Experience

The Christchurch Star Company

• New Zealand
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director

  • May 2013 - Present

  Charlotte Smulders is a director and Publisher of Star Media (formerly the Christchurch Star Company and Mainland Press), a diversified media company publishing regional newspapers; local and national magazines, producing events and which recently launched Star Live (www.starlive.kiwi) New Zealand's first completely local, live-streamed broadcast channel. The company is owned by Charlotte and her husband Pier.In 2013, Mainland Press acquired the South Island businesses of APN New Zealand, including the Star, The Oamaru Mail, and a stable of community papers as well as two iconic Christchurch events, The Star Home and Leisure Show and The City to Surf (now in its 42nd year).Star Media is the new name of Mainland Press and consolidates The Christchurch Star Company and Mainland Press titles. The acquisition of The Star by our family owned business brings a Christchurch icon firmly back to its roots, having been owned by an out-of- town and multinational company since the 1980s.The company’s heritage dates back to the founding of our city. The Star’s predecessor, The Lyttelton Times, was Christchurch’s first newspaper published on 11 January 1851 – just 26 days after the printing presses arrived on board the Charlotte Jane.The Star itself started as an evening edition of The Lyttelton Times on 14 May 1868, and has been continuously published through to the present day, and is now the largest circulating newspaper in the South Island and the 3rd largest in New Zealand.We are now a diversified media, publishing and events business, and now reach more people in our home region of Canterbury than any other media.As Publisher my role is to oversee our magazine division strategically and the creative direction and editorial content of the titles. I am also very involved in the marketing and organisation of our events and the creative look and direction of our business.



Mainland Press Limited

• Director

  • Apr 2007 - Apr 2013



ACP Media

• Marketing Manager

  • Mar 2005 - Mar 2006



Charlotte Smith boutique

• Owner

  • 2002 - 2004



Reed Business Information

• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Marketing Executive

  • Jun 2000 - Dec 2001



Financial Times

• United Kingdom
• Newspaper Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Marketing Executive

  • Jun 1998 - Jun 2000



PMP Limited

• Australia
• Printing Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Management Trainee Programme

  • Jan 1996 - Dec 1997



Saatchi & Saatchi

• United Kingdom
• Advertising Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Account Executive

  • Jan 1995 - Dec 1995