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privacy is a big one . Consumers want relevant , personalized information presented to them but , at the same time , they ’ re increasingly concerned about privacy and fearful that their information may not be safely stored and could fall into the wrong hands . Businesses , meanwhile , are cognisant of the financial and reputational damage a data breach can cause . They want to be able to have confidence that solutions and platforms that deal with their data and communicate with their customers are doing so in a secure manner . At n3 Hub , obtaining ISO 27001 and SOC2 certification has helped us demonstrate to our clients that we take information security very seriously .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?
For me , exercise has always been the key . I describe myself as an ‘ active relaxer ’ so when I ’ m out of the office or on holiday , I ’ m either running , swimming or surfing – in spite of my wife ’ s disdain ! Her idea of a holiday is lying next to a pool with a glass of wine . I enjoy that too but only after some activity . We live about 50 minutes ’ drive from the west coast of Auckland and I try to get out there at least once a month , to catch a few waves or do a weekly ocean swim . This year ’ s goal is to complete an ultra-marathon – my first – and squeezing the training sessions in before , during and after work will be a challenge . We ’ re also parents to three teenage boys who keep us very busy with their activities and adventures .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
There ’ s nothing in my career I ’ d really change . If I ’ d stayed in London for longer – we signed off in 2003 , after four years – I imagine I would ’ ve built a stronger network in Europe . That ’ s something I could possibly leverage now but , at that time , home was calling . We missed the outdoor lifestyle and wanted to start a family , and so New Zealand was where we wanted to be . There were good opportunities when we got back – consulting roles in the FMCG industry – and I ’ ve been fortunate enough to continue finding them ever since .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
Vendors are putting a concerted effort into improving the useability of their martech and customer data platforms . At the moment , there ’ s a real skills gap : marketing teams are acquiring this technology but , in some cases , struggling to use it effectively because of its complexity . You ’ re dealing with vast data sets and platforms that are capable of solving complicated problems and unless marketers are technically savvy , or have access to a marketing operations team , they don ’ t always realize the benefits . So , simplifying things is a big focus for us – and our competitors .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in APAC ?
We commonly see customers disappointed with the service they receive around solutions they ’ ve acquired from multinationals . Vendors distribute products in this region but don ’ t support them as heavily as they might in North America or the EMEA region . That provides an opportunity for locally based companies like ours to step in and help out . As a smaller player , getting brand awareness and the opportunity to prove that we can match larger competitors on capability is our biggest challenge .
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months ?
Post the pandemic , we ’ ve persisted with a hybrid working model which sees our team spending three days in the office and two working from home , should they wish to do so . I have a high level of trust in our staff and it ’ s working well but , for me as a leader , it necessitates spending more time on face-to-face communication ; making sure I remain connected with everyone and am providing them with the clarity they need to work effectively . We see a big opportunity for growth in Australia and I anticipate spending a lot more of my time traveling ‘ across the ditch ’ over the next 12 months .
What advice would you offer to someone aspiring to obtain a C level position in your industry ?
Don ’ t just hone your skills in your area of expertise . To move into the C suite , you have to become a salesperson and an accountant as well . By this I mean , you need to be able to sell your ideas to stakeholders , by presenting them concisely and compellingly , in ways that resonate . And you must be able to understand the commercial reality of whatever it is you ’ re proposing and the impact it will have , not just on your area of operations but on the enterprise as a whole . Finding a good mentor whose learning and experience you can tap into can be very beneficial . Cultivating a good network , by proving your worth and doing the right thing by people , is also vital . It can help you cut through uncertainty , access invaluable insights and do business at speed . p
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