with my son. Through no fault of my own I lose (again), and consequently consider the importance of rationing his time on the Xbox. It would be a sensible and responsible thing for a parent to do.

Wednesday

Johnny Vaughan and Kat Shoob on CapitalFM raise me from a deep slumber, before the ritual ‘avoiding eye contact’ routine is enacted at Harpenden station.

On the way in to the office I discover, via Metro, that Luton failed in their bid for Jose Mourinho’s services.

Work starts in earnest with an early morning meeting with our OOH partners, Kinetic, during which we explore opportunities to work in a more collaborative way.

This meeting is followed immediately by a meeting with Emma Johnson, MediaCom’s head of learning and development to discuss our talent development programme. We are committed to our philosophy of ‘people first, better results’ and Emma shares some innovative and exciting programmes that we are initiating to invest in the development of our staff.

The afternoon is spent attending MediaCom’s EMEA board meeting, which gives me the opportunity to share notes on challenges and issues that we all face.

My evening is spent in the company of MediaCom colleagues Sue Unerman, Chris Binns, Darren Barber, Claudine Collins and Karen Blackett entertaining clients at a suitably swanky venue.

Home for gone midnight I miss News at Ten.

Thursday

The morning starts with a two-mile swim and a 40-minute bike ride, or at least it would if I was committed to my half-marathon training. I figure that a coffee and a bacon sandwich is a more than adequate substitute.

A rare meeting-free morning enables me to catch up on some overdue admin and a chat with Ben Allen at ITV. We agree that we need to catch up soon for a lunch to discuss a couple of groundbreaking partnerships we are trying to pull together.

I spend the afternoon circling up with my various direct reports (both up and down). I’ve always found that the best way to deliver results is through the development of relationships which enable me to have an understanding and empathetic position on what needs to be achieved in the business, what the challenges are that we face as an industry and understanding the people within the agency.

My last meeting of the day is spent reviewing a new augmented reality opportunity. One of my colleagues is so impressed that he leaves the demonstration to secure an exclusive first-mover opportunity for a client. I have to confess that I’m a complete tech nerd and I love working in media at a time when there is so much dynamism in innovation and development.

In the Bignell household, Thursday evening is designated ‘Sky+’ night, and we relax on the couch watching ‘Miami Mega Jail’. Note to self - Miami’s not such a good place to get arrested.

Friday

Despite protestation from my wife, I leave home dressed as a teenager. Inevitably this leads to ridicule and derision amongst colleagues, but I remain staunch in the face of such criticism - they’d all dress like this if they had my confidence.

The morning is spent with Phil Hall and MediaCom head of broadcast implementation Rhys McLachlan discussing and reviewing our response to a regulatory consultation. At these junctures it’s critical that we have our t’s crosses and i’s dotted. This is followed by another new business meeting.

I enjoy a pint at lunchtime, wish I had time for more.

My working week concludes ensconced in my office with Rhys pulling together My Media Week. It always seems busier in real life than on paper . . .