MSE News

Martin Lewis

Money Saving Expert

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis is an award-winning 41-year-old ultra-specialised journalist, TV & radio presenter and bestselling author. He created the site in Feb 2003, which has nearly 10,000,000 users a month, and is still Editor-in-Chief working with the team, writing some of the guides, and being a money saving pedant.

He was most searched man in UK 2009 & 2010, has an average Scrabble score of over 400 at Scrabble (and not dissimilar at golf), was named most powerful man on the high street by The Grocer mag in 2011, has featured in a top 40 bank charges protest single, and is married to Mrs MSE (Lara)

Read Martin’s full biography and Martin's blog

Amy Ellis

Money Features Writer

Amy joined MSE in March 2013 as money features writer. She’s responsible for writing new money guides as well as updating old ones. Previously she worked as a features writer at Financial Adviser.  Amy was also a senior reporter at Post, a magazine for the insurance industry, after qualifying as a journalist in 2009.

Having danced since she was three years old, Amy enjoys nothing more than popping along to Pineapple Dance Studios in her spare time to do a class, going back to her home town to watch Norwich play football (hopefully not getting thrashed), or printing off some restaurant vouchers to catch up with friends.

Andrea Hirai

Forum Editorial Liaison
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Andrea joined in 2004 as the first member of the editorial team, having been a site user for over a year before. As Forum Editorial Liaison, she helps answer questions from site users and companies. Before MSE, Andrea was a Spanish, Italian and Portuguese technical freelance translator following a similar role at FT.com.

At home, Andrea's a mum of two excitable and beautiful little girls. After working & chasing the littl'uns to eat their tea Andrea’s hobbies include bargain-grabbing (especially gratifying was a quadruple whammy of garden shed in the sale, pre-VAT increase, on a cashback card, via a cashback website), swimming, growing her own veg, relaxing with a good book, and watching her solar panel display in hope whenever the sun comes out.

Archna Luthra

Planning/Email Editor
See all News items by Archna Luthra

Archna's primary responsibility is ensuring the weekly email is ship-shape plus planning everyone's schedules. She also looks after the energy, home phones, mobiles and shopping articles.

Her proudest MoneySaving moment came when she finally conquered her university debt hangover. She's happiest when saving money on clothes, chocolate and booze as she's known to enjoy the occasional (cheap) tipple! Archna was fresh from uni when she joined MSE as a researcher and is thrilled to have climbed the ranks to become chief games tester, among other things!

Becca Talbot

Researcher
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Becca is the newest member of the editorial desk, joining in May 2011 after three years as a content writer and sub editor at Consumerchoices.co.uk. She knows a thing or two about broadband packages, mobile phones, HD tellys, iPads and data roaming - which is lucky as she's now MSE's tech writer, helping us scout out the cheapest deals.

Outside of work, she's a keen gardener (growing tomatoes in a little greenhouse on her balcony), a fan of vouchers and discount coupons, and has an eBay buying (and selling) addiction. Her thrifty nature comes from her mum, who never spends a penny on something she can't do or make herself.

Daniel Lawrence

Researcher (Consumer)
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Daniel is in charge of all the site's technology content. He writes both features and news, as well as keeping track of the latest bargains. Daniel also compiles weekly money tips and designs the layout of new articles.

Dan Plant

Web Editor
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Dan researches and writes 'pure money' content for the website, and is responsible for ensuring all information is up-to-date. He is a member of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, and regularly appears on local BBC radio stations talking about MoneySaving. Dan joined MSE from university in 2004 after finishing his Maths degree that year. He completed an MSc in Politics while during his first few months at MSE Towers.

Dan is the honorary MoneySaving nerd (excluding Martin!), most content checking out Clause 7.0.1 (Sub-section 4a) of a credit card's terms and conditions. Outside the office, he likes spending time with friends and his cats, lambasting far fitter professional sportspeople and shouting at the TV!

