FTI adds e-discovery expert Christopher Marks as senior director in Asia

FTI Consulting has added ex-EY executive director Christopher Marks as a Senior Managing Director in its technology segment – continuing its recent global raid on the Big Four rival.

Fresh from a record-breaking 2018 – which saw the global consultancy break the $2 billion global revenue barrier for the first time – FTI Consulting continues to bolster its Asian geography with another new senior recruit: adding Christopher Marks as a Senior Managing Director in its technology segment to be based in Hong Kong. Marks crosses from Ernst & Young in China, as yet another recent FTI recruit from the Big Four hunting ground.

“Chris brings a wealth of hands-on, complex project management experience that will significantly enhance our e-discovery offerings in Greater China and across Asia,” said John Batchelor, FTI Consulting’s Asia co-leader and Head of the Corporate Finance & Restructuring. “His leadership will enable FTI Consulting to better serve our clients facing cross-border investigations, litigation and other critical issues.”

An expert in e-discovery, Marks has altogether more than 20 years of accountancy experience, joining the Baker Tilly network for five years from 1996 before crossing to EY for his first four-year stint with the firm. From there, Marks developed his focus on forensics, first as an IT forensics investigator with CYFOR and then after rejoining EY in the UK in 2007 – where he worked his way up to director before transferring to Hong Kong in 2017.“Regulatory actions are increasing outside of the traditional jurisdictions such as the United States and Europe, and companies and legal counsel are faced with having to address these issues in a more strategic manner.” Marks said of his fresh move to FTI. “As a global independent advisory firm with a deep bench of talent, FTI Consulting is well-positioned to assist multinational companies and businesses in Asia as they navigate the complexities of e-discovery and data review.”

Having led EY’s eDiscovery practice in Greater China as an Executive Director, Marks now joins the list of other senior EY forensics experts to have crossed to FTI over the past six months – particularly those of EY’s developing UK practice from around 2010 – including new and former colleague Sandeep Jadav, who was promoted to Senior Managing Director in Hong Kong at the beginning of the year after joining in 2017 following eight years with EY in the UK.

Together they will co-lead FTI’s regional technology segment, with Marks described as the ‘real deal’ on LinkedIn by fellow Hong Kong-based Senior Managing Director and financial crime specialist Peter Glanville. Across his career, Marks has amassed extensive experience in leading projects across the forensic technology spectrum for clients in multiple sectors, including close involvement and oversight of complex cross-border litigation support.

“Organisations continue to feel pressures when it comes to e-discovery matters, particularly as the amount of data they manage grows and business is increasingly conducted across borders,” said Sophie Ross, global CEO of FTI Technology. “We continue to seek opportunities to invest in adding leading professionals in key geographies such as Asia, and we are excited to welcome Chris and look forward to working with him as we help our clients address their most complex issues.”  

Related: FTI Consulting appoints new Managing Director to head India technology practice