A Man of Many Talents and Passions
It’s hard to see eye to eye with Tom Markert. It’s not because of his disposition, but because he is a towering figure at 6 feet 7 inches tall.
That is one reason Markert is hard to overlook. But it’s not his height that makes him so impressive; it’s his accomplishments and kind heart.
He grew up in Syracuse, New York, the son of Thomas William Markert, a banking and auto executive.
As a teenager, Markert spent summers and weekends at local dealerships washing cars, moving inventory, painting vehicles and helping with a multitude of tasks.
But it was basketball that launched him into the rarified world he inhabited. He got a scholarship to St. Lawrence University, where he majored in English and played basketball for the Saints. Like many college athletes, his dream was to be a teacher and a coach.
“That was the best time of my life. I loved having great teammates and sharing our success.”
Markert was named Budweiser Athlete of the Week and earned a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team. He also learned a lesson that still guides him today: no one succeeds alone.
“I’m a big believer in the word team. That means, To-gether Everyone Achieves More.”
This philosophy would become his North Star.
When college graduation arrived, Markert found himself with an unexpected problem, he had too many job offers.
Fortune 500 companies were looking to recruit student-athletes like Markert. Their competitiveness, discipline, and ability to work under pressure make college athletes very desirable.
Markert learned that pretty quickly. He received job offers from a lot of large companies but chose Procter & Gamble and Citi Bank as his career launch pad.
Though he spent most of his career with Nielsen, Markert is quick to honor his humble career roots. “Citi and Procter & Gamble were great places to start. It’s where you learn from the very best in sales and marketing.”
That formula seemed to work.
is greatest business achievement was at Nielsen. He worked there for 27 years, climbing the ranks of this global television ratings and market research company. Markert started in the United States but quickly gained a reputation as the executive who could fix struggling divisions.
When Nielsen needed someone to turn around its Canadian business, Markert got the call.
He got his wife Sarah and four children packed up and moved north.
Four years later, another challenge emerged halfway around the world. Nielsen’s Australia and New Zealand divisions faced mounting competition, and once again Markert was asked to step in.
Most people would hesitate before uprooting their families repeatedly. Markert embraced it.
“I was willing to do things that most people weren’t willing to do. There were very few people who wanted to move around with four kids.”
But Markert and his family were up for the challenge.
They lived in Boston, Connecticut, Dallas, Toronto, New York, Australia and other locales. His work also took him throughout Asia, including China, Japan and Thailand.
Travel came with its share of amusing moments.
In China, people stared at him. At nearly seven feet tall, in a country where he towered over everyone, it made him somewhat of an attraction.
There were also culinary adventures. “A big delicacy in China were fish eyes – I tried a lot of things.”
Markert’s willingness to step outside his comfort zone proved invaluable in business. He became president of Nielsen Canada, CEO of Nielsen Australia and New Zealand, and later global chief marketing officer.
Throughout his career, Markert led global teams serving as CEO for six companies. He was a genius marketing leader, and long-term strategist with a heart of gold.
He also received a call from his Nielsen boss, who was the president of Office Depot in Boca Raton. He convinced Markert to join the company as chief marketing and strategy officer.
When asked about his success, Markert doesn’t talk about revenue growth or stock prices. “My career was about building the strongest, most cohesive teams possible.”
But he achieved that goal with respect for his team and their combined strength. It was not a game of who could run the fastest.
His college friend Kevin McGrath has seen Markert’s keen sense of otherness. “Tom is the type of guy that if you threw him the ball and he made a basket he would thank the guy who passed it to him – and then share the credit.”
Teamwork is indeed one of Markert’s superpowers. He respects the strategy of co-workers and has a life philosophy that defines his career style.
He also has an entrepreneurial side. In 2003, Markert (and four partners) purchased the Sydney Kings, a pro basketball team in Australia that was in bankruptcy.
The franchise was transformed into a championship team, winning National Basketball League titles before they sold it.
That same passion for a higher purpose explains his role in Delray politics. Markert is a Delray Beach commissioner and Deputy Vice Mayor.
“I take pride in being on the commission. I’ve been involved in every decision and worked on the water treatment plant and the golf course renovation. I did a lot of research on those important issues.”
Despite a résumé that reads like a best-selling fiction novel, Markert remains remarkably approachable. He’s as comfortable chatting with folks at the Green Market as he is negotiating strategy in international boardrooms.
Tapping into his intellectual versality, Markert is President of InfraGard National Members Alliance. This FBI-affiliated nonprofit organization shares intel-ligence and resources on ransomware, cybersecurity, human trafficking and active-shooter preparedness.
If you add his passion for writing to his career trajectory, you have another creative outlet for this man of many talents.
“I was an English literature major in college and have always been a voracious reader of crime dramas and crime TV shows. I had ideas that were better than what I read and watched on TV. Fiction writing is the place I can explore them.”
It sure is.
His new novel, Death Watch, climbed to No. 3 on the online bestseller lists in the thriller category. The novel follows a CIA-trained psychic who can see glimpses of the future while investigating a dangerous crime.
Despite his busy life, family remains the center of Markert’s life. His oldest son is an FBI agent married to an FBI agent in New York City.
His daughter teaches in Chicago’s inner-city schools, his youngest son works in the insurance industry, and his daughter Rebecca (a former Miss Florida) is an actress in New York.
For this giant of a man – there is a humbleness that just melts your heart. He doesn’t shy away from conflict; he invites it in as a way to compromise and arrive at perfect solutions.
He is also a fixture in Delray’s nonprofit world and attends Delray Chamber and DDA events, CRA meetings and cultural programs.
Markert seems to balance his divergent life as if all the angles were concentric. And, he does it with remarkable passion. “I love being part of Delray and making a difference here – this is the greatest city in America.”
Markert remains a steady presence in Delray’s life and lore. And that’s a good thing. McGrath agrees.
“You can always count on Tom to be there in good times and in bad times. Delray is very lucky to have him.”
