Team Spotlight – Mark Darelli’s journey into technical pre-sales

Mark’s story doesn’t begin in tech, it begins in the countryside of the Southwest of England, far from the pace of city life. Growing up surrounded by nature, he was drawn early on to science, with ambitions rooted in food microbiology and safety rather than the kitchen. That curiosity led him to earn a Higher National Diploma in Food Science, setting the foundation for what he thought would be his future. 

“Upon realising that a career in Food Science would take me away from my family, I branched out into youthwork, specifically working with young people in schools to help get them back on the straight and narrow.”  He moved into youth work, supporting young people in schools, helping them find direction and stability. That desire to help others would become a constant thread throughout his career. 

A few years later, an opportunity opened the door to IT. Starting as a support specialist for a large retailer, Mark spent nearly two decades growing his expertise, moving from first-line support into more advanced technical roles. But the turning point came when his department was outsourced, and his role made redundant. Faced with a choice: stay comfortable or take a risk? he chose the latter. 

“I had become stagnant in my role… in that moment I vowed to never be in a role where I was not being challenged on a regular basis,” he reflects. 

That decision brought him to Transvault, 11 years ago. 

Since then, Mark’s journey has been one of continuous growth. From support to Technical Account Manager, and now in Technical Presales, he has embraced every new challenge along the way. His passion for helping people hasn’t changed, it’s simply evolved. Today, that means guiding customers through complex migration journeys and, more recently, helping them navigate the emerging world of AI. 

At the heart of his work is a simple but powerful motivation: making the complex understandable. “One of my main motivations is helping a customer fully understand the complexities and challenges of a migration and turning fear of the unknown into a success story.” 

Working remotely might sound isolating, but Mark’s home is anything but quiet, shared with four cats, a dog, and plenty of appearances on team calls. Combined with a close-knit team at Transvault, he’s never short of connection or support. It’s something he values deeply. 

“Being part of a company who does the right thing for our customers, and where everyone looks out for one another. It has that real family feel.” 

That sense of purpose runs through everything Mark does. Whether it’s building trust with customers, supporting colleagues, or shaping the Transvault solution itself, his focus is always on creating real impact. He takes pride in helping customers make better decisions, reducing risk and stress, and ultimately delivering successful outcomes. 

What lesson you learned throughout your career that want to share? “Firstly, the value of communication and clarity in a team.  This was an important lesson for me in terms of understanding and supporting the team but also delivering value and achieving success. Through clear communication we solve real world problems with our solutions. I help to reduce risk and stress for our customers, which I find very rewarding.” 

Outside of work, Mark returns to where it all began, the outdoors. Living by the coast, he spends time walking his Golden Retriever, Blossom, and capturing wildlife through his lens, especially seabirds and birds of prey. It’s a way to reset, refocus, and stay connected to the environment that first shaped him. 

Looking ahead, what excites Mark most is what’s next, not just for him, but for Transvault. With the launch of Intelligent Ally, Mark’s working with new partners and customers, exploring how AI governance can unlock new possibilities. For someone who thrives on learning and challenge, it’s exactly where he wants to be. 

And if there’s one piece of advice he carries with him, and shares with others: “Listen first. Because whether you’re supporting a colleague, guiding a customer, or stepping into something new, understanding always comes before solutions.”