In an attempt to showcase the personalities of the people behind the media and marketing sector, The Drum speaks to individuals who are bringing something a little different to the industry and talks to them about what insights and life experience they can offer the rest of us. This week's 10 Questions are put to the UK chief executive of McCann Worldgroup, Mark Lund.
What was your first ever job?
I was a graduate trainee at Lintas – the agency that morphed, eventually, into Mullen Lowe. It was the only job in advertising I was offered and I got to work with Captain Birdseye so I was very excited and very grateful.
Which industry buzzword annoys you most?
I’m 110% sure the answer to that is a complete no brainer. I’ll reach out and ping you something across ASAP and we can touch base on it.
Who do you find most interesting to follow on social media?
On Twitter; people who don’t think in the same way as I do – on Instagram; my friends – it’s astonishing how one image brings them close.
Highlight of your career (so far?)
I’ve enjoyed almost all of it a lot. I think making a success of DLKW with my partners was a highlight, and I’m loving my time at McCann Worldgroup – such a great group of people
What piece of tech can you not live without?
Ipad Mini – it’s my library, search engine, social media machine, newspaper and pocket cinema , all in one
Who or what did you have posters of on your bedroom wall as a teenager?
Steve McQueen and Porsche 917 from the film Le Mans. One of the dullest films ever for a non-car obsessed teenager (the first 37 minutes feature precisely zero lines of dialogue) but for me, then, an existential masterpiece.
In advertising, what needs to change soon?
A slightly lazy sense of passivity/inferiority that has infected parts of the ecosystem. In a world of increasingly intangible value, brand creation, definition and activation are vital and, in the UK, we are really good at all of it.
What is (in your opinion) the greatest film/album/book of your life?
The greatest book is a toss up between Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens and Barchester Towers by Anthony Trolloppe. Films are much harder – I adore Grosse Point Blank but would struggle to justify it – other than it’s John Cusack at his best…
Which industry event can you not afford to miss each year and why?
Cannes – it’s the Creative Gold Standard and everyone is there. And it’s generally great fun!
What's the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
‘Good news a bit at a time, bad news all at once’ – delivered from the grave by Niccolo Macchiavelli. Though Petr Baelish’s ‘Chaos is a ladder, not a pit’ is pretty good too.
Find other entries into the 10 Questions With series here...