Marcus Fazio

Marcus Fazio is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in commercial and strategic roles, specializing in supporting clients in achieving their business objectives. With a strong focus on structuring sustainable deals, Marcus has extensive experience in investment banking across various industries in London, Tokyo, and Melbourne, with a particular expertise in the Asian market, especially in Japan. Having worked in areas such as publishing (both print and digital), healthcare, educational software, food exports, infrastructure, aircraft finance, social enterprises, licensing, and structured finance, Marcus has showcased his versatility and proficiency in navigating complex business landscapes.

In 1999, Marcus ventured into the world of boutique business consultancy, starting with Lonely Planet as his first client. Over the years, he successfully advised the company on a spectrum of issues, skillfully negotiating licensing and supply contracts globally. Marcus also plays a pivotal role as an advisor to Tony and Maureen Wheeler, the founders of Lonely Planet, facilitating significant transactions such as the sale of a majority stake in Lonely Planet to BBC Worldwide and the Wheelers' acquisition of a stake in Text Publishing. Additionally, Marcus holds trustee positions at the Planet Wheeler Foundation and director roles in esteemed organizations like Text Publishing, Chemical Media, Fitted for Work (a not-for-profit entity), and a Japanese distributor of medical products.

Marcus's passion for innovation and entrepreneurship shines through his venture into developing a foreign language vocabulary learning App in collaboration with a partner. His expertise spans across a myriad of domains including business strategy, philanthropy, negotiation support, Japan-related business, publishing, licensing, litigation support, and translating and interpreting Japanese. Marcus's educational background includes a BA (Hons) in Japanese and Law from Monash University, an LLM in Commercial Law from Hitotsubashi University, and additional studies at Geelong Grammar.