Q&A Session with Phil Eames, Head of Media Comms at Morse
Phil Eames joined Morse in September this year to head up their Media Comms business and Ariadne wanted to understand what makes him tick - these were our questions:
Q: Why you joined Morse?
A: I was really attracted by the culture of a forward thinking business with an entrepreneurial spirit and belief that it can make things happen even though it is a substantial business.
Q: What do you do?
A: I am responsible for the Media Comms vertical in Morse. The role is to develop the our business in media comms from where it is today (about £75M) through developing, building, partnering and acquiring sector specialist skills, IP and activities that bring value to our clients and specialist capabilities.
Q: What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
A: Investment in a technology business that had been taken into liquidation. I acquired the business and IP from the liquidator with a plan to invest and develop the company. Happily we were successful.
Q: What makes a great entrepreneur?
A; Belief, vision the ability to bring people along with you as well as an eye for a deal or investment.
Q: What’s the most interesting change about the Media Comms space over the past 5 years?
A: IP Broadcast Communication and wireless
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: Building my last business with a great team of people. It was hard work, but we had some fun along the way.
Q: What is Morse’s ‘Unfair Advantage’?
A: Morse give is clients and partners a flexibility that you can not get from other businesses. We will work out how to make some happen and be flexible and work with the client to ensure it delivers value for everyone. One top of this we have really clever great people.
Q: How is the UK changing?
A: The UK is definitely getting more entrepreneurial in the way its business people think. We do however need to be really careful that the already excessive level of ‘red tape’ already on the businesses in the UK does not get worse. This is something the UK Government and the European parliament need to be careful of. It we stifle our ability to do business; business will move or fail and others will benefit.
Q; Prediction for 2008?
A: IPTV
Q; Most surprising fact about Ariadne Capital [in your long experience of us!! J]?
A: Fantastic network, fantastic contacts
Contact Phil Eames at Phil.Eames@morse.com