Who we are
Together we are Zoocha - independent and innovative digital specialists in Drupal web development and multi-channel retail.
Will Huggins
Managing Director
Zoocha is collaboration between the very best people I have come across in the digital industry – I believe passionately that there is no agency out there with the capability, energy or client insight to offer better quality or value.
Having established early in life that a digital business model was the way forward, Will took the logical step of moving to Hull to study Environmental Biology.
After learning as much as he could from North Sea plankton, he moved into the commercial world of consumer goods and retail, including a stint running Tesco’s online wine business. As head of the parenting website, Bounty.com, he fathered three new sites before heading up online marketing for Dixons.
Mike Smith
Operations Director
Here at Zoocha we are dedicated to delivering the very best; we have a proven track record of success working on large scale projects for clients such as Argos, Multiyork and iNTERTAIN.
Mike has impressed at the likes of Tesco.com, Oracle, Ri3K and Sorriso Technologies with his natural project management and client facing skills.
Adding depth to Zoocha’s technical capability, having worked and delivered a wide range of implementations from online retail, financial systems and telco solutions.
Dave Pratt
Technical Director
From inception to execution through to delivery, each new project presents the opportunity to push limits creatively and technically. Whether it is a Drupal content managed website, Facebook application or bespoke web app, you can be sure it will be put together with a fastidious attention to detail and embrace the latest standards and thinking on the web. Anything we put our name to is going to be fast, future proofed, standards compliant, accessible, innovative and search friendly.
Dave has been developing websites for over 10 years and has worked for some of the biggest names in the industry (Tesco, Oracle, Steak). In this time he has learnt a broad range of programming techniques and languages on various platforms.
Daniel Reeve
Design Manager
Zoocha is a funky, fresh agency that will always put in that extra mile to blow your expectations out of the water!
If you happen to see any bright, colourful (big eyed!) illustrations on our site or any we have worked on; these were probably created by Daniel. From a young age he has been drawing in his "cartoon" style, upon discovering digital design he knew where his future career was headed.
While studying at University he undertook part time work as a Junior Designer for Bounty over the summer periods, while also taking on various freelance projects to boost his portfolio. After leaving University with a high BA Honours in Digital Design in 2010, he joined the Zoocha team!
Hayley Smyth
Design Director
Zoocha is a vibrant, imaginative, full service digital agency comprising of individuals with the expertise to produce fantastic results. We are dedicated to helping clients develop their businesses, the key to achieving this is creating successful communication through clever design and development.
Always knowing design was in her blood, Hayley decided studying web and graphic design at Hertfordshire University was the way forward. She left there with a high-class BA honours degree and started work in a web and graphic design agency.
From there, Hayley was recruited into a big commercial/retail brand – Tesco.com, where she learnt the fundamentals of brand identity and e-commerce design. When it was time to move on to the next step in her career Hayley became lead designer at Bounty.com, the parenting site, designing integrated campaigns for names such as Andrex, Boden, Dettol, Fisher-price, LoveFilm, NHS, PhotoBox, Playhouse Disney, Samsung, Vtech and many more.
Owen Williams
Senior Web Developer
Zoocha is a front runner in providing you with the most modern websites and applications. Utilising Social media websites such as Facebook, we can really put you on the map.
Our newest.. second newest.. more established member of the team hails from "over the bridge" in the valleys of South Wales - instead of shepherding sheep and mining coal Owen graduated from Swansea University equipped with a Computer Science degree and was quick to get into Web Development soon after.
With nearly 5 years experience, he has gained excellent programming techniques whilst working at various leading companies. Somewhat sponge-like, he is extremely quick to absorb the latest and most innovative web development methods - essential to give your website that extra edge.
Brian Merttens
Account Director
Zoocha have many points of difference over other agencies and just one of those being that the entire team all come from client side backgrounds. So when it comes to understanding the needs of their clients Zoocha are uniquely placed.
Having cut his digital teeth with several start ups in the late 90s Brian spent over 6 years as Senior Online Product Manager at Bounty before joining Confetti as Head of Online in 2008. Now something of an online veteran Brian brings his years of web content, online marketing and e-Commerce experience to Zoocha and their clients.
Reece Marsland
Drupal Developer
Zoocha have a superstar lineup of staff that are smart and driven. This high ability across the team means your project runs smoothly.
Reece graduated from the University of Northampton with a first class degree in Internet Programming. Since graduating he has continued on to gain over 5 years experience working with Drupal. He also likes to keep a keen eye on bleeding edge technologies that impact his field of work. When not working with Drupal he's walking his 5 dogs in the middle of the countryside – Yes 5!
Jenny Cumming
Drupal Developer
Zoocha will go above and beyond, pulling out all the stops along the way to deliver top notch products to their clients.
Jenny joined us as a graduate fresh out of University in 2011 with a degree in Computer Science and was ready to dive into the world of Web Development. After realising her passion for programming throughout her degree, when it was time to hit the real world, she got accepted to kickstart her career with Zoocha.
Denise Spangler
Drupal Developer
Zoocha is a first-class company composed of quality people who are committed to doing what they do best. You can be sure to get great results from working with us.
Denise is a California girl who has spent 9 years studying Astrophysics before settling down to a life of web development in Hertfordshire. After graduating she spent 2 years developing digitaldemocracy.org.uk from scratch before joining Zoocha at the start of 2012, gaining valuable programming and practical experience of building something out of nothing.
With her insatiable appetite for solving problems and keeping her analytic mind active, she is ready to tackle any project or problem thrown at her.
Rod Volpe
Drupal Developer
Zoocha is a deviant and inspiring team, redefining standards for e-commerce and web applications.
