Stuart is CEO admatic.ie, the online Agency and media buying platform.
Formerly McConnell’s Advertising/AFAO’Meara; Director Realex Payments; Co-Founder Streamabout The Video Agency; Co-Founder Core Media/ICAN; Co-Founder Club Internet/Via Networks (floated Nasdaq March 2000); Fellow/President IAPI (Institute of Advertising); Fellow/Council Member The Marketing Institute of Ireland; Chairman The Publicity Club; Sailing World Record Holder Round Ireland; Former Marketing Committee IRFU Leinster Branch.
Q 1- How does your normal day begin?
With coffee. Buckets of it.
Working from home in the pandamania, I like to be at the desk (or the kitchen table) by 830am. Read the online papers, check LinkedIn, do the emails, and get going. Whilst admatic.ie is an online media platform, the phone thankfully doesn’t stop. Incoming (and when it pauses, Outgoing). I’m a touchy-feely talker, I like people. Keep ringing.
Q 2- What are your biggest daily challenges?
I have always been self-motivated. Always and forever but, I have to say, I found it hard being disconnected from the crew, from business life. I know other people did too. The challenge was to get everyone fired up each day and to do that, it starts with you. That’s the challenge – How are you today?
Q3- What do you love most about your job?
They say Advertising is the best fun you can have with your clothes on. That changed over the last while…. compounded by a lack of gossip and a lack of Friday pints in Smyths. It’s the people I love, it’s not the job. I’m a second-generation Advertising Agency, so I’ve been doing this from the breakfast table as a kid. It’s full of eejits but generally, good ones.
Q 4- What do you do to relax?
Voracious reader, music ‘bore’ (I say expert), motorcyclist, rugby, and very bad sailor. I spend more money on books than anything. Recent pandemic walker (bizarrely). Do I relax? Nope, never, with 3 kids under 16. But happy not to.
Q 5-Favourite staycation destination in Ireland and why?
Ah The Lodge at Ashford. I’ve been going there since the great Tony O’Reilly, Dan Rooney and still do when I save up. It’s the price of a small car. The kids adore it…. The Boat trip, the horses, the falcons, the scary walk in the woods, the country breakfasts, the welcome. The Lodge is a great option for the Castle too. One great escape.
Q 6-Favourite holiday destination worldwide?
Spain, Costa Del Sol. We’ve had a place there since I was a kid. Smashing weather, smashing people, great craic. Nowhere like it and yes, I’ve seen a lot of the world thankfully. One place I haven’t been and I desperately want to go to next, is Marrakech Morocco. But I know I’ll always go home to Spain. Because it is.
Q 7-Favourite Business motto?
Keep going, Keep going, and Keep going. Get up in the morning, put one foot in front of the other and especially when times are tough. They all yawn when I say it, but I mean it. The glass is always full. Keep going because it’s the next call that’s the one that matters. Get ready to be ready.
Q 8. Advice for young business entrepreneurs
Don’t call yourself that, it sounds ridiculous. Be kind to people, be business decent, because the wheel is round. It’s better to be a good person than a good businessperson and that’s what makes the difference. Goodness wins – And yep, keep going, my friend. stuart@admatic.ie if ever you need it.
Stuart is CEO admatic.ie, the online Agency and media buying platform.
Formerly McConnell’s Advertising/AFAO’Meara; Director Realex Payments; Co-Founder Streamabout The Video Agency; Co-Founder Core Media/ICAN; Co-Founder Club Internet/Via Networks (floated Nasdaq March 2000); Fellow/President IAPI (Institute of Advertising); Fellow/Council Member The Marketing Institute of Ireland; Chairman The Publicity Club; Sailing World Record Holder Round Ireland; Former Marketing Committee IRFU Leinster Branch;.
