Mark is a business economist who spent his full-time career advising clients in the public and private sectors on economic policy in over 40 countries as far apart as Argentina and Papua New Guinea. In his last role as Chief Economist at Ernst & Young he worked extensively on initiatives to create a more balanced UK economy and spent time supporting the EY Foundation’s effects to improve the pathways into professional services for disadvantaged young people. He retired from EY in 2021 to try to help improve economic outcomes in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, where he grew up, and similarly challenged places through working with purposeful businesses. He is a Visting Professor at the University of Staffordshire, member of the Advisory Board at Keele University, Chair of the Stoke-on-Trent Economic Growth Board, a Trustee of the Claybody Theatre,  member of the policy board of UK Private Capital, an advisor to The Good Economy and the Economist Non-Executive Director of the UK Endorsement Board.

He is slightly obsessive about sport, especially football on which he published a book More Than a Game: Saving Football From Itself. He is a Stoke City supporter, still playing football, becoming obsessed with Padel and constantly trying to improve his Spanish.

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