Alastair Langsford.
In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's Town Square's senior account manager Alastair Langsford.
Time in current role/time at the company:
I’ve been at Town Square for four years.
How long have you been in the industry?
Four years, I was hired straight out of uni.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
I actually wanted to be a graphic designer when I was in high school, then a family friend told me about the world of advertising. My first thought was that this is the perfect mix of business and design that I was looking for. Fast forward through my art director phase and copywriter pipedream in uni, and now I have found my calling and rightful place in account service/business management for the last four years.
Who is your right hand person/who guides you day to day?
There isn’t one person that I’d call my right-hand person. I think the best way of learning is gathering intel from as many people as possible before cherry-picking the best bits that you want to use and grow from. More perspectives give you more tools.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
I love random facts and knowledge. One day you're researching how to make people care more about their lawn mowers, and the next you’re finding out how selling hoodies can fight youth homelessness. It’s all fascinating.
And the biggest challenge?
Managing your own expectations around what you want to do and what you can do with the work. Sadly, the planets don’t often align, but when they do, it’s magic.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I’m not entirely sure. Short-term, becoming an account director. In the long-term maybe my own business. I have a few ideas rattling around my mind, but nailing them down is a later problem.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I love behaviour psychology, so any reports/research on that usually inspires me to get thinking about how to maximise campaign and creative results. I also love film photography, so that puts me in a great place for creative inspiration.
My favourite advert is (and why):
My favourite ad that still makes me laugh is the Never Say No to Panda cheese ad from 2010. It’s Egyptian, so I have no idea what they are saying, but it has stuck with me for 16 years.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I’m an open book, but maybe a couple of people don’t know that I’m an avid fantasy reader and D&D player. Nerds are cool.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
On a super yacht in Greece after winning the Powerball.
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