Maria Wallin - General Manager, Prestige Network
Prestige Network has appointed Maria Wallin as General Manager.
Maria, who speaks four languages (Swedish, English, German and Spanish), joined language services company Prestige Network in 2007 as PA to CEO Shohreh Fleming, working her way up to Administration/HR Manager before being appointed General Manager from 1 June (2009).
She said: “I was looking for a career change and seeking an industry where I could be exposed to a multi-cultural working environment and that’s way I was attracted to work for Prestige Network. I enjoy challenges and stepping outside of my comfort zone – I thrive on that – that’s what’s different about me. I adapt very quickly to new countries and new environments.
Maria, 35, was born in Seoul, Korea and has lived in six countries. She started her international ‘jet-setting’ life at the tender age of three months when she moved to Sweden to be with her adoptive parents. During her years growing up, she also lived in Saudi Arabia and Spain (Marbella) – her father’s job as a civil engineer took the family around the world. At age 19, Maria left home to move to Switzerland to do a BA in Business Management.
Her career started in Jersey, where she worked her way up from receptionist to General Manager in a variety of hotels, but the travelling bug caught up with her and she left to take a year out on a world tour, travelling around all of the continents.
Last year, Maria led Prestige Network’s management team to be awarded an Internationally recognised ISO 9001 certification by BM Trada, an accredited certification body, for its comprehensive Quality Management System which incorporates all aspects of its operation.
She said: “When Prestige Network was awarded ISO 9001 certificate, this was my biggest achievement here. The ISO 9001 confirms that every single procedure of Prestige Network’s operations, from linguist recruitment to appropriate invoicing, is quality checked – thus ensuring a professional service to all of our customers and suppliers. We are one of the few companies in the industry to achieve this.”
Pictured is Shohreh Fleming, Prestige Network’s Chief Executive, at the world-famous Henley Regatta in summer 2009. Shohreh and her husband Anthony Fleming, Prestige Network’s Director of Sales and Internet, were the guests of Mercers Solicitors in Henley – the company which handles Prestige Network’s legal work.
