A little bit of background...
Life is a rollercoaster...
The good bits
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I live in the Cotswolds with my wife, three kids and three dogs
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I had a happy career in advertising and marketing
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I then started my own studio making mobile games called Neon Play
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We’ve had 200 million downloads (but also a lot of failed games)
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The company was sold in 2016 to Hachette, a large book publisher
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I won UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award
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I am truly honoured to be a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire
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I've been very lucky to have met King Charles and Queen Elizabeth
The bad bits
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I had to retake my French A Level after I failed it
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I got rejected by 20 ad agencies on the university milkround
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My first company made cartoon stationery, but went bust
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I ordered 300 sunshades to sell at a car show - it rained all weekend
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I wrote my first car off just a week after I passed my driving test
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I choked badly on some veal and needed the Heimlich Manoeuvre
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I was sacked from WHSmith for singing MC Hammer to my boss!
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I was sued on the first day of a company launch by my former boss
Founder & CEO
2010-2024
Neon Play
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Our first game Flick Football went above Angry Birds in the charts
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Winner of Queens Award for Enterprise in Innovation
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Roller Splat is our biggest hit to date with 65 million downloads
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Sold the company to Hachette in 2016
Voluntary role
2017-Present
Deputy-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire
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Representing HM The King in the county
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Helping with royal visits to support the Lord-Lieutenant
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Attending citizenship ceremonies to welcome new British citizens
Founder
2013-Present
Rock the Cotswolds
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A not-for-profit social enterprise that I started
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The aim is to change perceptions of the area to retain & attract talent
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Run events and initiatives, driving word of mouth and networking
Board member
2013-2016
Cheltenham Festivals
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Worked across four festivals - Music, Science, Literature & Jazz
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Supported the executive team with quarterly meetings
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Pushed for more digital innovation across the business
Creative Director
2004-2010
Inbox Digital
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Helped grow a small, talented digital agency in Wiltshire
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Eventually sold to Digital Marketing Group plc
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Won many awards for brands like Pringles, Gillette, Panasonic & Post-it
Creative Director
2000-2004
Panlogic
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Digital marketing agency that survived the dotcom boom and bust
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Led creative team working on websites, email marketing online ads & games
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Award-winning work for lastminute.com, Ferrari, L’Oreal, BBC and ITV
Copywriter
1999-2000
Billington Cartmell
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Sole copywriter at through-the-line marketing agency
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The most exciting year of my early working life
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Worked on big brands like Coca-Cola, Kit-Kat, Carlsberg, Polo and Disney
I’m not too bothered by CVs really, but in case you’re wondering...
CV or not CV?
Two truths, one lie…
Which one isn’t true?
a) I once played the piano for S Club 7
b) I am named after the musical “Oliver!”
c) I was once approached to work for MI5
The answer is C
Life is a box of chocolates...
The random bits
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I used to be a radio DJ and an LTA tennis coach
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I used to design T-shirts and run student nightclubs
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I scored a penalty at Chelsea FC
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I applied to be England football manager (Venables got it )
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I’ve gone 100mph on a zip wire (not easy with vertigo!)
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I danced live in front of 650 people at the Everyman Theatre
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I did the Gumball Rally going to St Petersburg & back in 5 days
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I've spoken in Parliament, Gloucester Cathedral and GCHQ
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My happy place is the Isle of Wight
The regret bits
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I wish I had travelled more in my 20s
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I wish I’d gone to more concerts in the 90s to see the big pop acts
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I wish I’d watched more live sport in the last 30 years
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I wish I’d persevered more to find my dream job as a copywriter
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I wish I'd left old jobs earlier when I wasn't happy