Sales and Marketing Department
Bernard joined the family business in 1997 having completed a D.Phil. in organic chemistry. In 2004 he graduated with an MBA from the London Business School. He has worked his way through the company to become Managing Director. Bernard is passionate about the business and in particular about providing an excellent and unsurpassed service to customers. A regular visitor to libraries and trade fairs he looks forward to meeting you and to receiving your comments and suggestions.
You can contact him via his Personal Assistant Lea at
Lea is from Switzerland and speaks fluent French, German and English. She started her career as a bookseller in Zurich and has worked in a corporate library in Geneva. She is the Personal Assistant to the Managing Director and also works as a member of our Customer Services Team. She is passionate about media and interested in a wide range of cultural subjects, salsa dancing and travelling.
You can contact Lea at
Having graduated at London University in History of Art and German Literature, Christa joined us more than 20 years ago. She worked for several years in the London office and is now based in Modena, Italy. She is the Area Sales Manager responsible for looking after libraries in markets which include Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Southern Germany.
Her e-mail address is
Martin is the Area Sales Manager who looks after customers in countries which include Belgium, Estonia, France, Finland, Northern/Eastern Germany, Eire, Hong Kong, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland and Sweden. He speaks English, French, German and Italian. His email address is
Emma is our Marketing Assistant originally from Bournemouth she now considers herself a Londoner as she has been living here for the past 10 years. She comes to Starkmann having previously worked as a bookseller and has many other interests such as electronic music, art and design, tv and film. Emma would eventually like to travel the world more.
Her email address is
Operations Department
Steven is the Operations Manager and has over two decades experience of working in the publishing industry having moved south from Scotland in 1995. When he is not working Steven's pastimes include reading, music, films and most sports.
His email address is
Caroline Piggott is an assistant operations manager and has been with Starkmann for over fifteen years. Caroline helps to manage many aspects of the operations department and can always be found behind her wall of carts and Search Plus arrivals. When Caroline has the chance she enjoys reading and looking after her daughter who has just stared her senior school.
You can contact her on
Rollo Crookshank has been with the company since 1992 and is one of the two assistant operations managers who heads up the Standing Orders department and many other duties. Rollo came from a background in the book industry and has a great deal of experience. When Rollo is not embroiled in Standing Orders and despatch he can be found re-enacting the battle of Hastings or attending a meeting about Richard Coeur de Lion.
You can contact him on
Petrina is our receptionist at Starkmann and she also deals with chasers to publishers. Before joining our team she studied Media Technology at Thames Valley University. In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and meeting up with friends.
You can contact her at
Customer Service Team
Kerstin is from Frankfurt in Germany where she originally trained as a Montessori teacher in childcare. Prior to joining Starkmann, she spent five years working in the sales and marketing department of a publisher in London. Kerstin is interested in the arts, architecture and design and enjoys a good read or the opera in her spare time.
You can contact Kerstin at
After having worked for Starkmann for 11 years, Jaqueline took a break in 2001 to have her two children. She has now returned on a part-time basis, working four mornings a week. In her spare time (children permitting!) Jaqueline enjoys literature, theatre and travelling.
You can contact Jaqueline at
Stephanie is responsible for the Search Plus Service and is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She studies English Literature at Goldsmiths College and spends her spare time reading. Her interests are Victorian Literature and cultures, walking in the countryside and dancing to Kate Bush songs. You can contact Stephanie at
Rosa Porta is working in our customer service team and the day-to-day contact for our customers in Spain. She was born in Spain and graduated in English Literature and French/Spanish Translation at The Metropolitan University in London. Before joining Starkmann she has worked as a Sales Administrator, Translator and Foreign Language Teacher.
She is interested in Performance Poetry, Theatre, Opera, Art and Philosophy and in her free time she also enjoys debating philosophy, creative writing and drawing.
She can be reached at
Finance Department
Sheikh is the Accounts Manager and joined the company in 1985. His hobbies are swimming and travelling, especially to the arabic countries. You can email him at
IT Department
Rodney is the IT Manager and heads up all research into new IT related projects and has been with Starkmann since 1985. When he is not found at Starkmann he enjoys travelling to different parts of the world, paragliding and scuba diving. His email address is
Originally from Canada, Brenda has worked for Starkmann for almost 10 years. She is in charge of standing orders and is the Operations Manager in our Boston Office. Her hobbies include music, sports, backgammon, chess and darts. Her e-mail address is