My Media World: Nigel Clarkson

I have worked in the media since...
October 1995 when I joined More O'Ferrall Adshel as a sales exec straight from University.
 
I was attracted to this particular role because...
I knew about Primesight from my days at Clear Channel. I was offered the sales director role a week before my 30th birthday and it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down. Since then Primesight has more than doubled in size and in 2008 I was lucky enough to have taken part in the management buyout from SMG Group. It has been an amazing journey.

Not many people know that...
Ulan Bator is the capital of Mongolia.
 
My worst experience in the media was...
Missing out on deals or awards is always the worst after so much work goes into them. Falling headfirst down the stairs in Stringfellows on a client night out in 1996 was probably up there too.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in the media industry it’s...
That you've never learnt everything in the media industry. Don't just learn about your area of expertise, read widely and listen to senior figures to pick up a rounded view of the whole business.
 
The best bit of media business I have been involved in was...
The ground-breaking brainwaves research project at Classic FM and the Vectone business that won Primesight a Media Week award last year. Also our neuro-visual copy testing facility, which will allow mobile GPS-based research and Google earth site tours from your desk.
 
The one thing I can’t stand in media is...
Email has both enormously benefitted and hugely spoilt the ability to work and build relationships.
 
Outside of work I spend my time...
Thinking about "media", networking, or training for some silly challenge such as a 200-mile bike ride, the London Marathon and an Olympic-distance triathlon.
 
If I could do it all over again I would...
I would love to do it all again. Working in media before email was an enormously fun time. I have met so many great people through this job, and many of whom have gone on to become very close friends outside of work. I worry that the young 'uns in media probably don't have as much fun as we used to back in the day.
 
The one event I would never miss is...
My funeral or the Rugby World Cup.  
 
If money were no object I would...
Still be working in advertising, but would personally sponsor the England Rugby team and buy West Ham Utd. I would also buy a bigger house, faster car and drink better wine.

The next 12 months will be...
Amazing for the out of home industry. The Olympics, more digital screens with daypart and scheduling opportunities, Postar 2, more involvement in mobile advertising opportunities, some big landlord pitches coming up, and no doubt some mergers and acquisitions on the media owner side.
 
If I ruled the media world I would...
Can't say the things I’d really like to do as I'll get in trouble with too many people… Insist that clients paid more for their OOH advertising? Too obvious?
 
If I could switch places with anyone in the media world it would be...
Simon Lazenby the Sky Sports rugby presenter has the best job in media, or the commentator for the beach volleyball on Eurosport. A few months ago I'd have thought Rupert Murdoch had a pretty cool job…

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk