Meet the team
Ben Samuelson
A veteran PR, communications and events leader, Ben founded SWA in 2005 after his previous professional life turning TVR into a globally recognised brand. Ben’s enthusiasm, can-do spirit and eye for detail guides everything we do, from seemingly impossible stunts and worldwide campaigns to everyday grammatical conundrums.
Ellie Hargreaves
Ellie’s journalistic experience spans multiple fields, from print to online and video. She worked as a senior newspaper reporter, features writer, sub-editor and trained as a video journalist before joining SWA in 2009. As well as deputising for Ben across the business, she leads SWA’s content, copywriting and proofreading projects – applying rigorous editorial standards and managing our highly regarded team of writers and editors.
Kate Wright
After working in various roles for automotive brands, Kate joined SWA as operations manager, supporting the events team. With more than two decades' experience in the industry, as well as being an MBA-qualified executive coach (and qualified yoga instructor), Kate is an organiser by nature and brings a multi-faceted approach to all levels of the operation, from initial client engagement and beyond.
James Dilkes
With a background in motorsports engineering, Account Manager James brings a breadth of knowledge and project management experience from a broad spectrum of formats. With technical expertise coupled with a creative nature (and an unwavering obsession with cars), he is the ultimate problem-solver and brings the attention to detail and thoroughness that our projects demand.
Anna Brayfield
Driven by a desire to see the world, meet new people and gain new experiences, Anna has proved herself over and over again since joining SWA. With a background in sales negotiation and hospitality, along with a soft spot for anything with four wheels, Anna is great with people and brings positive energy to every project she’s involved in. Capable and practical, she’s a doer who thinks ahead and likes to face a problem head on – whether in her work or while tinkering with one of her cars at home.
Adrian Phillips
Adrian is the company’s head of finance and has worked as a Chartered Accountant for 15 years, running his own accountancy practice since 2017. He joined the Samuelson Wylie team in 2021 to help streamline the finance function as the business grows and increases its work internationally.
Shirley Flannagan
Shirley has been part of the SWA team since the beginning. She's our office manager, her organisational prowess helps to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently, and she’s the driving force behind our successful charity events. She is also one of the finest chasers of receipts and expenses forms.
Dan Read
An experienced writer, editor and producer, Dan has contributed to some of the world’s biggest automotive media brands – including several years as a scriptwriter and producer for the BBC Top Gear TV show. He’s also edited magazines, written travel stories around the world and organised all manner of ambitious adventures.
Matt Rigby
Regular SWA writer, editor and sub-editor Matt Rigby – or ‘Riggers’ – has built a career on being a bit of a geek – as both a car-nerd and a word-nerd. He’s spent time on the news, road test and production desks of leading titles including PistonHeads, Autocar and Auto Express and also works as a freelancer.
Matt Master
Matt is a freelance writer and editor with more than 20 years’ experience in print and digital media. As well as being part of SWA’s editorial team for the past five years, writing both long form and social media copy for a number of OEM clients, Matt contributes to a variety of titles including Top Gear Magazine and The Road Rat.
Darryl Hardman
SWA’s creative consultant Darryl has more than 20 years of creative direction and design experience for a range of clients including adidas, Oakley, Ferrari and Stella McCartney. Highlights include rebranding the London Marathon, global campaigns for Lionel Messi and designing logo idents for Mo Farah.
Chris Putt
You’re in safe hands with SWA’s safety consultant Chris. A leading off-road driving instructor, he’s also a highly qualified H&S advisor, water rescue and emergency recovery specialist. As well as helping with SWA events, Chris has worked on film and TV productions including Bond and The Crown.
Tori Middleton
Tori has been a photographer for more than two decades and, having cut her teeth in newspapers, she now specialises in events. Warm, friendly and professional, she has an incredible talent for capturing people and products in their best light, and often joins the SWA team on events.
Could this be you?
With our 2022 diary full and many exciting projects in the pipeline, SWA is recruiting! Our vacancies include an Events Manager, an Account Executive/Producer and a part-time, professionally trained driver based in the North West. To find out more, see the ‘careers’ section, and if you have what it takes we’d love to hear from you.
Our associates
As well as our in-house team and regular contributors, SWA has a trusted network of friends and associates all around the world and from all walks of life. In other words, if we don’t know the person we need to make something happen, the chances are that we know someone who does.