Geoff 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
