Charisse keeps it in the family as son Jack is appointed sales manager at CMe Media

CMe Media, a media buying and digital marketing firm based in Fareham, has appointed Jack Thomas as sales manager.

The son of founder and owner Charisse Smith, Jack has had to prove his talent and drive before being taken on board.

Jack started work at 15 and subsequently did a business course at college before moving into car sales, selling new Vauxhalls and used vehicles.

At 20, he was promoted to business manager. He then joined media company Global in late 2022, selling advertising space on the radio.

The job gave him insight into media and marketing, and he worked with companies in Hampshire and Wiltshire to offer media solutions to promote their business.

Having proven his ability, he then put forward to the directors of CMe Media a proposal to join the business, which was accepted.

The company recently added a specialist automotive department – CMe Automotive Marketing – which is accelerating fast with Jack at the sales wheel.

Charisse said: “Jack’s appointment was due to his ability and work ethic. Like me, he started work as a teenager and has a real desire for success.

“He very much wanted to stand on his own two feet from a young age, which hasn’t changed.

“Jack started working at 15 having spent a lot of his school years supporting me – a single mum – by helping to look after his younger brother.

“He passed his college course and received a distinction in the selling module.

“While he was there, Jack saw a job advertised and went for it, starting out as a showroom host at Eden Vauxhall Fareham. By 20, he was promoted to a business manager.

“He’d come a long way from sitting in a car park watching a video on YouTube to work out how to tie his tie on his first day.

“Jack has already made an extremely positive impact at the business using the skills he’s developed in his previous jobs.”

Jack added: “I very much wanted to prove myself to my mother and was inspired by her journey building a business as a single mother.

“CMe Media has huge ambition, and I’m determined to be a part of its continued success and growth.”

• cmemedia.com

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