March’s spotlight interview is with our fab Commercial Partnerships Account Director, Oscar Finch.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
A footballer playing for Norwich City!
How did your career start in partnerships & marketing?
When I was travelling Australia I ended up working in (and drinking lots of) wine. I worked in Sales in a winery in Margaret River in Western Australia – hosting tastings and showcases. When I came back to my home city of Norwich, I started working at Virgin Wines and moved into their marketing partnerships team after a couple of years in sales. That’s how it all began – an unusual but fun route into the industry!
What’s your favourite part of your job?
With a sales background, I enjoy negotiating and delivering big and impactful partnerships that deliver great results for our clients. I also enjoy the commercial side of the role, leading monetised partnerships within the agency is a great challenge. I also love the team that we have here – a brilliant team is essential to success and job satisfaction!
Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
My boss in partnerships at Virgin – Jon Shannon – had a big influence on me as my first boss in partnerships, he had a relaxed approach but was very good at delivering challenging objectives without stress showing and gave me great guidance. I have since learnt a lot of great stuff from Jo and Charlie at M-C – and continue to do so.
What has been your biggest achievement / proud of outside of work?
Getting married to the love of my life and having a son (due June 2023). Aside from that, I am proud of myself for funding my own travel around the world when I was younger. I especially loved Colombia.
What’s a fact about yourself that surprises people?
I blagged my way into some acting in several TV dramas (my ex’s dad was a director). My biggest role was on Eternal Law where I played a man called David who was shot in the back in York city centre.
Who would be your dream brand to work with?
Patagonia. I really like their eco credentials and their ethos of caring for the planet.
If you could do any job for just one day, what would it be?
An astronaut, I would love to see the world from space!
What has been your favourite partnership you have worked on whilst at Mando-Connect?
We worked on a great campaign between Vodafone, Tesco and the Family Holiday Charity last year. We were able to donate a substantial amount of money to The Family Holiday Charity and drive awareness about their work to give holidays to families that can’t afford one. It feels good to help those that need it. Landing the Just Eat x Vodafone partnership was also really satisfying.
Going off your wine past, if we had a Mando-Connect branded wine, what would it be?
A 1989 Chateau Petrus (£6,000 a bottle). A very fine wine!
