Team Members

Rachael, a 4th generation family member, joined the business in 2013 and became Managing Director in 2022. With a scientific PhD and a number of business administration qualifications, Rachael is passionate about encouraging more diversity within engineering and construction.  She is also a member of the Liverpool City Region Business and Enterprise Board, working with others to make the region the best place in the UK to live and work.  

Also a 3rd generation family member who started here in 1977, Guy is a qualified engineer, who ran the workshop, before moving into Sales. His in depth experience in his specialist areas of turning, solid wood laminating, solid wood furniture and general joinery make him the person to speak to for advice on the correct machine to specify in these important areas of the industry.

Paul began his career at JJ Smith in 1988, being part of the transport and logistics department. He moved in to sales and is now the product specialist in machinery for door and window production, including through feed CNC door or frame lines and automatic single or multi-head mortising machines. In addition he is also responsible for special projects. 

Ian, a 4th generation family member has worked for the company since 2003, and joined the machinery sales team in January 2014. Specialising in robotics, crosscuts and H&M machinery, he is also a qualified engineer having previously worked as a service technician installing and maintaining new and used equipment.

Michael’s journey at JJ Smith began in 2021 as apprentice in engineering, recently evolving into a sales role. His in-depth understanding of our woodworking machinery makes him an invaluable asset to the team and he always goes above and beyond for customers, offering tailored advice on how they can integrate the optimal woodworking solutions into their businesses.

Phil joined JJ Smith in 2025, bringing with him extensive experience in woodworking and solid wood furniture manufacturing. With a deep understanding of production techniques and machinery, he combines practical knowledge with a passion for innovation. Phil’s industry expertise plays a key role in helping our customers identify the best solutions to optimise their woodworking processes.

Adrian is a 4th generation family member who, as Technical Director, is responsible for all engineering departments and the management of large special projects for both JJ Smith and MBA.

Linzi joined us in 2020 and is now our commercial manager. She is responsible for coordinating the sales process from the point of order acknowledgment to delivery and invoicing. Linzi also maintains and develops relationships with suppliers and clients worldwide.

Emily joined us in August 2023 as Marketing Manager and is on a mission to propel our brand to new heights in the woodworking machinery market! From crafting new campaigns and initiatives, to creating insightful digital content, it’s Emily’s role to enhance brand awareness, generate new enquiries, and uphold JJ Smith’s sterling reputation.

Mark joined the Woodworking Robotics team in 2024 as a Robotics and Automation Project Engineer and in recognition of his outstanding work in developing our robotics offering and building a talented team of engineers, he was promoted to Head of Robotics and named Employee of the Year in 2025!