Ed Axon, chief growth officer at LifeSearch, speaks to Health & Protection about how meeting CEO Debbie Kennedy led to him leaving the world of general insurance, why his parents are responsible for his work ethic and how a former boss demanded guitar hero Eric Clapton leave his workplace.
How did you get your start in the sector?
I was working as a consultant in the general insurance sector with a number of early stage insurers developing partnership strategies for embedded products. When I was introduced to Debbie Kennedy, our CEO, she shared very similar views on the future of the insurance, the need for innovation in distribution and products and generational gaps. After some work together as a consultant she eventually gave me an opportunity to join LifeSearch.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
At LifeSearch the whole team is so knowledgeable and really believes in our purpose to protect the UK properly. This makes selling the opportunity to partner with us much easier. Our reputation with insurers and major distributors means that people want to talk to us, want to explore innovation with us, and trust us to help them achieve their ambitions.
Who is your role model – in life or in work?
In life, it’s a little clichéd but probably my parents who, from very humble beginnings worked very hard to provide a great education for me and my brothers. They instilled in us a strong work ethic, which has been the foundation of everything I’ve achieved in my career so far.
What advice would you give to people thinking about a career in the sector?
Jump in, as there are great opportunities across all sorts of disciplines. I really believe if the industry worked harder to show young people just how interesting and varied the sector can be it would attract even more talented people.
What has been your biggest setback and how did you overcome it?
I have been involved in a few start-ups and realising early in their lifecycle that you and your founders aren’t aligned is very, very difficult. The only way to overcome it is to fail quickly and get out as the lack of alignment with your business partners will widen over time.
Did a client or case make you laugh or cry?
Some years ago in a previous role in a different sector, I had a brilliant client who unfortunately made me want to both cry and laugh. They were the commercial director of a very famous department store in Knightsbridge and on one occasion, among many interesting behaviours, the owner of that very famous department store demanded that we tell Eric Clapton to leave the store because he was too noisy. This was even more surprising as Eric had just approved and signed off the celebration for 50 years of Fender guitars in his store. The owner said: “If he wants to play his guitar he can go to Hyde Park”.
What’s your ultimate goal for your career?
As you get a bit older you realise that the goal must be to work with great people, be positively challenged and be involved in driving a business forward.
How would your boss describe you?
Well-travelled and a closet Rangers fan, which isn’t true by the way.
What’s your biggest talent away from work?
Keeping the peace at home among my children and making Christmas cakes from scratch.
What mantra do you live by?
The harder you work, the luckier you get.
What song would you regard as your theme tune?
Belfast Child by Simple Minds. I’ve always liked the band and Belfast Child has a personal connection for me.
When the song came out, I was heading over the water away from Belfast off to university full of excitement but with a fondness and appreciation for my home city where I’d grown up.
The song also has a line ‘come back Billy’ – my own brother, also named Billy, left to join the navy a year before the song was released, so another coincidence.