The Five Minute Interview with Mike Mikunda, Clarion Events

By Tony Sanchez 1st February 2016

Mike Mikunda of Clarion Events, discusses the role of Mortgage Business Expo in the financial exhibition business.

What is the best thing about being in the finance exhibition business?

At MBE we are at the cutting edge of several key finance sectors, so it’s always exciting to know what’s going on and to see what the main topics and industry issues are going forward.

Having our finger on the pulse means we can tailor interesting and topical events that that suit both exhibitors and our large number of delegates

The last few years have been an exciting time for lenders, service providers and brokers, so there has been a tremendous amount of support for our events.

What keeps you focused?

The next Expo! There’s a lot of logistics to putting on a successful event and many aspects to the organising of all parties involved, from sales, marketing to putting on relevant seminars and workshops.

As we cover many finance sectors such as equity release, specialist lending, buy to let and mortgages, ensuring the events we put on are well balanced and cater for the delegates is important.

Our next Expo is on Leeds on 20^th April so that’s keeping me focussed at the moment!

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

I like to work with people who are motivated and passionate about what they do. I find in business these qualities can move you from being good to great and help a business be successful.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

The glass is always half full!

What did you want to be as a child?

I wanted to be a writer and an artist, but it soon became clear that I wasn’t good enough at either!

What will be the greatest challenge facing the exhibition industry in the coming months?

The big challenges for an exhibition company are ensuring that we provide a place for brokers and IFA’s to meet there key suppliers and lenders in a professional but friendly environment.

We also need to match up what is happening in the market with the event we deliver, and in a fast moving area like financial services we need to be keenly aware of what is happening in the wider financial industries.

There’s always a lot going on with regulation and product development so keeping pace with it all means we need to be on the ball to deliver the best expos we can.

Who or what makes you laugh?

I don’t think you can beat the classics. My favourites are situation comedies such as Fawlty Towers, the Good Life and Only Fools and Horses.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No, it is my time for admin and to set up the rest of the week.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’m a keen runner so I’d like to improve my marathon times.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Top of my list would be three of my childhood heroes – David Bowie, Muhammad Ali and George Best. I think that would make for interesting dinner party conversation.