My Other Life is the NDA interview series that steps outside the day job. In each edition, someone from across the digital media space tells us about the hobby, passion project or side hustle they pursue when they’re not in the office. This time round, we speak with Phil Acton, Country Manager, UK, at Adform…
What is your day job?
I’m the UK Country Manager at Adform, which means I lead and grow our UK business, from setting the strategy to new business and maintaining existing client relationships. A huge part of it is our people and culture, and I’m lucky to have a brilliant team around me. I’m focused on making the UK business successful, but for me, that success is as much about giving people opportunities to thrive as it is about the numbers.
What’s the “other life” you lead outside the industry?
It’s not really outside the industry, but I’m proud to have been picked as one of 18 people from the advertising world to box at Media Fight Night 2026, on the 5th of November in Battersea, London. I’ll be stepping into the ring to raise money for charity, which is a pretty different way to spend my time outside of work!
How did you get into it, and how long have you been doing it?
I first got into MFN by attending MFN23 as a colleague’s guest. I’ve always loved boxing, and there’s a bit of family history too. My mum’s seven (yes, seven) brothers all boxed, and two even turned pro in the 1950s, so perhaps it was always in the blood!
What really got me involved, though, was hearing MFN founder John Maloney and George Turner, CEO of Carney’s Community, talk about the work the event supports. Carney’s, one of the charities the night supports, helps young people in South London facing challenges with home life, education, the criminal justice system, and gang-related issues, using boxing and other initiatives (they now have a state-of-the-art recording studio that was fully funded by MFN) to improve their physical and mental health, reduce the chances of offending and re-offending, and support education, skills, and employability.
Hearing this was powerful enough, but they highlighted a memorial wall in the gym of young people who had lost their lives to gang-related violence, and that really struck a chord with me. From then on, I was determined to support the charity, initially by buying tables and donating.
Then, after seeing a friend box at MFN24 and hearing about what the experience had done for him physically and mentally, I thought, at 51, why not give it a go? I had no boxing experience, so I signed up for the 2025 training camp. I wasn’t picked that year, but I kept training through the winter, came back for MFN26 and, from around 100 applicants, managed to make the final 18.
How much time does it take up in a typical week?
Early camp is two mornings a week down at Fitzroy Lodge near Waterloo. Think of the kind of boxing gym that would be in EastEnders, under the railway arches, no frills, lots of South Londoners from all walks of life (police officers, doctors, CEOs and taxi drivers), and you get the picture. John calls it ‘bandit country’, which feels about right.
Once you’re picked, it’s an intensive eight-week programme of coordinated training sessions, plus working on your own fitness outside of that. The trainers, Mark, Ash and Steve, are brilliant at pushing you to your limit in a controlled, safe way. No alcohol, lots of early mornings and plenty of soaks in the bath!
It’s a big commitment alongside the day job, but the camaraderie makes a huge difference and keeps you going when the training gets tough.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about it?
That it’s just another white-collar boxing match. They are extremely careful when selecting the final participants, making sure the bouts are evenly matched based on weight, height, age and boxing experience. You also spend a huge amount of time with your opponent, sparring and getting to know one another personally over the course of 6 months. I think this is definitely why the event has been so successful. I’m fighting Ali MacCallum, who’s been in the industry as long as I have. He’s been training a little longer than me, but I’d say we’re pretty evenly matched. You read it here first; he’s going down in the 3rd!
But in all seriousness, you all train together and support each other, and there’s a real sense of togetherness in the camp. I’ve made some great friends doing it and, while it’s competitive, we all know we can only give it our all on the night. The group is also really mixed, 50/50 men and women, with different ages, sizes and levels of boxing experience. It’s an incredibly inclusive environment, where everyone is made to feel welcome, which is completely the opposite of what people might expect from a boxing gym.
The idea is to get people inspired to try something different. It worked for me, and I was 51 when I started. If I can do it, anyone can.
What also makes it stand out is the event’s professionalism. John, his wife Abbi and the abbi&me events team make the whole evening super slick. There are 2000 people in the room, and more than 700,000 watched the livestream last year, so it’s a cut above anything else.
Has it taught you anything that’s actually useful in your day job?
I’m definitely not nervous about standing up on stage and delivering a keynote any more, that’s for sure. If you can cross those ropes, get in the ring with someone who is trying to punch you, and keep your calm, everything else feels pretty easy by comparison.
What’s the proudest moment you’ve had doing it?
Raising money for local grassroots charities that help people who really need it is why we’re all doing it. John always talks about fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves, and you really feel that spirit in the process. But I’m also pretty proud of how fit I’ve become and, more than anything, that I’ve refused to be beaten. There have definitely been moments when I’ve wanted to give up, but I’ve kept going.
Does anyone at work know about it, and what was their reaction when they found out?
Yes, everyone at work has known about it for over a year, and they’ve been incredibly supportive. It takes up a lot of time, so I’ve really appreciated how understanding they’ve been. I’ve also got plenty of fellow Adformers coming along on the night, hopefully in my corner!
For those wishing to make a donation to either charity, please go via our group Just Giving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/mediafightnight2026
