Our Team
Mikhail Basman
Head of Search & Digital Products
Head of Search & Digital Products
Graduated from: Southern Connecticut University
Years in the industry: 11
Previous agencies: Vizeum, Ogilvy, Starcom, Digitas
Previous clients: Coca Cola, Panasonic, P&G, Honda, Sony, npower, Expedia, HBOS, 20th Century Fox
Joined MPG: July 2010
Working on: All Accounts
Contributes: Value and insight on the real integration of digital performance
Loves: My wife, dogs, hiking, a challenge and holidays on hidden Pacific islands
Hates: Broken promises, being complacent and lazy people
Favourite movie line: "You Talkin’ to me?" – Taxi Driver
Years in the industry: 11
Previous agencies: Vizeum, Ogilvy, Starcom, Digitas
Previous clients: Coca Cola, Panasonic, P&G, Honda, Sony, npower, Expedia, HBOS, 20th Century Fox
Joined MPG: July 2010
Working on: All Accounts
Contributes: Value and insight on the real integration of digital performance
Loves: My wife, dogs, hiking, a challenge and holidays on hidden Pacific islands
Hates: Broken promises, being complacent and lazy people
Favourite movie line: "You Talkin’ to me?" – Taxi Driver
Paul Vassallo
Head of digital trading and display
Head of digital trading and display
Graduated from: University of Birmingham
Years in the industry: 8.5
Previous agencies: Diffiniti, Carat, Walker Media, Universal Mccann, MV-i
Previous clients: Sky, Barclays, Dell, Google, Halfords, QED-uk, Jessops, JD Williams and many more
Joined MPG: June 2010
Working on: Trading / Display across all clients
Contributes: Best in market display buying
Loves: Indie Music
Hates: Complacency
Favourite movie line: "Man who catch fly with chopsticks can accomplish anything", from the Karate Kid
Years in the industry: 8.5
Previous agencies: Diffiniti, Carat, Walker Media, Universal Mccann, MV-i
Previous clients: Sky, Barclays, Dell, Google, Halfords, QED-uk, Jessops, JD Williams and many more
Joined MPG: June 2010
Working on: Trading / Display across all clients
Contributes: Best in market display buying
Loves: Indie Music
Hates: Complacency
Favourite movie line: "Man who catch fly with chopsticks can accomplish anything", from the Karate Kid
Julian Grainger
Head of SEO
Head of SEO
Which involves: I target web content through search engines like Google and YouTube all around the world.
Previous Agencies: None. Agency virgin.
Previous Accounts: -
Loves: Music. Surf. Travel. Sport.
Hates: Nothing but I have the odd dislike.
Favourite movie line: ‘It’s 100% pure adrenaline’ – Point Break
Previous Agencies: None. Agency virgin.
Previous Accounts: -
Loves: Music. Surf. Travel. Sport.
Hates: Nothing but I have the odd dislike.
Favourite movie line: ‘It’s 100% pure adrenaline’ – Point Break
Supriya Dev-Purkaystha
New Business Director
New Business Director
Title: New Business Director
Graduated from: University college London
Years in the industry: 4
Previous agencies: NetBooster
Previous clients: Millennium Hotels, Etihad Airways
Joined MPG: January 2010
Working on: Digital new business
Loves: films, theatre, and cricket
Hates: Getting up early, spiders, football
Favourite movie line: ‘Life's a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get’ (Forrest Gump)
Graduated from: University college London
Years in the industry: 4
Previous agencies: NetBooster
Previous clients: Millennium Hotels, Etihad Airways
Joined MPG: January 2010
Working on: Digital new business
Loves: films, theatre, and cricket
Hates: Getting up early, spiders, football
Favourite movie line: ‘Life's a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get’ (Forrest Gump)
Simeon Clarke
Head of Technology
Head of Technology
Graduated from: Middlesex University
Years in the industry: 4
Previous Clients: T-mobile, Orange, WWF, Dell, Halifax.
Joined MPG: 4th January 2010
Working on: The Right Media exchange and all things technical
Loves: Manchester United
Hates: Being stuck in traffic!!!
Favourite Movie line: See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?
Swing away Merrill, Merrill swing away
Years in the industry: 4
Previous Clients: T-mobile, Orange, WWF, Dell, Halifax.
Joined MPG: 4th January 2010
Working on: The Right Media exchange and all things technical
Loves: Manchester United
Hates: Being stuck in traffic!!!
Favourite Movie line: See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?
