Kevin May

Kevin May

Founding Partner, Sticks LLC

Where are you right now?

In my living room in Seattle, with Fox Soccer on the TV and the sun coming up over a somewhat overcast Puget Sound. But it is late November, I suppose.

Where is your favorite place for a breakfast meeting?

In London: Millennium Café, Paddington

In New York: Pastis

In Seattle: George and Dragon (preferably on the weekend) 

What was your first job?

Actual job: at Brian Reeves Butchers in Thorpe Bay Broadway, scrubbing the blood and gore off the chopping blocks after school

At an agency: Wunderman in London – tried to leave after six weeks, and finally got out within the year

How do you think we can keep talent motivated?

Actually treat them like your most valuable asset, rather than just saying it. Talk to them like people. Make the work interesting and enjoyable. Any boss should take more responsibility for the cock-ups and less credit for the successes (because that’s where the responsibility usually lies).

What excites you about this next decade?

More collaboration and less bullshit. More emphasis on ideas and less reliance on execution. More recognition for people who are great at what they do, fewer hiding places for those who aren’t.

If you had to make a quick escape where would you go?

Really quick: to the Hilltop Alehouse

For a day: skiing at Crystal Mountain

For a week: Mazatlan in Mexico

What is on your bedside table?

Three plastic dinosaurs belonging to Charlotte

Yesterday’s finished mug of tea

The End of Faith by Sam Harris

If you weren't in this business what would you be doing?

Professional footballer by day. Stand-up comedian by night. Pulitzer Prize-winning author on the weekend.

But I’m glad I chose advertising instead. Much less futile.

Who would you most like to meet for a drink?

Mollie Sugden and Stratford Johns. Sadly they’re both dead.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Two tickets for every Arsenal game, home and away. Oh, and a flat at Highbury Stadium.