Q&A with Steve McIntyre, group marketing director of Speedy
The Drum fired some general questions to group marketing director at Speedy, Steve McIntyre. See what he had to say.
What was your first marketing role?
“While working as general manager Leighs Paints Malaysian office, a time I really enjoyed.”
What is the best piece of advice you've been given in your career?
“‘Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted’ which is something an old boss of mine told me. I repeat it incessantly to my son or in fact to anyone who’ll listen. It’s a great piece of advice for business or indeed life in general.”
How many times a week do you think you are contacted by an agency looking to pitch for business?
“About ten times a week or at least twice a day.”
Who do you admire most and why?
“Richard Branson. He’s never been scared to enter a developed market and challenge the dominant players. Virgin Atlantic being a classic example. “He’s also investing a great deal of time and money into developing green technologies and his general level of environmental awareness is rarely seen in business.”
What is the strangest thing you've ever seen or heard said in a pitch?
“‘We could always kill the dog’ was something an agency suggested doing to Dulux’s famous emblem during my time at Johnstone’s. They wanted to produce a viral video of a stuffed dog being drowned in paint then used as a roller. While it certainly raised a smile we made sure it was resigned to the scrap heap.”
Blackberry or iPhone?
“iPhone every time. For email and indeed anything else I don’t think anything comes close.”