Darryl Chamberlain

Sub-editor

Darryl's main job is to prowl the site and weekly email looking for grammatical errors and other howlers, before putting them out of their misery. Convoluted language makes him sad, and he tries to make the site and email as easy to read as possible. He joined MSE in January 2012, after a freelance spell reporting and blogging for local news websites in south-east London, and before that, a decade as a senior journalist on the BBC News website's entertainment section.

His proudest MoneySaving moment came when he reclaimed £1,150 in overpaid council tax thanks to Martin's guide. As MSE's resident transport geek, he's got a sharp eye for a cheap rail fare and loves nothing better than a long train journey with a good book to watch live music somewhere in Europe. The money he saves goes on watching Charlton Athletic, who sometimes give him as much pleasure.

Deborah Heston

Researcher
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Deborah is part of the MSE deals team which specialises in finding the site's fun deals. She works primarily on finding the best discount vouchers for eating out, shopping and days out. Deborah worked in law before joining MSE in 2008 and is glad everyday she decided to change her career.

Deborah enjoys eating out (all in the name of research, of course) shopping (ditto), making and drinking cocktails and teaching her boyfriend to play tennis.

Debs Baker

Editorial Assistant
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Debs joined MSE's deals team in January 2012. In addition to researching and blagging offers for the site, she collates the content for the weekly email, as well as putting together its MoneySaving Community section. Debs studied English at university and before working at MSE, lived and taught English in South America with her boyfriend for seven months.

For Debs, MoneySaving is a way of life, but aside from sourcing (and taking advantage of) bargains, she can often be found with her nose in a good book, at the gym or baking sweet treats for her colleagues, friends and family.

Guy Anker

News Editor
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Guy covers just about every aspect of MoneySaving, though he specialises in banking, borrowing and saving. He's also the site's video producer so will help film and edit video content. He joined MSE in December 2008 after a year as assistant producer on Martin Lewis's It Pays to Watch on Five. Before that, he was a personal finance reporter at the Daily Mail.

His MoneySaving skills are best demonstrated when haggling. He never misses a chance to get a few quid off when shopping for clothes or to cut his digital TV and mobile phone bills by playing the 'I'm going to cancel my account' card.

Helen Knapman

News Reporter
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Helen works in the editorial team where her main role includes writing news stories for the site and researching topics for Martin’s external broadcasts, such as ITV Daybreak and Radio Five Live. She's a relative newbie to the team after joining at the start of 2011. Before MSE Helen spent her time interning for various publications and briefly working in retail after graduating from university in 2010 with a degree in Multi-Media Journalism.

In her spare time Helen enjoys rooting through stores for sales bargains and thrifted accessories to join her ever expanding wardrobe as well as putting restaurant vouchers to good use with her friends.

Jenny Keefe

Senior Writer
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As MoneySavingExpert.com's senior writer, Jenny writes on a wide array of consumer subjects, including travel, money-making, mental health and debt, shopping and property.

Born in the glorious county of Essex, Jenny got the book Free Stuff for Kids for her eighth birthday, and so her fascination with MoneySaving began. She studied English literature at university and later taught English in Japan, before doing a journalism MA.

Marcel Le Gouias

Features Writer

Marcel works in the consumer team where his role includes writing guides for the site and a few news stories. He's a newbie after starting in April 2013. He has been a journalist for 10 years and has worked at a range of publications including regional newspapers; music magazines; film websites and national newspapers. After specialising in finance, launching and editing magazines in the process, he felt compelled to help fight the MoneySavers' corner.

His haggling skills recently improved after going head-to-head with Egypt's market sellers - true masters of this fine art. Despite the name, he is somewhat lacking a Gallic accent.

Paloma Kubiak

Researcher

Paloma joined MSE in July 2011 as a deals researcher and writer, helping the team scout out the hottest bargains for the weekly email and website. Previously, she worked for a freelance investigative reporter, as a Senior Multi-media Journalist for Trinity Mirror and was a presenter and engineer at Radio Northwick Park (though her friends would say this didn't improve her music taste!).

In her free time, Paloma enjoys reading, having been a member of a book club since 2008, as well as long strolls and cycle rides in the summer. She loves travelling, having toured parts of the US, India, Dubai, China and Hong Kong and is slowly conquering Europe. Her weaknesses are chocolate and snoozing and an occasional glass or two of rosé in good company.

