Marcus joins Seafish from Compass Point Business Services where, as Managing Director, he led a multi-disciplinary organisation with a staff of 250 and a client base of more than 200,000 Lincolnshire residents.
Under his leadership, Compass Point has established one of the most innovative and successful shared services models in the sector, reducing costs by around 25 per cent.
Marcus has a wealth of senior executive experience in both the public and private sector and it was clear to the interviewing panel that his strategic leadership skills and his proven track record of delivery across a range of different working environments would allow him to quickly add value to the UK seafood industry.
Marcus will take up the position at Seafish in January 2016. Speaking about his appointment, he said: “I am delighted with the news and look forward to starting in my new role. I view the seafood industry as having a vital role to play in underpinning the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the UK. I see the potential to strengthen that role, not only in the traditional communities the industry serves but in the new markets it creates both at home and abroad.”
Marcus’s previous roles include Assistant Chief Executive with Lincolnshire County Council, where he was responsible for leading the Council's cultural and heritage services with 400 staff and a budget of £17million. He was also Director General of the Digital TV Group, leading an influential national industry association to secure the conditions needed to enable digital TV switchover.
“I see a great deal of similarity between this new role and the position I held previously leading a national industry association, the Digital Television Group. That organisation brought the industry supply chain together and helped determine policy, technical standards, communications, research and product testing in order to protect consumer interests, drive innovation and take the industry forward.
“I will be applying all of that knowledge and experience here at Seafish and believe it will help deliver a sustainable, profitable and socially responsible seafood industry.”
Marcus holds a Master of International Business (MBA) from the Ecole Nationale des Pont et Chaussees in Paris, is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers with an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering from Imperial College, London. Marcus was awarded a Sainsbury Management Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1996.
Seafish acting Chair, Brian Young, who led the selection panel for the role, said: “The selection process has been lengthy and robust and while we were faced with an extremely strong candidate list, the interview panel was unanimous in its decision.
“Marcus has strong leadership skills, an engaging style and a demonstrated ability to set strategic vision and lead change programmes, getting the best out of people and taking them with him. Although Marcus does not have seafood industry experience, he has demonstrated a sound understanding of the key strategic issues and a strong ambition to help realise the ambition set out in our Seafish Corporate Plan.
“I know that he will be keen to quickly get out and meet as many of our stakeholders as possible once he has officially started and we all look forward to working with him.”
Marcus lives in Lincolnshire and will be based in Seafish’s Grimsby office. He is married with two young children and enjoys golf and other sports in his spare time.
