PROFILE:QUALITIES

Mark began his career in 1991 joining Airtours Holidays where his tenure coincided with the phenomenal growth and success of Airtours in the early 1990's. As a result of such rapid development the Company provided him with a range of career opportunities, most notably as Hotel Contracts Manager and Head of Late Sales where at the age of only 25 he was responsible for the yield of over £200m of committed stock.

Having been approached by a group of high net worth individuals he left Airtours in 1997 to set up a privately funded acquisition and investment vehicle, with specific focus in the travel and leisure sector. This would be his first (but not last) foray into private entrepreneurial ventures where he gained valuable insight from several of the investors all of whom had built and sold companies. Over a two year period he completed deals in excess of £20m, some of which were subsequently sold for several times their original purchase price.

He moved back into the mainstream travel industry in late 1999 holding senior positions at companies including Going Places and Cosmos Holidays. In October 2000 he joined an independent start up call centre and web based business as Commercial Director, subsequently being promoted to Managing Director within 18 months. He helped grow the business to a turnover of £55m, employing 200 employees across a multisite operation.

In early 2004 he was approached by Korn Ferry to join the Board of AirMiles as Travel Division Director with a specific mandate to execute an MBO, buying the Company from British Airways. Along with the MD and FD he was tasked with agreeing terms with BA and raising funds to complete the purchase. Ultimately the MBO failed but this provided Mark with invaluable experience in private equity fund raising as well corporate governance and negotiation. In spite of the failed MBO he remained with AirMiles until April 2005 where with direct responsibility for £100m in sales and a headcount of 400 staff, he delivered the most profitable year in the history of the Travel Division.

Mark's approach to business is very simple in that the key is to have more money coming in than going out, and having worked in several industry sectors over the last 20 years he is yet to come across a company that doesn't fit this model. A fluent Spanish speaker with a strong commercial acumen and great leadership skills. Very much a people person, but will not shy away from difficult decisions or situations and holds integrity and honesty as key qualities.