Mark Waller is Dunedin through and through. Born and bred in the Edinburgh of the south, it was only after moving away for work that Mark understood the connection he had to home. And at OneCall we are more than happy that he was drawn back.
Across the world and back again
After finishing high school and obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance/Information Technology) from Otago University, Mark secured a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Dunedin. He spent 14 years learning and refining his craft, through changes in both life and company (PwC became Polson Higgs & Co in 1999.) Eventually he felt ready to move on. “I ended up spending five years working for multinational pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, supporting and managing technology migration projects for over 50,000 users” he says. “I spent a year in their London-based global headquarters before transferring back home to Dunedin, where I supported projects in Japan, Europe and the United States. In the process I became the southernmost of GSK’s 110,000 employees!”
Mark’s most recent role was a dual position as National Bid Manager/Business Development Manager of IT Services for Ricoh New Zealand. “I represented IT services sales in the Otago market, and I managed major and enterprise accounts New Zealand wide.”
A new role at OneCall
Bringing no less than 33 years of varied IT industry experience to the table, at OneCall Mark is the Account Manager for IT and Voice Services. He is tasked with managing the accounts of OneCall customers, reviewing technology needs and making recommendations.
His approach is a consultative one, underlined by a philosophy based on understanding. “It’s important to understand the issue before trying to solve the problem. I like to understand the business reasons behind why a customer is buying technology, and I prefer to focus on the outcomes rather than the tech itself. Having previously run and managed businesses myself, I understand the sorts of challenges business owners face.”
Life outside the office
Mark lives in Mosgiel, a short drive west of Dunedin. He likes to stay active, playing social volleyball and hitting the bike trails whenever he can. He’s often seen cheering on his favourite driver at the speedway or circuit, and equally enjoys relaxing at home with his partner and two Birman cats.
