Holly Park
BARB
Personal media preferences/career:
How did you get into the media industry?
In my final year at uni I realised I wanted to work in data and Barb happened to be hiring for a data scientist. I liked the sound of working in TV and media so I applied, and here we are now!
What is your favourite medium and why?
Podcast/Audiobook – I like being out and about and, with audio, I can get stuck in with a story or learn about something new while on the move.
Favourite media brand?
Audible.
What’s is your favourite ad campaign?
I’m not sure what my favourite is, but my least favourite is Jude Law’s Uber Eats advert, I hate the sound of people eating!
How do you think the media industry is going to change over the next five years?
I think AI will definitely change all the different aspects of media, from what we consume, how we measure consumption and how we analyse and build on the data.
A bit about you :
You want to impress a new client – which restaurant do you take them to?
We have a very good Dishoom near is, and you can’t go wrong with a proper curry and some gun powder potatoes.
What is your favourite fashion brand and why?
I tend to shop mostly at Zara – they usually have some nice bits in, especially for spring and summer.
What is your favourite film and why?
Seven, I love a dark, twisty crime film.
What are you listening, watching or reading at the moment?
I am currently reading “Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come” – it’s a story about an introverted woman’s foray into extroversion which I find very relatable.
Do you/the company have a popular local café or bar?
When at work, we tend to go to the old man pubs (ie The Harp) around Covent Garden. In terms of coffee shops, I’m partial to a Gail’s.
Giuseppe Negro
Performance Analyst, Aviva
Personal media preferences/career:
How did you get into the media industry?
I started as a Media Executive at MediaCom, working on charity accounts (Centrepoint, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and RSPCA).
What is your favourite medium and why?
OOH – I don’t think it’s progressed as much as other mediums over the years, but there’s still something very impactful about it that makes a good OOH idea so much more memorable.
Favourite media brand?
A24 – not only are their films/tv series usually fantastic, but they have a really recognisable vibe. They’re also a disruptor in the market and offer something unique vs. the big studios.
What’s is your favourite ad campaign?
KFC – Believe. I love each new weird instalment of his campaign.I’m not sure what my favourite is, but my least favourite is Jude Law’s Uber Eats advert, I hate the sound of people eating!
How do you think the media industry is going to change over the next five years?
I think AI will be used to aid planning and buying media more, improving what are still quite manual operations (such as DRTV buying). I imagine that we’ll come to trust it and use it at almost every campaign stage. I very much hope that AI doesn’t influence creative too much, though. So much of Online Display is already using it ineffectively, and so I think we’ll need to make more effort as an industry to generate new and exciting ideas by ourselves.
A bit about you :
You want to impress a new client – which restaurant do you take them to?
Sushi Tetsu – it’s small, I think there are only 6-7 seats, but all of the sushi is prepared right in front of you and it’s bloody delicious.We have a very good Dishoom near is, and you can’t go wrong with a proper curry and some gun powder potatoes.
What is your favourite fashion brand and why?
Folk – it’s a smaller independent fashion chain that focusses on sustainable production.I tend to shop mostly at Zara – they usually have some nice bits in, especially for spring and summer.
What is your favourite film and why?
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World or Sucker Punch. They’re both heavily inspired by comics/video games and the soundtracks are great!
What are you listening, watching or reading at the moment?
I’ve just started reading Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I really like hard sci-fi, like The Martian or Project Hail Mary. And I’ve just finished watching Something Very Bad is Going to Happen on Netflix.
Do you/the company have a popular local café or bar?
Troy is the local lunch spot. It’s a buffet that offers everything from healthy salads to chicken nuggets.
Digvijay Singh Rana
P&G
Personal media preferences/career:
How did you get into the media industry?
This was the only industry that accepted me and gave a visa. I joined because I wanted a job, I stayed because I love the media world.
What is your favourite medium and why?
OOH, infinite possibilities.
Favourite media brand?
P&G.
What’s is your favourite ad campaign?
BarbenHiemer – Barbie & Oppenheimer.
How do you think the media industry is going to change over the next five years?
More experience based.
A bit about you :
You want to impress a new client – which restaurant do you take them to?
Gymkhana.
What is your favourite fashion brand and why?
Vaasvi – it’s my sister’s brand.
What is your favourite film and why?
About Time because Sci-fi + RomCom is the greatest ever combination.
What are you listening, watching or reading at the moment?
Finding your comic genius by Adam Bloom.
Do you/the company have a popular local café or bar?
Yes, the Hand & Spear.
Ellie Davison
Marketing Planning Manager, Aviva
Personal media preferences/career:
How did you get into the media industry?
I started off as an intern at advertising agency 23red, working on clients such as Network Rail, Public Health England, Dementia Friends and Bluewater Shopping centre.
What is your favourite medium and why?
Out of home – it’s always the medium I feel has the most pull and dwell time. Like many Londoners I spend so much time commuting – so captivating ads with clever copy I’m more likely to remember and engage with (and remember the bad ones!).
Favourite media brand?
