Desert Island Brands - Pepe Parra

I think it's got to be clothing as I can't see myself weaving something out of banana leaves. So I would choose a brand like Billabong or O'Neill. A few pairs of board shorts would help and the fact that some of the former's clothing is actually made of recycled textiles and plastic bottles really appeals to me -- it's a chance to be the change that you want in the world.

2. Last taste of civilisation: The island has a plentiful supply of nuts and fruit, not to mention a healthy population of fish, so you will have plenty to eat. But which one food brand are you really going to miss from your old life?
I don't know if there is an actual brand, but I would sorely miss roast dinners - I am a very traditional guy when it comes to "the Sunday roast", which I like to cook myself some times. I suppose if I was pushed on the brand it would have to be Cadbury's.

3. Best reminder of home: Successful survivalists always claim that it is mental attitude which sees them through. Belief that you will get back home is going to be vital -- so which brand will sum up home best?
I guess my best reminder of home (apart from the family of course) would be something nice to wear. I don't want to create the impression that I am a label freak but I've always loved clothes and I do like D&G. I'd probably opt to take along some of the stuff that I have in my wardrobe. You can dress up or down with the brand. So, I would take a nice DJ for the day that I'm rescued, and some informal stuff for the days I feel homesick - rest of the time? It's probably back to the board shorts.

4. Most welcome online brand: Eventually you manage to rig up your own connection to the internet using bits and pieces found on the beach but you have only one chance to log on to a website before it goes down -- which online brand will you choose?
Well, it's probably EasyJet. I spends so much time travelling in Europe at the moment that I know the site like the back of my hand. To tell the truth I'd probably cut a deal with them and try to arrange a rescue. They like a challenge I bet they'd do it.

5. Ultimate luxury: Self indulgence is hard to come by on a desert island, so what brand would you be most excited to find washed up on the beach?
I know I've probably already been a bit self indulgent with the D&G but I would really be thrilled to find one, just one, bottle of excellent red wine washed up on the beach. A bottle of Chateau Petrus would be very welcome. The whole estate in Bordeaux is only about 30 acres -- probably not much different to my island. Here they make the best wine in the world. A nice bottle of 2001 would be great and failing that a 60ft Sunseeker washed up on the beach would be fine. Or, even better, a Sunseeker with a bottle of Petrus on board.

6. Transferable skill: You already work in the jungle of marketing so there are probably skills which you have acquired through your job which will come in handy -- or you may have other hidden talents. Which of your personal skills will help you to get to grips with life on a desert island?
A maxim throughout my whole agency career has been to find the right people to work with and to empower them. That way you get a company that is going places piloted by a happy and fulfilled team. There is an explosion in clients' demands for experiential marketing right now and 2Heads is expanding rapidly with offices opening across the globe. So, I hope I'm not away too long or I'll miss all the fun, but while I'm gone I'm confident that the company will be in safe hands.

Adrian Whitefoord, Desert Island Survival Specialist and co-founder of branding agency Pemberton & Whitefoord, comments:
Wearing recycled, but still very cool, beachwear is a must for any castaway. Both very, very edgy brands at the moment, so good choice.

And, when it comes to the roast dinners I am with you 100% of the way. I think it's roast beef, plus all the trimmings, that I would miss the most. Somehow though, it never tastes the same on a boiling hot day does it? Reminds me too much perhaps of the odd Christmas lunch that I've had whilst on holiday somewhere exotic. No. Roast dinners definitely have to be eaten on cold and rainy, or even snowy days, back in good old Blighty.

EasyJet is a great choice, and given the entrepreneurial nature of the company's founder I suspect he would fix up a scheduled flight for you in next to no time or at the very least arrange a one-off rescue package.

As far as the wine choice goes the last bottle of Petrus that I saw (not drunk mind, just looked at admiringly) cost £1,500. You certainly have expensive tastes Pepe -- sorry to say if anything is washed ashore it's more likely to be a bottle of Rioja 2001. That's life.

I love the empowerment sentiment, exactly what I've done with our company. And to be honest any company worth its salt nowadays will be thinking along the same lines. If you have good people you want to hang on to them, and happy capable staff create great client relationships, and deliver value for money both to you and the client.

Pepe Parra is founder of 2heads, an experiential agency that specialises in live experiences, events, exhibition and marketing communication strategies. 2heads offers an end-to-end service to clients that include BBC, Freemantle, Granada, Mastercard and Pioneer.