PR’s young achievers as well as old hands reveal who has influenced them
the most
Tim Lewis; Charles Barker
‘I don’t have any role models because the press always wants to reveal
everyone’s faults. I think you should make your own way, you shouldn’t
try to copy anyone.’
Julia Thorn; Paragon Communications
‘I know very little about her, but the fact that she said: ‘life’s too
short to stuff a mushroom’, puts Shirley Conran high on my list of those
who have influenced my lifestyle.’
Gary Farrow; Sony Music
‘Richard Branson - he’s in a different league. He’s really mastered the
art of internally synergising his businesses so they all benefit. Virgin
is one of the hippest brands there is. He’s not my role model as such
but he is one of the few people who fascinate me. I spent some time with
him recently and he’s extremely clever.’
Mike Mathieson; FFI
‘Roy Edmunson, marketing director of Levi’s. He doesn’t follow the
traditional paths of marketing. He is led very much by keeping his feet
on the ground. To him, PR isn’t about column inches, it’s about
understanding young people’s lives and what affects them. He
demonstrated that this summer by pulling the Levi’s ad from TV and
cinema and placing it at music festivals, attending each event
personally.’
Mary Stewart; Biss Lancaster
‘Two people: Lisa Gernon, former marketing director of Orange, for her
vision and her belief in PR. She was totally inspiring to work for. And
also my school housemaster, Mr Markham, for his cynical and witty views
on life.’
Ann Brunton; Welbeck Golin/Harris
‘It has to be Denis Inchbald, who founded Welbeck. He taught me all I
know about PR and more particularly about staff and caring for people.’
Flora Martin; Citigate Scotland
‘Angela Heylin [Charles Barker] - for the way she runs her company, for
the standard of people she hires and her commitment to the industry. And
for the fact that she managed to fit in having a family as well. She’s
professional and extremely hard-working but has always had a life
outside the office and I think that’s really important.’
Edited by Steve Bevan
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