Board of Directors
Chris Underhill, Chief Executive Officer
Chris joined the business and launched smartFOCUS in 1999. He led the management buy-out in 2000, guided the business through a venture capital round in 2001 and its flotation on the London Stock Exchange AIM market in 2004.
Under Chris’ leadership smartFOCUS has acquired three companies within the last four years; Paris based AIMS Software in 2005 followed by UK based Email Reaction in 2006 and most recently, adding a long standing news & media marketing specialist Astech Intermedia in the USA in 2008.
Chris leads the business and management teams, responsible for business development and the group functions that deliver the business strategy.
Neil Thomas, Group Finance Director
Neil joined smartFOCUS in 2003 having worked for a variety of SME's over the last 11 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 20 years and has been responsible for and managed all aspects of the finance function.
Paul Creamer, Chief Technology Officer
As CTO, Paul is responsible for the technical and product roadmaps of the smartFOCUS suite of products.
Prior to joining the company, Paul started two profitable software businesses, which were later sold to Competitors. More recently he worked for 1st Software, responsible for a large technical team, developing and installing bespoke and packaged solutions for distributors of financial services.
Curt Bloom, President of smartFOCUS International
Curt is responsible for developing smartFOCUS International 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 2003/04.
Chris Gater, Non-Executive Chairman
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 's 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 the European Chairman of the ASP Industry Consortium. He has significant experience of the IT sector and specifically on-line 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 and 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 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 the 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 Gator.