Rose Harris-Birtill

Writer
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Rose researches and road-tests the best consumer bargains, writing for MSE's articles, guides, deals pages and its news service. Before arriving at MSE, Rose studied for an MA in English Literature and worked as a freelance copywriter.

Rose's MoneySaving skills are most evident when she's negotiating, deal hunting, and swiping chocolate-related freebies. She's happiest sniping typos, clinging to the back of a motorbike, and making use of free cinema tickets (though not all at the same time!).

Sally Francis

Researcher
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Sally joined MSE in July 2011 as editorial assistant for the money team and helps ensure the accuracy of savings, credit card, loan and banking articles as well as sourcing the best products. Prior to working at MSE, she spent a year teaching in Tokyo after graduating in 2009 from a degree in Law and Politics.

A keen runner, Sally can often be seen pounding the pavements and, having completed the Tokyo Marathon in Feb 2011, she’s now gearing up for London. Originally from Essex, she has yet to conquer the north of England, but she enjoys travelling abroad, eager to snap up flight and hotel bargains to make the most of visiting family and friends.

Steve Brook

Writer

Steve joined MSE as part of the deals team in May 2012, having previously worked in PR and daily deals. He specialises in researching sales and offers at some of the UK's most popular high street retailers and, as a consequence, knows far more about women's fashion than he ever imagined he would.

Having studied Spanish and French at university, he likes to spend the money he saves on the high street travelling abroad, practising his languages. He also enjoys following his football team, West Ham United, and watching live music.

Tony Forchione

Insurance Analyst

Tony joined MSE Towers in September 2011 as part of the editorial team. His specialist subject is anything and everything Insurance related – whether it is to help you find the right deal or what you should be looking out for when selecting the type of cover. All this knowledge was gained from a number of years working for an insurance broker and a financial research company.

When not reading, researching or dreaming of insurance - or completing his Foundation Degree in Business Management, he loves spending time with his wife, impressing her with shopping vouchers and visiting family in Northern Ireland. He also has two young boys and has great fun causing mischief with them - when Mrs F is not watching of course. Tony also loves all things Italian – food, football and mafia films.

Wendy Alcock

Campaigns Coordinator
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As the campaigns coordinator, Wendy strives to ensure consumers know how to complain and reclaim when things go wrong, or get benefits and debt support if they need a bit of help to get along. As well as empowering today's consumers she also campaigns for stronger rights in the future, such as fairer banking for all and young people's right to financial education.

Before joining MSE in 2007, Wendy worked for Trading Standards and the Citizens Advice Bureau in an attempt to redress the balance between consumers and the corporate beast. This is something she continues to do with a vengeance although she also likes to relax at the end of the day by sitting in her garden with a home-made cocktail.

Darren Gough

Lead Designer / Forum Manager

Darren is in charge of the Forum on a daily basis, managing the Forum Team and working closely with MSE's legal team to ensure smooth running, as well as looking at ways to develop and enhance it. He has a background in publishing and a good understanding of media law and social networking, enhanced by a degree in Corporate Communication.

A keen supporter of the mighty Everton FC, he still believes he can do a job in midfield, despite his wooden knees. Enjoys most sports and ran the London Marathon 3 minutes faster than Iwan Thomas. Sorry Iwan. Also likes oddly named ales, music and ways to make those two things as cheap as possible. Always turns amp to 11.

Katherine

General Counsel

Katherine is responsible for all legal issues relating to MoneySavingExpert.com and the Forum. She works closely with the Forum Teams to address any complaints we receive and encourage our users to express themselves in a friendly and factual manner. Katherine also devotes considerable time to protecting users by stopping people using MoneySavingExpert or Martin's name to flog their wares or ride on our coattails!

After several years representing large companies in the City, Katherine is happy to be supporting the rights of consumers. In her spare time Katherine enjoys cooking, travelling and practising yoga.

Biographies of the technical and other members of the team coming soon...

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