My thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s family as they honor his memory and reflect on his remarkable life. Mark’s presence, sense of humor, leadership and heart left a lasting mark on so many of us. He made a huge impact wherever he went. One could always see how much his family meant to him—they truly made his world go around.

I am so sorry for your loss. Mark was an amazing human, a beacon of light, leading people to be better than we are. I've never seen Mark without a smile on his face. That is how I will remember him. My thoughts and prayers are with you. 🙏😞

To Lynn and family –

I’d like you to know, very deeply, the enormous and positive impact that Mark had on the people of this world. With his humble, swift, caring demeanor, he touched so many lives one by one, every day, over decades. That was his special kind of leadership.

I had the good fortune of benefiting from Mark in our professional lives and also as your neighbor and a friend. Even before he started working at Korn Ferry, he was recruiting me over – and I followed because I knew my career would be in good hands. And it was, like so many others that he brought along from place to place. He was committed to the careers of others and never failed to champion our work. And just as he was all in on our work, he was all in on your family and our community. He had enormous capacity to be everywhere, spreading what is good.

I hope this massive collection of memories and thoughtful words brings you comfort in the difficult days ahead. Mark leaves so much behind to inspire us and to carry forward.
With love,
Miriam

Dear Arian Family,
I am so sorry to hear about Mark’s passing.  His energy, light and expertise will live on in so many individuals and organizations.  I learned so much from him while working together.  I cherish that time and cherish being able to get to know him.  I will forever remember exchanging message, even this past year for his birthday and the new year.
Rest in peace my friend.

https://vimeo.com/325256663 
pw: Atlanta123

To Mark's family,
We miss Mark's leadership at Korn Ferry.  He was thoughtful, creative and passionate about service to his Korn Ferry colleagues and clients.  His family was always #1!
I wanted to share with you a video of Mark (above link/password).  Mark collaborated with me on this project for a Delta Air Lines  RFP.   I was in conversation with Mark days before our Delta RFP presentation.  Mark wanted to join in person but was not available.  Mark said—let’s do a video!  In a matter of 24 hours or less we had this awesome video for our presentation.  Of course, we won the multi-million-dollar engagement!  I attributed the win to this video that Mark single-handedly led to “make it happen”.  He was a determined, thoughtful, and relentless leader when it came to driving sales revenue.   We will carry on his lessons learned.  

We are keeping your family in our hearts and prayers.  
Warmly,
Katharine Stowe
Senior Partner, Korn Ferry

I worked with Mark for several years.  We lost touch for nearly 4 years, when circumstances brought us back together.  I will never forget his youthful energy, his high integrity, and his ability to do hand standing push ups!  It was like no time had passed when we got back together.  My condolences.  He was a good man, friend, and colleague.

Thanks Mark for your care and mentoring. You were a force, a presence we couldn’t ignore, a leader who challenged us to be better, and a friend who made the journey more enjoyable. You will be deeply missed, but your impact, your energy, and your drive will live on in all of us who had the honor of working with you.

I loved my time visiting Mark, Perry and Liz in New Jersey and sharing ideas of how to sell M&A services. He was incredibly smart and quick witted, yet was always open to others' ideas. He saw potential in others and cultivated it. When given the opporuntity to speak at a big Hewitt client conference, he asked me and another business developer Kulshaan Singh to do it. That's how he was wired. 

The world lost a bright light last week. Condolences to his family; he was so proud of his daughters!

Heaven welcomed a great one last week.

I had the privilege of working with Mark at Hewitt, and from the very start, he became both a mentor and a friend. My memories of him are filled with smiles and laughter—because that was Mark. He had an incredible way of putting people at ease, of truly getting to know them. 

He was often the smartest person in the room, yet he carried his wisdom with humility, never making others feel anything less. He was warm, genuine, and kind to his core.