Swing away Merrill, Merrill swing away
Michelle Lawrence
Group Account Director
Group Account Director
Graduated from: Boston University, USA
Years in the industry: 10 years
Previous agencies: Digitas, ID Media, Carat, Horizon Media
Previous clients: Pfizer, Cadbury, History Channel, General Motors, SC Johnson, Gillette
Joined MPG: September 2009
Working on: BBC, EDF Energy, Magners, East Coast
Loves: Sunshine, beaches, family, laughter, and chocolate
Hates: Flight delays
Favourite movie line: Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you are going to get - Forrest Gump
Years in the industry: 10 years
Previous agencies: Digitas, ID Media, Carat, Horizon Media
Previous clients: Pfizer, Cadbury, History Channel, General Motors, SC Johnson, Gillette
Joined MPG: September 2009
Working on: BBC, EDF Energy, Magners, East Coast
Loves: Sunshine, beaches, family, laughter, and chocolate
Hates: Flight delays
Favourite movie line: Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you are going to get - Forrest Gump
Josephine Simonsen
Group Account Director
Group Account Director
Graduated from: MPhil from University in Bergen, Norway
Years in the industry: 10
Previous agencies: Bates, AltaVista, Tradedoubler
Previous clients: Amex, Tesco, Dell, HP, Nokia, Lloyds, Ladbrokes, BA, Expedia, KLM, Arcadia Group
Joined MPG: 2009
Working on: AXA, Hotels.com, Clarks, Photobox
Loves: the three S'es: sushi, skiing and sailing
Hates: being wrong
Favourite movie line: "Smile, it enhances your face value"
Years in the industry: 10
Previous agencies: Bates, AltaVista, Tradedoubler
Previous clients: Amex, Tesco, Dell, HP, Nokia, Lloyds, Ladbrokes, BA, Expedia, KLM, Arcadia Group
Joined MPG: 2009
Working on: AXA, Hotels.com, Clarks, Photobox
Loves: the three S'es: sushi, skiing and sailing
Hates: being wrong
Favourite movie line: "Smile, it enhances your face value"
Adam Field
Head of Social Media
Head of Social Media
Graduated from: University of Arts, London
Years in the industry: 4
Previous agencies: Ogilvy, Facebook
Previous clients: Nissan, 888.com, Pathe, Universal, ITV
Joined MPG: Jan 2010
Working on: All clients implementing social media
Loves: Arsenal
Hates: Alex Ferguson
Favourite movie line: Hercules, Hercules, Hercules
Nutty Professor
Years in the industry: 4
Previous agencies: Ogilvy, Facebook
Previous clients: Nissan, 888.com, Pathe, Universal, ITV
Joined MPG: Jan 2010
Working on: All clients implementing social media
Loves: Arsenal
Hates: Alex Ferguson
Favourite movie line: Hercules, Hercules, Hercules
Nutty Professor
Kieran Bourke
Client Services Director - Mobile
Client Services Director - Mobile
Graduated from: South Bank Architectural School
Years in industry: 23
Previous Agencies: Aerodeon (founder) Saatchi Network, Watts Lord, Teamworks
Previous clients: Procter & Gamble, Diageo, BBC, Hewlett Packard, AT&T
Joined MPG: June 2nd 2008
Working on: Barclays, Magners, BBC
Loves: RnB; Blues; Jazz
Hates: Briefcases on wheels
Favourite film line: “You talkin' to me?” – Taxi Driver
Years in industry: 23
Previous Agencies: Aerodeon (founder) Saatchi Network, Watts Lord, Teamworks
Previous clients: Procter & Gamble, Diageo, BBC, Hewlett Packard, AT&T
Joined MPG: June 2nd 2008
Working on: Barclays, Magners, BBC
Loves: RnB; Blues; Jazz
Hates: Briefcases on wheels
Favourite film line: “You talkin' to me?” – Taxi Driver
James Cooper
Head of Affiliates
Head of Affiliates
Graduated from: Leeds
Years in industry: 10
Previous Agencies: Walker Media,DGM
Previous clients: Barclays, Vision Express, Dial-a-phone, Comet etc.
Joined MPG: 1st Jan 2009
Working on: National Lottery, Nationwide, National Express, EDF
Loves: Photography, travel, trying new foods
Hates: Smugness, mushrooms, heights
Favourite film line: "These go to 11" - Spinal Tap
Years in industry: 10
Previous Agencies: Walker Media,DGM
Previous clients: Barclays, Vision Express, Dial-a-phone, Comet etc.
