Could you provide brief sketch of your current role?
I lead the team that drives marketing of Dell solutions to enterprises in more than 140 countries – and run the world’s largest e-commerce site which makes buying and owning Dell simple for businesses.
How does it fit into your career path?
This role combines my background in communications and marketing with driving business online and big dose of entrepreneurship – it’s been natural evolution to this point and perfect stepping stone to broader business role.
What are the main challenges of your job?
My greatest challenges are that online, marketing, and the industry are all in their greatest period of transformation. Keeping pace with that globally, and particularly the massive opportunity afforded by emerging economies, is an exciting challenge.
What are the three learnings you will take from it?
Everything starts with team – ensuring they can succeed in job number one. BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) can’t be an adjunct to your strategy, they have to be the strategy. Social media changes everything.
How do you now view New Zealand as country and an economic/business environment?
I see New Zealand as highly entrepreneurial, but slow-paced, when compared to emerging economies. But it’s great place to do business – very innovative. I like New Zealand’s brilliant emphasis on design.
What sort of ongoing contribution/involvement do you, or would you, like to make to New Zealand’s economic future?
I see myself playing an active role in nurturing – as coach, investor, and director – generation of highly successful New Zealand enterprises online. And, being positive voice for New Zealand on the global stage, building the brand. And, I will continue to ensure the success of Allpress Coffee by drinking lots of it!
Our man at Dell
Prior to joining Dell as vice-president of marketing, Andy Lark was chief marketing officer, LogLogic – hot Silicon Valley start-up; and head of marketing for Sun Microsystems. As founder of Group Lark, he pioneered many of the first business implementations of social media in the United States. His work with New Zealand companies – including No. 8 Ventures – earned him the inaugural KEA World Class NZ Award. Based in Austin, Texas, he is married with daughter, Sophia, and son, Zach. When not growing businesses, he blogs prolifically at thedailylark.com. He has no interest in golf.
• Andy Lark is member of KEA, New Zealand’s global talent community. www.keanewzealand.com
