Serving up a team of tech PR champions – part 1

Grass season klaxon! Wimbledon, the oldest and perhaps most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, is upon us. As Babel’s official tennis fanatic (you probably won’t meet anyone more fanatical – and annoyingly so), I await the four Grand Slams with eager anticipation. Wimbledon, my favourite Slam, is actually the only major I’ve been to, and last year I came away from the event with a raging sunburn, a bag full of merch (yes, I’m one of those people) and terrible disappointment from Rafael Nadal’s loss to Gilles Muller in the fourth round.

In honour of Wimbledon 2018, I’ve written an original blog (it’s not really, Ben and Declan preceded me with this format), comparing our very own Babelites to tennis players, past and present.

Here’s part one of the blog, looking at the male qualifiers and hall of fame members…

Ian Hood, CEO and Co-Founder – John McEnroe (USA)

Even if you’re not a tennis fan, you’ve heard of John McEnroe. Like our very own CEO Ian, McEnroe’s reputation preceded him. Fiery and confrontational, McEnroe was a fighter and tough opponent; a skilful shot maker. Ian leads Babel with passion and vigour, and the results he’s delivered over the years speak for themselves. One of the greats.

Matt Humphries, Managing Director – Andre Agassi (USA)

While Steffi and Andre are married in real life, Narelle and Matt are not! Now retired, Agassi was blessed with natural talent and was known as a worldwide star both on and off court. Babel’s own Mr. Mobile exudes the same charisma, talent and presence of Agassi – his knowledge of telecoms PR is unparalleled and his affable nature makes him a winner with clients.

Simon Judges, Content Specialist – Carlos Moya (ESP)

Former world #1 Carlos retired from tennis in 2010, but he’s not out of the game. He now coaches current world #1 and ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal. Like Moya, whose best surface was arguably clay, Simon is a specialist at Babel, leading the charge with content writing and sharing his knowledge with the rest of the team so they too can become ‘PR Nadals.’

Paul Campbell, Campaign Director – Alexander Zverev (GER)

Alexander Zverev comes from a family of former tennis players, so it’s no surprise he’s currently ranked third in the world, after impressive wins against the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Consistency, style and good sportsmanship epitomise both Zverev’s and Paul’s approach to their respective crafts. Not to mention both men are extremely likeable and naturally athletic.

Suraj Mashru, Senior Campaign Manager – Fabio Fognini (ITA)

Italian-born Fognini is one of the most outspoken players on the men’s circuit and has been known to lose his temper. Suraj doesn’t usually lose his cool, but he has the gift of the gab in his role as media relations specialist at Babel. Just like Fognini, Suraj delivers with precision and thrives when under pressure. An exciting player to watch.

Ben Cole, Campaign Manager – Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)

Del Potro is pretty tall. So is Ben. The ‘Tower of Tandil’ has been plagued with injuries over the years, which has seen him narrowly miss out on titles. But he’s a force to be reckoned with – he’s got one of the best forehands on the tour and can go toe to toe with the best in the game. When on form, Ben has the skill, strategy and knowledge to serve up something special.

Dan Parris, Senior Campaign Executive – Dominic Thiem (AUS)

Thiem is a delight to watch on court; hungry and aggressive, he constructs points intelligently to shift his opponents out of position. His mental game is envied and a weapon that allows him to play unfazed under pressure. Dan is a committed member of the Babel team who carefully constructs his PR outreach pitches to media in order to drive optimal results. Adept, careful and tenacious.

Ed Cooper, Campaign Executive – Karen Khachanov (RUS)

Word on the street is Karen Khachanov could become the next Marat Safin. Why? Consistent and steady success on the ATP tour, wins against higher ranked players and a fan favourite in his native Russia. Sizzle doesn’t always beat substance, and Ed has substance in spades. Thoughtful and informed hustle that, with a bit of fine tuning, could help both men shift gears.

Declan Bradshaw, Campaign Executive – Denis Shapovalov (CAN)

Shapovalov is currently the youngest player in the top 100 of the ATP rankings. But don’t be deceived – he’s got wins against grand slam champions under his belt. The new kid on the block, Shapovalov has the potential to become a next-generation star. While Declan has only worked in PR for just shy of five months, his ability to pick up tasks is impressive. One to watch!

Stay tuned for part two of the blog, with our female qualifiers! In the meantime, meet the whole PR team or find out more about Babel and what (else) makes us one of the top tech PR agencies in London.