Posted:

21 Jan 2025

Meet the Team: Avinash Nandra

What do you enjoy the most about working at Spreckley?

When I initially joined as an account executive in 2019, one of the things that I liked the most was that there was no real hierarchy at Spreckley. I’ve always been able to take on new tasks when I’ve wanted to, with managers and directors encouraging all employees to handle key responsibilities they may not have had a chance to tackle at other agencies. It’s something that I’ve tried to carry on as I’ve become a director here too.

It was a real contrast to my previous role, which was at a property PR agency where two of the four employees were co-managing directors. It was completely the opposite in that I was purely there to do whatever tasks my managers didn’t feel like doing that day or had decided they had no time for.

How did you hear about Spreckley and why did you want to join?

Like most people here I was recruited by May & Stephens. In my previous role I was essentially working in crisis comms on behalf of companies that were late to deliver on housing and flats that people had poured their savings into. It was fairly brutal.

Technology on the other hand is far more interesting and exciting which makes the job more engaging. It’s rare that two days are the same here.

What’s been the most exciting PR campaign you’ve worked on and why?

Last year we worked for the European Alliance for Innovation. I got the chance to work with experts who had dedicated their life to their field and knew everything there was to know about their chosen area. I worked quite closely with a number of experts to draft articles on their behalf.

It was great fun learning about things that otherwise I would never have understood much about and do so on a granular level. It was also an enjoyable challenge to speak to experts, digest their insights and write an article in a way that would suit a general audience but also do them justice.

What was your first job?

My first job when I was still at school was working as a market trader. A friend of mine ran a stall selling clothes in Deptford and I used to help out at weekends. I was 15 or 16 at the time and had to talk to people that I had never met and get their attention as best I could. It taught me how to attract people’s focus and keep them listening, which is a useful skill in my job now.

If you weren’t in PR, what would you be doing instead?

My dream job would be a backup goalkeeper in a Premier League side. I’d enjoy the high salary while not having to play very much at all.

Failing that, I spend far too much of my time on TikTok doomscrolling. So maybe I would have channelled some of that energy into creating content. I’d like to combine that with my love of travel and see some of the world, funding my travels through content creation.

Tell us one thing about you that surprises people?

I’ve just recently been to Antarctica. Following in the footsteps of John Davis. I went on a cruise for my honeymoon, so it wasn’t quite as treacherous. We even had TVs on board so I managed to keep up with Eastenders.

We did manage to get out on the ice where I was able to get a selfie with a penguin.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside of work?

I love travelling as I’ve already mentioned. I’ve got a trip to Florence lined up next month. Then my wife and I are also planning to go to Japan and Hong Kong in the near future.

I can’t see myself running out of places to visit anytime soon.

Who had the most influence on you growing up?

One thing that you should know about me is that I hate Sunderland Football Club. So my idol was actually former Sunderland player Jack Rodwell. He refused to leave the club despite not playing so he could sit on the sidelines and collect £70,000 a week, making him the highest paid player in the league.

He was the only player not to take a pay-cut when they were relegated to the Championship. They were relegated again to League One after that.

What’s your go-to lunch on Leather Lane?

It’s got to be the rice bowl with Korean-style spicy chicken from Jinjja. It took me a year and a half of testing, but I’ve finally found my home.

Failing that I’m a firm fan of Greggs. You can’t go wrong with a Greggs. I ended up with a £15 voucher from evil secret santa this year that is burning a hole in my pocket.

Or the steak and chips place. So juicy and succulent.  

What’s something you want to do in the next year that you’ve never done before?

I plan to buy an enormous house. I got married this year so we’re looking to find our first home. The wedding took a lot of planning and financial sacrifice so I am looking forward to not planning a wedding.

I also need to re-learn to drive. I passed my test 11 years ago but haven’t really ever driven since. It’s scary to think I could legally take to the roads right now. Which pedal is the brake?

Favourite quote

I love corporate jargon so I get a kick out of ‘moving the needle’, ‘getting my ducks in a row’ and ‘deep diving’. You’ve got to speak the language. That’s what high-performance is all about.