When I recently reconnected with Mark, it was as if no time had passed. Instantly, we were back in a JW room in New Jersey, laughing and sharing stories. He graciously allowed me to include in my book a career-defining lesson he taught me—because that’s who he was, always lifting others up. And in true Mark fashion, he went beyond my initial request, offering an endorsement that now sits proudly on the back cover.

I will forever cherish the time I spent with Mark.

I am a better man because of it.

Rest well, my friend. Godspeed.

My heartfelt condolences go out to Lynne and their children.
I was incredibly fortunate to get to know Mark over the past 4 years. He was an amazing partner and mentor and I cherish all of his words of wisdom (some subtle, some not). His people first view of the business made my role so much easier and more rewarding and was a testament to who he was.
Every time I would call him, he would thank me because he said he enjoyed seeing the "happy smiles of my beautiful family" that came up when I called. He always reminded me of the importance of family. 
So much to learn from this special man.
Keep smiling my friend.

I came to really know Mark when he contacted me to send flowers to his daughter who was leaving in France. He was so keen to send these flowers and after I arranged the delivery, he wanted to make sure they were delivered to his daughter and even spoke himself to the delivery person. You could feel the love and  how important this was for him. A father like a lot of us would have dreamed of. RIP Mark.

My greatest memories of Mark will be of his kindness, his abundant energy and his humour. 
He was always willing to help and offer support; always with creative and clever ideas around how to approach a client or a particular situation; and always willing to get involved. 
He had the most wonderful laugh, contagious. 

Above all, I will remember the pride and pure joy he showed when speaking about his family. 

My deepest condolences for your loss.

I was devastated to hear this news. It’s taken me awhile to find the words to express the deep sense of loss I am feeling. Mark had a huge impact on my life. I owe the start of my professional journey in the US to him. He was an inspirational leader, an amazing mentor, and such a wonderful and caring human being. I feel blessed to have known him and will miss him dearly. 

My deepest condolences to the Arian family. He was such a kind soul, gone too soon. My prayers are with his loved ones as they navigate this difficult time.

Mark was a wonderful friend and colleague.  He was eternally optimistic and innovative.  He will be deeply missed by many.  My deepest sympathies go to the Arian family.

Mark was a kind friend and sponsor for me. He was always encouraging to me and opened doors for me in my career. I will always be grateful for that. 

He found out once that I had to go to a client meeting on my anniversary, so he sent flowers to my wife. That won big points with her and me. He knew the importance of family. 

Much love, prayers, and peace to the family.

Mark was a remarkable man whose presence brought light and joy to all who knew him. He embodied positivity and humility in everything he did, always lifting others up with his kind spirit and generous heart. Mark will be dearly missed, but his memory will live on in the many lives he touched.

I consider myself so very fortunate to have worked with Mark these past several years.  He was a wonderful colleague and a true friend.  I'm grateful for his thoughtful support and advice, and I will miss his wit and tremendous sense of humor.  He was a man of integrity, honor, compassion and principle - I will miss him deeply.

To the Arian family - 

I worked with Mark at EY and always had a great deal of respect for his innovation, his leadership and how bold he was. When I joined Korn Ferry I was so happy to re-connect with Mark and had the opportunity to work with him this past fall on a pursuit. I will never forget my meetings with him where he inspired so much and his impact was far reaching. My personal one-on-one interactions with Mark were some of the most memorable moments throughout my career and his presence will certainly be missed.

Thoughts and prayers to the entire Arian family

Very sad to hear of the sudden passing of Mark.  I worked with Mark for a few years at EY and he was a real pleasure to work with.  He was always upbeat and had a great sense of humor.  He lived life to fullest.  He will be missed by many and my deepest condelences to his extended family.

To Lynn and the Arian family: our hearts ache for your loss. A brilliant  lawyer and business leader, Mark's joy was his family. He would "gush" with stories about all of you, share stories of your triumphs and  pictures of times spent together.  You made him happy and gave him a full life. I will miss his unconditional love, his friendship, his smile and his jokes. He leaves a huge void. Our deepest condolences. We will pay forward his kindness and humor in memory of a dear friend.