IKEA – I feel like their brand is so well established, they can get away with such clever yet simple ads, which really stick in your mind – from TV, press to OOH. They know their audience and how to leverage this in their targeting and approach.
What’s is your favourite ad campaign?
‘Brian Cox goes to college’ – Uber eats/Uber one – celebrity endorsements need to be done right but I feel like this one was perfect. Leveraged Cox’s infamous lead role in HBO’s ‘Succession’ and creates memorable partnership around Uber discounts for skint students.
How do you think the media industry is going to change over the next five years?
As AI develops I think more efficient and data led media planning will take place, which simultaneously will be improved with the audience targeting on offer with 1st and 2nd party data as the industry is able to gain more information on who and when they are trying to target.
A bit about you :
You want to impress a new client – which restaurant do you take them to?
Ermou – a Greek restaurant in Marylebone. It’s a recently opened restaurant straight from Athens – with delicious Greek foods on offer, cosy yet authentic Taverna vibe, you can’t go wrong.
What is your favourite fashion brand and why?
Levi’s – as a taller than average girl with curves they are one of the only denim brands that I know I can get jeans that actually fit me!
What is your favourite film and why?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – the John Hughes classic for me is my favourite watch. It’s the perfect encapsulation of youth set against an amazing 1980’s soundtrack, funny one liners and still holds up today.
What are you listening, watching or reading at the moment?
I recently watched The Sopranos for the first time – and now I totally get the hype. It follows a depressed mob boss in New Jersey and chaos that surrounds him as he tries to stay alive at the top – its dark, funny yet all set around the classic ‘anti-hero.’ Amazing soundtrack too. I’m also enjoying Robyn’s new album and I’m seeing her live in June. You better believe I’ll be singing ‘Dancing on my own’ at the top of my lungs….
Do you/the company have a popular local café or bar?
Dal Fiorentino – amazing focaccia sandwiches which are served with freshly baked bread in store. The Red Lion rooftop (just off Hoxton Square) for a drink on a sunny day, followed by karaoke on the second floor!
Tim McCabe
Personal media preferences/career:
How did you get into the media industry?
Tina & Nick Solari – Radio Media Legends – RIP.
What is your favourite medium and why?
Audio – Mood matching, Emotional, tactile and underutilised.
Favourite media brand?
Quite like Private Eye especially p94.
What’s is your favourite ad campaign?
McDonalds – and it’s whistle for its catchiness.
How do you think the media industry is going to change over the next five years?
Big reach and trust will be more important than ever.
A bit about you :
You want to impress a new client – which restaurant do you take them to?
La Colombe d'Or Hotel and Restaurant – Saint Paul – De - Vence.
What is your favourite fashion brand and why?
IWC – understated, but timeless (pun intended).
What is your favourite film and why?
City Of God – Music, raw and edgy for it’s day. Was invited to watch before it was on full release. Didn’t know it had subtitles, other wise would have probably not gone. Blew me away!
What are you listening, watching or reading at the moment?
Private Eye especially p94.
Do you/the company have a popular local café or bar?
Le Beaujolais – bien sur!
Cavan Wynne
P&G
Personal media preferences/career:
How did you get into the media industry?
By accident! I started in web development and moved to digital marketing.
What is your favourite medium and why?
OOH – it lets you be the most creative.
Favourite media brand?
Nike.
What’s is your favourite ad campaign?
Nike – Joga Bonito.
How do you think the media industry is going to change over the next five years?
I think ads will have to become more creative than ever, Gen Z is very dialled in to when they are being advertised to, brands need to be authentic to cut through.
A bit about you :
You want to impress a new client – which restaurant do you take them to?
Fallow.
What is your favourite fashion brand and why?
Drama Call – A relatively new brand from Manchester, bringing high quality streetwear to normal people, a great vision that doesn’t feel forced or “cliquey”.
What is your favourite film and why?
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Just an amazing mash of cool sciencey theories, incredible cinematography, superb acting and an emotional story.
What are you listening, watching or reading at the moment?
Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Do you/the company have a popular local café or bar?
Bla Bla’s.
Akhil Dhara
P&G
Personal media preferences/career:
How did you get into the media industry?
Started applying to loads of Jobs on Essence website, and was the only one I got accepted into.
What is your favourite medium and why?
OOH, because people stop and watch a great creative on the road, it is the only medium where the ad doesn’t find you, you find it!
Favourite media brand?
P&G.
What’s is your favourite ad campaign?
Burberry’s takeover of the London Tube station for LFW & Apple TV’s F1 campaign (Haptic Trailer).
How do you think the media industry is going to change over the next five years?
It is going to shift towards more experiential advertising.
A bit about you :
You want to impress a new client – which restaurant do you take them to?
Gaia / Cipriani.
What is your favourite fashion brand and why?
Loro Piana, their main focus is on the materials rather than keeping up with the trends.
What is your favourite film and why?
Life of Pi, it teaches about life, devotion, love.
What are you listening, watching or reading at the moment?
The Office (quite late to the party).
Do you/the company have a popular local café or bar?
Samsung building bar.
