Q & A

Published on Thursday 4 October 2007 01:13

MARTIN HUNT is the managing director of Tartan Silk public relations agency.

WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Nomansland, a small village on the border between Wiltshire and Hampshire. My parents chose it. I wish they had waited at home in Aberdeenshire, as it would have made passport control easier today.

WHERE WERE YOU EDUCATED?

New Zealand then Rannoch School, a great school set in the magnificent surrounding of central Perthshire and an environment that could not fail to develop individual independence. Founded on the principles of honesty and trust, but sadly not known for academic excellence.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB IN THE MEDIA?

When working in Inverness in the late 1970s, we sold an estate to a celebrity and I was handed the telephone by my then business partner and told: "That is the press, can you deal with it." I managed to say just enough to keep all parties happy but not enough to say who it was or what they paid! A confidentiality I continue to respect to this day.

WHAT WERE YOUR IMPORTANT CAREER MOVES?

Moving to London in 1987 to work on the PR for the Health Show at Olympia, meeting so many of the London journalists and honing my PR skills in what I felt at the time was a lion's den!

WHO HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER?

John Bingham, my first boss, a true gentleman in the truest sense of the word, the senior partner in Bingham Hughes & Macpherson. And, with the opening of our branch office in Inverness shortly, I feel I am about to complete the circle

WHAT ARE YOUR OUTSIDE INTERESTS?

Exploring the west coast of Scotland on my mountain bike - not the downhill tracks, more the gentle shoreline minor roads.

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SPEND ON A BOTTLE OF WINE?

Too much and too often.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE SO FAR?

Living in Shepperton, Middlesex, trying to recreate Scotland between me and central London by looking at a field of leeks from the train window on my way to work.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

Starting Tartan Silk in 1997, in that time we have grown year on year specialising in luxury brands. The recent addition to the team of Colin McGregor, who will head up the Inverness office, has also been a recent highlight.

IF YOU COULD BE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES, WHOSE WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?

Our recent European PR campaign for Kremlin Zoria (Moscow's Military Tattoo) allowed me to see at first hand the impact that political leaders like President Putin, have and, while not wishing to be the president, the influence he has over his country is inspiring and one I would relish if I was First Minister of Scotland.

WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS?

To continue to build the Tartan Silk name into Scotland's leading luxury brands public relations agency.

WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION FOR SCOTLAND?

My passion for Scotland is well documented: we live in the most wonderful country in the world with a cultural and economic environment that is the envy of many, we need to stimulate the rural economy by supporting fragile local industries that, in turn, develops a vibrant community spirit and thriving local economy.