CAREERS: Q&A with Greg Hayes

Name: Greg Hayes

Job title: Senior vice-president, advertising sales and multimedia ventures, ESPN Star Sports

What is your greatest achievement?

Doing a bungee jump from a helicopter. I initially had a fear of heights, but doing such a crazy activity soon solved the problem. I proceeded to do abseiling, and gained a private pilot's licence.

Dream brand to work on and why?

FIFA World Cup, as it's the biggest sporting event. There are also excellent opportunities in various parts of the world to raise its awareness level and make it even more successful.

What if you weren't in marketing?

Ski instructor. This has always been my favourite sport and quite some time ago I was a qualified instructor.

I travel to South America each year to ski in the Andes Mountains and enjoy being in this amazing environment. Teaching people again would be a plus.

What was your big break?

Leaving Australia and being able to work in the US, England, New Zealand, South America and now Asia. This gave me an excellent global perspective and one that has served me well in dealing with different cultures and practices.

Who was your mentor?

I admire some of the characteristics of the leadership of General George Patton such as never giving up and always having an option to make things work, and being successful.

Is there a secret to your success?

A lot of damn working hours! You just can't get away from that today.

How do you handle difficult clients?

Separate emotion from logic and concentrate on the real deliverables that add customer value. In doing so, one can easily turn what may appear to be a difficult situation into something relatively straight forward.

What advice would you give to the next person to do your job?

Be totally client focussed. Too often, the priorities of internal versus external become interwined.

What are you currently reading?

Anothony Robbins' 'Personal Power'.

Business person you most admire?

Rupert Murdoch, of course.