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Advertising Excellence was founded in 1998 by Steve foreman and has now grown to an impressive team of 20 knowledgable and friendly media specialists. We are a rapidly expanding media agency with our head office in gravesend and satellite offices in London, Manchester and Brighton. Since its inception, the goal of Advertising Excellence has been to help build the brands that people love.
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Steve Foreman
Founder - Managing Director
Steve founded Ad Ex back in 1998 after a sales career with 3 national newspapers, Capital Radio and in TV. He has grown the business over the past 2 decades to be one of the leading independent media agencies in the UK.
Steve loves a deal and has taken equity positions in 15 other businesses ranging from UK and Overseas property, renewable energy, online dating, will writing, fashion and gambling.
He is proud of his relationships with his team, clients and suppliers alike. Approachable, passionate, knowledgeable & straight talking - and loves a few beers on Thirsty Thursdays..!
Steve loves a deal and has taken equity positions in 15 other businesses ranging from UK and Overseas property, renewable energy, online dating, will writing, fashion and gambling.
He is proud of his relationships with his team, clients and suppliers alike. Approachable, passionate, knowledgeable & straight talking - and loves a few beers on Thirsty Thursdays..!
James Ferrin
The Oil in the Machine
James is one of a kind and has been working with Advertising Excellence for 10 years.
Previously an ad manager at News UK, and before that an account manager for Northcliffe Newspapers, part of the Daily Mail Group, James excels at press planning, negotiating, and buying. Press is not his only forte though, TV, online, outdoor and Radio are all areas he deals with extensively!
Having worked media side for some 10 years, James's contacts are superb and as such his buying skills are second to none. When it comes to getting the best rates he is your man!
Previously an ad manager at News UK, and before that an account manager for Northcliffe Newspapers, part of the Daily Mail Group, James excels at press planning, negotiating, and buying. Press is not his only forte though, TV, online, outdoor and Radio are all areas he deals with extensively!
Having worked media side for some 10 years, James's contacts are superb and as such his buying skills are second to none. When it comes to getting the best rates he is your man!
Jason Baker
Consultant
Jason has worked in media for over 17 years and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience across all disciplines. After cutting his teeth News International, Jason progressed to a B2B role at Emap across on and offline magazines. From Emap, he joined Conversant (then ValueClick), responsible for building the cross channel customer acquisition product.
His consulting work saw him advising agencies such as Starcom, as well as building his own successful business. Most recently at Publicitas UK (now NewBase), he ran the UK operation and was a key stakeholder.
Jason is extremely passionate about business and looks to leverage his entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge, and drive in this new challenge with Advertising Excellence.
His consulting work saw him advising agencies such as Starcom, as well as building his own successful business. Most recently at Publicitas UK (now NewBase), he ran the UK operation and was a key stakeholder.
Jason is extremely passionate about business and looks to leverage his entrepreneurial spirit, knowledge, and drive in this new challenge with Advertising Excellence.
Stuart Humphrey
Account Director
Stuart Humphrey is our specialist B2B account director who comes with over twenty years’
multi-media sales experience dealing with clients within the industrial marketplace covering plant, process, chemical, oil, renewables, government and utility sectors.
Dealing with very well-known brands including, Atlas Copco, MOOG, Valsteam, FLIR, and Schaeffer, to name a few, he specialises in educating the manufacturing sectors within the digital environment, to help grow and foster lead generation within a very competitive industry.
Having also worked at some of the UK leading publishers including, Centaur & Trinity Mirror his sales experience and creative flair are a great asset to the Adex Team.
Dealing with very well-known brands including, Atlas Copco, MOOG, Valsteam, FLIR, and Schaeffer, to name a few, he specialises in educating the manufacturing sectors within the digital environment, to help grow and foster lead generation within a very competitive industry.
Having also worked at some of the UK leading publishers including, Centaur & Trinity Mirror his sales experience and creative flair are a great asset to the Adex Team.
