Meet The MD

Zaltek Digital is the brainchild of Mark Middleton, an experienced software developer and consultant based in the North East of England. Mark has a background in developing web and mobile-based solutions for businesses, including Sky, Capgemini and Accenture.  Specialising in Drupal, Javascript, React, Node, Flutter and Mongo, Mark understands the importance of choosing the right tools for the job.

Never resting easy, Mark actively strives to determine what works, what doesn’t and how technology can create value for businesses. He’s refined a methodology for delivering software projects focusing on outcomes and business benefits. From reducing costs to saving time and minimising risk, Mark and the Zaltek team harness the power of technology to deliver real results.

Saul Gowens BSc (Hons), PDipBA

Saul is founder of Websand, is an associate lecturer on Data and Direct Driven Marketing for both Newcastle and Northumbria University and works as a partner within Zaltek.

Saul has worked extensively as a project lead and consultant in the field of loyalty marketing for the past 20+ years. Helping organisations across the world to design, implement and manage marketing technology and data driven programmes to improve their business.

Saul has lead projects across different sectors for a diverse set of clients, including Visa, Porsche, National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Airlines, OSN TV, and Tech Nation.

Ben Mawhinney

Passionate about product development and the potential of the industry to solve problems and create positive change in the World.

With an extensive background in product design & digital marketing and with 20 years experience in the software industry, Ben is the founder of Drone Industries, a company that makes software products for drone operators. Has provided consultancy to the European Union for their Counter-UAV strategy and has flown drones for the British Army. Prior to this, Ben was founder of an app design agency and has worked on projects for ITV, Cranfield University and British Aerospace.

Recent project work includes working with The National Archives to evaluate using AI & machine learning to classify documents and drawings.

Outside of work you can talk to me about video games, science fiction novels and Japanese sportscars from the turn of the century.

Emma Nicol

After graduating from Northumbria University’s prestigious Design School with a First in Interaction Design, Emma initially joined the team as a user interface designer before getting involved with User Research in a range of high profile Government software projects. In her spare time, Emma loves dogs and Richard Ayoade.

Craig Cooper

DevOps master, Craig graduated from the University of York with a Degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering. An experienced systems developer, Craig specialises in cloud based hosting and processing, and the deployment and maintenance of complex systems.

David Haigh

David is founder and Creative Director of Beatnik Studio, an award winning web design and branding agency.  David has worked with a host of brands including JD Sports, Blacks, Bdaily, Fashion Union and Ground Six.

As a Zaltek partner David brings creative direction to our digital projects in the form of innovative user experiences and exciting interface designs.

Away from design, David is a keen surfer, trail runner and rock climber who loves travelling and art.

Ailis Collins

Ailis has just graduated from Liverpool John Moore’s University with a First Class Honours in Business in Marketing, achieving the highest mark in the year in her final project and having a newspaper article written about it too. Now she has joined the team as social media manager running campaigns for our clients.

Outside of work Ailis enjoys travelling, music events and going for drinks with friends. You will most likely find her watching anything with Danny DeVito or Paul Rudd in!

Diji Solanke

Diji is a hard working Drupal developer. He’s building his knowledge base on current and emerging programming technologies / paradigms such as Flutter and tech stacks like M.E.R.N.

Outside of tech, he speaks four languages and is a trained professional musician proficient on more-than four instruments.

He models professionally and enjoys a game of chess from time to time.

Favourite pastime: FOOD.

Abe Caymo

Abe is a software developer who specialises in React using the M.E.R.N stack. He enjoys learning new things and embraces the fact that the ever-changing tech industry will always give him new tools to solve current problems. He has recently worked with GM Genuine Parts to help them transition to a better front-end development workflow thus improving developer efficiency and saving time for their business. Outside of work, you’ll either find him playing basketball, video games, or learning new hobbies.

Currently playing : Valorant