When Mark Fisher joined VBP as Chief Executive Officer on 1 June, he arrived ready to hit the ground running. Having spent his entire career in financial services leading teams and working closely with clients, Mark stepped into the role eager to learn, connect and understand the business as quickly as possible.
Outside of work, Mark is a family man who lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches with his wife and two children. He is passionate about sport, particularly supporting the Manly Sea Eagles, enjoys travelling, camping and the outdoors, and proudly admits that his love of food makes him well-suited to life at VBP. But perhaps most importantly, he describes himself as someone who is passionate about understanding people and helping clients solve problems - an outlook that aligns closely with VBP's values.
Now seven weeks into the role, Mark says the experience has surpassed his expectations.
Although he was entering a business model that was new to him, one where the majority of resources are based offshore, he quickly recognised the strength of the people behind the organisation.
"What’s incredibly apparent to me is the quality of people that are in this business, the levels of focus, the can-do attitude, the thought around innovation and where can we take our solutions," he said.
What has stood out most to Mark is the collective mindset he has observed across the business. Rather than dwelling on past successes, he believes VBP has a strong focus on the future.
"I call it a growth mindset," he explained. "We're more focused on where we're going and what do we want to do for our clients in the future."
That future-focused thinking became even more apparent during his visit to the Philippines. While Mark expected to see a large and capable operation, he was surprised by the scale, diversity and culture of the business.
From HR and finance teams to sporting groups and social initiatives, he saw firsthand that VBP is much more than a service delivery organisation. The business has developed a vibrant culture that extends beyond people's day-to-day roles and creates a strong sense of belonging.
For Mark, the defining quality of that culture is connection.
"There's this inclusiveness, this connectivity of people," he said. "People engage with the company around a whole range of things, not just about their job. They engage with the brand. They engage with what we offer as a business. They engage with their fellow workers."
He also observed qualities within the Philippine team that left a lasting impression.
"We're incredibly focused, very thankful and appreciative and respectful," he said. "I think that's something to be admired as a culture."
In fact, his connection with the team developed much faster than he expected. Reflecting on his departure after spending two weeks in the Philippines, Mark joked that he was "morbidly depressed" at the airport because he genuinely did not want to leave.
"I felt incredibly connected with the people in the business very quickly, and I enjoyed my time massively," he said. "There's an energy to that that I love."
Beyond the culture, Mark has been equally encouraged by how prepared VBP is for the future. As businesses around the world continue to adapt to emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, he believes VBP is already thinking strategically about how technology and people can work together.
Rather than viewing AI as a threat, he sees it as an opportunity to strengthen the value VBP delivers to both employees and clients.
"The future is using technology and using our great people," Mark said. "We're so far advanced on thinking about what do we need to do for our people to scale them up, to lift them up the chain, to give them the resources, and then also to provide the automation solutions to our clients."
Looking ahead, Mark is excited about the opportunities available to the business and the impact VBP can have on its clients. He believes the organisation's greatest strength lies not simply in providing services, but in building meaningful partnerships.
"We're not just a service provider. We're a partner. We're a true partner in their business," he said.
That philosophy mirrors the approach Mark has followed throughout his own career: understanding people's challenges, building strong relationships and creating solutions that deliver genuine value. It is also one of the reasons he believes VBP is uniquely positioned for future growth.
When asked to sum up his first seven weeks in three words, Mark chose energising, exciting and committed. They are words that capture not only his own experience, but also his optimism about what lies ahead.
"It's a business that I feel enormous energy from," he said. "I feel incredibly committed to the long-term viability and future of this business. I want to be here for a long time."
For someone still in the early stages of his VBP journey, one thing is already clear: Mark has embraced the business, its people and its purpose. And if his first few months are any indication, the future looks just as exciting as the start.