Mark is Chief Operating Officer of Burgess, primarily responsible for corporate finance, people, IT, compliance and risk management. He joined Burgess in 2006 as Business Manager, before being appointed COO in 2009. He sits on the Strategic Board and made Partner in 2019.
 
Mark is a lifelong yachting fan and keen sailor, with extensive cruising and keelboat racing experience. Prior to Burgess, he spent eight years within business development and technical roles at IBM, followed by 12 years in the travel industry as managing director of two niche tour operators and as finance director of a privately-owned travel company.

As Honorary Partner, Mark is heavily invested in the day-to-day governance of the company at both strategic board and department head level. He was one of the founding architects of the Burgess Partnership Scheme, which was established in 2019.

'The key objective of the Partnership Scheme was the engagement of senior employees both in governance and the strategic development of the company, while also giving those with vast experience of the yachting industry and a robust understanding of developments both within and outside of the yachting sphere some ownership interest,' he says. 'It also encourages the adoption of cross-company initiatives, such as the highly successful Burgess mentoring scheme.'
 
Mark is responsible for safeguarding the financial health of the company, the core of which has always been brokerage, charter and yacht management. This includes overseeing the company’s growth from 70 to more than 250 employees and the worldwide expansion of its strategically placed offices, including Burgess’ first international joint venture in Asia in 2015.

Mark welcomes the high level of diversity that comes with a multi-faceted financial operations role and that plays to his strengths in general management, strategy and leadership. He believes his Burgess legacy is in establishing steadfast discipline and consistency to the company’s approach to financial reporting.

'One of the most important tasks of a Chief Operating Officer is being able to see the big picture across all departments and to recognise the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead,' he says.