Thought Leader Spotlight: Mark Miller

July 11th, 2019 | Mark Miller

Behind the data are our world-class thought leaders. Over the next month, we will be introducing you to the people responsible for Comperemedia’s industry expertise. 

Get to know Comperemedia Associate Director of Insights for Payments & Loans, Mark Miller.  Mark translates key insights from large data sets to clients around key trends in the financial services and payments industry, including marketing strategy, innovation, new products and other industry news.

Q: What topics do you specialize in? 

A: Credit cards, lending products, and the general financial services landscape. 

Q: How did you get to where you are now? 

A:  After completing a PhD in history at the University of Cambridge, I decided to pivot to the world of business. My first significant job was managing in-store capital projects for The Home Depot. From there I joined Discover Financial Services, where I served as chief-of-staff to the Risk Officer for banking and lending products. Mintel was a great next destination, as it has given me the opportunity to combine my academic research background with the industry expertise I gained while working in financial services. 

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in your industry, who would it be and why? 

A: Max Levchin – co-founder of PayPal and current CEO of Affirm. He has continually disrupted and challenged the financial services industry, and is dedicated to customer empowerment, product transparency, and improving financial wellness. 

Q: Tell us about a brand campaign or shift in strategy that has recently caught your eye?

A: Bank of America recently revamped their Cash Rewards Credit Card, adding a 3% cashback category that customers can choose each month. In direct mail campaigns targeted at existing banking customers, they highlighted the extra cash that Preferred Rewards members could earn, but also added a unique method of redeeming those cash rewards – transfer into an eligible 529 account with Merrill Lynch. This is a great example of promoting additional products and services, offering additional earnings potential on the cash rewards, and helping customers plan for their children’s educational future. 

Q: What is your favorite part about your job?

A: Although I now work in the financial services industry, I’m still heavily influenced by my academic training. The best part of my job is that I still get to perform rigorous research, gain exposure to new areas and viewpoints, construct narratives, and ultimately challenge the way people think. My classroom is now more often than not a boardroom, and my audience consists of some of the brightest decision-makers in the industry!

Q: Last but not least- tell a fun fact about yourself. 

A: I’m an avid traveler, and have visited more countries (37) than U.S. states (34).