Meet The BAND – A Quickfire Q&A with CEO Rob Quinn

Why did you launch BAND?
1. Opportunity. We sensed a significant and growing opportunity within the creative, media, sport and entertainment sectors.
2. Focus. We knew we could offer clients a brilliant service if we zoomed in on those sectors. We’d already established a presence through Fortus London but we’d only scratched the surface.
3. Personal experience. Having run an agency, I saw how much value we could offer owners of creative businesses. I also recognised that we could similarly help professional athletes thanks to the team’s unrivalled personal experience.

What’s your role at BAND?
I’m CEO, so my role is multi-faceted, as you might expect.
I’m more productive in the mornings, so I like to start early, covering anything that came in late the previous day. Typically, internal meetings will also be in the mornings – anything sales, marketing, finance or people related. After that, a significant amount of my time is still client-focused – managing relationships and identifying new opportunities. Afternoons tend to see get-togethers with clients, prospects or intermediaries (banks, lawyers or insurers all working across the sector). We’re still very early in the journey of BAND, just a few weeks from the relaunch, so the role is still bedding in.

Why is BAND special?
We talk about being unique by design, and we really are. We’re building a fantastic team at BAND, and this was reinforced when we brought Redfin into the group, with their specialism in marketing, media and tech.
The whole team have our clients’ interests at heart all the time. That passion, combined with our knowledge, experience and network, gives our clients the edge.

What do you love most about working with the creative industries?
What’s not to love? For me, the creative industries make Britain great. Their output surrounds us daily – so much so that we often take it for granted. The UK has always been rich in creative talent, constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? It’s hackneyed, but you have to seek to do something you love, and I’ve always loved this industry in one guise or another. To continue to work as part of it gives me immense personal and professional satisfaction.

What is your top piece of advice for business owners?
Understand what you do best. Recognise and embrace your strengths while also recognising the areas where you may need support. Then, put good people around you. Do this, and you and your business will flourish.

What’s your vision for BAND?
It’s simply this: to be recognised as the leading advisory and accountancy firm in the creative, media, sports and entertainment sectors. We have only just started, but we’re clear that’s where we’re heading.

What are the three most played songs on your Spotify?
So Flute – St Germain
Talkin’ All the Jazz – Stetsasonic
You Wish – Nightmares on Wax

What’s the first album you bought?
Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby

Who’s your favourite band?
Hmmm, tricky. I’m a diverse listener. I really like Gregory Porter.

What’s your favourite sport?
Rugby, I’m a Northampton Saints season ticket holder.

Tell us your favourite quote from an entrepreneur
Bill Gates – “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” Five minutes is generous in the current age of social media, where an ill-chosen comment is potentially irreparable.

What’s your favourite line from a film?
“You can’t handle the truth.” Jack Nicholson, A Few Good Men.

What is your favourite binge-watch show?
Ozark.

What are three things on your bucket list?
British & Irish Lions Tour – Australia 2025 is not out of the question.
World Cup Final – football, ideally with England playing in it.
Superbowl – anywhere, any year.