Mark Wood
Areas of Interest
Alumni, Business, CharityHonorary Award
Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, 2010Biography
Mark Wood is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a Member of the Securities Institute. He is Chairman of Beta, Digitalis Media, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Benefit Solutions and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He is deputy chairman of Paternoster which he founded, and a non executive director of Chaucer, the Lloyds of London insurer and managing agent.
Born in Darlington County Durham, he is a distinguished alumni of Anglia Ruskin University having achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1974 from its forerunner institution, the Cambridge College of Arts and Technology.
Mark went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in London before becoming Treasurer at Commercial Union (now AVIVA). He has subsequently held several senior positions in global institutions working in London and New York for Barclays before becoming the Chief Executive of AXA UK and then Chief Executive of the Prudential's UK and European businesses.
In 2005 Mark founded and became Chief Executive of the hugely successful Paternoster Pension Investment Company, the first of a new breed of specialist insurance companies. Mark raised a record £500m in equity capital to fund the start up. Having established Paternoster as market leader, Mark has recently become Deputy Chairman and invested in and become Chairman of start up digital agency Digitalis and start up advertising agency Beta. Additionally Mark has been appointed Chairman of Jardine Lloyd Thompson's employee benefits and pension advisory businesses.
On top of his business activities Mark has been a long term supporter, and since 2000, a trustee, of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children whose vision is a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. Mark was the Trustee responsible for the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign, raising over £275m. He has since been elected Chairman of the charity.
Citation
"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Mark Wood for the award of Honorary Doctor of Business Administration.
Mark Wood is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a Member of the Securities Institute. He is Chairman of Beta, Digitalis Media, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Benefit Solutions and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He is deputy chairman of Paternoster, which he founded, and a non executive director of Chaucer, the Lloyds of London insurer and managing agent.
Born in Darlington County Durham, he is a distinguished alumni of our University having achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1974 from our forerunner institution the Cambridge College of Arts and Technology.
Mark went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in London before becoming Treasurer at Commercial Union (now AVIVA). He has subsequently held several senior positions in global institutions working in London and New York for Barclays before becoming the Chief Executive of AXA UK and then Chief Executive of the Prudential's UK and European businesses.
In 2005 Mark founded and became Chief Executive of the hugely successful Paternoster Pension Investment Company, the first of a new breed of specialist insurance companies. Mark raised a record £500m in equity capital to fund the start up. Having established Paternoster as market leader Mark has recently become Deputy Chairman and invested in and become Chairman of start up digital agency Digitalis and start up advertising agency Beta. Additionally Mark has been appointed Chairman of Jardine Lloyd Thompson's employee benefits and pension advisory businesses.
On top of his business activities Mark has been a long term supporter, and since 2000, a trustee, of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children whose vision is a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. Mark was the Trustee responsible for the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign, raising over £275m. Last month he was elected Chairman of the charity.
Mark Wood is not only a talented and astute business man, but someone who generously gives his energy and time for the benefit of others. Anglia Ruskin University applauds his outstanding success in business and recognises his more personal crusade to protect the young and vulnerable.
Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Mark Wood for the award of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa."