JUST IMAGINE

WHEN OUR friend Michail Tzouvelekis formed "Just Imagine!” to back our futuristic and profitable vision of the City Square Project we were delighted.

Below follows a short interview with Michail Tzouvelekis for the world renowned Grampian Public Relations Group forum, a select body of Grampians finest Public Relation gurus. As you will see below Michail has a sensitive yet firm grasp on the zeitgeist and the public mood in 21st century Britain, one which very closely mirrors our own.

 

A day in the life of a Bully..

Welcome to the first of a new feature from the Grampian PR Group (GPRG), which aims to give you a fun and insightful look into the lives of some familiar faces in and round the PR & Communications sector in the Aberdeen area. In this first edition, we hear from one half of the GPRG Co-Convernorship.

Well known to many, this successful business development manager is a self-confessed party animal with a penchant for designer suits and James Bond. He wouldn’t let us print his photo (boohiss) but the caricature really is a good likeness! Read on to discover all that you ever need to know about……

 

Michail Tzouvelekis

Business Development Manager and Grampian PR Group Co-Convenor

 

 

Experience?

“...is the most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn” (C.S. Lewis)

 

Qualifications?

BA (Hons) Corporate Communication MLitt Strategic Studies

 

What does a typical day for you involve?

Breakfast in bed while reading the business pages, a short trip on my yacht off Monaco, jet skiing with supermodels in the
Mediterranean, unwinding with spa treatments, maybe dinner at Gordon Ramsey’s in London. The usual mundane stuff we all
do...

 

How did you get to where you are today?

My parents gave me the best education they could afford. Without a doubt, I owe my career to Ian Burdis and Hugh
Mackay, who gave me a huge break when they hired me at AGR Petroleum Services. I will always be grateful to both of them.
And now I am at Maersk because Duncan Bonner believed in me and wanted to get me onboard.

 

What’s the best part of your current role?

Maersk Training is a new company, so I can influence and shape things more by having joined early on.

 

…and the most difficult?

We are the new entrant in a sector dominated for decades by two other players, and taking market share from them is not
easy.

What’s your greatest career achievement so far?

On a personal note, to have been hired by a huge conglomerate such as the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group. But I also value making a
difference to the community. While I was at Pöyry, my previous employer, I set up a pioneering scholarship scheme which will
provide financial support to 35 engineering and business students from five Scottish Universities and one College until
2016.

What do you do in your spare time?

Hang out with my friends, watch films and religiously follow Formula 1.

 

What's your favourite restaurant?

Silk @ The Courthouse (London) and Kitchen Bar (Thessaloniki, Greece).

 

What's your favourite place to go on holiday?

Budapest and the Greek island of Skiathos. I’d go back to either in a heartbeat.

 

What or who makes you laugh?

My mates. My life (it would be even funnier if it wasn’t happening to me). Chelsea Handler. Mock the Week. Qi.
A Fish Called Wanda.

 

What's your favourite book?

The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Incidentally, it’s also the favourite book of Stephen King and the late, great, Michael
Crichton.

 

What's your favourite film?

I couldn’t pick just one as a favourite. The film I have seen the most times is probably Goldfinger.

James Bond (as the lethal laser beam gets closer):

“Do you expect me to talk?”

Auric Goldfinger:

“No, Mr Bond. I expect you to die!”

 

What's your favourite singer/band?

It’s all Greek to you, so next question.

 

What's your ideal job, other than this one?

Investment banker, so I could earn millions and have impunity,no matter what I did.

 

How do you keep fit?

I drag myself to the gym on occasion.

 

What's your biggest extravagance?

Designer suits and ties. And the gifts I buy my mother.

 

Who would play you in a movie?

Joe Pesci

 

Favourite saying/quote?

“In life, you can’t have everything. Because if you did, where would you put it?”

 

With which historical or fictional character do you most identify?

Robert Kincaid, Clint Eastwood’s character in The Bridges of Madison County
(“The old dreams were good dreams; they didn’t work out, but glad I had them”).
Or maybe Austin Powers (“Yeah, baby, yeah!”).
Depends on what kind of day I’m having.

 

How would you like to be remembered?

As a loving and loyal friend and party animal.