Recently retired to Main St., Wolfville after an global career, Martin spent the last six years building a portfolio of digital businesses for AB InBev, including Global VP, B2B eCommerce, VP, eCommerce (USA) and as the Head of China Digital eCommerce, based in Shanghai.

As a serial technology start-up guy, working for the world’s largest beverage company in this role is not intuitive at first glance. More used to raising venture capital, building high-growth businesses and sitting on the sell-side during M&A discussions, Martin has “start-up DNA”, but AB InBev offered the best of all worlds – the chance to work in a newly created group, ABI’s ZX Ventures organization, with the mandate to launch and build an eCommerce business in China with ABI as a single strategic investor. Treating the business as a high-growth start-up is a key part of the ZXV culture, with innovation, velocity and agility as key pillars.

Having started his career, shortly after graduation, in Beijing in 1989, this second tour of China brought Martin full circle. In between China stints, Martin has had front row seats at several technology inflection points, spending the mid-90's in Silicon Valley involved in the early Internet, SaaS and Cloud, the late-90's in Redmond, deeply embedded in Microsoft as it transitioned from a work group to enterprise player, laid the groundwork for “du”, a telecom company in Dubai, spent 10 years at the forefront of mobile broadband, rode the front edge of the enterprise social media wave, launched an eCommerce business in China, acquired several marketplaces in Europe and LATAM, and finally helped the North American eCommerce team execute in a post-Covid world.

During his years at Acadia, Martin was heavily involved in extracurricular activities, including serving 2 terms on the SRC and playing Men’s Rugby. He is probably best remembered as the original founder of Cajun’s, which he proposed as a means of revenue diversification to the SRC his 3rd year and opened and managed during his last year. Martin was elected Life Vice-President of the Class of 1988 and received “Acadia Honours Society” recognition for his lasting contributions to Acadia. Martin was also a 3-term Director of the AAAU and currently serves on the Acadia Board of Governors.

What was my favourite thing about Acadia?

Simply put, my favourite thing about Acadia has been the people I met (including my wife) and the enduring friendships that I made. I attribute this to Acadia’s relatively small size and location, where it was easy to meet people and to bond over our shared Acadia experiences.