Our Team

Stuart Smith, Managing Director

What am I like?

1). Thinks outside the box.
2). Covers all angles.
3). Enthusiastic about being a success.
4). Very hard-working.
5). Determined.

Career highlights

1). BA degree in Marketing and Advertising.

2). Launched 2 pan-European magazines for 'Reed Business Information', ('Reed Elsevier').

3). Ran two businesses for fifteen and seven years respectively, always making a profit.

Professional low down

Stuart has accumulated over thirty-two years of experience in the media industry through working for companies including 'Dunn & Bradstreet', 'Reed Elsevier' and 'United Business Media'. Through these, as well as his role as Digital Sales Director at the 'Express Newspaper Group', Stuart has built an extensive and varied skill set. After launching the world’s first interactive hotel directory for hotel and conference planners, he then moved on to sell 1 million units in advance of the launch of 'Tomb Raider' for 'Eidos'. Stuart established Max Media International in 2004 and has been providing cost-effective and comprehensive media strategy, planning and buying services for companies across the globe for the past 8 years.

Why I love my job?

"I love my job because each and every day provides a different challenge for me to overcome. I relish pushing the boundaries and suggesting new exciting ideas to clients who love our commitment and enthusiasm for things they have never considered before."

Emma Wood, Business Development Director

What am I like?

1). Fun-loving and energetic.
2). Positive – only interested in solutions.
3). Innovative and fascinated by ground-breaking ideas.
4). Proactive and organised.
5). Where there is a will, there is a way.

Career highlights

1). Renovating period building, launching and growing organic Greek taverna which is still trading successfully today.

2). Starting and growing a business that directly employed 180 management and staff, that were well trained, highly motivated and really enthusiastic.

3). Winning Sussex Business Awards in 2006 for Customer Service and Best Business across all industry sectors.

4). Recently creating a portfolio exit value of £8.7 million.

Professional low down

Launching her first business overseas at 18, Emma combines business management qualifications, entrepreneurial spirit and almost three decades of hands-on experience developing and leading teams across a broad range of sectors.

From concept, start-up, expansion and exit, she has a passion about all aspects of business operations including branding, marketing and sales. Emma thrives on the challenge of optimising business potential and the delivery of unique services to their end-users.

Having joined Max Media as Business Development Director in autumn 2011, her focus is on strategy, concept development, service delivery, marketing, the Max Media re-launch, new technology and the growth of the company.

Why I love my job?

"I find building a business hugely rewarding, particularly identifying what makes it stand out from the crowd, building a team that is proud of what it stands for and optimising all essential elements to drive growth and enhance its reputation. At Max Media I have found the opportunity to harness all my skills and apply them to play an active role in leading its success. Exciting times!"

Mark Edwards, Media Director

What am I like?

1). Dogged.
2). Positive.
3). Problem solver.
4). Quick.
5). Multitasker.

Career highlights

1). Running a restaurant.

2). Creating a viral campaign through social media and video channels to push 'Stack-Cup' and create a buzz across the globe.

3). Finding niche media vehicles within vertical medical divisions from cardiology through to radiography for 'Philips Medical' worldwide.

Professional low down

Max Media’s Media Director has worked in the industry since 1993 and has extensive knowledge and experience in all media disciplines and tools including, press, digital, radio, OOH, event sponsorship and TV from the publisher side as well as the strategy, planning and buying perspective.

Mark has developed a range of strategies and campaigns for a diverse target audience within B2B and consumer brands that have delivered outstanding results. Through concise and strategy planning, Mark has created ROI for client’s time and time again within a very competitive market place.

Mark specialises in being able to find that niche media vehicle that targets the vertical audience in the most cost effective way, consistently delivering results that are expected. Going that extra mile to think on his feet in order to deliver an excellent service for the client is what makes Mark tick.

Why I love my job?

“I love my job because it’s really diverse and I enjoy finding the niche vertical that targets the client’s audience in the most bizarre industries; if the media vehicle exists then I will find it.”

Mariette King, Account Director

What am I like?

1). Tenacious to the point of being compared to “Muttley”.
2). Inquisitive.
3). Creative.
4). Non conformist.
5). An exaggerated sense of the ridiculous.

Career highlights

1). Overseeing the design and implementation of a new bespoke computer system for the world’s leading representative.

2). Developing a successful sales strategy for a Swedish publisher to be used in the UK which was then used nationally in Sweden.

3). Developing “probably the best chocolate brownies in the world” which have left many people speechless.

Professional low down

Mariette is an extremely experienced international media sales professional, having spent more than 30 years in the international advertising sector. She has worked across print, online and radio in both the business and consumer sectors. Over the course of her career she has built up a substantial knowledge of the media landscape of many key countries which she uses to great effect in her planning. Mariette speaks fluent French, with a good working knowledge of Spanish and Italian.

Why I love my job?

“I love the challenge and investigative aspect of my job as well as the opportunity to build on a knowledge base and use this to benefit clients. The opportunity of thinking outside of the box as well as working with a team of likeminded individuals makes work productive and fun.”

Alex Harris, Marketing and Media Executive

What am I like?

1). Light-hearted.
2). Enthusiastic about career.
3). Friendly.
4). Good sense of humour.
5). Always willing to help colleagues.

Career highlights

1). Acquiring a 2:1 degree in Drama and Media Studies from the University of Winchester.

2). Being awarded a full-time position at Max Media after impressing as an unpaid intern.

3). Being promoted to role as Marketing and Media Executive at Max Media.

