How Phil Chapman got ahead

Name: Phil Chapman
Company: T-Mobile UK
Job title: Director of Marketing

Name:
Phil Chapman

Company:
T-Mobile UK

Job title:
Director of Marketing
What made you want to get into marketing?:
Its an arena combining the commercial world and creativity, giving you the ability to interpret and lead trends, and keep pushing the boundaries.

How did you get into the industry?:
I joined Unilever for its blue-chip brand management development and international scope after graduating in Management Sciences from Manchester University. 

What was good and bad about your first job?:
I was exposed to enormous strategic questions facing the business from day one, but in parallel I had to count and number every stick of furniture in a huge office block as part of a closure exercise. I learned the lesson that business can be tough. 

List your jobs to date:
Unilever: Senior Brand Manager – Lipton Tea
Regional Marketing Manager – Middle East
Regional Marketing Director – Far East
Head of Marketing – Mattesons Walls
Marketing Director – Unilever Foods – Egypt
Global Brand Director – Beverages  Unilever
Director of Marketing, T-Mobile UK

What were the best and worst, and why?:
I have enjoyed learning things from all roles that I have covered. The good, the bad and the ugly.  Im always analytical and realistic regarding challenges, but optimistic and energetic. Im finding the scale and speed of mobile hugely exciting.  Its surprisingly similar to Lipton Tea – both roles are about young-minded, social connection.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?:

Richard Branson

Who in the industry do you most admire?:

Steve Jobs co-founder and chief executive of Apple.

What is your biggest achievement to date?:

Creation of the T-Mobile brand personality, brought alive through the portfolio of tariff concepts, retail transformation and music strategy. Also had fun creating Pepperami “bit of an animal” (but seems a long time ago). 

On what do you base your success so far?:
Loving brands and strong teamwork.

What are your ambitions?:
To keep creating successful brands with connection, differentiation and scale.

Change one thing about your job:
No change for now except I perhaps need more hours in the day.

Change one thing about your industry:
Make all brands trusted and loved by consumers.

Change one thing about the world:
Celebrate of cultural, racial and religious tolerance.

What is your favourite brand?:
Tesco and Innocent.

What is the next big brand in your view?:
MySpace