Mark Versallion
Encyclopedia
Cllr Mark Anthony Gaius Versallion is a British
politician, businessman, and officer in the Royal Naval Reserve
. He was Prospective Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston
from 2007-09 and from 2009-11 was Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Forum of the Conservative Party.
, then a Master’s degree in Politics at the University of Reading
, where he was tutored by renowned philosophy professor John Cottingham
, and was elected Post-Graduate Chairman, and then a joint doctorate at Oxford University and Reading. Before going up to Oxford he was admitted to the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and he also became a member of the Carlton Club
during this time.
. Prior to passing out from Britannia Royal Naval College
he served aboard the destroyer HMS Gloucester
and after Dartmouth, aboard the frigate HMS Richmond
before appointment to specialist roles. In 2005 he presented the unit history of HMS Wildfire to Prince Michael of Kent
and also in 2005 won the coveted 'Best Shot' trophy for his marksmanship with the SA80
assault rifle. In 2009 Versallion deployed on Operation Pearl, a counterpiracy operation off the Horn of Africa. In 2010 he was awarded the VRSM medal. He has attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College
at Shrivenham and also NATO's primary training facility
at Oberammergau
, Germany.
government Versallion worked in the House of Commons as Parliamentary Aide to Cabinet Office
minister Robert Hughes
MP until May 1997. He then joined BAE Systems
and later moved to Capgemini
in high profile marketing roles. After working for Republican Senator
Rod Grams
in the 2000 U.S. elections he returned to the UK and founded the London marketing agency VML, and was its Managing Director for ten years, from 2001-11. In 2011, upon his election to Central Bedfordshire Council, he handed over operational control of the company and became Chairman so that he could dedicate himself to his role on Central Bedfordshire Council. Versallion is also a non exec director of the NW London Hospitals Trust and Chairman of Audit.
In 2002 he was elected Councillor for the London Borough of Harrow
. He held a number of senior roles in his nine years at Harrow including Children and Young People, Performance and Finance, and three years as Chief Whip. Versallion was Chairman of the Harrow Hill Trust Community Relations 2001–04, was a Director of the Harrow Fields Gardens Estate Company 2000–04, and was on the Board of Trustees of the Harrow Heritage Trust 2003-07. From 2007-11 he was appointed to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant
Committee and due to his military experience was also appointed as the London Borough's representative on the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
.
In 2007 Versallion was selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of Stretford and Urmston
, a position he resigned from in October 2009. In December 2009, five weeks after his stepping down as parliamentary candidate, it was announced that Versallion had become Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Forum of the Conservative Party. His first official overseas engagement was in Macedonia in January 2010 representing the Conservative Party, with Lord Foulkes representing the Labour Party, in meetings with the country's Parliament and President Veljanovski
.
In 2011 he was elected to Central Bedfordshire Council for the ward of Heath and Reach
, where he lives with his wife and three children. He was made portfolio holder for Children's Services and Schools on 19 May and resigned from Harrow Council on 26 May. He also resigned from his day job as director of a marketing company so that he could dedicate himself to his cabinet role on Central Bedfordshire Council.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician, businessman, and officer in the Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
. He was Prospective Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston
Stretford and Urmston
Stretford and Urmston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
from 2007-09 and from 2009-11 was Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Forum of the Conservative Party.
Biography
Versallion was born and raised in Cornwall, England, establishing his first business in 1988, Global E, a music promotions and equipment hire company. In 1991 he moved to London, studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics at the University of WestminsterUniversity of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
, then a Master’s degree in Politics at the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
, where he was tutored by renowned philosophy professor John Cottingham
John Cottingham
John Cottingham is an English philosopher, educated at Merchant Taylors’ School near London, and St John’s College, Oxford. He is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Reading, Professorial Research Fellow, Heythrop College, University of London, Honorary Fellow of St John’s College,...
, and was elected Post-Graduate Chairman, and then a joint doctorate at Oxford University and Reading. Before going up to Oxford he was admitted to the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and he also became a member of the Carlton Club
Carlton Club
The Carlton Club is a gentlemen's club in London which describes itself as the "oldest, most elite, and most important of all Conservative clubs." Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.-History:...
during this time.
