SmithCorp Executive Team
Managing Director – Professional Services
After completing an engineering degree and a stint working with Rolls Royce, James took off to travel the globe for five years. Teaching to fund his travels, he lived and worked in a variety of countries. This culminated in him setting up the first private English language school with native English teachers in Almaty, Khazakstan.
Returning to the UK in 1999 in search of a new challenge, James discovered recruitment. He accepted a position with Huxley Associates in London placing IT developers and quickly moved through the ranks to head up their Thames Valley Permanent Office before leaving in 2003 to join and grow a fledgling IT recruitment business in the city.
Having kept in touch with Adam Smith (his manager and mentor from his formative years in recruitment), James rejoined him in 2009, now as a Director at jjFOX. He established and grew new brands Parker White Consulting and then Education StaffBank before moving into a group role in 2015. James manages the SmithCorp business day to day; alongside general strategy, he has overall responsibility for our professional services (legal, compliance, finance, IT, human resources, training & development). James is focused on promoting an open culture of success and further strengthening the vibrant, progressive working environment within the group.
James is married with a young daughter. He still enjoys good food, wine and travel to warmer climes but these days always with his family.
Group Development Director
Sam started her career in the travel industry in her hometown of Essex. She enjoyed the fast-paced nature of business and was soon promoted to a team leader which in turn led to the role of divisional manager. After 10 years she decided a ‘change of scene’ would be beneficial, and the move to Bristol proved just that.
Sam decided to venture into recruitment joining jjFOX in 2006. As with all new starters she commenced her journey as a trainee yet it wasn’t long before she achieved top biller status and was enjoying the spoils of increased commissions, international trips. Within 8 years she was promoted to Managing Director of jjFOX and was responsible for the performance of 50 consultants in Bristol, Truro and London.
In July 2016 Sam was promoted to Group Development Director. Her role is multifaceted and includes sales training for consultants, coaching for managers, leading our internal recruitment team and inputting on company strategy through her seat on the board. Sam works across all SmithCorp brands helping develop both our people and our business.
Sam is passionate and dedicated to her work, yet in her ‘quiet time’ she enjoys spending time with her family, travelling abroad, having weekends away, eating out, attending festivals and keeping fit. She is an active person who is always ‘on the go’ – whether in the gym, shopping in Bristol or travelling back to Essex. She always ensures she has a holiday booked in her diary with skiing and relaxing in the sun her favourites. At present she is enjoying the challenges of interior designing as she refurbishes a recently purchased property as well as tending to the garden.
Group IT Director
James joined SmithCorp in 2007 to assist in the digital transformation of the group. Working as a Software developer he took a lead role in the development of critical business systems and quickly progressed through the ranks, being appointed as Group IT Director in 2014.
Prior to joining SmithCorp, James gained an MSc in Computer Science and then specialised as a Web Developer working on projects for both blue chip and central government clients. In his current role he is responsible for overseeing the delivery of IT projects and for the IT governance and strategy of the group.
James has always loved travelling. Before joining the business he worked as an English teacher in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico - one of the poorest regions of the country. Supporting education opportunities in underprivileged communities is an issue close to his heart and he played an instrumental role in setting up the SmithCorp Charitable Trust.
He is married with 2 children. A keen surfer, he will often be found at the beach when his work schedule and family life permit.
Director - Legal, Compliance and HR
Andy joined the company in 2010 straight out of education having completed a degree, masters and the professional training qualification to become a Barrister. Andy also gained accreditation as a Civil and Commercial Mediator and while studying, acted as a Tribunal Representative with the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Rather than pursuing private practice, Andy joined the company as a Legal Assistant with responsibility for debt recovery and small claims. He was promoted to Legal Manager in 2011 and to Associate Director for Legal, Compliance and HR in 2014.
He has aided in the recovery of in excess of £1 million of disputed group debt and has gained valuable experience of handling a variety of litigated claims, including employment tribunals and various commercial disputes. Andy is responsible for ensuring the day to day compliance of the groups operations and is directly involved in any policy changes or updates, keeping on top of changes in legislation, acts as an advisor to the board and is Company Secretary for the group.
Andy has been Chairman of the SmithCorp Charitable Trust since 2012 and has been instrumental in the charity’s organisation and achievements to date.
Andy loves spending time with his family and when he’s not out and about with his wife and two young sons, you can often find him troubling the Somerset hedgerows while working on his golf swing.
Associate Director - Finance
Steph’s interest in numbers started at a young age, progressing from adding up shopping catalogues to completing a Small Business Financial Management course at evening school alongside her A-levels. Progressing into accountancy was the next logical step. She started as an apprentice within an accountancy practice, working her way through her qualifications and quickly finding herself promoted to Audit Senior. She decided to make the move into industry in 2012, relocating to Bristol to join a specialist engineering company as a Management Accountant.
Steph joined SmithCorp as Finance Manager in 2015, immediately taking on responsibility for the finance team. She was promoted to Associate Director of Finance in 2018.
She has helped grow and develop the finance team, delivering financial support to all group brands and the charitable trust. Steph is responsible for the day to day management of the group’s finances, ensuring legislative compliance and the regular reporting of financial performance to the board.
If you can tear her away from her calculator and life long dreams of owning a German Vizsla, you’ll usually find Steph down at the beach or enjoying good food and cider with her family and friends.