Joined MPG: 1st Jan 2009
Working on: National Lottery, Nationwide, National Express, EDF
Loves: Photography, travel, trying new foods
Hates: Smugness, mushrooms, heights
Favourite film line: "These go to 11" - Spinal Tap
Emma Thwaite
Managing Partner - Marketing
Managing Partner - Marketing
Graduated from: Southampton
Years in industry: 13
Previous Agencies: Starcom, Leo Burnett, FCB
Previous clients: All new business
Joined MPG: May 2007
Working on: All new business
Loves: Chocolate and flowers
Hates: Too many Powerpoint slides
Favourite film line: “I shall never forgive myself”
“You always say that Charlotte. And you always forgive yourself” – Room with a view
Years in industry: 13
Previous Agencies: Starcom, Leo Burnett, FCB
Previous clients: All new business
Joined MPG: May 2007
Working on: All new business
Loves: Chocolate and flowers
Hates: Too many Powerpoint slides
Favourite film line: “I shall never forgive myself”
“You always say that Charlotte. And you always forgive yourself” – Room with a view
Anna Foster
Data Group Account Director
Data Group Account Director
Graduated from: Cambridge University
Years in the industry: 7
Previous agencies: TBWA/GGT (now Tequila/ London), Response One Ltd
Previous clients: The Open University, AXA Sunlife, The National Trust, egg, The Royal British Legion
Joined MPG: June 2009
Working on: BMI, Pioneer, Magners, TUI, Hamelin, C2C
Contributes: Data-driven marketing strategy, customer relationship management and campaign analytics
Loves: Stand-up comedy, cheese, lovely shoes, tea, rugby and George Clooney
Hates: Sun cream, spiders, arrogance, rudeness
Favourite movie line: "Surely you can't be serious?" "I am serious...... and don't call me Shirley."
Years in the industry: 7
Previous agencies: TBWA/GGT (now Tequila/ London), Response One Ltd
Previous clients: The Open University, AXA Sunlife, The National Trust, egg, The Royal British Legion
Joined MPG: June 2009
Working on: BMI, Pioneer, Magners, TUI, Hamelin, C2C
Contributes: Data-driven marketing strategy, customer relationship management and campaign analytics
Loves: Stand-up comedy, cheese, lovely shoes, tea, rugby and George Clooney
Hates: Sun cream, spiders, arrogance, rudeness
Favourite movie line: "Surely you can't be serious?" "I am serious...... and don't call me Shirley."
Chris Bourke
Head of Mobile
Head of Mobile
Position: Head of Mobile
Graduated from: LSU
Years in the industry: 8
Previous agencies: Aerodeon, co-founder first mobile agency in the UK
Previous clients: P&G, Diageo, Nestle, Sky, Orange.
Joined MPG: June 2008
Working on: BBC, National Express, Nationwide
Contributes: Mobile strategy, planning and free ring tones…
Loves: My mobile phone
Hates: Paying its bill!
Favourite movie line: “What kind of sandwich ain't too fattening? A half a sandwich.”, Analyze This
Graduated from: LSU
Years in the industry: 8
Previous agencies: Aerodeon, co-founder first mobile agency in the UK
Previous clients: P&G, Diageo, Nestle, Sky, Orange.
Joined MPG: June 2008
Working on: BBC, National Express, Nationwide
Contributes: Mobile strategy, planning and free ring tones…
Loves: My mobile phone
Hates: Paying its bill!
Favourite movie line: “What kind of sandwich ain't too fattening? A half a sandwich.”, Analyze This
Phil Livingstone
Group Account Director
Group Account Director
Graduated from: BSc Media Technology from Teesside University
Years in the industry: 9
Previous agencies: Mindshare (2000-2005) , Eyeconomy (1999-2000)
Previous clients: HSBC, First Direct, Abbey, WeightWatchers, RAF, Britvic, Pepsi, Lufthansa, ING Direct, Expedia & Jaguar, Kellogg & Kimberly Clarke
Joined MPG: 14th December 2005
Working on: Camelot, P&O Ferries, Ask.com, Pioneer, Eidos, EDF
Loves: Sunshine, fine wine & Pearl Jam
Hates: Lawn-mowers, haircuts and sunburn
Favourite movie line: "You're gonna need a bigger boat" - classic line from Jaws.
