Bio

Prior to becoming a Principal with WTA Partners during October 2017, Mark operated as an independent strategy and M&A advisor to a diverse range of IT sector and private equity clients. He has worked on nearly fifty successfully completed transactions and has extensive experience on the buy-side through originating, negotiating and structuring bolt-on acquisitions. Mark has also developed a proven methodology to assist stakeholders prepare their businesses for quality exits. Between 2002 and 2010 Mark was a member of the management team tasked with the turnaround (after a public-to-private takeout) of business software vendor Cedar Group. He held roles heading marketing, product strategy/management and M&A and gained valuable experience working with the private equity backer. After several disposals and ten bolt-on acquisitions, the transformed and highly profitable business, rebranded as COA Solutions, secured an excellent exit. He first started in the IT industry in 1979 as a graduate marketing trainee with Burroughs (now Unisys) where he progressed into senior sales and marketing roles. After four years with Honeywell as head of Strategy & Planning, he moved into strategy consulting in 1989 and secured a blue-chip list of IT sector clients including EDS, ICL, Data General and Walker International. In 1995 Mark moved into the ERP software industry as PeopleSoft’s European Marketing Director and subsequently became VP International Marketing as the company’s explosive global growth made it a Silicon Valley poster child. Mark has a BA (Hons) in Economics and an MA from Lancaster University Management School.