Born 9th June 1960 in Cheltenham, Neil Smith’s love affair with Manchester (which, incidentally he truly feels is the best city in the UK) was instigated by his time spent studying for an Economics degree at the city’s polytechnic. After graduating, Neil’s appetite for finance led him to join Pannel Ker Forster, where he firmly established himself as a Chartered Accountant. After 6 years, his hunger for exploring new business sectors took him to Applied Biosystems Inc, where he worked as their Financial Controller.

Neil’s next career move was a million miles away from the scientific marketplace. In 1990 he joined the London media frenzy at The Mail on Sunday. In his role as Finance and Systems Manager Neil thoroughly enjoyed the London work and social scene. Amongst his most memorable ‘non-work’ recollections are lunching with the ‘it crowd’ of that era and Christmas parties at Claridges, where he boasts once sitting next to Di, Adam Faith, Marie Helvin and Rula Lenska (Neil apologises to the younger generation of Kinetic, who won’t be familiar with all of these names, but you have to remember Take That weren’t even invented then!).

With a varied and progressive career under his belt, a burning desire to move away from the big corporate arena to gain more experience in running a business saw Neil return to his beloved Manchester in 1994. Having sourced Kinetic’s Financial Controller vacancy through Michael Page he soon found himself in Kinetic’s Altrincham office, which was obviously a far cry from the domineering hustle and bustle of London. Looking back, he jokingly remembers thinking “where are the Michelin star restaurants…what, no corporate lunches…look at the size of my office…and where is the tea lady…how I miss Kensington High Street!”

Settled back in a Manchester that had moved on from its dark satanic mills era and enjoying a steep learning curve of keeping all the plates spinning in an S.M.E environment, Neil began to stamp his mark on a Kinetic, that at the time had to keep pace with a recruitment industry that was going through a very heady development and growth stage. It was no plain sailing; a lot of hard work was put in to modernise systems, improve back office support services and effectively manage Kinetic’s growth. In 2001, after working under two Managing Directors, Neil presented a new business strategy to Terry Maunder, Kinetic’s Chairman. Terry accepted and Neil was appointed Managing Director.

Under Neil’s leadership to date, Kinetic has accelerated in leaps and bounds to become a company built on strategy rather than hierarchy. Kinetic has had some amazing successes and seen new businesses grow - importantly this has been organically rather than by acquisition, which again is a great testament to Kinetic’s employees. Although Kinetic has both UK and worldwide operations, Neil has installed a mentality of ensuring that its staff remain culturally engaged at all times. As such, with Kinetic experiencing continuous growth to move into the top 100 out of 12,000 Recruitment Agencies in the UK, he firmly believes that the scope for opportunity is there for everyone. Under his external corporate affairs, Neil is an REC Board Director, sits on the C.B.I S.M.E Council and has recently been appointed as the next Chairman of Trafford Chamber Council. In 2007 he was a finalist in the ‘North West I.O.D Director of the year awards’.

Away from his working life, Neil is a keen and talented sportsman. He is an ex junior county tennis player and even played against Sue Barker in 1972! He also enjoys skiing, badly, and his après ski is usually embraced from about midday! Neil is also a devoted Manchester United fan and a London Marathon addict, echoed no less by embarking on his 15th consecutive race this year. Away from sport, his best claim to fame is going on a night out with Rod Stewart when his cousin was supporting him in Australia. Neil lives in Didsbury, Manchester and is married to Sue, who is Deputy Head at Manchester High School for girls.

Smith Vs Barker 1972!