Dan Hudson
Account Director
Dan has worked within media and lead generation for 12 years now mainly specialising in financial products. Biggest wins to date include Aviva (medical insurance) Agent Provocateur Sweaty Betty and Artigiano to name a few. Having run his own call centre for two years Dan is now looking to service his clients through the Advertising Excellence brand. Dan has two boys and is an avid Liverpool supporter.
James Beach
Creative Director
James originally studied Graphic Design at The London College of Printing in south London, while studying, he was offered a job at a top London Advertising Agency were he worked for over 4 years, before moving on to Publishing in 2001.
Having worked with Steve Foreman for a number of years as a freelancer, he joined Advertising Excellence Ltd in 2010 as Creative Director.
James has a great design pedigree, and has worked with many blue-chip clients over the years, including;
Fred Perry, Red Bull, Ray-Ban, Bausch & Lomb, Gaggia Coffee, Aston Martin, Sony Ericsson and Sunseeker Yachts.
Having worked with Steve Foreman for a number of years as a freelancer, he joined Advertising Excellence Ltd in 2010 as Creative Director.
James has a great design pedigree, and has worked with many blue-chip clients over the years, including;
Fred Perry, Red Bull, Ray-Ban, Bausch & Lomb, Gaggia Coffee, Aston Martin, Sony Ericsson and Sunseeker Yachts.
Allan Brown
Media Director
Allan has over 20 years’ experience working client side in senior marketing positions across large Banks such as Lloyds Banking Group, Co-op Bank (smile.co.uk), MBNA through to successful start-ups such as The Funding Corporation.
Allan is seen as an expert within the field of direct marketing, having continually smashed his sales and marketing targets across traditional and digital channels with multi-million pound budgets.
His experience across all direct marketing channels is being used to help clients achieve their goals.
Allan is a father of two, lives near Chester and spends most weekends on the lovely island of Anglesey!
Allan is seen as an expert within the field of direct marketing, having continually smashed his sales and marketing targets across traditional and digital channels with multi-million pound budgets.
His experience across all direct marketing channels is being used to help clients achieve their goals.
Allan is a father of two, lives near Chester and spends most weekends on the lovely island of Anglesey!
Connor Foreman
Media Account Manager
Connor joined Advertising Excellence back in September 2014 and has established himself as a key member of the team. He has built a strong knowledge of the industry across all sectors and is always happy to help with any questions.
Connor enjoys making new relationships with suppliers and clients alike. Through the years Connor has built a very good relationship with the media companies, dealing with them day in day out – he is able to access some of the best rates in the industry.
Connor is a fun and happy lad, always trying to make people laugh… when he’s not hanging.
Connor enjoys making new relationships with suppliers and clients alike. Through the years Connor has built a very good relationship with the media companies, dealing with them day in day out – he is able to access some of the best rates in the industry.
Connor is a fun and happy lad, always trying to make people laugh… when he’s not hanging.
Jack Cottrell
Business Development Executive
Jack joined Advertising Excellence back in September 2015 with no background of working within the media industry. However, since that time he has become a self-proclaimed media expert, top performing salesman, and Twitter addict.
Nevertheless, in the small time Jack has spent with us he has built a great knowledge of the industry and its many different sectors be it Press, Radio, TV, Digital or Lead Generation.
He is tasked with bringing in new clients, and managing the many relationships that Advertising Excellence has that enable us to give our clients the best rates, and innovative ideas when it comes to media buying.
Nevertheless, in the small time Jack has spent with us he has built a great knowledge of the industry and its many different sectors be it Press, Radio, TV, Digital or Lead Generation.
He is tasked with bringing in new clients, and managing the many relationships that Advertising Excellence has that enable us to give our clients the best rates, and innovative ideas when it comes to media buying.
