Experts

Andy Lark - USA

'One of the technology industry's "Most Influential" communicators'
PR Week, USA

Winner World Class New Zealander of the Year Award, 2003

- Vice President Global Communications & Marketing, Sun Microsystems, USA
- Founder of GNOK (Global Network of Kiwis)
- Investment Committee Member, No 8 Ventures

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For more info contact Sandra Lukey, SmartNet, (03) 3667 874

Biodata
Articles
Video of Andy Lark speaking at a SmartNet event

Biodata

Andrew Lark is an award-winning, global communications and marketing professional with more than 16 years experience of all facets of marketing and communications. In his current role at Sun Microsystems he is shaping the company's global brand and reputation as a member of the company's marketing leadership. He also serves as an advisor to start-ups and venture capitalists and is the founder of the Global Network of Kiwis - an organization bringing together top Kiwi talent in the US to assist high-potential technology and biotech companies based in New Zealand break into offshore markets.

Andrew has worked with and for Fortune 500 and Times 100 companies, technology leaders, start-ups and the world's leading advertising and communications agencies. During his career he has built and led teams recognized as the best in the industry, worked in the majority of the world's major markets and developed a reputation as a highly creative change-agent. Andrew has a clear understanding of how marketing strategies, programs and sound counsel support business objectives, driving both financial and market performance and brand awareness and corporate reputation.

His achievements have earned him multiple awards and recognition including being named by PR Week as one of technology industry's "Most Influential" communicators. And in 2001, the corporate communications team he built won the Corporate Communications Team of the Year in PR Week's inaugural US awards.

Prior to joining Sun Microsystems he led all corporate marketing and communications at Nortel Networks and was Chief Marketing Officer for Asia Pacific. His responsibilities included media and analyst relations, corporate positioning and messaging, marketing communications, branding, advertising, media and analyst relations, employee communications, financial and M&A communications, customer training, sales training, and executive visibility programs.

He is most well known for his reconceptualization of Nortel Networks communications strategy that boosted worldwide awareness, sales and market cap in what became the most explosive growth period in the company's history. He also led communications for one of the largest financial transactions ever undertaken - Nortel Networks spin-out from BCE Inc.

Andrew's record as a master communicator also includes tenures a senior vice president and partner at Fleishman-Hillard, the world's largest PR agency, where he developed and implemented global brand, communications and marketing strategies for Fortune 500 clients in the consumer, hi-tech, entertainment and telecommunications sectors. Clients included Dell Computer, IBM, SBC, Sony, British Telecom and Microsoft. Notable projects included the global relaunch of Dell Computer's corporate PC and notebook computer ranges and introduction the most successful computer games of all time - Age of Empires and Quake 2.

Andrew's 14 plus years in marketing and communications have spanned the globe and specifically periods living and working in America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. He is a compelling speaker and writer and is currently completing his first book on communications.

Andrew is a native of Auckland, New Zealand. He holds a BA from Auckland University. When he is not immersed in the world of communications, he expends his spare energy as an enthusiastic sailor and avid reader and wine enthusiast. He also enjoys running, sailing, windsurfing and tennis, as well as writing, travel and design.

Articles

Marketing Mindsets - An article on Andy Lark in Venture Magazine, August 2002

Video

Andy Lark at SmartNet 2001

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