The A-List: 2008

Born

2nd April 1955

Job

Chief executive

Company

G2 EMEA

Work Telephone

+44 (0)20 7453 7902.

Address

London, W1T 3QN

Fantasy business partner

Jeremy Clarkson (he's tall enough to be able to look me in the eye).

How do you off-set your carbon footprint?

Let the sheep eat the grass instead of topping it.

Greatest influence

My bank manager.

Clubs

Soho House.

Favourite gadget

My tractor.

Desert island objects

iPod, chess set, guitar.

Most-admired politician

Bill Clinton, because of his clarity and intellect.

Favourite media

The Telegraph, Campaign (of course), Have I Got News For You, Radio 4, Google.

Biggest risk taken

Starting my own agency.

Perfect day

Today.

Who should play you in the film of your life?

Harrison Ford.

Career highlights

Creating and watching Joshua grow over 20 years.

Fictional hero

Biggles, who inspired my lifelong love of flying.

Hidden talent

Song writing.

Best job outside advertising

Being a dad.

Lowdown

Thompson lived up to his stature when he was appointed to the G2 EMEA remit earlier in the year. The affable and persuasive character seems ideally suited to create a common philosophy across the European network and develop the business using the Joshua model he helped found 20 years ago.

Most expensive purchase

Not sure, but my wife's probably wearing it.

Why are you good at what you do?

Probably my ability to understand other people's points of view.