The Team


Our people have one thing in common: they love events. 

They’re all about the buzz, energy and exhilaration of working in one of the most exciting industries there is. Our team thrives on the interaction, communication and relationships that our work involves. And they relish the challenges inherent in the design and delivery of your event. Scroll down to meet them!

Tommy Reynolds

Account Manager

Immie McCalman

Event Manager

Jenny McGilvray

Senior Account Manager

Mike McCloy

Senior Account Manager

Ramu Kumarappen

Finance Director

Rhys Paterson

Account Executive

Ross Gardiner

Operations Director

Sarah Esslemont

Managing Director

Iain Heriot

Warehouse Manager

OurStory

’89
’90
’91
’92
’98
’99
’00
’01
’02
’03
’06
’07
’08
’09
’10
’11
’12
’13
’16
’19
’20
’21
’24
1989

John Strachan and Jamie Alexander set up Alexander Strachan Limited trading as The Survival Game. This was paintball at its infancy, the third site in Scotland, based in Kirknewton.

(Pic: John’s wife and co-director, Lucy)

1990

John leans on his army background and develops an outdoor team building service using a range of “command tasks” as used for officer selection for Sandhurst. John moves to Kirknewton and sets up the office in a spare bedroom.

(Pic: This is the first ever “team building” event. The client was Scottish & Newcastle. In orange, co-founder Jamie Alexander.)

1991

Renaming of the business to Maximillion Events Ltd and The Survival Game sold. Maximillion focuses on Team Building and Corporate Events.

(Pic: John hard at work, note; no PC, we had an electric typewriter.)

1992

UK Bungee Club (Scotland) set up. John and Lucy would go on launch over 10,000 jumpers from cranes throughout Scotland over the next three years.

(Pic: Tom Burnet who would soon join Maximillion as Sales & Marketing Director.)

1998

Kirknewton Stables. Owned by the Welwoods, developed as a conference and wedding venue. Maximillion managed as their “home base” for the next ten years.

1999

Sarah Esslemont starts a full time position as Operations Assistant. Sarah will go onto become our Managing Director, the position she enjoys today.

(Pic: Sarah second from left, bottom row.)

2000

Our second web site wins our first award “Winners on the Web”.

2001

We decide to develop a portfolio of indoor team building products kicking on with Kinetic Connections, Rhythm Rocks, Take5, Mexican Railway, Create & Paint, TeamWorks In.

(Pic: Kinetic Connections assembled in Kirknewton Stables)

2002

Following the successful delivery of a subcontracted It’s A Knockout in La Manga for Deutsche Bank, we purchase a complete set of inflatables to bring the product in house.

2003

Maelstrom launch becoming one of our most popular and successful products. With two identical sets, groups of up to 400 can be facilitated.

(Pic: Marketing Manager Paul Wakefield sprints across the stage.)

2006

Launched Eden. Eden was conceived by John and developed with Gamesman Productions as an event that would encourage improved sustainable behaviour at home and at work.

(Pic: Stuart “the moff” Moffat mans the desk.)

2007

Set up our London office in Isleworth with Catie Friend and Mark Johnston at the helm.

(Pic: Mark Johnston in his big hair phase.)

2008

Maximillion buys a 3000 sq ft office and 9000 sq ft warehouse in Newbridge on the outskirts of Edinburgh and set about an extensive refurbishment creating an exemplar of sustainable buildings.

2009

Reeling from the financial crash of 2008, Maximillion enters survival mode forcing widespread redundancies and sub letting surplus space to new tenants. Meanwhile, we win at the Scottish Thistle Awards

2010

Gold Star awarded by Green Tourism Business Scheme. Only ten gold stars are awarded each year to the ten most sustainable business out of a membership of over 2000.

(Pic: Nick Aitken collects)

2011

Sign a license agreement with Wildgoose for the Scottish territory providing GPS treasure hunts from iPads and being the first to provide the service in Scotland.

2012

MadMax Adventures launched.  A multi activity centre on Kirknewton Estate  west of Edinburgh offering clay pigeon shooting, quad bike trails, archery and 4×4 offroad driving.

2013

Sign a ten-year contract to set up and run “Turnberry Adventures” at the five star Turnberry Resort. Providing the same suit of activities as MadMax Adventures.

2016

MadMax Adventures sold to Newhall Estate who continue to run the centre in Kirknewton to this day.

2019

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary.

(Pic: Team on our 20th Anniversary in 2009.)

2020

Covid wreaks havoc throughout the events industry.  Fortunately, Maximillion is able to leverage the Wildgoose technology and does well providing virtual team building and virtual conferences. Virtual and hybrid events are now here to stay.

2021

Turnberry Adventures wound down, the level of business enjoyed not justifying the resource to maintain the service.

2024

New web site launched together with a brand refresh. This is our fifth web site giving an average of a new web site every seven years.

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

Sustainability has always been important to Maximillion.

We liaise closely with our clients and suppliers to ensure that our events have as little impact on our environment as possible.

Green Events

To run a green event, we need to collaborate closely with our clients and suppliers.

We’re passionate about working together to raise awareness and achieve tangible outcomes in striving to preserve our natural environment, promote a healthy, inclusive society and support a thriving economy. To that end, we have developed a range of environmentally themed activities that are ideal for giving your event a strong sustainability theme. Get in touch with the team to explore making your event as green as possible.

Work with us

Are you passionate about the events and client service industry?

Do you have a positive “can do” attitude? Are you an ambitious event professional with outstanding customer service and attention to detail? Would you like to work for a highly respected, ambitious and fun company? Then Maximillion may be the very place for you!

We’d love to hear from you and explore what opportunities there are for you to work with Maximillion, either as part of our full-time team or freelance event team.

Ready to create your event or just want to find out more? Either way, we’re waiting to hear from you.

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