By Olivia DeWan 
Wayne Gibbons has over 25 years of experience in global financial leadership, is a UCD graduate and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). He has been with MetLife for a decade and is the Vice President, CFO of Western Europe and Ireland Country Lead.
What was your first job? My first job was a summer job as a runner in the New Business Department of Irish Progressive. It was the mid 90’s and, before today’s digitalisation, so my job was “running” or delivering files from one department to another. This was also my introduction to insurance! What are your main priorities and goals in your current role? My main priorities are establishing the MetLife brand in the Irish market and growing our footprint here. MetLife is recognised and trusted by tens of millions of customers globally as a leader in providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management; however, many Irish consumers are not yet familiar with the brand. We are working hard to change that, and our aim is to be the brand of choice for employers and brokers. What pushed you to pursue a career in this field? I was bitten by the insurance bug early after getting my first job at Irish Progressive. What appealed to me is a sector that is there for customers when serious events happen in life. It cannot prevent them, but it provides financial and wellness support should a disaster, illness or unexpected death happen in their lives, reducing worry and giving people much-needed peace of mind. How do you motivate yourself and your team? For me, it starts with having a clear goal. When people understand the overall objective and why it matters, it gives them a clear sense of purpose and direction, a north star. In one sentence, how would you define success? A happy, healthy family and peace of mind. How do you relax? I enjoy running and reading. I run 10 miles on Saturday mornings, as for me it’s the right mix between challenging, while not overdoing it. Thankfully, I can still walk the next day! What is your favourite (non-business) book? The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. It shows that as a leader, there’s not always a big plan. Sometimes it’s about surviving day to day and not giving in. Digging deep can buy time for the bigger vision and strategy to emerge. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? To pursue further educational qualifications and to continue learning in work and life. In my case, this meant studying accountancy; however, it could apply to anything. Find something you love and work hard to become an expert in it. How do you handle adversity? Keep going. There will always be challenges in both work and life. When they arise, I keep turning up, and I focus on getting through them, but I don’t do it on my own. I talk things through with colleagues, friends and family. I think people, and especially men, should do more of that. Most problems aren’t new. Whatever you are facing in business or life, someone has faced it before and come through it. What are the aspirations for the future of the business? Our aim for MetLife in Ireland is to become the employee benefits partner of choice for Irish employers and brokers, known for high levels of customer care, innovative products and leading technology. A partner that is truly “Always with you, building a more confident future.”
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