The A-List: 2008

Job

Chief executive

Company

Kantar Group

Work Telephone

+44 (0)20 7656 5702.

Address

London, SW1X 7HF

Fantasy business partner

James Dyson.

How do you off-set your carbon footprint?

I don't, but I am trying hard to reduce it in the first place.

Greatest influence

A desire to make a positive impact and to continually stretch myself.

Clubs

A trustee of the British Museum, a trustee of Horsesmouth, George, Arsenal.

Favourite gadget

BlackBerry.

Desert island objects

DVD of Arsenal's unbeaten year, and of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry's best goals, a wind-up shortwave digital radio, the complete works of Primo Levi.

Most-admired politician

Gordon Brown, for taking politics seriously, for thinking about, and believing in, what he says, and for being open to constructive criticism.

Favourite media

The Sun, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Life on Mars, Spooks Grey's Anatomy and, as of last night, Outnumbered, Radio 4, newsnow.co.uk.

Biggest risk taken

Arguing with a man holding a gun who had locked us in a bar in Bolivia and who wanted my passport and money.

Perfect day

Wake up somewhere warm by the sea, read the papers, have breakfast with my sons while chatting and playing cards, recruit someone great after months of effort, win a big pitch for a piece of business we had screwed up and turned around, barbecue on the beach with extended family and friends, then a swim in the sea, game of five-a-side football and a game of tennis, and then go and watch Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Champions League final.

Who should play you in the film of your life?

Tazmanian Devil.

Career highlights

The Labour Party, Henley Centre, WPP, Kantar Group.

Fictional hero

Road Runner.

Hidden talent

None? lots hidden, but none of it talent.

Best job outside advertising

Four months spent as an apiarist (beekeeper) on a kibbutz in Israel.

Lowdown

With so much on his plate running WPP's research interests, you wonder if the mercurial Salama has any time to watch his beloved Arsenal. He's been mooted as a possible successor to his boss, Sir Martin Sorrell. But with the WPP leader showing as much willingness to retire as Arsene Wenger, don't hold your breath.

Most expensive purchase

Painting.

Why are you good at what you do?

O-level in history, or because I'm not hierarchical, and I always try to treat people the way that I'd like to be treated.