Page 22 - BOSS Today Issue 60

BOSS Today #60 60 SECOND INTERVIEW

Ice Man

60 second Interview: BOSS Today talks to Mark Wilkinson, a new BOSS board member.

BT: Congratulations on being to have a good career within the close to the core industry players
appointed as a new BOSS board industry, I should in some small whilst reaching out to new players
member! Please can you describe way find opportunities to give in areas that we did not consider as
your career up to this point? something back. part of workplace solutions before
the pandemic. Personally, I believe
MW: After stints with ICI PLC and BT: Specifically, what skills and that BOSS needs to segment its
Lucas Industries PLC, I joined insights do you believe that you can offering to resellers and vendors
ACCO Brands in 1998 in a junior bring to the BOSS board? so that it brings real value to all
marketing role. But quickly found players, regardless of their size and
that I was drawn to the world of MW: I have a broad knowledge of the place in the industry. BOSS needs
sales. I’ve been fortunate to have industry, and in my current roles to nuance its offering to ensure it is
had a wide range of opportunities with ACCO I get to cover a lot of relevant to all.
in ACCO, covering trade marketing, topics, so I believe I have a broad
product marketing, sales (national wealth of experience to share BT: What opportunities do you think
accounts and sales management), across a lot of different functional BOSS can take up over the next two
right up to Vice President of Sales areas. I’m not a specialist by years?
for EMEA. For the last seven years any means, so I don’t have a
I have been Regional Vice President Mastermind specialist subject, MW: Our industry is going through a
& General Management ACCO UK but there are plenty of areas period of change and it is vital for
& Ireland and most recently I had where I can make a meaningful us to address the challenges we
added our International Fine Arts contribution. I’m looking forward face and to adapt. I firmly believe
Supplies business (Derwent) to that to supporting the talented group of that this industry has a bright
role, selling arts supplies to 100 folks who are already on the board. future, and BOSS can help with this
countries worldwide. by helping bring our collective voice
BT: What challenges do you think to government through lobbying, by
BT: Why have you agreed to become a that BOSS is facing over the next continuing to ensure we have lots
BOSS board member? two years? of networking and development
events and by training our people.
MW: When the opportunity came about, MW: I think BOSS, like the industry Finally it can help bring clarity to
I felt it was something that I could itself, will need to keep re-inventing the challenging topics of the day
not turn down. I am a passionate itself to remain relevant, as our through its special interest groups.
supporter of our industry and own industry faces up to the
believe that in being part of BOSS challenges of the post Brexit BT: It is wonderful that ACCO agreed
I can help shape our industry economy, digitised working habits to host the Leaders of the Future
body’s focus and responses to the and a hybrid workplace. All of these Conference. Why did ACCO make
challenges and opportunities that challenges mean that the industry this offer?
our industry faces. I also believe as we know it will likely consolidate.
that, having been fortunate enough BOSS will need to ensure it remains

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