Ian Hart
27-07 2021 13:48
wrote:
Neil recruited me into my first job 19.5 years ago and was intertwined in my career for so long. He was massively influential in developing me as a journalist and editor like so many who remain at IHS Markit or have moved to other companies with the goal of uncovering the truth in markets through building meaningful relationships with contacts in the industries they represent.
Those who knew Neil know that he would do things the way he wanted, with energy, with enthusiasm. There was never a dull moment. Neil and I didn't always see eye-to-eye when I became "Management with a capital M" but learning to work with someone with a very different take and approach to the world was a huge gift to me.
Some more personal memories:
- Driving on a French motorway back from SIAL with Neil and ad manager Lauren Jump. Lauren was dozing in the back when Neil suddenly declared "We're getting to the bottom of the tank", started steering left, right, left, right to get fuel into the engine. Lauren woke with a start and was convinced we were about to crash!
- Christmas parties where Neil would suddenly declare he'd had enough and up and off he went!
- Neil backing me when I upset a fruit juice association by publishing an article on adulteration
- Neil coming up to you and being unbelievably smiley when he'd had a few too many drinks
- "Anyone want to buy eggs?"
- Getting told off in Tunbridge Wells for bringing in too many bike parts/petrol cans. He loved winding Corrine up
- Neil being told off by MD Michael Hobbs for leaning back in his chair and marking a recently painted wall
- Telling stories about how he bought classic motorbikes people had proudly got back to their original state and took them apart to sell the parts as they were more valuable like that
- Finding one of Neil's Letters to The Times in a compendium - he and his brother were apparently competing to get published to the point The Times asked them to stop!
Some further comments from colleagues, contacts and friends:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ianhartuk_shocked-and-saddened-that-this-week-neil-activity-6823900447070396416-sW6o
Ian Hart
27-07 2021 13:48
wrote:
Neil recruited me into my first job 19.5 years ago and was intertwined in my career for so long. He was massively influential in developing me as a journalist and editor like so many who remain at IHS Markit or have moved to other companies with the goal of uncovering the truth in markets through building meaningful relationships with contacts in the industries they represent.
Those who knew Neil know that he would do things the way he wanted, with energy, with enthusiasm. There was never a dull moment. Neil and I didn't always see eye-to-eye when I became "Management with a capital M" but learning to work with someone with a very different take and approach to the world was a huge gift to me.
Some more personal memories:
- Driving on a French motorway back from SIAL with Neil and ad manager Lauren Jump. Lauren was dozing in the back when Neil suddenly declared "We're getting to the bottom of the tank", started steering left, right, left, right to get fuel into the engine. Lauren woke with a start and was convinced we were about to crash!
- Christmas parties where Neil would suddenly declare he'd had enough and up and off he went!
- Neil backing me when I upset a fruit juice association by publishing an article on adulteration
- Neil coming up to you and being unbelievably smiley when he'd had a few too many drinks
- "Anyone want to buy eggs?"
- Getting told off in Tunbridge Wells for bringing in too many bike parts/petrol cans. He loved winding Corrine up
- Neil being told off by MD Michael Hobbs for leaning back in his chair and marking a recently painted wall
- Telling stories about how he bought classic motorbikes people had proudly got back to their original state and took them apart to sell the parts as they were more valuable like that
- Finding one of Neil's Letters to The Times in a compendium - he and his brother were apparently competing to get published to the point The Times asked them to stop!
Some further comments from colleagues, contacts and friends:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ianhartuk_shocked-and-saddened-that-this-week-neil-activity-6823900447070396416-sW6o