Military career
In 1996 he joined the Royal Navy Reserve and holds the rank of LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. Prior to passing out from Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
he served aboard the destroyer HMS Gloucester
HMS Gloucester
Eleven vessels, and one planned, of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Gloucester, after Gloucester, the city in England.* The first Gloucester was a 54-gun ship launched in 1654 and wrecked in 1682....
and after Dartmouth, aboard the frigate HMS Richmond
HMS Richmond
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Richmond, after the English town of Richmond, or numerous holders of the title of Duke of Richmond:...
before appointment to specialist roles. In 2005 he presented the unit history of HMS Wildfire to Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside...
and also in 2005 won the coveted 'Best Shot' trophy for his marksmanship with the SA80
SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
assault rifle. In 2009 Versallion deployed on Operation Pearl, a counterpiracy operation off the Horn of Africa. In 2010 he was awarded the VRSM medal. He has attended the Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.-History:JSCSC combined the single...
at Shrivenham and also NATO's primary training facility
NATO School
NATO School is NATO's primary training and education centre on the operational level, the only one of its kind in the world. The school started with two courses in 1953 and now offers over 90 different courses to Alliance members and partners on subjects related to NATO's policies, strategies,...
at Oberammergau
Oberammergau
Oberammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. The town is famous for its production of a Passion Play, its woodcarvers, and the NATO School.-Passion Play:...
, Germany.
Business career
During the John MajorJohn Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
government Versallion worked in the House of Commons as Parliamentary Aide to Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
minister Robert Hughes
Robert Gurth Hughes
Robert Gurth Hughes was a British Conservative Party politician from 1980-97.In 1980 Hughes was elected to the Greater London Council representing Croydon Central, serving until 1986....
MP until May 1997. He then joined BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
and later moved to Capgemini
Capgemini
Capgemini is a French global IT services company, one of the world's largest management consulting, outsourcing and professional services companies with a staff of 114,274 operating in 40 countries. It is headquartered in Paris and was founded in 1967 by Serge Kampf, the current chairman, in...
in high profile marketing roles. After working for Republican Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Rod Grams
Rod Grams
Rodney Dwight "Rod" Grams served the state of Minnesota in both the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.- Early life :...
in the 2000 U.S. elections he returned to the UK and founded the London marketing agency VML, and was its Managing Director for ten years, from 2001-11. In 2011, upon his election to Central Bedfordshire Council, he handed over operational control of the company and became Chairman so that he could dedicate himself to his role on Central Bedfordshire Council. Versallion is also a non exec director of the NW London Hospitals Trust and Chairman of Audit.
Political career
In 1996 he was elected Chairman of the Young Conservatives in Harrow and in 1998 was elected Association Deputy-Chairman. While working as political advisor to Harrow’s Conservative MP, Versallion was selected for the seat of Harrow on the Hill but lost it by five votes in a cliff-hanger election with three recounts in the 1998 local elections. He was encouraged to fight on by his friend Lord Bethell, who was himself fighting for a seat in the European Parliament at that time. Their common experiences with Harrow School, the Soviet bloc, and a personalised copy of Bethell’s last book Spies and Other Secrets, given to Versallion, were a source of intrigue for the Conservative Party selection process.In 2002 he was elected Councillor for the London Borough of Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
. He held a number of senior roles in his nine years at Harrow including Children and Young People, Performance and Finance, and three years as Chief Whip. Versallion was Chairman of the Harrow Hill Trust Community Relations 2001–04, was a Director of the Harrow Fields Gardens Estate Company 2000–04, and was on the Board of Trustees of the Harrow Heritage Trust 2003-07. From 2007-11 he was appointed to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
Committee and due to his military experience was also appointed as the London Borough's representative on the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations are regional civilian bodies comprising voluntary members and a small full time secretariat. They are established by statute to offer advice and support to the Defence Council on behalf of the Reserve Forces and Cadet Movement. In particular they are...
.
In 2007 Versallion was selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency of Stretford and Urmston
Stretford and Urmston
Stretford and Urmston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, a position he resigned from in October 2009. In December 2009, five weeks after his stepping down as parliamentary candidate, it was announced that Versallion had become Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Forum of the Conservative Party. His first official overseas engagement was in Macedonia in January 2010 representing the Conservative Party, with Lord Foulkes representing the Labour Party, in meetings with the country's Parliament and President Veljanovski
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
.
In 2011 he was elected to Central Bedfordshire Council for the ward of Heath and Reach
Heath and Reach
Heath and Reach is a village, civil parish, and political ward near the Chiltern Hills in Bedfordshire. It is about two miles north of Leighton Buzzard and three miles south of Woburn and adjoins the county boundary with Buckinghamshire....
, where he lives with his wife and three children. He was made portfolio holder for Children's Services and Schools on 19 May and resigned from Harrow Council on 26 May. He also resigned from his day job as director of a marketing company so that he could dedicate himself to his cabinet role on Central Bedfordshire Council.
Books
Versallion is the author of:- Conquest of Thoughts (1995) Powell Press, London (ISBN 0952744104).
- Furore Poeticus (1996) Powell Press, London.