Marc has a BA Hons from Wolverhampton University in Business Administration in addition to a Higher National Certificate in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Marc has vast experience working for many years at a variety of electronics manufacturers as a marketing & sales manager.

Marc has a strong interest in talent development and coaching, marketing automation and new technology particularly in the fields of IoT, electric vehicles, renewable energy and building safety.

How did you become involved in the Smart Buildings industry?
My involvement in smart buildings actually stemmed from a personal interest by initially experimenting at home with various connected technologies. This personal interest then evolved into various work based assignments associated with general building control systems such as KNX and then latterly in lighting and emergency lighting connected systems.

What excites you about the Smart Buildings industry?
Probably the potential that still remains. Technology and applications continue to evolve to benefit our climate and environment through energy efficiency, employee wellbeing and from this in many cases business performance.

Are there any particular technologies that we should be aware of, but are currently under the radar?
Several innovative technologies exist to improve the safety of building occupants – in terms of both preventing and minimising threats. For instance, adaptive evacuation signage and smart emergency lighting solutions have been built following research into crowd behaviour and advances in scenario-modelling technology to direct people out of a building in the safest way during an emergency – minimising the risk to occupants in case of fire or a terrorist event. On the preventative side, arc fault detection devices (AFDD) work to prevent the occurrence of electrically ignited fires in the first place. The devices digitally monitor wires for specific frequencies that can indicate an arc fault in the system which can lead to a fire. They can be installed alongside traditional circuit devices like miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs) to reduce the risk of fires

What services does your company offer?
Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help customers effectively manage electrical and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. These services aim to improve quality of life and the environment through the use of power management technologies. We sell our products and services to customers in more than 175 countries.

Are people aware of the regulations that they will need to comply with in the near future?
With regards to the legislative changes to High Rise Residential Buildings (HRRBs), it will take some time before the scope of new legislation to improve building safety is clear. Policy makers and industry bodies are aware of the changes but certain groups will be affected differently – for instance, the electrical industry can expect a stronger and more effective regulatory and accountability framework, a cultural change around responsibility and further mandated use of up-to-date fire safety technology in HRRBs.

What are the benefits of a smart building?
Smart buildings that prioritise safety can also deliver a competitive edge in the marketplace. Rewards range from attractiveness to stakeholders to lower insurance premiums, and placing a high importance on building safety – delivered through smarter technology – can also make city planners and councils more likely to accept renovations. A wide variety of technological improvements exist today which can help protect buildings against the changing nature of risk today. With these advances in technology, building owners and managers must re-evaluate the way they protect people and property – recognising the higher level of safety which can be achieved through the implementation of these new technologies.

Who has been the biggest influence in your career?
I will not name names but a sales director I previously worked with. It’s probably a marriage made in hell on the surface but someone who despite working together acted as an informal mentor, has allowed me to think bigger picture, self-reflect more often and continues to act as a bit of a mentor today.

What is the question you are most often asked in your business life?
“Why”. Increasingly in my career I’ve been involved in emerging technologies and I love been asked the question “why” and essentially “what’s in it for me”. I enjoy being able to share experiences of how technology has emerged, the solutions it provides and the experiences of early adopters.

What are the best/worst things about your job?
I love the variety of working in marketing. One of my previous bosses once said its one of the few roles that touches nearly every part of a business (when it works). I probably hate the misconception that sometimes still exists that marketing is about catalogues. The discipline has come a long way since then!

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?
First I’d say you’ve chosen a brilliant industry! My single biggest piece of advice would be to be receptive to change. I’ve seen the industry develop over many years but the rate of change is now accelerating and you will need to embrace it and continuously learn.

What living person do you admire and why?
Probably my wife. She’s one of the most determined people I’ve met and has constantly stood up to new challenges

Where would you most like to live?
I spent brief periods of time living in the Netherlands previously and would like to do this for a longer period if the opportunity arose. I think it’s a fantastic country, very family orientated and a good outlook on work/home balance. A little known fact but also the tallest nationality in the world, so unfortunately I will not blend in well.

What is your favourite book?
I’m currently reading “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About The World”. It was recommended at a conference I went to recently and its brilliant. I like fact based reading and it basically makes you realise the world is a far better place than we sometimes think!

How do you relax?
I’m really active outside work and actually relax the most when running. I love it when I find myself in the middle of the Shropshire countryside working things out in my mind and forgetting you are actually running. It can be quite serene.

What sports team do you support?
Wolverhampton Wanderers (long suffering).

What is your desert island disk?
Feeder – Buck Rogers.

What is your ideal holiday?
We go to the USA fairly regularly, my wife and children are Disney addicts! But I’d really like for us to get down to Australia in the next few years.