Years in the industry: 9
Previous agencies: Mindshare (2000-2005) , Eyeconomy (1999-2000)
Previous clients: HSBC, First Direct, Abbey, WeightWatchers, RAF, Britvic, Pepsi, Lufthansa, ING Direct, Expedia & Jaguar, Kellogg & Kimberly Clarke
Joined MPG: 14th December 2005
Working on: Camelot, P&O Ferries, Ask.com, Pioneer, Eidos, EDF
Loves: Sunshine, fine wine & Pearl Jam
Hates: Lawn-mowers, haircuts and sunburn
Favourite movie line: "You're gonna need a bigger boat" - classic line from Jaws.
Charlotte Steel
Business Director
Business Director
Graduated from: University of the West of England: Bristol (UWE)
Years in the industry: 9
Previous agencies: Zentropy Partners
Previous clients: Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Unilever, Reebok
Joined MPG: May 2003
Working on: Thomson, First Choice, AXA SUnLife Direct, Photobox
Loves: Dancing, get me a podium and I'm there!
Hates: Rainy days. Very depressing
Favourite movie line: "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy." Life Of Brian
Years in the industry: 9
Previous agencies: Zentropy Partners
Previous clients: Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Unilever, Reebok
Joined MPG: May 2003
Working on: Thomson, First Choice, AXA SUnLife Direct, Photobox
Loves: Dancing, get me a podium and I'm there!
Hates: Rainy days. Very depressing
Favourite movie line: "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy." Life Of Brian
Paul Frampton
Managing Director
Managing Director
Graduated from: Southampton University
Years in the industry: 16
Previous agencies: Man & boy at MPG (offline initially. Moved online in 1999)
Clients: Nationwide, Swinton, Barclays, Microsoft, Expedia, TUI, Cartier, Intel, P&G, BBC and EDF Energy
Joined MPG: 1997
Contributes: Light-hearted view to the worst situation & opportunity for lots of Essex jokes!
Loves: My wife and 3 kids, my Fiat Coupe, Office Banter and French Sauvignon
Hates: Lack of effort, Arsenal
Favourite movie line: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop once in a while, you could miss it" ( Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ( 1986))
Years in the industry: 16
Previous agencies: Man & boy at MPG (offline initially. Moved online in 1999)
Clients: Nationwide, Swinton, Barclays, Microsoft, Expedia, TUI, Cartier, Intel, P&G, BBC and EDF Energy
Joined MPG: 1997
Contributes: Light-hearted view to the worst situation & opportunity for lots of Essex jokes!
Loves: My wife and 3 kids, my Fiat Coupe, Office Banter and French Sauvignon
Hates: Lack of effort, Arsenal
Favourite movie line: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop once in a while, you could miss it" ( Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ( 1986))
John McLoughlin
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Graduated from: Manchester University
Years in the industry: 20
Previous agencies: Colman RSCG
Previous clients: Barclays, Microsoft, Intel, P&G, ICI, Cartier
Joined MPG: At it’s inception
Working on: TUI, Expedia Inc, National Express
Contributes: Experience of one who has been around a while, team builder,
Loves: Shooting, twin daughters (oops, and wife!)
Hates: Missing, politics (office variety)
Favourite movie line: “who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?” (Holy Grail)
Years in the industry: 20
Previous agencies: Colman RSCG
Previous clients: Barclays, Microsoft, Intel, P&G, ICI, Cartier
Joined MPG: At it’s inception
Working on: TUI, Expedia Inc, National Express
Contributes: Experience of one who has been around a while, team builder,
Loves: Shooting, twin daughters (oops, and wife!)
Hates: Missing, politics (office variety)
Favourite movie line: “who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?” (Holy Grail)
Dan Hagen
Managing Partner - Strategy
Managing Partner - Strategy
Years in the industry: 14
Previous agencies: CIA Medianetwork International, Outrider UK, Outrider New York
Previous clients: Microsoft, Novartis, Guinness, Intel
Joined MPG: 2002
Working on: Camelot, Ask.com, Nationwide, National Express, Everything really
Loves: Accuracy / getting it right, family, technology and it’s relentless pace of change, video games
Hates: lack of care, commuters, lack of respect for others
Favourite movie line: “What's he paying you boys? I'll double it and we'll beat the shit out of him.” - Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
Previous agencies: CIA Medianetwork International, Outrider UK, Outrider New York
Previous clients: Microsoft, Novartis, Guinness, Intel
Joined MPG: 2002
Working on: Camelot, Ask.com, Nationwide, National Express, Everything really
Loves: Accuracy / getting it right, family, technology and it’s relentless pace of change, video games
Hates: lack of care, commuters, lack of respect for others
Favourite movie line: “What's he paying you boys? I'll double it and we'll beat the shit out of him.” - Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