My deepest condolences on the loss of Mark. I'll never forget meeting with Mark  during what was meant to be a casual catch-up, when he looked at me with that characteristic grin and asked "why don't you work for us (KF) yet?" It was that direct, genuine way of connecting with people that made him not just an exceptional leader, but a true friend to so many of us who knew him from Towers Perrin. He had this remarkable ability to see potential in people and wasn't afraid to go after talent with both warmth and determination. That conversation changed my professional life, but more importantly, it is a result of years of mentorship and friendship that I'll always cherish. While he was undeniably brilliant in business, what I'll remember most is how he made everyone around him feel valued and seen. My heart breaks for your family, and I hope you can find some comfort in knowing how many lives he touched and transformed, including mine. His legacy lives on in the countless careers he launched and the culture of warmth and authenticity he built. Please know that I'm here for your family in any way you need.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I worked with Mark for many years at Hewitt.  I was shocked to learn this sad news. He was a friend and a great colleague—smart, funny, and good company. I looked forward to being with him, whether it was a tough meeting—I knew he'd be prepared and help liven things up—or sharing a bottle of wine. He will be missed—my condolences to his family.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay for a while, leave footprints in our hearts and we are never, ever the same.

Oh, how missed you will be sweet friend.

I am in shock. My last communication with Mark was about getting together for coffee if I travelled back east or Mark came to Chicago. Mark and I worked together on some projects for GE. We had the best time working together and laughed often. Calls from Mark to my home were always welcome. My wife would often answer and chat with him before handing the phone to me. On one occasion while at a meeting in Lincolnshire (for GE) I experienced my first kidney stone. I thought I was having a heart attack and they sent me to the hospital in an ambulance (neither Mark or I said anything to the client). Later on while I was in the treatment room amped on morphine, Mark showed up. He smiled and asked how I was doing and without hesitation donned a pair of examination gloves and told me to roll over on my side. It hurt a lot to laugh at that point, but it was so vintage Mark that I could not help myself. Mark was incredibly smart and also caring and down to earth. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mark’s family. They were everything to him. Rest in peace my friend.

Mark was a ray of sunshine in the middle of every tough moment in the workday. Regardless of circumstances, he was POSITIVE. Positive, positive, positive. He lifted me up.   I will miss him dearly!   

Alan Guarino

To Mark’s Family and Friends - 

So sad to hear of Mark’s passing.  I had the privilege of working with Mark at Towers Perrin and at Aon.  He had such great energy, knew how to build and inspire teams and found ways to make the hard work fun.  Mark was always focused on finding solutions to complex problems, building trust and giving our clients the best of the best in advice.

My deepest condolences to the Arian family.

Tammy

I have never met  Mark, but I have heard a lot of good things about him from his ex-wife, Ellen, who told me and my wife what a great
and dedicated father he was to their three  children.
I also looked up his on-line activities and was very impressed.
May you rest in peace.
-Doron Zeilberger (friend of ex-wife Ellen A.)

Shocked and saddened to hear about Mark's passing! 

He really knew how to draw out the best in people, and seemed to have greater belief in people's capabilities than they did themselves. Unfortunately hadn't spoken with him in many years and yet still regard him as one of my important mentors. 

And yes - I was a victim of a couple of his pranks as well!

Rest in peace, Mark. Condolences to the Arian family and his many friends. This is a really big loss for all.

Mark Arian was the absolute mensch! 

It’s hard to believe he is gone, and we know his wonderful kids will keep his legacy alive.  

I remember Mark with deep gratitude as a boss, lifeline, coach, prankster and champion for everything good and right. As an immigrant - your experience of a new country, is shaped by the people you interact with. Mark (and many other Hewitt colleagues) welcomed us, put their arms around us, invited us into their homes, and represented what America was. 

