))
Episode 6: From Turnarounds to Takeovers: Mark Casey on Leading with Clarity
Manage episode 513669222 series 3695684
In this sharp and candid episode of Slicing Through the Noise, host Jennifer sits down with Mark Casey, current CEO of RIS Safety and a seasoned serial entrepreneur known for building, fixing, and selling high-stakes businesses across the globe. With 30+ years of leadership experience—including scaling international operations, leading businesses through crises like the GFC, and integrating multiple acquisitions—Mark offers practical wisdom for CEOs who need to act decisively, manage risk, and lead people through uncertain terrain.
From boardroom strategy to rooftop safety, Mark reveals what really makes a business “beautiful,” why culture and execution trump everything, and how to empower teams without compromising safety, margin, or mission. This episode is packed with real-world insights for entrepreneurs, executive leaders, and anyone preparing to scale or sell.
🧩 Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
Jennifer introduces Mark Casey as a turnaround expert and serial entrepreneur, with a track record of preparing companies for successful exits and long-term sustainability.
02:00 – The Art of Selling a Business
Mark shares the importance of having a plan, building strong fundamentals, and knowing when a business is “sale ready”—inside and out.
06:00 – From Billion-Euro Operations to $20M Turnarounds
Lessons learned from leading a global conglomerate and transitioning to hands-on roles where Mark was “the IT department.”
09:00 – How to Spot a Fixable Business
What separates a struggling company with potential from one that’s beyond saving? Mark discusses market position, product strength, and leadership inaction.
12:00 – Resetting Leadership Teams Quickly
Why new CEOs must act decisively within the first 30 days, and how Mark evaluates who stays, who goes, and who needs room to grow.
16:00 – Making Tough Calls Early
Avoiding paralysis: How indecision leads to drift, loss of talent, and cultural stagnation—and how to prevent it.
20:00 – Crisis Leadership During the GFC
Mark shares an emotionally charged story of having to lay off over 100 employees during the global financial crisis—and how protecting the company's engineering core saved the business long-term.
25:00 – Key Advice: Make the Decision
Why over analysis is a hidden risk and how great leaders must live or die by timely, strategic decisions.
27:00 – Entering RIS Safety in 2023
How compliance, not complacency, became the strategic driver—and how listening to customers reshaped the business's approach and pricing.
30:00 – Acquisitions & Integration
How acquiring Safety Plus unlocked the Victorian market and what it takes to bolt-on new businesses without breaking momentum or culture.
34:00 – Scaling Fast Without Losing Agility
From 100 to 200+ people—Mark outlines how RIS Safety is managing rapid growth without losing entrepreneurial responsiveness.
37:00 – Keeping the Team Together
Quarterly all-hands meetings, long service celebrations, and sharing strategy—how Mark builds alignment and commitment across the company.
40:00 – Robotics, AI & Future-Proofing Workforces
As a board member of Skyline Robotics, Mark discusses
Thank you for listening to 'Slicing Through The Noise' the podcast that uncovers real stories behind impactful leadership in Australia and around the world.
Follow us:
10 episodes
Share
