Neil Perkins sits behind desk in green t-shirt.

EARLY LIFE

A passion for Sport

Born in Cheshire in September 1965, Perkins grew up as an only child close to his mother’s family in Newport, Shropshire after the sudden death of his father in late October 1965.

He was educated at the town’s Adams’ Grammar School and had a passion for sport – particularly football, cricket, golf, squash, snooker, pool and coarse fishing.

A black and white photo of Neil Perkins making notes whilst sat in the passenger seat next to a man talking at the steering wheel.

EARLY CAREER

A life changing switch

After starting his working career as a trainee accountant with Staffordshire County Council, he made a life-changing switch into sports journalism at the end of 1986 and so began a three-year learning curve as a reporter and staff writer for the domestic and international weekly sports newspaper Motoring News in London.

Travelling the world working on sports events on an almost weekly basis became the norm and an offer from Peugeot Talbot Sport to work as their British press officer for the 1990 and 1991 motor sport seasons saw Perkins leave London and return to Shropshire to establish NDP Publicity Services in January 1990.

A photo of Neil Perkins wearing a suit and speaking into a microphone in front of a banner with the Nissan logo on it.

PRESENT DAY

At the forefront of International Sport & PR

Now a hard-working writer, who has operated across 103 countries in over 34 years, often alone and under pressure to meet rigid deadlines in adverse travel and working conditions, Perkins remains at the forefront of international sport and public relations.

Resourceful under pressure and with an eye and an ear for news material, he has an excellent placement record for news and sports reports and is well respected in the field of sporting journalism.

Perkins has a long list of diverse clients spanning four decades. He has worked for governments, national and international sporting federations, royalty, celebrities, multi-national corporations, Commonwealth and Asian Games, Winter Olympics and numerous teams and events across the planet.

Neil Perkins and another man, both wearing white t-shirts and sunglasses, smile at something off camera.

INTERESTS

Fishing on the banks of the Ebro

He continues to enjoy travelling and sport. A life-long follower of the ups and downs of Ipswich Town Football Club, Perkins loves to relax fishing for river monsters on the banks of the Ebro in Spain or the Severn in Shropshire and, closer to home, at his local carp syndicate, near Newport.

His favourite holiday destinations are Sri Lanka, Vietnam, rural Catalunya and the Mexican Pacific coast.

WORK

Career Summary

A selection of clients and personal roles have and still include:

Author of ‘Stage by Stage’, 1990 • Press officer – Peugeot Talbot Sport, 1990-1992 • Media relations officer – QMMF, Qatar, 1990-1992, 1994-2005, 2007-2024 • Press officer – TKM Automotive (Chrysler/Daihatsu/Ferrari), 1993 • Media officer – Jordan Rally/Baja WRC/MERC, 1994-2024 • Press officer – London-Mexico Rally, 1995 • Press conference moderator – 28 countries since 1995 • Freelance editor – Vauxhall ‘Performance magazine, 1995-1997 • Editor – Rally Sport magazine, 1995-1998 • Press officer and writer – Kuwait Motor Federation, 1995-1996, 2009-2023 • Member, Guild of Motoring Writers, 1995-2023 • Script writer/researcher – BBC Top Gear Motor Sport, 1996-1998 • Script writer and TV presenter – ISC, 1997-1998 • General Manager – Škoda Trophy rally championship, 1998-1999 • Press release writer and reporter – Dakar Rally, 1999-2024

