The A-List: 2008

Born

1st January 1954

Job

Executive director EMEA

Company

MediaCom

Work Telephone

+44 (0)20 7158 5500.

Address

124 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8RX

Fantasy business partner

Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

How do you off-set your carbon footprint?

I plant trees in my garden, which is a relatively small off-set given the size of my footprint.

Greatest influence

The best people in advertising. I've been incredibly fortunate to work with some of them.

Clubs

Arsenal FC, Ski Club of Great Britain, Kent Gun Club.

Favourite gadget

iPod.

Desert island objects

Machete, fish hooks, a Ray Mears survival handbook.

Most-admired politician

I don't.

Favourite media

The Guardian, The Economist, Little Britain, Radio Five Live, Amazon.

Biggest risk taken

To stop studying and go travelling.

Perfect day

Skiing Squaw Valley or Heavenly on a fresh powder day with my family.

Who should play you in the film of your life?

Dustin Hoffman.

Career highlights

Started in 1975 at TMD; (1976 to 1979) KMP; (1979 to 1982) group head, French Gold Abbott; (1982) appointed media manager to set-up media department at Gold Greenlees Trott; (1984) appointed media director at GGT, (1994) set-up Media Solutions JV with CIA Medianetwork, appointed group chief executive; (1996) joined MediaCom as senior vice-president, Warner Bros Global; (1998) MediaCom EMEA Masterfoods; (2000) role expanded to include Procter & Gamble EMEA. Most recently, P&G CEEMEA director, plus VW global project director, plus MediaCom network operations.

Fictional hero

Lloyd Hopkins from L.A. Noir, The Lloyd Hopkins Trilogy by James Ellroy.

Hidden talent

Recruiting talent.

Best job outside advertising

Steel fixer on the Queensland Institute of Music building site.

Lowdown

Neuburger was once notorious as one of the most feisty and intense media practitioners around town, and although he boasts a few more grey hairs these days, and the experience to go with them, he still has his moments. Happily, clients tend to value his commitment to the cause.

Most expensive purchase

Family skiing holidays.

Why are you good at what you do?

Develop strong client partnerships, take personal responsibility and ownership, fix issues, deliver strong business results.