How Mark Worthington Got Ahead

“My biggest inspiration has been Gianfranco Zola – a complete and total gentleman, who retained his sense of humour, fair play and honour in an increasingly dirty and squalid game. I don’t even support Chelsea either.”

Name: Mark Worthington

Company: Gratterpalm

Job title: Account Director

 What made you get into marketing?
In my first role (as freelance cartoonist) it soon seemed that it would be more challenging and interesting to convince prospective clients of my services, than it was actually doing the artwork.

How did you get into the industry (including relevant qualifications & professional training)?
Totally by accident! I thought I was going for a job in press & PR and it turned out to be a Sales Promotion role. Luckily I got on really well with the interviewer (who was the MD) and he gave me the job anyway. So thank you Charles Endacott! (Endacott RJB).

What was good and bad about your first job?
The first (proper) thing I did after college was set myself up as a freelance cartoonist/ illustrator.
Good: Having total freedom in working hours.
Bad: My feckless approach (combined with a recession) meant it was doomed to fail as a business.

List your jobs to date
Freelance cartoonist
Ad Sales Executive
Advertising & Promotions Manager on Deadline magazine (the home of Tank Girl)
Press Officer for two small record labels – Alternative Tentacles and Elemental records
Account Manager – Endacott RJB

Other agencies I’ve worked at include:
– Curtis Hoy
– 141
– Biggart Donald
– Joshua
– uncle terry
– WWAV Leeds

…and now I’m happily settled at Gratterpalm in sunny Leeds!

What were the best and worst and why?
Apart from my current position, my best job was running uncle terry. This was a little agency I set up with an ATL agency called farm and ran very happily for three years. The people were brilliant and it had a unique, creative culture – I never once woke up and dreaded going in.

The worst? I won’t name names, but essentially the management didn’t care about their employees and made promises they never kept. Luckily that’s totally the opposite of Gratterpalm.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?
Gianfranco Zola – a complete and total gentleman, who retained his sense of humour, fair play and honour in an increasingly dirty and squalid game. I don’t even support Chelsea either.

Who in the industry do you most admire?
Anyone, who by doing their job, makes other people’s jobs easier.

On what do you base your success so far?
Blackmail…or alternatively, never forgetting that the people I work with are intelligent adults doing what can often be an extremely difficult job.

What are your ambitions?
To be remembered fondly.

Change one thing about your job
I’ve only been here a month, so give me a chance…

Change one thing about your industry
That more clients realise they’ll get more out of their agency if there is a genuine relationship there, rather than waste time ‘keeping us on our toes’.

 

Change one thing about the world
That personal interest is discarded in favour of the good of others.

What is your favourite brand?
Lego – endlessly creative and with the enviable ability to adapt and move with the times (plus if you’ve ever played Star Wars Lego, you’ll know what I mean!)

What is the next big brand in your opinion?
Professionally I’m doing my best to make it Focus DIY, but personally I’d like it to be Matlows – bring back the old fashioned sweeties!

List your “media Diet”:
Newspapers:
– Guardian
– Observer

Web:
– BBC
– Football 365
– Ain’t it Cool News
– Holy Moly