Nation’s Chief Entrepreneur recognised with RGU honorary award

In a career spanning over 30 years, Mark is also a Professor of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow and a Senior Enterprise Fellow at the University of Strathclyde. In 2022, he was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for his contribution to Scotland’s technology industry.

Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Mark has had a stellar career in business and entrepreneurship and I’m delighted that Robert Gordon University is recognising him and his achievements.

“His work in female entrepreneurship particularly has been a source of inspiration for the University and our embedded culture of innovation and curiosity has been greatly enhanced by his contribution.”

Mark was integral in the growth and success of Skyscanner, one of Europe's most successful technology companies, where he was Chief Operating Officer and responsible for its general management prior to the firm’s sale of £1.45bn in 2016.

In 2014, the Institute of Directors named Mark Director of the Year and in 2016 he won the UK Digital Masters award for Excellence in General Management. Later, in 2019, he was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Glasgow.

In 2022, Mark was appointed as Chief Entrepreneur by the Scottish Government, the first role of its kind. He is the author of the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review (STER) and co-author, with Ana Stewart, of Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship. These reviews, together, form the foundation of the Scottish Government’s policy for entrepreneurial ecosystem development.

Additionally, Mark is also co-founder of Ipso-Facto Management, a consultancy to start-up and scale-ups in the tech sector nationally and internationally, an investor and a non-executive director.

He was recognised with a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) award at the Music Hall in Aberdeen.