Capita plc has appointed an international business leader as its new head of technology solutions, as the company continues to transform and build its senior leadership team.
Mark Cook takes up the role of executive officer for Technology Solutions, with a position on the Executive Committee, reporting directly to chief executive Jon Lewis.
Mark has been at Capita for the last three months as interim executive officer for People Solutions.
In his new role at Capita, he will run the company’s former IT & Networks business which, amid a new digital technology transformation plan, will now go to market as the newly renamed Technology Solutions division.
He will also oversee the internal IT function, unifying technology across Capita and providing a robust and resilient platform for growth.
Jon Lewis said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark as a permanent member of the senior leadership team at Capita and look forward to working further with him.
Mark brings more than 30 years’ experience of transformation in the technology sector, much of it at a senior leadership level. It includes multiple M&A successes, turnarounds, sales growth and strategic change programmes in Europe, North America and Asia.
Most recently, he led a start-up, Investment Services, based in London and New York, delivering IT services and solutions to private equity firms and privately owned companies.
Mark was previously under the umbrella of Aurelius Investment, the Munich-based European private holding company, where he was chief executive of Getronics for five years. He oversaw its growth into a global digital technology company – and eventual sale in 2017 to an American consortium for 18 times its original purchase price.
Before that, Mark built up Druid, another IT start-up, and sold it in 2000 in a $1bn deal, going on to play a leading role at its successor companies, Xansa plc and Groupe Steria.
An accountant, systems analyst and management consultant, Mark’s career also spans the delivery of major multi-million pound transformation programmes for leading companies and organisations including Diageo, Boots and the BBC.
Mark Cook said: “I am honoured to be taking up this new role at Capita to lead its technology solutions business.
“Capita is a remarkable business with great tech credentials and the proven ability to provide solutions for clients’ needs alongside a compelling commercial proposition.
“The changes now being put in place at Capita demonstrate just how important the tech agenda and digital transformation are to the company’s future success and growth.”
Joe Hemming, executive officer for IT & Networks since 2016, had previously announced his intention to retire next year. He will continue as a special adviser to Jon Lewis until his retirement.
Jon Lewis added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to again thank Joe Hemming. He has done a fantastic job transforming IT & Networks over the last three years.”
