Express Data marketing chief departs

Following the big decision, Masters will spend the next four months writing his own book, a project that has already consumed the past three years.

Meanwhile Express Data is still looking to appoint both a chief executive, following the departure of David Gage in October, and now a marketing manager.

While Masters wouldn’t be drawn on any details, he suggested there may be news early in the new year. 

Masters told CRN his book would focus on leadership and what sets successful leaders apart from the pack. The project will allow him to pursue his passion for finding lessons from the experiences of modern leaders such as Winston Churchill and Sir John Monash to historical figures such as Genghis Khan and Alexander the great.

This passion will not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever attended an Express Data kick-off. Each year, Masters has taken the stage and focussed his presentation on a single leader, applying lessons from the story of that figure’s life and influence to contemporary business.

“Look at Genghis Khan; he applied disruptive technology and innovation to conquer the known world. He didn’t necessarily invent the technology though... stirrups were already used by horsemen but Khan taught troops to shoot from horseback by getting them to wait until all four hooves were off the ground before they fired. This provided maximum stability.

Master said his career at Express Data was a continuous highlight. “This has always been a very successful and profitable business.”

Masters said the biggest change during his time at Express Data related to the way companies market to the channel. “Everything is much more targeted now. We have gone from 15,000 resellers down to 2000 when you look at who writes 98 percent of the business. Market intelligence is much more important now than ever before. Engineering opportunities is what it is all about and that means you need to know the customer really well.”

Masters also has an eye on corporate training and coaching. “There is very little executive skills training in Australia in marketing and branding and I am keen to explore than opportunity.”