More new starters? Yes, more new starters. Let me introduce them to you.

Sam Richards has joined  us as the UK Head of Sales (as Florian has been promoted to Head of Agency & International Client Servicing – congrats!)  He is a picture of Sam taken very close up to his face

Sam is from deepest darkest Kent, specifically a place called Crockenhill. Some quick facts about Crockenhill you ask? Well in the latter half of the twentieth century Crockenhill was an important area for growing peppermint. The village is also currently creating a habitat for badgers which is nice. Despite this Sam is looking to relocate closer to the office in the near future as it sounds like his commute is a bit of a mission.

Before joining CJ, Sam kept himself busy by travelling around the world and ’sunning myself on various beaches’ which makes me a bit jealous on a cold and rainy Monday morning. Before that he was Digital Head of Sales for PFJ recruitment – he would like to make clear that he is now a ‘reformed recruitment consultant’. He was about to sign up to work for a digital agency when Alison, Cheryl and Florian convimced him that he is a CJ’er.

Here is a little interview with Sam:

• What is the remit of your role at CJ then?
• It is to develop new relationships with key merchants in the UK, get to know them, find out what their affiliate marketing needs are and design a Commission Junction solution.
• What do you find interesting about affiliate marketing?
• The fact that it is a bit of a no-brainer for clients. Well that is the first thing which is interesting but when you scratch beneath the surface it is the fact that there  are so many nuances to the solution – that it isn’t one size fits all and that the approach is different for each client. I work closely with the CJ Account Teams and I love watching them work out ways to launch and then grow programmes – there is certainly a  lot to it!
• What are your impressions of CJ so far?
• Really good, great people and always lots of chocoate (thanks Sam)
• What did you want to be when you grew up? An architect
• What is your favourite colour? Blue
• What is your favourite sandwich? I’m a bit old school – cheese and pickle
• What is your favourite cartoon character? Wile E. Coyote

So now that you know Sam a little bit better I will introduce you to a lady who has the best name I have ever heard – Lieke Schriks.

Lieke has joined us as an Account Manager for our Agency team. We have a similar in-your-face photo for Lieke below.

Lieke is from the Netherlands which, incidentally, gives her a certain kudos. The Netherlands is a very flat country sandwiched between Belgium and Germany. It is famous for clogs, tulips, windmills, canals and bikes. Nothing else. Lieke was born and raised in Eindhoven which is where something called the ‘fabulous PSV’ is based (football maybe? – Lieke seemed keen to point it out).

Before joining us at CJ Leike worked as an Account Executive for TradeDoubler in the Netherlands which she enjoyed but was curious to see if Affiliate Marketing was ‘absolutely positively my thing’.  She moved to work in the Events Management department at Shell and whilst she was with them she relocated to London. It was then that she realised that her heart was in Affiliate Marketing and started her quest to get back into the industry.  ‘For all my luck CJ appeared on the horizon and here I am working as an Account Manager on the Agency Team’.

Let us continue with the earlier format and hear from Lieke in her own words:

• What is the remit of your role?
• I work as part of a team which is reponsible for looking after the growth and development of the agency accounts in the UK. My day to day role consists of many things including: looking after publisher relationships, identifying potential affiliate/merchant partnerships. and basically ensuring the smooth running of the programmes.
• What are your impressions of CJ so far?
• It’s a great place to work! A floor full of funny and intelligent people and I feel like I have learnt more in two months at CJ then at one year at Shell. What makes CJ extra special for me is the opportunity to learn lots about not just Affiliate Marketing but also the other parts of the digital industry as all the ValueClick businesses work together out of the Putney offices.
• What do you find interesting about Affilate Marketing?
• I love the fact that Affiliate Marketing is totally diverse and innovative. Each day my  tasks are different and I am constantly dealing with new and interesting people. It makes me think outside the box and I get motivated by the results that we can achieve in a very short period of time.
• What did you want to be when you grew up? A tailor
• What is your favourite colour? Blue
• What is your favourite animal? A lyre bird – check out the amazing sounds from the lyre bird by David Attenborough and you will know why
• What is your favourite sandwich? Peanut butter with cucumber (Editor’s Note – I have no words to describe how disgusting this sounds, a deviant sandwhich)
• What is your favroute cartoon character? Peter from Family Guy

Well that is it. That is your lot. Welcome Sam and Leike to CJ. May you live long and prosper.