Fellows Interview with Dr Mark Fowlestone

We are delighted to bring you a Fellows Interview with Dr Mark Fowlestone, Owner & Founder, Multiply

The Marketing Society Fellowship is our highest and most prestigious accolade awarded to outstanding marketing leaders who have achieved significant success in the markets they’ve worked in and made an active contribution to The Marketing Society and our industry more broadly.

What’s your golden rule?

When you bring the energy, the magic always finds you.

Who has been your biggest influence?

My dad was a showman and entrepreneur who tackled everything with a smile, a song, and a proper shift. He always gave his all and he lit up every room he walked into.

What is your most hated business expression?

“We have a hard stop at”

What’s the smartest business idea you’ve ever had?

We’ve created plenty of ideas over the years, from digital tools to food and drink brands, as well as a stack of innovations for global clients. But the smartest idea was understanding that we didn’t need to be part of a global network to play on a global stage. Choosing independence and playing by our own rules has been the most liberating and rewarding creation of all.

Which leader do you admire most and why?

I’ve been lucky to work with some brilliant leaders, but one who really stands out is Fergus McCallum, CEO at TBWA. Fergus never hid behind a title. He got stuck in, sleeves rolled up, working across the business from the ground up. For him, leadership wasn’t about networking or personal brand-building; it was about graft, generosity and making everyone around him shine.

What is on your mind the most right now as a marketing leader?

For years, agencies made their living from activation, but that world has since been commoditised - and it can strangle creativity if you let it. The real value now sits in how we think, not just what we make. Strategy and creativity are the heartbeat of any great agency, and that’s where we need to keep investing. Clients don’t just want outputs; they want outlooks.

Why is being part of The Marketing Society important for your career?

No one’s ever the finished article. We’re all learning about ourselves, our work and the world we’re trying to shape. The Marketing Society is brilliant at bringing together people who want to do just that; to learn, share and lift each other higher. It’s a positive force for progress, and for me, it just makes sense to be part of that energy.

Why does marketing matter to you?

Marketing has always had the power to create positive change, not just for brands, but for the people who enter into this weird world. As an ambitious kid from one of the most under-privileged parts of northwest England, the industry gave me a leg up to grow and flourish. I hold that privilege as sacred and always look to pass it on to others entering the industry. Inclusivity has to be marketing’s superpower, and it should always be embraced.

What do you think the biggest challenge in marketing will be in 2026

Marketing’s heart has always been human; understanding people, their needs, and the joys that connect us. But audiences are now more fluid, complex, and unpredictable than ever before. The real challenge for 2026 is in keeping humanity at the centre. If we hand the reins to algorithms and data alone, we risk creating marketing that measures everything but means nothing.

Tell us something that’s not on your CV

My grandparents were from the travelling community, proper grafters and grifters and I reckon a lot of that rubbed off on me. My best early gig was renting deckchairs on Morecambe beach, chatting nonsense with tourists all summer and collecting stories, long before I collected brands. Oh, and for the record, I own Frank Sidebottom’s head and a gold card from The Haçienda.