Mark taught me many things - most importantly - to be a leader who believes the best in people, expects the best, knowing that human potential and spirit rise based on how much we believe. Mark took junior consultants like me to important meetings, pulled us into places we never expected to be, changing lives and family successes with his encouragement - reminding us to be who we were, nothing less. 

Even as a geeky, awkward 20-ish, with a strange accent, I knew Mark believed in me. He encouraged me lean into my dreams to become better, do more. He encouraged me to do my MBA (with a slight nudge to choose his Alma mater - the better blue!). When I returned from maternity leave, he inspired me to rise to the challenge of making partner  - juggling baby, breast pump, clients and MBA notes. 

One day, Mark and I walked back from a client meeting seeing were panhandlers everywhere. Mark stopped and gave money to every single one.  Exasperated, I said, “Mark, is this really the best way to help people?”. Mark replied, “I don’t know these people well to know which one is deserving or not. But, I’d rather help 10 people who may not need it, than miss helping one person who needs my help”.  This was the Mark I knew over the decades - helping everyone!

Mark, we know you’re already setting up new maverick endeavors in heaven, feeding cashmere goats wearing a suit, pranking people, switching computer keys and writing unsolicited first date requests from accidentally unlocked laptops! Shine on!

To Mark’s Family - I was lucky to be in Mark’s orbit starting at Aon then into Korn Ferry, and he had a huge presence walking the halls in NYC. I’ve felt beyond fortunate to have his support and advocacy in my career.  When I got pregnant with my daughter, he was one of the first to share a personal story about how becoming a father to his daughters was the biggest blessing. He was consistent, straightforward, and funny and he will be missed. Sending you love and healing during this difficult time.

Dear Arian Family – 
Mark was a unique and special human being.  He had a spark and was full of good ideas, humor and compassion for others.  If you needed him, he was always there.  I was fortunate to have met him years ago at Aon and then lucky enough to follow him to Korn Ferry.  He made a significant impact on my career and was a dear friend.  I’m so sad that his wonderful life was taken so early. Please know the profound impact he has made on many of us!  Like you, we will miss him dearly.

I first met Mark during a pivotal time in my own leadership journey. His unwavering passion for guiding teams was inspiring, and he led with a focus on excellence that set a high standard for everyone around him. From the reflections on his memorial page, it’s clear how deeply he cared about the people in his life—colleagues, family, and friends alike. Yet my personal experiences with Mark were sometimes bittersweet.

He wasn’t a perfect man; no one is. There were moments when his leadership style clashed with my vision of fostering a more open, inclusive culture. I tried to introduce new, progressive ideas—like diverse team-building exercises and collaborative decision-making—to widen his perspective. At times, he struggled to embrace these changes, and we occasionally found ourselves at odds. It could be frustrating, and I sometimes questioned if we’d ever find common ground.

But looking back, I see how much I grew during those challenging moments. Mark taught me the value of persistence: pushing for better solutions even when it feels uncomfortable or when someone else is hesitant to change. He also showed me how critical it is to honor the strengths of more traditional leadership styles—focusing on results, expecting accountability, and never settling for less than your best.

In the end, despite our differences, I’m grateful for Mark’s guidance. Through our many conversations, debates, and even disagreements, he helped shape me into a more empathetic and forward-thinking leader. He showed me that true leadership isn’t about being flawless; it’s about being committed to learning and growth, for yourself and everyone you serve. Rest in peace, Mark—and thank you for challenging me and, ultimately, making me better.

Mitch C. - Malibu, California, USA.

Mark took a leap of faith inviting a creative leader into Korn Ferry.  For my first year, we would talk every month- rarely about numbers or deals - always about ideas. He would have a glint in his eye, a smile in his voice and lean into the conversation as I relayed whatever I was up to that month. He took a genuine interest in creativity and it re-energized him to spend a little time in a different headspace.  He was always my champion 'if you run into any barriers, let me know' he would regularly promise.  I just learned he has nurtured a small fruit tree that had no business thriving in NJ but he believed it could bear fruit.  He would carry the weight of the planter inside and out, to make it sure it was protected and getting what it needed to thrive. By sheer force of his will, it had the chance to blossom. He was such a gardner of people.  Little fruit tree- you and I must now dig our roots in deeper, brave the cold, and keep growing, for Mark.