Darren Waight
Northern Account Director
For over 10 years I have worked for multiple advertising companies such as Zoom media, Universal Outdoor and VP media. I have extensive knowledge of working with businesses of all sizes and sectors on a local, regional and national scale. Organising, planning and creating tailored advertising campaigns along with understanding consumer behaviour and targeted ad placing has been key.
My experience and knowledge across the board in Outdoor, Digital Signage, Radio, Press and Online, including: PPC - SEO - Email Marketing & Programmatic gives me the deep analysis needed to assist companies achieve their advertising goals and most importantly reach their desired audience.
My experience and knowledge across the board in Outdoor, Digital Signage, Radio, Press and Online, including: PPC - SEO - Email Marketing & Programmatic gives me the deep analysis needed to assist companies achieve their advertising goals and most importantly reach their desired audience.
Gibby Barnfather
Print, Direct Mail & Data Specialist
With a diverse background in advertising sales, print management and DM, door drops & data.
Gibby has over 20yrs experience of being a media owner, agency side and supplier... having done both sides of selling and buying media, print and data, Gibby has great empathy for what clients want and need.
Gibby has a consultative approach that helps get the best results, seeking to become entrenched in your business as a true partner, always improving practice and driving response and increasing RIO.
Apart from being a ginger Viking, don't hold that against him, he likes a good client lunch!
Gibby has over 20yrs experience of being a media owner, agency side and supplier... having done both sides of selling and buying media, print and data, Gibby has great empathy for what clients want and need.
Gibby has a consultative approach that helps get the best results, seeking to become entrenched in your business as a true partner, always improving practice and driving response and increasing RIO.
Apart from being a ginger Viking, don't hold that against him, he likes a good client lunch!
Cheryl McGill
Finance / Office Manager
Cheryl has been in Finance for about 48 years and started working for Advertising Excellence in 2005 where she left in 2008 to help a friend start up their own Company. She then returned to work for Advertising Excellence in June 2011 to resume her position as Finance/Office Manager a role she really loves and feels at home doing.
Her day to day responsibilities include the general running of the office, and overseeing all aspects of the accounts department with her fingers in many pies
Outside of work Cheryl loves to spend time with her 2 granddaughters but her passion is to travel to America mainly to California where she loves the life style and hopes to take her family there one day.
Her day to day responsibilities include the general running of the office, and overseeing all aspects of the accounts department with her fingers in many pies
Outside of work Cheryl loves to spend time with her 2 granddaughters but her passion is to travel to America mainly to California where she loves the life style and hopes to take her family there one day.
Lynsey Tester
Assistant Finance/Office Manager
Having started at Ad Ex back in 2003, Lynsey has now become part of the furniture.
Since being here she has turned her hand to many different job roles including Account Management, before she settled on accounts and in particular Payroll and Management Accounts.
Having tried both sides of the agency, Sales v Admin, she found she had a love for numbers and enjoys the diversity that accounts can bring.
Lynsey now only works part time, and spends most of her day with her 2 beautiful but crazy daughters.
Since being here she has turned her hand to many different job roles including Account Management, before she settled on accounts and in particular Payroll and Management Accounts.
Having tried both sides of the agency, Sales v Admin, she found she had a love for numbers and enjoys the diversity that accounts can bring.
Lynsey now only works part time, and spends most of her day with her 2 beautiful but crazy daughters.
Lauren Baker
Accounts Assistant
Lauren joined Advertising Excellence in October 2016 and has already become a valuable member of the accounts team. Before Lauren started, she had no previous experience working in an office nor working in the accounts department as she was a true horsey girl.
Lauren is now dealing and creating relationships with suppliers to ensure all invoicing is done efficiently and has developed a true love in what’s required to be part of an accounts team.
Lauren enjoys the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of working in an advertising agency and can see herself being part of the team for many years.
Lauren is now dealing and creating relationships with suppliers to ensure all invoicing is done efficiently and has developed a true love in what’s required to be part of an accounts team.
Lauren enjoys the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of working in an advertising agency and can see herself being part of the team for many years.