English content writer – Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF), 2000-2004 • TV presenter – Sky Sports ‘World of Motorsport’, 2000-2010 • Press officer – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, 2000-2003, 2009, 2017 • English content writer – Nissan Motors Europe, 2001-2002 • A.S.O. writer – Tour of Qatar cycling and Dakar Rally, 2002 • English editorial content – Squash, Commonwealth Games, Manchester, 2002 • English press officer – Mitsubishi Motor Sports (MMSP), 2003-2009 • Press officer – Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), 2003-2015 • Staffing Arabic media office – Asian Games, Doha, 2006 • News sub-editor – Asian Games, Doha, 2006 • Press officer – F.I.A. Baja GB, 2006-2008 • English content writer – F.I.A. WRC Rally Mexico, 2006-2023 • Press officer – ‘Women for Peace’ cycling, Syria, 2007 • Press officer – MSA British Off-Road Championship and MSA British Cross-Cross-Country Championship, 2007-2008 • English content writer – X-raid BMW-Mini, 2007-2012 • Organiser/promoter – Newport Pool League/Open, 2008-2016 • Press officer/English content – Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, 2008-2024 • Press officer – Caminos del Incas, Perú, 2009 • English content writer – F.I.A. WRC Rally Poland, 2009, 2014-2017

English content writer – Reem race circuit, Saudi Arabia, 2010-2012 • English content writer – Abu Dhabi International Marine Club, 2010-2018 • Lease holder and manager – Fox Fishery, 2010-2023 • English content writer – Overdrive Racing/Toyota, 2011-2024 • Moderator/content writer – Saudi Arabia launch, Olympics London 2012 • Press officer – Rally Azores, 2013-2014 • English content writer – South Racing GmbH, 2014-2024 • Press officer – Rally Kazakhstan, 2017-2018 • English content writer – F.I.A. WRC Rally Turkey, 2017-2020 • English content writer – F.I.A. WRC Rally Spain, 2018-2022 • English content writer – Al-Manar Racing/Al-Faisal Al-Zubair, 2018-2024 • English content writer – F.I.A. WRC Rally Portugal, 2018-2024 • English content writer – F.I.A. WRC Rally Chile, 2019 • French to English content – F.I.M. 2019-2024

Media Relations – Africa Eco Race, 2020 • English content writer – H2O Racing and Aquabike Promotion, 2022-2024 • English content writer – F.I.A., 2022-2024

Wahaibi Motor Sports (WMS), Oman • Fazza Rally Team (UAE) • British American Tobacco • Philip Morris S.A. • Headline • Radius Leo Burnett • Royal Navy of Oman • Manning Selvage and Lee (M.S. & L.)Ford of Europe Ltd.Ford Middle East & North AfricaFormula One DubaiProcter & GambleGulf Oil Middle EastSri Lankan AirlinesMice Group PLCMatsushita Electronics Ltd.RTITB Ltd.Mitsubishi JapanSuzuki (UK) Ltd.Oman Automobile Association (OAA)CSS-Stellar GroupTokyo Eizosha, JapanS.P.E.E.D. ConsultancyPower Horse Energy Drink Middle EastAmadlozi Communications, FranceKenyan Motor Sports FederationIntevents, OmanSyrian Automobile ClubMichelin FranceBF GoodrichRally Management Systems Ltd (RMS)Areeba Telecom, SyriaAbu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)Abu Dhabi Junior Rally TeamMcRae Enduro Rally TeamOctagon AustraliaTarga Tunisia Motor ClubPirelli Ltd.Vauxhall Motors Ltd.Emirates Motorsport AssociationCyprus Automobile Association (CAA)ProdriveAutovention, MalaysiaThierry Sabine Organisation (TSO)Trans World EventsColt Car Company (UK) Ltd.Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO)Action PR Group, CyprusRon Cremen Rallysport, AustraliaSheikh Abdullah Al-Qassimi, SharjahMdH Communications, NetherlandsMatchtight Ltd/XVII Commonwealth Games, ManchesterBatelco, BahrainMitsubishi Motors Europe B.V.Island Group, BahrainVictory Rally Team DubaiAutomobile Touring Club of the UAE • ATCL, Lebanon • Basil Shabaan • Karim Al-AzhariMarches 4×4 Motorsport ManagementInfostrada, AustraliaKuwait Motor Sports ClubAutomóvil Club Peruano (ACP), PerúAdhurricane, AustriaStrategic Solutions, UAESaudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC)Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) • Polski Zwiazek Motorowy • Saudi Motorsport Company