The A-List: 2008

Born

1st January 1959

Job

Worldwide chief executive

Company

Zenith-Optimedia

Work Telephone

+44 (0)20 7961 1032.

Address

Headquarters, 24 Percy Street, London, W1T 2BS

How do you off-set your carbon footprint?

Having a holiday home in the UK.

Greatest influence

The many smart and driven people I've worked for, including Christine Walker, Derrick Southon, Bill Grimes, John Perriss, Jack Klues and Maurice Levy.

Clubs

Home House, Upper Thames Sailing Club, Castle Royle, Marlow RFC.

Favourite gadget

Sat nav

Desert island objects

Sailing boat (preferably Hobie 18), toolkit, Drum kit.

Favourite media

The Daily Telegraph, Vanity Fair, The Sopranos, Virgin, bbc.com.

Biggest risk taken

Moving myself and family to New York in 1994 to help launch Zenith USA when most doubted such an operation could succeed (they were nearly proved correct).

Career highlights

1981, HTV, Dorlands, McCormicks; 1986, launch of Zenith UK (various roles), 1994, Zenith USA general manager and chief operating officer; 1997, Zenith chief executive, EMEA; 2002 chief executive, ZenithOptimedia EMEA; 2004 to present ZenithOptimedia, worldwide chief executive.

Best job outside advertising

Postboy at Top Shop.

Lowdown

ZenithOptimedia's roving leader is building a strong reputation on the international conference circuit. During the inaugural Venice International Media Festival, he left the audience pondering the wisdom of his proposition that "marketing is no longer the chassis of the car, it is now the sunroof". He continues to bang the drum for ROI and business effectiveness in media.