20 Questions: Geoff Lyons, Independent Newspapers

GeofffGeoff Lyons is group marketing director at Independent Newspapers, overseeing marketing and promotions for the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent and the Herald. He joined the company as an advertising executive in 1999. He was promoted to Sunday Independent advertising manager in 2004 and then became marketing manager for the Irish Independent a year later. He was promoted to group marketing manager in 2009 and group marketing director last year. He is a graduate of UCD and holds an MSc in marketing from DIT.

01 When are you happiest?

When things work out, be it at home or in the office. There is nothing as good as achieving a goal that you have set for yourself and those around you and then enjoying that success

02  What’s your most treasured possession?

My wife, she might argue the point here, she’d say she owns me

03  Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn?

All three

04  What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?

I’ve been lucky have had a fantastic journey here at INM. No day is ever the same

05  Your favourite writers?

Across our titles, I read Neil Francis, David McWilliams, Brendan O’Connor and Gerry O’Regan. I am a Ross O’Carroll Kelly fan too and love to sports and business biographies.

06 Last music you bought?

It’s been a while. I like to run so I’m plugged into compilations on Spotify

07 A film, or films, you’d watch again tonight?

Braveheart, A Beautiful Mind and Gladiator

08 What do some people think about you that isn’t true?

That I played for Manchester United. I don’t know really

09  What keeps you awake at night?

The next big thing

10  Which words do you overuse?

Sales, circulation, marketing mix, readers, newspapers, magazines, advertising

11 Your favourite ad?

Irish Independent Choices was a special piece of work, proud of that one

12  Your favourite gadget?

My iPhone

13  A brand experience that disappointed you?

Cherry Coke

14  What living person do you most admire?

My mum

15  Most embarrassing experience?

Trying to impress my wife back in the day when we were in UCD together

16  Someone or something that strikes you as beautiful?

Someone, Olga. Something, the sea

17  In what other era would you like to have been born?

I’d like to have been born in the mid-1940’s so as I could have experienced the Sixties as a teen. I loved the 90’s though, so I’m pretty happy with my lot

18  Best advice you’ve heard?

These things take time, don’t rush it, let it happen

19  What would be your fantasy act of heroism? 

Scoring for Ireland in the corner of Lansdowne Road to win the Six Nations championship

20  You’re on Death Row, what’s your last meal?

Easy, Christmas dinner

 

 

glyons@independent.ie


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