The Naked Headhunter – MAY. 2019, ISSUE 1

Mark Hamill Inteviews

In a series of interviews Mark catches up with placements he has made throughout his career, and looks at their stories and development since then, the impact on their career, family and life.
This is one of Marks earliest placements back in the summer of 2001 and Dan is still with the same company although with amazing career progression and lots of fun along the way!

MARK HAMILL
INTERVIEWS
DANIEL MARES
Question 1

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE INITIAL CONTACT WITH MARK?

Mark had approached me in summer 2001 with an offer to join DPD CZ for the role of Commercial Director. DPD was back then freshly acquired by Groupe La Poste and had big turnaround and business development plans I was offered to be part of it and driving the sales and marketing. It was my first big professional move and Mark turned to be a great guide in that process. It took some weeks or rather months but Mark was very patient and helpful and we finally made the deal, which later showed to be really good move.

LIFE CHANGING
Question 2

HOW DID THE OPPORTUNITY CHANGE YOUR AND YOUR FAMILIES LIFE?

Looking to the move from today’s perspective, it was truly THE live opportunity enabling me and my family to live the way we live: from actually creating the
family and having 3 beautiful kids, to the moment of getting an opportunity to live in Paris, France!

CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Question 3

IN TERMS OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT TELL US SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS YOU HAVE GOT TO DO OVER THE YEARS?

The first important move was the one when I to first got the role with direct responsibility for the team of people and business result (P&L). Clearly the biggest and the most exciting move I’ve done during the years with DPD, was move from Commercial Director to CEO of DPD CZ. I became to be CEO in the age of 31 and started 12 years of the best period of my professional life so far. I obviously have to mention also my move to DPDgroup HQ in Paris. It was a huge step for me from relatively comfortable and known zone to completely undiscovered world and a huge challenge personal as well as professional. But definitely exciting moment of the career development.

PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGES
Question 4

WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR YOU PROFESSIONALLY?

The single big, strategic challenge was to turnaround DPD CZ and develop profitable and sizable business in CEE. I took over heavily loss making business of in one country, and was leaving the region with 10x bigger well established and highly profitable business on 5 CEE markets. During this I had to react and possibly make of use on some key market changes, while probably the most important in our business was shift from B2B business to B2C, connected with e-commerce boom in last 10 years.

FAMILY OPPORTUNITIES
Question 5

AS YOUR FAMILY HAVE GROWN WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FAMILY?

The opportunity to live in France is definitely the one to mention. The move to Paris was super-challenging for the whole family but I’m deeply convinced it will be fundamentally enriching us for the rest of our lives. This is especially valid in case of our kids, while all of them are now fully fluent in French. I’m also sure that they will only later realize and value the cultural and general overview they naturally gained through being exposed to different environment, live habits and culture.