Leading Southampton agency Lee Peck Media has pulled off a great coup by successfully bidding for an auction prize to have a Q&A with Saints new CEO.
The prize was on offer at a gala ball organised by Saints legend Franny Benali with the proceeds going to Cancer Research UK.
Collecting its prize, the agency took a dozen of its leading clients to meet CEO Phil Parsons at Southampton FC’s Staplewood Training Campus near Marchwood.
Phil joined the Championship club in the summer from Dyson where he enjoyed a 15-year career in senior leadership roles. He said: “ The club is a major part of the community and I’m really keen to meet local business leaders and get to know them. This provided the perfect opportunity.”
Phil said exciting times lie ahead: “We have a new identity at the club and dynamic leadership where we are challenging people to think differently and execute new ideas. A crucial part of my job is assessing the mood and morale in the club and we are in excellent shape. We are 14 games unbeaten and currently fourth in the league. We accept there’s a long way to go and it’ll be a tough season with many twists and turns but we are in a great position heading into Christmas, which is a crucial period for us with back-to-back games in three weeks.”
Phil explained that the club’s owners Sports Republic were totally committed to Southampton and driving success. Speaking to his audience of the region’s business leaders, he said: “Make no mistake this is a big challenge. As well as winning games we need to make sure the club is financially stable.
“This means examining our cost base and exploring new revenue streams. We have some exciting plans which I look forward to sharing in due course. And if we don’t get promotion this season then rest assured we will reset and go again. But make no mistake Southampton is a Premiership club and that is our goal.”
Lee Peck Media has a long history with the Saints. The agency looked after the club’s PR and marketing for 12 years in the 1990s and naughties and launched St Mary’s Stadium in 2002. Lee hosted match day hospitality at The Dell and St Mary’s for more than a decade. He said: “The auction prize was irresistible and proved to be a fantastic opportunity. We were looked after royally.”
“After a superb breakfast, Phil gave us a great insight into running a top professional club and his vision for the future. He also gave us a tour of Staplewood which was absolutely state of the art and lived up to its reputation of being one of the best in the Premiership never mind the Championship. A huge thanks to Phil – and his staff, especially Eva! – for taking time out of his busy schedule. Thanks to Franny too, for a great prize!”
“Saints are currently riding high in the league and very much in the promotion race and we were very grateful to Phil and his staff – particularly Eva – for taking time out of his busy schedule. Our clients had a great morning. Thanks too to Franny for having such a unique prize in his auction!”