Mark Nelligan
I am an Ontological Coach working with senior leaders and teams who are navigating complexity, transition, and high-stakes decision-making. My coaching helps people see what is really shaping their actions and results, and opens up new possibilities for leadership, performance, and impact.
Alongside my coaching practice, I am an experienced Independent Non-Executive Director, Audit and Remuneration Committee Chair, and former CEO with nearly three decades of executive leadership experience in financial services across Asia, the US and UK. This dual perspective of deep ontological practice combined with lived executive and boardroom experience, enables me to work with leaders in a way that is both profoundly human and rigorously commercial.
As a World Rugby level 2 referee, I officiate in competitive environments that demand clear judgment, calm authority, rapid decision-making and the ability to influence under pressure. It is a discipline that continually reinforces the very leadership capabilities I work with my clients to develop – presence, fairness, accountability, and effective teamwork.
I am a strong advocate for inclusion. Earlier in my corporate career, I championed initiatives that significantly improved employee engagement, fostering a culture in which diverse perspectives drove sustainable business success. A Malaysian who was educated in England, having since lived and worked across Asia, Europe, the US, and UK, and married to a Brit with three children, I bring a genuinely lived, multicultural understanding and global perspective to my coaching.
Away from work, I live to eat, as any true Penangite from Malaysia would, and love cooking for friends and family. Most weekends during the rugby season, you will find me on a pitch somewhere, officiating everything from under-16s to veterans, and more than happy to be addressed as “Sir”!
Testimonials for Mark Nelligan
CEO, Insurance company
Excited to start another year with Mark. Effective coaching style. The discussions we have are very useful in a way that I can put to trial the next day. I can share my challenges openly with Mark and he has constantly steered me in the right direction. His leadership experience within the highly competitive financial industry has benefited me a great deal.
My coaching sessions with him always provide insights on how I can drive improvements within my team. As a successful leader in the corporate world, I would say his experience in handling past challenges made our sessions very effective. Sharp and forward thinking.
After almost a year, I have benefited and my immediate team is now more motivated. I can feel both me and my team are on the right track to take our company to the next level. mark has influenced me towards self-awareness and transformation to a new level.
CEO & Founder, M&A Consultancy
I’d never had a business coaching before, but I thought it could be a valuable step as i began scaling my business. Working with mark has been fantastic – not only has hebeen a thoughtful and supportive business coach, but our sessions have helped me learn a lot about myself. the boost in confidence and the clarity I’ve gained in navogating some challenging situations have been genuinely invaluable. Thank you, Mark!
Director, trade & Transaction Banking
I was fortunate that LIBF had budget for Executive Coaching when Mark approached me on LinkedIn. Whilst I had an understanding of ontology as a concept I had not seen it in action. i am now an advocate.
Of course there is the methodology but also the skill of the coach in how it is all delivered. I think it is very good of Mark to do a taster session to check if there is the chemistry there and an understanding of how it all works.
No doubt Mark’s international experience is a big help when coaching someone who has an international career.
More than happy to be contacted directly if you would like to hear of my personal experience.
I should add that the skills developed and lessons learnt are toally transferable to all aspects of life.
Group Director, Corporate Responsibility & Sustanability
I was fortunate to have several coaching sessions with mark and found the ontological approach to be especially useful. I’ve experienced various coaching approaches throughout my career, but the ontological approach really does offer something different through its focus on language, narrative and the self-talk we unconsiously live with. Working through this and understanding how deeply it ran within me was akin to a veil being lifted for me.
Mark was an excellent proponent of it and was an especially good listener…..taking the time and care to really listen to what I was saying and then thoroughly playing it back to me.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Mark as a coach to others.
International Consultant
I have had 2 sessions with Mark so far. Enlightening would be an understatement! In each session I have achieved a milestone and found resolution within each session. The difference in my peceptions, actions and literrally how I felt (the feeling of the world being lifted off my shoulders was amazing) meant that I had clarity of thought. And it has made me hungry for more!
What was all the more interesting is the change that Mark noticed about me, my demeanour, how I spoke and the enthusiasm I was expressing was very noticeable to him. When you feel the difference and someone comments on a noticeable difference, it gives you more belief that this is right for you.
the Ontological way and Mark as a coach has allowed me to become more focused on what (and why) I want to achieve certain goals and realise the transformation I am looking for is now taking place.
I look forward to more sessions with Mark and the ontological way of coaching.
Executive, Fintech/private Credit
I started coaching with mark in June 2024 and have had around 10 sessions. through our work, I’ve come to a powerful realisation: i am in charge of my mood, mindset, and how I view situations.
mark helped me see that while I can’t always change what happens, I can control, and make things work for me – even in challenging situations.
His coaching style is calm, insightful, and thought-provoking. each session helped me gain clarity and build a more positive, empowered approach to both work and life.
I’m truly grateful and would highly recommend Mark to anyone seeking meaningful personal growth.
Founder, Consulting Business
I would highly recommend Mark’s coaching sessions. Learning to apply the ontological method to business and everyday life has led to a much happier and better version of me.
In addition, mark has extensive business and life experience, which makes it easier to have conversations of varying natures.
Executive, Financial services
Mark & I met to discuss my career. We agreed that a key part of preparation is understanding more about specific areas I initially felt I was stronger and weaker in my conversations with potential employers and the type of roles that i feel I am able to excel in.
Having to think on a deeper level about areas that i often naturally avoid when left to my own devices really allowed me to challenge myself, and alter my perspective on why being self-aware on these issues is important. The conversation progressed in a way that focused on topics I brought up myself, which made the experience feel very relevant to areas that I am currently thinking about. Using current experiences also made my takeaways from the conversation very applicable to me.
As mentioned, the coaching course was very relevant to areas i am currently experiencing. because of this, I have naturally found myself administering a different mindset both in my preparations and conversations. By going through the process at a good pace, it has also enabled me to use the logic in achieving other conclusions around my behaviour, which makes it feel like an evolving process.
Mark took excellent care of me during the conversation. it took place in a setting in which I was comfortable, which on reflection allowed me to be more open with myself throughout. I never felt at any point like I had to share anything I didn’t want to, and when I was unsure about certain things, Mark guided the conversation to allow me to use different perspectives. I strongly believe that the conclusions drawn from the conversation were reached by myself, which makes them seem more personable. While I spoke for the vast majority of the time, the questions and prompts were always in line with areas that I brought up.
Founder, Fintech Startup
Mark has been a fantastic ontological coach, guiding me for the past year. our sessions have often resulted in a feeling of ‘enlightenment’ which has helped me navigate my decision making. His wealth of experience has been invaluable to me as a young professional.