Full Name: Thom Hetherington
Company: Landing Light and Easel Projects
Job Title: Founder at the former, and Exec Chair at the latter
What does your business do: Landing Light is a consultancy advising clients, largely property developers, city councils and major public institutions, on food and drink and arts and culture strategy and engagement. Easel Projects encompasses all of our art platforms, including Manchester Art Fair, The Manchester Contemporary, The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund, Easel, Easel Bespoke and Salon Hang. And we’re not stopping there.
Your Twitter Handle: @thomhetheringto
Company Twitter Handle: @landinglight_, @mcrartfair, @mcrcontemporary
Your Insta: @thomhetherington
Company Insta: @landinglight_, @mcrartfair, @mcrcontemporary
Company Website: www.landinglight.co.uk, https://www.manchesterartfair.co.uk; https://www.themanchestercontemporary.co.uk
Favourite sports team: Manchester United, and my home town team Glossop North End because my grandad played for them and so does my youngest son.
Favourite Book: Too many to mention, but definitely The Princess Bride for sheer joyful escapism. I like thrillers from Philip Kerr to Jane Harper, and gentle 1920s/30s-ish English comedies of manners, from P.G. Wodehouse to Nancy Mitford. People should read more fiction of any stripe, it’ll teach you more than any management manual.
Favourite Band/Artist/Song: Again, TMTM. I like dad rock like Fleetwood Mac to Alt-J, and soul from Candi Staton to D’Angelo, but as a child of the first wave of rap from Run D.M.C et al hitting the UK in the 80s I’m also enjoying seeing local MCs with Mancunian voices like Oneda and Conduit break through.
Favourite restaurant / eat-out: Definitely TMTM! Really. In Manchester? I could list you fifty great places around this city alone. The Sparrows, Mana, Erst, Flawd, Hawksmoor, Higher Ground, Dishoom and Climat, and Café Marhaba for rice ‘n’ three and the best naans in town.
Favourite Holiday destination: Devon, Formentera, New York.
Top 5 people dinner party guests, dead or alive: Just my little brother. One more campfire meal with him please.
Celebrity crush: Julia Roberts, Padma Lakshmi and Holliday Grainger. And Gal Gadot, obviously.
Last social media post: https://twitter.com/ThomHetheringto/status/1633032253025447937
My proudest / best business moment is/was… Generally being resilient, stoic and creative enough to survive the grimmest vageries of fortune over the years. But most topically my recent successful exit with Holden Media. It means I can look after everyone I care about, and focus on doing only what I enjoy, where I can make a difference, with people I like and respect.
My advice for 18-year-old me would be… You’re never too young for stretching – Look after your lower backs and your knees. And talking makes everything better, always.
My personal business hero(es) is/are… My dad, founder of Hetherington Newman and my unwavering supporter through good times and bad.
Our company is… A family.
