I'm Mark Fahey. I help organisations improve performance, strengthen stakeholder confidence and make better-informed commercial decisions.
I'm a commercially focused professional with extensive experience helping organisations tackle complex challenges, identify opportunities and deliver practical improvements.
My experience spans corporate, government and small business environments. I combine commercial judgement, analytical thinking and strong stakeholder relationships to develop solutions that improve performance, strengthen operational controls and deliver measurable results.
Whether you're facing a commercial challenge, looking to improve business performance or seeking an independent perspective, I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can help.
How I can add value
Commercial Analysis & Decision Support
Helping organisations evaluate opportunities, challenge assumptions, assess risks and make well-informed commercial decisions.
Business & Operational Improvement
Identifying and implementing practical improvements that strengthen performance, simplify processes and reduce unnecessary costs.
Operational Governance, Risk & Resilience
Strengthening operational controls, assessing their effectiveness, identifying weaknesses and driving practical improvements, while building organisational resilience.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
Building confidence, resolving complex issues and strengthening commercial relationships through constructive engagement and evidence-based solutions.
About Mark
I enjoy helping organisations solve business problems, identify opportunities and turn good ideas into practical results.
My senior commercial, operational and relationship management experience spans corporate, government and small business environments. I've helped organisations improve performance, reduce costs, strengthen operational controls, manage risk and resolve complex stakeholder challenges.
My approach is straightforward. I take time to understand how things really work, challenge assumptions where necessary and engage the right people. I develop practical solutions, build support for change and help turn those solutions into measurable improvements.
I'm naturally curious and continue to develop my expertise in business improvement, risk management, technology and new approaches to problem-solving.
Whether you're exploring an opportunity, looking to improve performance or seeking an independent perspective on a business challenge, I'd welcome a conversation.
Selected Case Studies
These case studies showcase solutions I personally developed, led and implemented during my professional career, including work delivered through Help'n Succeed.
| Name | Category |
|---|---|
| 1. Business acquisition assessment | Commercial analysis |
| 2. Performance Reporting - Telling Their Own Story | Performance insights and reporting |
| 3. Cafe growth strategy | Business improvement |
| 4. BCP in action (COVID-19) | Risk & resilience |
| 5. Commercial redesign - 67% cost reduction | Commercial management & improvement |
| 6. Turning a revenue threat into a $1.5m p.a. opportunity | Revenue preservation |
What Clients and Colleagues Have Said
"Mark is an organised, professional and commercially astute individual. He is a strategic thinker who communicates effectively at all levels and is approachable and easy to work with."
- Martin, former colleague and senior supplier representative
"Mark's strength was building trust into the relationship. Problems were jointly owned and resolved to the benefit of both parties."
- Malcolm, former colleague and major client representative
Professional Development
My recent professional development reflects my commitment to staying current in business, technology, and management then using the learnings to strengthen my commercial judgement, stakeholder engagement, and ability to lead improvement and resilience.
| Course | Year | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Better at Artificial Intelligence | 2026 | University of Canterbury |
| Artificial Intelligence Mastery Certificate Program | 2026 | Coursiv |
| Risk Management Tools | 2026 | University of Canterbury |
| Risk Management Essentials | 2025 | University of Canterbury |
| Advanced Professional Project Management | 2025 | University of Canterbury |
| Better Business Cases - Practitioner | 2025 | APMG International |
1. Business Acquisition Assessment
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Challenge | A prospective buyer identified an opportunity to acquire a niche manufacturing and supply business that appeared commercially underdeveloped. He needed an independent assessment of its financial performance, underlying risks, growth opportunities and potential value before committing to the purchase. |
| Approach | I analysed the financial statements, challenged assumptions and identified inconsistencies, key-person dependencies and operational risks. I also assessed opportunities to improve pricing, margins and profitability, and considered how the business could differentiate itself through specialist products, flexible manufacturing and service to smaller customers. |
| Outcome | My assessment helped the buyer determine an appropriate purchase price, develop his business case for bank financing and make an informed acquisition decision. He subsequently purchased the business, which continues to trade under his ownership. |
2. Performance Reporting - Telling Their Own Story
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Challenge | Exceptions and complaints can overshadow successful service delivery. Without meaningful KPIs and regular reporting, organisations struggle to distinguish isolated issues from systemic problems, demonstrate improvement, or maintain customer confidence. |
| Approach | I developed practical measurement and reporting frameworks that made overall performance visible and put exceptions into context. This shifted discussions towards a shared understanding of performance, enabling both organisations to focus on recurring issues, agree improvement priorities and monitor corrective actions. |
| Outcome | Earlier in my career, I developed and negotiated revised KPIs that helped resolve major customer concerns and restored confidence in a key commercial relationship. I later applied these principles through Help'n Succeed, creating reports that improved visibility, highlighted recurring issues and supported informed corrective action. |
3. Cafe Growth Strategy
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Challenge | A suburban café faced rising costs, reduced spending, lower foot traffic and new competition from a nearby bakery. |
| Approach | I completed a SWOT analysis and recommended short and longer-term actions to attract more customers, including targeted offers, bundled pricing, new menu items, stronger social media use and online or third-party sales. |
| Outcome | The owner is reviewing the options and deciding which to pursue first and at what pace. |
4. BCP in Action (COVID-19)
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Challenge | New Zealand's supply of a critical product depended on complex international logistics, with replacement stocks held in offshore countries. Existing arrangements relied heavily on the knowledge of key individuals and manual processes, creating significant risks if international supply chains were disrupted. |
| Approach | Well before COVID-19, I reviewed supply continuity for scenarios including a pandemic or major shutdown. I documented critical processes, clarified international responsibilities, strengthened contracts, tested contingency plans, and established electronic alternatives to reduce reliance on key individuals. |
| Outcome | When COVID-19 restrictions disrupted international supply chains, the arrangements were successfully activated. Working remotely, I coordinated the international logistics needed to replenish New Zealand's stocks within seven days, despite widespread international lockdowns. |
5. Commercial Redesign - 67% Cost Reduction
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Challenge | Shortly after joining an organisation, I identified opportunities to improve its costly dual-provider model for end-of-life product returns. Limited commercial expertise and resources had left the potential to simplify operations and reduce costs unexplored. |
| Approach | I analysed the operating model and supplier invoices, uncovering unnecessary costs, duplicate charges and inefficient transport movements. Working with internal specialists, I redesigned the process around a single-provider model, led the procurement process and selected a partner offering improved logistics and online stock management. |
| Outcome | The new model delivered better commercial terms, fewer transport movements and improved stock visibility through an online system. It achieved a 67% reduction in annual operating costs, establishing a simpler, more transparent and efficient returns process. |
6. Turning a Revenue Threat into a $1.5m Opportunity
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Challenge | A major customer outsourced a valuable service to a third-party master vendor, putting substantial annual revenue at risk. Because the provider competed with our Australian parent, the business was expected to be lost. |
| Approach | I identified an opportunity to retain the business by becoming a service provider to the master vendor. Using my relationship with its New Zealand Country Manager, I opened discussions and developed a viable proposal, while persuading senior Australian stakeholders that cooperation would benefit the New Zealand business |
| Outcome | The resulting arrangement preserved more than $1.5 million in annual revenue, created a new commercial relationship, provided market and operational insights, and strengthened the New Zealand business's longer-term position. |