Some questions for Mark
Question: What do you do to unwind at the end of a long day? Answer: During the summer months I try and get outside as much as possible; Jersey is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors. I like working in the garden or reading with a nice glass of wine. We often look after my daughter’s dogs Oscar and Polly, so we take them with us on cliff path walks. In the winter I tend to see clients for a catch-up after work. I would like to say I regularly workout at the gym, but this rarely happens! I also unwind by tackling mechanical projects in my garage; tinkering with classic cars and motorcycles has been a passion since my early teens.
Question: What do you like most about being a Relationship Manager?
Answer: The connection to people from all walks of life and all different ages, from graduates to CEOs and everything in between. I have been very fortunate and made some fantastic friends from within the industry over the years. I enjoy being part of a team helping a new business to grow, and the many challenges associated with starting a new company. It’s rewarding to see a newcomer, like Butterfield, succeeding in Jersey, particularly when you consider it is the first new bank to open in Jersey in over 30 years.
Question: What do you most dislike about being a Relationship Manager?
selection of wine. One of my favourite places is Vinifera and it has the added bonus of being close to our office.
If I’m not meeting a client after work, I head home to spend the evening with my wife Sarah. Food is a big part of our life and Sarah is a brilliant cook so we always enjoy a great meal together in the evenings. During the summer we try and spend as much time outside as possible so we will have dinner in the garden and only come inside to go to bed. In the winter, after dinner, I will light the fire and read a book. I’m in bed no later than 22:00 p.m. because even though I get up early I still need a good eight hours sleep.
Answer: Paperwork. While I appreciate it’s a necessary evil in the modern world, there is an enormous amount of repetitive data collection required by various stakeholders. However, technological solutions are being developed within the industry, which will bring efficiency gains for both clients and service providers.
Question: How did you become a Relationship Manager? Answer: It’s been a long and rewarding journey; after leaving school I entered the world of finance at age 17. When I began my career, it was possible to start straight from school and learn on the job. The generation after me needed a degree for most jobs; however, for some roles, that seems to be changing again. Relationship management is as much about interpersonal skills as qualifications. There are lots of things you can learn and many ways to develop your skills, but ultimately you must like people, and like talking to them. My career has taken me from money broking into business development through to relationship management. I have been extremely lucky throughout my career, working with some of the best people and companies in the Channel Islands.
Question: What advice would you give someone, either just starting their career or midway through their career, who wants to work in Relationship Management?
Answer: No matter what stage in your career, it’s important to frequently evaluate where you are and where you want to go; be honest - what do you truly want to do? I still see very talented people who are miserable because they are in the wrong roles. You will never be happy if you are doing something you are not passionate about. It sounds simple but if you can find a role you like then you will be happy and flourish. With a relationship management role, it is crucial that you enjoy building relationships. The best single piece of advice would be to embrace change and never stop challenging yourself. Recent events have forced people to significantly adapt how they work, perhaps now the thought of change is not so frightening.
Beyond 20/20 A day in the life of... Page 95
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