Lee Newton, CEO of Essex-based Media 10 shocked staff in June when he interrupted a normal working day and announced that the company had acquired a pub. He informed all employees that the whole afternoon was to be spent drinking the bar dry.
Rather than a straightforward announcement Lee Newton lured the staff into assuming that the news he was about to deliver was regarding the structure of the business or a new launch or acquisition. In the midst of a speech that mentioned the company’s portfolio, success, expansion, planning and on the verge of what the staff believed was to be the moment of a dramatic announcement the fire alarm sounded and the building duly evacuated.
Newton said to his team: “Sometimes we have to be a bit open-minded in business and, after much consideration we have taken the plunge and we’ve bought our own pub! Let’s celebrate!”
The new Media 10 pub will be opening to the public, with plans to include family areas and a gourmet menu. A further announcement will follow.
