The IT Hero: Neil – Weber Shandwick’s Saviour of Dry Humour and Humbled Technology
Neil Maccormack is Weber Shandwick Switzerland’s IT manager and source of dry Mancunian humor. His job is to ensure all things IT run smoothly and that any user problems are solved as quickly as possible: whether it’s an attempted cyber hack or a limoncello-doused laptop. By ensuring everything is working smoothly with the IT infrastructure and computers, he provides all the other agency teams with a base on which to build and to do their own jobs to the best of their ability. He is known for his relaxed and patient guidance on all IT frustrations. But, if he could choose a superpower, it would be the ability to get people to read his emails and retain the information in them! 😊
A British national and Swiss Resident, Neil speaks English, French and some German. He graduated from Stafford University in the UK back in 1995 with a degree in Computer Science and joined McCann Erikson Manchester as junior IT support soon after. He stayed there for four years before taking his career to Switzerland in 1999 when he was offered a role at McCann Erickson in Geneva. In 2012, Neil was appointed to the role of IT Manager at McCann Switzerland, travelling between its Geneva and Zurich offices.
After McCann downsized and only their Geneva branch remained open, Weber Shandwick moved into the shared Geneva office space. Neil took over the joint role of IT Manager for both companies.
Neil has now been with IPG companies for almost 25 years. His exact age is a closely guarded secret—one that has withstood many birthday interrogations. But no one at the Weber Shandwick Geneva office remembers (nor would dare to imagine) the office without him.
Of all the office dogs (Weber Shandwick Switzerland is pet-friendly), he is best friends with Raja.
When not working, he can be found outdoors on a mountain or near a lake in summer or winter. He also occasionally reads a book. The last one he read was by Paul Theroux, The Kingdom by the Sea. He enjoys Lebanese or Japanese food or a Fondue in winter.
His secret talent is photography. His favorite photographers include Martin Parr for his photos of people (ordinary photos or ordinary people doing ordinary things…very difficult to get right!). For landscapes, the master, Ansel Adams.
His favorite IT quote is by the author Philip K. Dick –
“Remember, if there is a flaw, its Human”.
