Mark Bain

The Essential Bits:

• 35 years client-facing career in Financial Services: Expertise in client management, sales management, and senior leadership within Distribution, including 23 years with one of the UK’s leading asset managers – F&C Investments (now Columbia Threadneedle).
• Commercially aware: Managing teams with £1bn sales targets, significant budgets and client partnerships with multi-million £’s revenue.
• Highly collaborative: Has worked on product development, competitor/customer research, and understands all aspects of the Distribution (Sales/Marketing/Product) process.
• The written word: Turning highly technical pieces into plain-English, creating engaging articles, or even building presentations and sales narratives.
• Events: Experienced in both planning and hosting events of various scales. Has presented at many conferences; chaired seminars and round-table client events.

The Cool Stuff:  

• Keen traveller: The travel bug started as a teen in the 80's, touring UK and Europe playing bass in a band. Love our motorhome trips now – the planning and logistical challenges are all part of the fun and have even caught up with friends made all those years ago.
• Music obsessive: DJ across the UK & Europe, spinning rare rhythm & blues and soul records (the classic 7-inch vinyl kind). Still playing the bass in a '60s rhythm & blues band. Music breaks all barriers—it’s like the ultimate human connector. Work can feel like playing in a band; when everyone’s in sync, magic happens.
• Coffee snob:  A would-be barista at home with a proper Italian espresso machine – maybe needs to open a coffee shop one day, playing very cool music too, of course.