Professional low down

Since joining us in January 2011 as a fresh-faced graduate with a 2:1 degree in Drama and Media Studies, Alex has worked his way up to the role as Marketing and Media Executive, learning a variety of skills along the way. As well as handling the marketing and promotion of the company, Alex is also involved with researching and media planning and updating the Max Media website.

Why I love my job?

“I love the prospect of researching and discovering ‘hidden gems’ in the media industry. It feels great when a recommendation that was personally found and placed in a plan by myself is included in a campaign by a client or when a revolutionary marketing idea takes flight. I feel confident that in the world’s ever-evolving media industry, there will continue to be plenty of opportunities for me to uncover ideas which can target a specific audience to the benefit of a client or help boost the awareness of our company’s brand.”

Linda Tumbridge, Operations Manager

What am I like?

1). Perpetual drive to get it right.
2). Always see a job through to the end.
3). Look forward – try not to look back apart from at the good bits!
4). Never stop learning.
5). Sense of humour and sense of fun at all times!

Career highlights

1). First woman (and only one at the time) Territory Sales Manager for 'Wella Hair Cosmetics', (1977).

2). On the launch team as Classified Advertisement Manager for two national newspapers, 'Today', (1986) and 'Sunday Business', (1996).

3). Achieved record turnover with team for 'Independent Newspapers' as Classified Controller, (2000).

Professional low down

With over thirty-seven years worth of publishing experience managing and training sales teams for national and regional press, business and consumer magazines and the original online recruitment network – ‘PeopleBank’, Linda brings a vast and varied skill set to the team having worked for publications such as 'The Daily Telegraph', 'Today Newspaper' and 'The Independent'.

Why I love my job?

“I enjoy working as part of the Max Media team because every one of my colleagues has an individual background of experience different from my own, which makes for very lively interaction amongst us. It is great fun, and no two days are the same. The challenges set by clients are so diverse; it seems we are all on a constant learning curve which makes life at Max Media a great rollercoaster ride!”

Andrew Wilson, Finance Manager

What am I like?

1). Sense of humour.
2). Enthusiastic.
3). Easy-going.
4). Fair-minded.
5). Generous.

Career highlights

1). Bringing up 4 children whilst working.

2). Built up and ran a manufacturing company for 18 years employing 20 staff.

3). Of all staff, Andrew has been tolerating Stuart’s ‘funny’ jokes for the longest.

Professional low down

With over thirty-five years of experience within accounts administration, tax, management finance, book keeping, audit and finance control, across both the manufacturing and service sector, Andrew brings a multitude of skills and knowledge to Max Media International.

Why I love my job?

“I love working at Max Media because each day provides a variety of tasks that I relish fulfilling. The vibrant, friendly working environment keeps us light-hearted yet motivated. The proximity to the pub helps too!”

Laura Morales, Database Manager

What am I like?

1). Good communicator.
2). Fast learner.
3). Enthusiastic.
4). Hard-working.
5). Independent worker.

Career highlights

1). Computing studies University of Greenwich.

2). Worked for 'ICL/ Fujitsu' in Sidcup, Kent giving Internet Technical Support to clients of major ISP.

3). Worked for ''The Medical Defence Union' in their HQ at Blackfriars, London, as part of the Advisory Department giving technical support to their home-based medico-legal advisers, keeping the company’s Intranet running and up-to-date.

Professional low down

Laura is the longest standing member and has been with Max Media since its inception. She was key to the building of the company’s business-to-business database back in 2004, providing comprehensive database and email marketing solutions since then.

I love my job?

“I enjoy my job because I am part of a company that has not stopped evolving since its launch. The database that I helped create and manage has developed alongside the business, and it is very exciting to be part of that growth and to know that I am the key to the expansion of Max Media.”

Henry Northcroft, Head of Web Development

What am I like?

1). Visionary.
2). Enquiring.
3). Meticulous.
4). Tenacious.
5). Dynamic.

Career highlights

1). Founder and Operations Director of live production company 'Visuality'.

2). Founder and Operations Director of London's first established social network ‘The Button Club’.

3). Founder and CEO of 'EXUDO', an enterprise software company.

Professional low down

Henry is Head of Digital and Information Services at Max Media. He is founder and CEO of 'EXUDO', an enterprise management system that automates businesses and connects them into market places. At Max Media, Henry is responsible for the implementation of client digital market strategies, data management and business systems implementation.

Why I love my job?

“I love my job because it allows the combination of creative thinking and the real-world application of ideas in the market place.”

Scott Thomas, Creative Director

What am I like?

1). Strong attention to detail.
2). Experience in taking projects through to completion.
3). Eager to learn and keep finding out things.
4). Lives, sleeps and breaths all things design.
5). Extremely versatile create print and web designer.

Career highlights

1). Interviewed by 'MacUser' magazine on a feature called 20/20 (what they considered the hottest creative talent in the UK).

2). Design business has shown year on year growth since forming in 2004.

3). Has worked for small start-ups to huge multi-national companies and super brands.

Professional low down

Scott has been working in the design industry for over 14 years, first as a graphic designer and then combining this with web design. After working in leading design agencies in London, Brighton and Kent, Scott wanted to create an agency that focused on producing high quality, creative design work, at affordable prices in his hometown of Tunbridge Wells. Fast forward eight years and Scott has reached his goal, with many long-standing clients returning time and time again. Max Media is proud to have Scott as head of its creative division.

Why I love my job?

“It's fantastic coming into work and getting paid for doing something you love.”