Adrian Webster graduated in Classics from Oxford University and has spent over 30 years in consumer non-fiction and reference publishing, in both print and electronic media. He was Managing Director of Mitchell Beazley, then Websters International Publishers (from its foundation in 1983), and concurrently at various times, of The Economist Books, The Organiser Company and Rodale Books International. He has been a long-term international publishing consultant to World Book Inc and then Microsoft. In 1994 he and his wife, Susannah Webster, set up Websters Multimedia which specializes in all aspects of content provision and localization for electronic media. Websters Multimedia now has offices in London, Paris, Munich, Madrid, Milan and the Seattle area.

Adrian has always specialized in the implementation of major international projects and played a key role in the establishment of Microsoft’s Encarta Encyclopedia internationally. He was instrumental in creating and launching the Joy of Knowledge Encyclopedia (The Random House Encyclopedia). He developed the leading international programme of wine information products (books at Mitchell Beazley, followed by books, CD-ROMs, online sites and mobile phone products at Websters).

With his wife Susannah — see below — he developed The American Express Pocket Travel Guides, The Economist Business Traveller's Guides and DK's Eyewitness Travel Guides.