Chris Underhill, Chief Executive Officer
As CEO of smartFOCUS Group, Chris ensures the business as a whole develops in line with the corporate strategy. He is a board member of the three operational business units: smartFOCUS UK; smartFOCUS DIGITAL and smartFOCUS International. He works with the heads of the business units to develop their growth plans while working with group functions (including marketing, R&D and finance) to ensure that they have the resources they need to achieve their goals. Chris has been with the business since its launch in 1999 and led the management buy-out in 2000. He has guided the business through a venture capital round in 2001, its flotation on the London Stock Exchange AIM market in 2004, and the acquisitions of two marketing software companies, Paris-based AIMS Software in 2005 and UK-based Email Reaction in 2006.
Before joining smartFOCUS, Chris held a number of senior positions in high-growth, sales-and-marketing-led IT companies. He was managing director of Informed Networks, general manager of the networking and communications division at distributor Computer 2000; and general manager at ICL Multi Vendor Computing.
Curt Bloom, International Managing Director
Curt is responsible for developing smartFOCUS's European Operations. He brings more than 20 years experience as a senior executive responsible for International software business development in Europe, Asia and North America. Prior to joining smartFOCUS Curt was Managing Director, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Operations for Unica, the USA based vendor of Enterprise Marketing Management software. He was instrumental in the growth of the Unica European business operation, leading the acquisition of the French Campaign Management Company Marketic in 2003/4.
Neil Thomas, Group Finance Director
Neil Thomas, aged 42 is the Finance Director having joined smartFOCUS in 2003. Neil has worked for a variety of SME's over the last 9 years. Prior to this Neil has gained considerable experience in the Telecoms industry with Racal BRT and in manufacturing with Alcan plc. Neil has worked on several acquisitions and their successful integration and has developed and implemented management information and costing systems. Neil has lead finance departments for over 18 years and has been responsible for and managed all aspects of the finance function.
John Charles - Non-Executive Chairman
John has been non-executive chairman since October 2000 when he was a key investor supporting the management buyout. John has worked in the IT industry for 20 years and has established and invested in a number of private IT companies. John previously worked in sales and marketing with Tetra Plc, a developer of ERP software, setting up their corporate direct sales arm, Powerscourt Limited.
Chris Gater, Non-Executive Director
Chris has 25 years experience in the direct marketing sector. Chris joined Brann in the 70's and subsequently led the management buyout. He was responsible for the investment in, and the development of, the precursor to smartFOCUS' direct marketing software solution. Chris sold Brann to Snyder Communications Inc in 1997 where he was appointed President, then Chairman of Brann Worldwide.
Jeff Maynard, Non-Executive Director
Jeff is the co-founder of Netstore plc. In May 2000 he was appointed European Chairman of the ASP Industry Consortium. He has significant experience of the IT sector and specifically online data management expertise from his position as Chief Executive of Secure Backup Systems Ltd. Jeff holds various non-executive directorships, is an advisor to the European Commission, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketers, a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and of The City of London and author of ten books on IT. He was voted IT Entrepreneur of the year in 2000.
Remuneration & Audit Committee
The Directors recognise the importance of sound corporate governance, whilst taking into account the size and nature of the Company. The Company holds at least 10 board meetings throughout the year. The Board is responsible for formulating, reviewing and approving the Company’s strategy, budgets, major items of capital expenditure and acquisitions.
An audit committee has been established. It meets at least twice each year and is responsible for ensuring that the financial performance of the Company is properly reported on and monitored; and for meeting the auditors and reviewing the reports from the auditors relating to accounts and internal control systems. It meets at least once a year with the auditors without executive directors present. The audit committee comprises the non-executive directors of the Company and is chaired by Jeff Maynard.
A remuneration committee has been established. It reviews the performance of the executive directors and sets and reviews the scale and structure of their remuneration and the terms of their service agreements with due regard to the interests of Shareholders. In determining the remuneration of executive directors, the remuneration committee seeks to enable the Company to attract and retain executives of the highest calibre. The remuneration committee also makes recommendations to the Board concerning the allocation of share options to employees. No director is permitted to participate in discussions or decisions concerning his own remuneration. The remuneration committee comprises the non-executive directors of the Company and is chaired by Chris Gater.