The A-List: 2008

Born

2nd April 1965

Job

Chief executive

Company

MediaCom

Work Telephone

+44 (0)20 7158 5518.

Address

124 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8RX

Fantasy business partner

Piers Morgan.

How do you off-set your carbon footprint?

I walk everywhere in central London.

Greatest influence

Stephen Allan and Allan Rich.

Favourite gadget

My iPod.

Desert island objects

Bottle of wine, cigarettes and my iPod.

Most-admired politician

Neil Kinnock. A great orator, an underrated leader and a human being.

Favourite media

The Guardian, Golfing Today, The Sopranos, Radio Five Live, bbc.com.

Biggest risk taken

Taking on the new business role in 1996.

Perfect day

Any day we win new business!

Who should play you in the film of your life?

James Woods.

Career highlights

Becoming chief executive in 2006.

Fictional hero

Cyrano de Bergerac.

Hidden talent

I can shoot.

Best job outside advertising

Teaching.

Lowdown

The giant, testosterone-driven but totally dedicated Lawson is the man behind one of media's most successful agencies. He might come across as a bit of a bruiser, but Lawson has steered MediaCom through its transition into GroupM.

Most expensive purchase

My golf clubs, not that they've helped.

Why are you good at what you do?

I'm passionate about MediaCom.