Cervest hires former Google partner head to lead commercial activity

With 24 years’ experience running high-profile international commercial operations for private and publicly-held global technology companies including Google and Microsoft, Mark joins the leadership team and will direct Cervest’s commercial strategy as it continues to grow. He will focus his efforts primarily on the food sector, as well as developing opportunities in insurance and finance.

Cervest already works with world-leading crop science and food companies, as well as farmers on the ground, through its proprietary AI-powered short-term and long-range prediction products FarmVest and DecisionVest. Mark, who was an early investor in Cervest, will work to underline the importance and potential of its next-generation technology to help those responsible for managing the world’s natural resources minimise the risks of climate-related supply shocks.

Mark most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at award-winning AI and augmented reality company Metail, driven by its focus on creating a smarter, more sustainable customer-centric supply chain. Prior to that, having worked for 14 years at Microsoft, Mark spent five years at Google, latterly as Global Head of its Enterprise Partner Program based out of San Francisco and London.

Mark holds an MSc in Rural and Regional Resources Planning from Aberdeen University.

Mark Hodgson, Chief Business Officer, Cervest, said: “Cervest’s role in helping industry and farmers the world over make earlier, better and more sustainable decisions to mitigate risk in an increasingly volatile world is something I truly believe in. I am very excited to be joining a talented team using cutting-edge AI to deliver something so important – namely creating a more certain future for billions of people.”

Iggy Bassi, Founder & CEO, Cervest, said: “Mark is the perfect fit for Cervest, with a natural passion for rural and agricultural planning coupled with more than two decades’ experience in commercial operations for two of the world’s fastest-growing and most innovative tech companies. I am very much looking forward to working with him to share our vision with future customers – and helping them to make climate-smart decisions that also rebalance our planet.”