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Mark Devonshire
London City Group - Corporate Finance for SME's
Professional Background
Mark Devonshire is a seasoned Merchant Banking and Asset Management professional with an extensive 20-year track record in C-level leadership roles. His deep expertise lies within the realms of Restructurings, Distressed and Turnaround situations, where he has successfully guided numerous financial institutions through challenging fiscal landscapes. A Chartered Certified Accountant by profession, Mark's career trajectory evolved through various high-profile positions, from CFO to trading and investing, culminating in significant roles such as CEO, CIO, and Owner.
Throughout his career, Mark has demonstrated strong and fair leadership qualities, prioritizing open communication and empathy with his team members and stakeholders alike. His management style fosters a conducive work environment that thrives on collaboration, diligence, and strategic thinking. His tenure at Transworld Business Advisors, a leading name in SME business broking, further showcases his commitment to empowering small and micro-sized businesses. With a global presence spanning over 40 years, the organization boasts a remarkable team of around 400 professionals and facilitates over a thousand deals annually, providing vital Corporate Finance services.
Mark’s seasoned understanding of banking, accounting, and finance combined with current financial management skills has enabled him to develop and implement successful Corporate Finance Strategies that address the unique needs of business owners seeking to buy or sell their companies. His strategic foresight in raising private debt and equity stands testament to his proficiency as a trusted advisor in the corporate finance realm.
Education and Achievements
Mark’s educational background is both robust and diverse, having pursued studies at various esteemed institutions. He received an accounting and finance education from The Nottingham Trent University, which laid the groundwork for his career in finance. To refine his business acumen, he also completed a part-time MBA at Kingston University, further enhancing his managerial skills and knowledge in business administration. His early education at GTHS provided him with foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary for his future endeavors.
Over the years, Mark has amassed significant experience and expertise in managing proprietary and third-party monies, particularly navigating difficult credit and equity markets. His worldly perspective is complemented by the rich cultural experiences gained from living on various continents and managing diverse teams across both developed and emerging markets.
His specialized skills are evident in the management of multidisciplinary financial institutions and advisory firms, where he has overseen funds amounting to up to $3 billion in assets under management (AUM). Mark has been a pioneer in setting up High Yield and Distressed trading and investment businesses in Europe, confidently venturing into areas that others had yet to explore.
Achievements
Mark Devonshire has consistently exhibited a keen interest in innovation and disruption, especially in emerging fields such as Fintech, Crypto, and Blockchain. His forward-thinking mindset has positioned him at the forefront of financial trends and technological advancements, enabling him to act as a strategic investor in non-investment grade credit, including distressed restructurings, recovery, and turnaround scenarios. In his previous roles, including senior leadership positions at renowned firms like Merrill Lynch and Standard Bank Group, Mark left a notable mark on the financial landscape, advancing best practices in investment management and corporate finance. His expertise has been instrumental in steering businesses towards their profitability and growth trajectories.
Significant Roles and Contributions
- CEO at Transworld Business Advisors - London City Group: Under his leadership, the firm has excelled in SME corporate finance, ensuring smooth transactions for business owners.
- Formerly CEO & Chief Investment Officer at mTEAM: Developed robust strategies for investment management, contributing to the company’s success.
- Former CEO Asia Pacific at Chenavari Financial Group: Mark played a key role in expanding the company’s reach in the Asia Pacific financial markets.
- Former Managing Director - Head of Principal Credit Group, Europe and Asia at Merrill Lynch: His leadership facilitated comprehensive investment strategies across various sectors.
- Formerly Member of Executive Committee at Standard Bank Group: Contributed to high-level strategic planning and decision-making processes at one of Africa's largest banks.
- Former Chief Investment Officer at Standard Asset Management: Led a team focused on asset management and investment strategies.
- Former General Manager at West Merchant Bank: Oversaw banking operations and growth strategies.
- Former Accountant at MEPC Limited, Granville Merchant Bank, and Bankers Trust: Gained valuable experience in financial reporting and management, establishing a solid foundation for his future career.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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