Mark has led and transformed our consulting business over the past years. When I met Mark in Singapore 7 years ago, his warmth and wit impacted me and many others. We will always remember Mark as a wonderful human being who’s leaving a big legacy behind. On behalf of the Swiss team  I send my love and prayers to his family and beloved ones during this difficult time. We’ll keep Mark in our hearts - forever! 
Florian

To the entire Arian family,
Mark was such an inspiring leader here at Korn Ferry  and we feel so privileged to have been a part of his life journey for these past 8 years.  His impact on the growth and expansion of the consulting business has been profound  But more than anything, his endless energy, optimism, mentorship of so many as well as boundless creativity and joy is what we will cherish the most.   On top of all though, it was his pride and love for his family that centered him. And he shared that loudly often.   His love for all you was his north star.  May you find peace in that incredible love and joy he had for all of you.  Prayers and blessings. Tierney Remick

Mark was so much more than my manager, he was a mentor and dear friend.  Mark was with me every moment through my own health challenges, and he was always there with what I needed in the moment -  encouragement, a joke or a swift kick in the ass.   I will miss him horribly.   Sending love and prayers to Lynn and his wonderful family.

Mark had been a support in my career and life for over 15 years. Even though we spoke briefly over the years, every conversation with him made me feel better and more confident. He had a generous spirit, an optimistic outlook, and a pure love for what he did every day. 

May we mourn in bright colors and hold to the many memories of how Mark touched our lives. Go in peace Mark.

We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Mark. He was more than a colleague—he was a true friend, always ready to lend a hand, offer a solution, and show genuine care for those around him. His kindness, wisdom, and unwavering support made him a pillar of our firm, and his presence will be profoundly missed. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. May his memory continue to inspire us all.

Mark was a boss, mentor and friend to me throughout my years at Aon / Hewitt. The memories I have of Mark are too numerous to count. They range from practical jokes to client meetings to one on one conversations about the things that really matter in life. I will miss him dearly. 

Mark was a force of nature. He walked into a room and the energy was instantly raised up a few notches. He would pace back and forth, speak quickly, advocate forcefully and then tell a joke that would break up the room. Sometimes we'd roll our eyes but we'd always listen because there was truth and wisdom somewhere in his words. 

Please know that Mark made a huge impact on my and others' lives. Much of the formative years of my career, I owe to him. But despite all the talk about work, we always talked about our families and how important they were to us. He never stopped gushing about his girls. 

I will pray for your peace and comfort during this sad time.

So sad and shocked to hear about the news of Mark.
I had worked with him at 3 firms:  Towers Perrin, Aon and EY.
He was someone who always had a smile and a positive word and endless energy.
I had just reached out to him to help a colleague looking for work because he was one who always found time to help others.
Remember having long conversations with him about my own decisions and next career steps.
He was a great mentor and friend to all and always so proud of his family.
Hamakom yinachem etchem btoch shaar avlei tzion veyerushalayim.

Mark was such a great friend. He will be missed by the many that he has touched. I am a better person from having him in my orbit. We laughed, prayed, played and worked together. He loved his family and friends unconditionally.  Heaven will rejoice now that his soul has returned.

Dear Arian Family,
I'm so sorry for your loss. 
I worked with Mark for over a decade.  He was a mentor and a friend. 
 He looked out for me in my job and as a person.  I have not worked with any leader as people-first as Mark.    He taught me a lot about work and about being a good father.
Deepest sympathy,
Ken Oehler

Duke Reunion 2023!!!  I am in shock.  We will miss him terribly.   Such a great human being!!!

OBITUARY

Mark D. Arian

30 December, 1960 – 6 February, 2025

Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel

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