Mark Zimmerman

RSPNDR operates the security response network, matching security events with the best guards available. Customers and monitoring centers get dramatically faster and more transparent responses when they have an incident or alarm, guards & guard companies earn more and are paid promptly.

I help startups avoid the standard mistakes and look for ways to help them grow faster and smarter.

In my advisory role I help startups avoid the obvious mistakes and look for ways to help them grow faster and smarter. As CIO I manage the technology, processes, partners and tools that help MaRS drive Canadian innovation.

I drive growth and innovation for our clients. I lead 150+ consultants covering a range of disciplines; developers, designers, data scientists, product managers and project managers to create products that deliver competitive advantage for our customers.

Mentoring promising Canadian undergraduates with the aim of turning them into high potential entrepreneurs.

Helping build and take to market a simple web based information sharing tool for groups and organizations. It's a startup so I'm jack of all trades, hopefully master of some. Mainly removing obstacles and distractions so that a great team can get the job done.

Key member of team that created and secured CEO approval for a new corporate innovation and venturing process. Identified, wrote business plans for, developed and/or launched new ventures and product lines in wireless broadband, home security, online real estate, financial services and targeted advertising.

Created the sales and marketing plan for the turn around of a early stage wireless software company focused on mobilizing corporate back office applications. Rationalized, repositioned, re-branded and re-launched product suite. Secured key customers including Bell Canada, Onyx Environmental, Getronics and Enbridge securing reference rollouts in key vertical markets. Managed Canadian, US and UK direct and indirect sales channels.

Managed the high growth hosting, security, managed network services and Internet access product portfolios, with annual revenues of >$150M. Developed and launched a wide range of successful products including managed hosting, managed security and virtual private networking services. Responsible for all aspects of the product life-cycle including market development, sales strategy, pricing, product development & sun setting.

Created and had full P&L responsibility for a suite of innovative e-commerce and “software as a service” offerings. Products included a B2B marketplace, online supply chain management, hosted CRM, web portal and email services.

Created the Advanced Internet Solutions consultative selling and solution development team with the mandate to address the complex Internet & e-business needs of the FP 500 and the Canadian divisions of the Fortune 500 through customer specific solutions. Team accounted for more than 50% of new Internet & e-business sales in its first year of operation. Selected by peers for AT&T Canada President’s Club.

Established and managed the business-to-business sales channels of Netcom Canada, which had previously been focused on the consumer market. Grew the sales organization from four to twenty-five while increasing average sales representative performance and consistently exceeding sales and revenue plans every quarter.