Adrian Stewart
Biography
In 1979 after graduating with honours in Engineering and Marketing, Adrian joined IBM as a large-systems account manager and successfully completed IBM’s notorious sales school the following year. He subsequently held senior marketing and sales positions with IBM until joining Chicago based Comdisco in 1984, Comdisco was the world’s largest independent lessor of computers. He opened Comdisco’s UK offices the following year and successfully developed their European operations.
In 1990 Adrian joined Kleinwort Benson a UK Investment Bank. In 1997 Kleinwort Benson was acquired by Dresdner Bank and Adrian became a director of the newly formed Dresdner Kleinwort Benson (DKB). In 1999 DKB acquired Wasserstein Parrella of New York to form Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DrKW).Adrian was appointed a Managing Director of DrKW. With global responsibility for all marketing and communications.
In 2000 while still at DrKW Adrian became a director of the non-profit East London Small Business Centre. The centre actively helps new businesses to start up and existing small businesses to survive and grow in East London.
In 2001 Adrian left Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and became co-owner and Director of Hidays.com Ltd, an internet based agent for self-catering holidays in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France.
In 2004 Adrian joined the advisory board of WDG Azure. WDG Azure is a multi-skilled marketing agency supporting international companies such as; Oracle, Sara Lee, Renault, Quaker, Starbucks and Abbott Laboratories.
In that same year Adrian started Mulberry Alpacas based in Ashland, OR, USA. In 2005 Adrian was elected president of SOJAA the State of Jefferson Alpaca Association, a group of 50 alpaca breeding farms based in California, Oregon and Washington. Adrian stepped down as president in 2009 after serving the maximum term allowable.
In 2008 Adrian formed Azure Internet Marketing (AIM) specifically to help small and medium sized enterprises build and maintain a successful on line web presence. AIM also offers a full range of marketing services from strategic consultancy through to campaign execution.
Professional Development
In 1994 Adrian was elected a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and in 1998 became one of the first Fellows entitled to use the designation “Chartered Marketer”.
Adrian took an active role in promoting the City of London as a centre for commerce. In 1995 he received the Freedom of the City and was elected a Liveryman to the Worshipful Company of Marketors.
During 1996 he successfully completed a three year course of study and gained an MBA majoring in Strategic Marketing from the University of Hull.
During 1998 Adrian studied with the Industrial Society School of Coaching and in 1999 became accredited as an Executive Business Coach.
During 2001/2002 Adrian continued to enhance his coaching skills and in 2002 he became certified by the American Board of Neuro-Linguistics. In the same year he became a member of the Institute for High Performance Coaching.
A regular speaker at conferences, for many years Adrian also lectured and participated in the annual Media Relations workshop for MBA students at Oxford University.
In addition to his business interests Adrian lectures in Consumer Behaviour at Southern Oregon University.
Email: adrian[at]azureim.com
See Also: Jamie's Biog