Mark Darling

Managing Director

Background and experience Many years of web and app development experience

Mark joined Appoly as Managing Director in 2026, bringing more than two decades of experience building software and leading engineering teams. Most recently Head of Mobile Engineering at Gymshark, he led a team of around 20 engineers through the brand’s journey from startup to unicorn, delivering mobile products used by millions of customers worldwide. He brings a rare blend of hands-on technical depth and commercial leadership to Appoly’s next chapter of growth.

Mark’s career spans digital agencies, high-growth e-commerce, and product companies. He has scaled engineering teams, shaped mobile and web platforms end to end, and worked as a consultant and fractional CTO helping businesses make smarter technology decisions. He is a daily practitioner of AI-assisted development, with a particular focus on how agencies and their clients can use AI and automation to deliver more value with less waste — leverage over hustle.

As Managing Director, Mark is focused on pairing Appoly’s engineering craft with strong client outcomes: sustainable delivery, honest advice, and long-term partnerships. He believes the best digital work comes from small, empowered teams given clarity and trust — and is committed to keeping Appoly at the forefront of software development.

Fun Fact

Outside of work, Mark trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he's a white belt — which means he spends two evenings a week getting humbled by teenagers and calls it self-improvement

At Appoly, our mission is to build technology that not only solves today's problems but drives innovation for the future. We focus on scalable solutions that enable businesses to grow sustainably while delivering real value.