Boomer is at it again, this time grilling Al, our Commercial Director

What is your role at Just About?

I’m the Commercial Director. Take a look at my recent departmental deep dive article if you’re interested in what the commercial team does. My day to day involves talking to potential partners, thinking about their needs, and developing and adjusting the commercial strategy to make sure we’re presenting Just About to a business audience as best as possible.

Why did you join Just About, and where did you work before?

Prior to Just About, I worked at ReedPop, selling ads on sites such as Eurogamer and RPS and event activations at EGX. I was at Gamer Network prior to ReedPop buying the company, which is where I met Rupert After Rupert left we stayed friends, and when he told me what he was hoping to achieve with Just About, I got really excited by his vision. I wanted a challenge, to learn and grow, and make something exciting and new, but ultimately the reason I joined Just About is that I believe in the vision and I want to contribute to it. I think we have the potential to make an influential platform that’s better for everyone (and I think we’re meeting this potential more and more every day). What’s more, I think we might actually be able to make the internet a better place by injecting it with justness, kindness, and the positive attitudes that we’re already seeing on Just About. Better internet → better world.

How did you get started in this industry?

Plucky indie gaming fanzine Rock Paper Shotgun was looking for a Junior Advertising Sales Executive (catchy, right?!), and I applied to the job despite having no direct prior experience; I was working as a professional magician at the time (yes, really). I loved the idea of getting into media, especially in the games industry, and I was not disappointed.

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Non-work stuff 

What are your favourite:

• Game: Factorio (or Crusader Kings depending on my mood)

• Film: The Big Lebowski (snap, Cass!)

• TV Show: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for comedy, Star Trek TNG for life

• Music: Martin Kohlstedt (I met him once and fully embarrassingly fanboyed)

• Book: The Story of General Dann and Mara's Daughter, Griot and the Snow Dog by Doris Lessing (for which she won the Nobel prize for literature). I loved it so much I reread it immediately, before realising it's the second in a series of two (but I think it actually works better to read it first).

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

A dustbin man - I liked the trucks. Now I’m just a trash human instead (kidding).

Share a hobby you currently have.

Power lifting. I go to a small group training gym six days a week. It’s a lovely community and the coaches really know their stuff. It comes with the added benefit of enabling me to indulge in another keen interest of mine: food (pictured).

Enjoy this? You can find the rest of our Meet the Team posts here.