Rod wanted to be a footballer like any kid in Brazil, but resembling pubs conversations around UK he will tell you "I did not make it because I got injured!"
With a passion for how IT and Web applications can enhance businesses, Rod has just finished his Masters degree reading E-business Systems focusing his dissertation on Drupal Commerce. In his spare time he tells stories about his football career, and really thinks that people believe him.
Sandra Currants
Finance Administrator
Will Richards
Front-end Developer / Drupal Themer
Will graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a degree in Software Systems for the Arts and Media. For the last twelve years he has been on the digital agency circuit. He has worked for all agencies big and small producing websites, web applications, cd-roms, dvd's and interactive touchscreen applications. He specialised in Adobe Flash for a few years and developed strong programming experience. With the arrival of HTML5, responsive web design and the death of Flash for mobile he decided to shift his focus to front-end web development and hasn't looked back since.
Matt Wagg
Technical Account Manager
Zoocha is a technical specialist agency with all the talent and expertise to exceed the expectations of any project.
Fresh from university in 2012, armed with a degree in Creative Online Design BSc and eager to jump into the world of development. On discovering a passion for front end development during his degree, greatly enjoying HTML5, CSS3, Responsive Web Design and jQuery goodness he decided to join the Zoocha team permanently following a successful internship during the summer periods of his degree.
Matt increases the Norwich City fan base to two in the Zoocha office, come on Canaries!
Joe Kersey
Drupal Developer
I always wanted to be a professional footballer, but soon realised that my true talent lay in smashing websites.
Joe graduated in 2012 with a first class degree in Computer Science from Anglia Ruskin University. During his time at university Joe picked up many academic accolades, but Joe is most proud of the moment where he picked up the "Bravo-Zulu" award for "Sterling Performance" during his part-time job at FedEx. Quite what this was for, remains unknown.
Representing one third of the Park Villa massive (the Zoocha developer house), Joe likes to look after himself and enjoys a strict diet that alternates between burger & chips, sausage & chips, pizza & chips, sausage roll & chips and sometimes, just chips on their own. Soon after Joe's arrival at Zoocha, several attempts were made by concerned Zoocha team members to broaden Joe's palate by introducing him to the Zoocha corporate dish; curry, of any variety (excluding Korma). All such attempts have failed.
Since joining Zoocha, Joe has developed a flair for building Facebook apps using Drupal and has been involved in some of our highest profile campaigns to date for brands including Boden and Glenlivet. You know when Joe is having a good day in the office when you hear the words "smashed it" reverberating around the developer wing above the Balearic sounds emanating from his earphones. Joe doesn't just build websites, he smashes them!
Paul Sebborn
Web Architect
Zoocha's a bunch of top-notch people brimming with talent and drive. And we have like to have fun too!
With over 6 years of experience working for some of the big names on the web including Tesco, The Guardian and Ocado, Paul has developed a love and in-depth knowledge of all things front-end. Whether it's the latest buzzword tech or just plain ol' fashioned Javascript, he's always keen to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in.
When he's not at his computer Paul can be found out cycling in the countryside, or working on his classic Mini (though that's more a case of trying to keep it in one piece).
Amy Steyaert
Junior Designer
Zoocha is an exciting agency, made up of a highly talented team of staff, who are there to help with and process the client's every need.
Amy is our new Junior Designer, fresh out of Nottingham Trent University bursting with enthusiasm and full of creative ideas. She is still a "youngling", however she is very talented in the digital arts and has adapted to agency work like a pig to mud or duck to water, whichever you prefer.
When she is not baking some homemade cakes for her grateful staff members or discussing strictly dance moves she can be found conjuring photoshop magic and learning the tips and tricks of being a web designer. Zoocha promises to mould her into the best web designer ever on her road to awesomeness!
Constantin Dumitrescu
Web Developer
Flying the flag for Romania at Zoocha, Constantin "Titi" Dumitrescu arrived at Zoocha after having a spell at Saint Louis University in Madrid and later graduating from the University of Liverpool with a first class degree in Computer Science. Titi has since proved himself to be a top performer in everything he has been involved in here at Zoocha, whether that is debugging complex processes, extending existing applications, or building sites from the ground up.
Do not expect to win if you play Titi at any sport. With 8 years professional tennis experience under his belt, Titi has a knack for demolishing all challengers when it comes to any form of racket sport, pool, table football, darts, golf... the list goes on. Titi reportedly also has a professional pilots license, so he'd probably beat you in a dog fight too. As if dominating the sporting scene at Zoocha wasn't enough, Titi also climbs like Spider-man, speaks 5 languages and can out drink a tramp (look up Țuică, but don't whatever you do, drink any).
Jason Maher
Marketing / IT Apprentice
Zoocha is a great place to work with a passionate team behind it
Zoocha has a new apprentice; Jason joined in July 2012 after completing A-levels and now is studying alongside working with us. Jason decided to further his studies and passion into media and marketing with Zoocha.
Hannah Marsh
Office Manager
There may not be an "I" in team, but here at Zoocha our team is imaginative, innovative and inspiring. We proudly bring you the best of the business from the best in the business.
After working as a Casting Assistant in Musical Theatre for the past few years, Hannah fancied a change of environment and an upgrade to a more senior role. The role of Office Manager at Zoocha provided the perfect opportunity for this, and as a self confessed bossy boots, Hannah fits the spec well! She doesn’t work alone though, her partner in crime Lola the German Shepherd joins the team as a large but loveable office dog.
Heidi Kinsey
Commercial Director
Heidi fell into the world of digital when she landed a temp job for Google back in 2003. She's a seasoned online marketing expert who went on to spend four years working with the international search team at Yahoo before moving into consultancy. Our resident hispanophile, Heidi takes care of new Zoocha business in both the UK and Spain.
