Martin Brooks was born in Manchester and started his career in journalism as a junior reporter at the Oldham Press Agency, working for local and national newspapers, television and local radio. 

He joined Piccadilly Radio in Manchester as a reporter/producer on its launch in 1974 before moving to the BBC in 1976.  He held a number of senior editorial, production and management roles across the North before being appointed Head of Centre, Leeds in 1991, responsible for all regional television coverage in Yorkshire & Humberside and four local radio stations.

In 1997 he moved back across the Pennines to become Head of Regional and Local Programmes in the North West.  Martin also worked as a key member of the BBC North Project team, helping plan the moves of five major BBC departments and 1,500 staff from London to Salford.  After 30 years with the BBC, Martin took early retirement in 2007 and set up his own media consultancy business, MKB Media Limited.