Talking Heads: High-flyer is left to his own devices

Simon Iles

Age: 41

Position
Reuters NZ new business/media account manager

What makes your day?

At work, feeling that I have been able to contribute and achieve something by being there.

Why are you valuable to your organisation?

I think I am valuable because I am responsible for actively seeking out new subscribers to Reuters services. This means I have to know a bit about our whole organisation and what we have to offer to people.

Our products and services are diverse and encompass everything from real-time and historical electronically delivered financial information, to media newswires, news pictures, Reuters Television and NewMedia (Internet) delivery of this.

What is your management style?,/b.

Because of the role I fulfil, I have a fairly empowered approach, so I suppose my management style is based on how I like to be managed. I think I know what I am doing so I try to utilise company resources to reach objectives. I appreciate having people around me who I can turn to for advice, and direction, but still be my own boss.

What is the work tool you can't do without?

My Reuter terminal is literally my eyes and ears on the world. On my desk or via a mobile telephone link I can have access to news, financial data, view pictures from around the world or access our television news service.

What was your biggest career break and why?

Deciding that I did not want to work as a money market dealer and being accepted for a position with Reuters. I thought then, as I do now, that Reuters was an organisation which interested me. At Reuters, you are part of the financial markets yet at the same time part of the wider business and general community because our products and services in some form probably touch most people in New Zealand.

Who was your most important mentor and why?

My parents, simply because they both have life experience which they have passed on to me.

What is the biggest challenge for your organisation? For the economy?

Our organisation is at a crossroads. We have opportunities to explore in making our information available to more financial professionals to a level of sophistication which only a few years ago was not possible. We are already a major supplier of news to the Internet. Within our existing customer base, there is the challenge of seeking out parts of organisations which typically we had not approached as having a use or need for our information. The challenge for the economy is overcoming the current account deficit while managing to save more and spend less.

What do you do when you are not working?

I'm a keen golfer with a high handicap, and with a nine- month-old son it will probably stay that way for the forseeable future. I'm also learning to fly, a lifelong passion I've inherited from my father, and play the piano.

* Simon Iles spoke to Susan Jennison.