Insider: Mark Waites
London based Creative Director Mark Waites was born in Leeds, England. There he got an education and accent. Now he lives in London and can be proud of success in such high-profile ad companies as BMP (now DDB London), Leagas Delaney and Ogilvy & Mather. He is a co-founder of the ad agency Mother, and has received numerous advertising industry awards and recognitions, such as from Campaign Magazine, Marketing Magazine, and Creativity Magazine, the British Television's Advertising Award, and so forth. Parallel to his heading of a successful ad agency (which, thanks to its strategically clever name, Mother, no one can say anything bad about it), Waites is actively working on screenplays for short films, and can be proud of his listing on the internet movie database, IMDb, for his well-received short film, "72 Faced Liar".
What do you love most about London?
All of life is here.
What is the bravest thing one can do in London?
Be brave, hire a bike.
How do you characterize Londoners as a people?
They're friendlier that you think.
Which is your favorite neighborhood in London?
Primrose Hill.
Your favorite restaurants/cafés in London?
St John (www.stjohngroup.uk.com), it's the birth place of the rebirth of British cuisine.
Which are your favorite shops and market places and why?
Borough Market Saturday morning, Broadway Market (it isn't a market it's a road) Sunday morning.
What is the biggest stereotype of London?
There's no great food here.
What do you hate about your city?
No-one ever photographs it well enough.
Which places would be better to avoid as tourist traps when going around London?
Madmae Tussaud's and Camden market.
Describe perfect day in city!
Any weekend when the sun shines.