New Principal in M&A Consulting at Merit Harbor Group

TACOMA, Wash. - March 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Merit Harbor Group recently announced that Mark Spickett will be joining the firm’s consulting practice with a focus on preparing Merit Harbor’s clients for an M&A event.

Mr. Spickett brings a wealth of international M&A consulting experience to Merit Harbor. He specializes in both advising and leading acquisition transaction strategy and execution, building corporate acquisition transaction processes, and developing and managing sell-side exit strategies.

“Mark fills the space between the consulting and investment banking arenas that we need,” said Craig Dickens, CEO of Merit Harbor Group. “There are consultants and there are investment bankers, but it is exceedingly valuable to have someone like Mark who can lead clients through the transition from one to the other.”

Over the last 15 years, Mark has successfully managed a wide variety of domestic and international deals for Fortune 500 companies in the software, hardware, digital marketing, consulting services and medical sectors. At Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), he drove the acquisition integration of Visio and went on to lead the newly created Business Tools division across the region, with strategic and operational responsibility for a $300M P&L across 37 countries. He played a key role in developing Microsoft’s acquisition management processes, led integration program management on deals up to $6.5B, and was part of the aQuantive Integration leadership team. More recently, he helped oversee the acquisition of SE Asian-based Medical Services Company for Cognizant Technology Solutions Inc., enabled a top networking company to build acquisition transaction management capability, and guided the shareholders of a leading software company in developing their exit strategy. In 2014, Mark was appointed as a Growth Coach to the UK Government’s SME growth initiative, GrowthAccelerator.

“I have had a very rewarding career working with clients by leading them through the rocky terrain that is a merger, acquisition or sale. But I needed a team that would support me as I continued to pursue clients that could use my services,” said Spickett. “Merit Harbor gives me the infrastructure and leadership team to further network with clients and build my practice.”

Mark holds an MBA from Cass Business School, London, one of Europe’s leading business schools, and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance from Middlesex Business School. He has a Diploma in Marketing and a qualification in Accounting. Originally from the UK, Mark has travelled extensively around the world, but has lived in Seattle for the last 11yrs. Mark’s wife is a Director at Microsoft and they have a pre-teen son and a large dog. Mark is a board member of the Pacific North West, British American Business Council and holds a Private Pilot’s license with multi-engine and instrument ratings. In his spare time he is building a wooden Kayak, Skis, cycles and enjoys the extensive wine options of the North West. His sporting interests’ center on all things Rugby and Cricket and he maintains a strong interest in travel and learning new cultures.