Q&A: GRAHAM LIRONI director of Liquorice Media, Public Relations Consultants, Glasgow
WHERE AND WHEN WERE YOU BORN? February 1964 at home in Bellshill, though I spent my childhood in a ‘pleasant valley Sunday’ suburban cul-de-sac in East Kilbride with my parents, big brother, wee sister and, much later, another wee sister.
WHERE WERE YOU EDUCATED? Claremont High School, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Dundee College of Technology (now Abertay Uni) in Dundee, where I studied economics before struggling with a post-grad in marketing at Strathclyde University.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB IN THE MEDIA? As part of a dissertation on the Scottish PR sector, I interviewed a number of PR MD’s. At the end of interviewing Tony Meehan, MD of TMA Communications, I was offered a job. I accepted, gratefully - then left four months later to sign on the dole, get married, tour with a band and attempt to write The Great Scottish Novel.
WHAT WERE YOUR IMPORTANT CAREER MOVES? Landing then resigning from that first job; getting appointed as one of three staff journalists on Business Scotland magazine (then finding myself appointed as Editor and the sole editorial member of staff one year later); returning to PR as a business writer after 12 years in business journalism and, finally, starting my own public relations agency, together with colleague Susan Christie, in September 07.
WHAT ARE YOUR OUTSIDE INTERESTS? Writing and music. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of novels published and recently self-published a piece of non-fiction called ‘Doubt Faith’ on lulu.com. I’ve always played in bands and have had CDs released on Glasgow’s Creeping Bent label with The Secret Goldfish and Mongoose. My latest musical project is an acoustic country/folk tinged band called The Motherwell Swimmers.
WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS? To make a success of Liquorice Media by meeting our clients’ expectations, to publish a third novel and to release a Motherwell Swimmers CD.
WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS FOR SCOTLAND? Liberty, equality, fraternity – and prosperity.
