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ITV_2009_08_GARETH LLOYD
Gareth Lloyd
I am responsible for the smooth running of 47 job boards, pricing, products, new launches and overseeing a team of 9 product and...
Gareth Lloyd is the Director of Product & Digital Development of www.tmdr.com which has over 47 online career sites in the UK. Gareth is married and lives in Bath with his little girl of 4 and a pet dog which emigrated all the way from Sydney. He’s a lifelong Sheffield Wednesday fan.
You are currently the Director of Product & Digital Development at Trinity Mirror Digital Recruitment (TMDR). This sounds like a busy role. Can you tell us what an average day is like for you?
My average day is usually back-to-back meetings on projects, new products or with direct reports. I am responsible for the smooth running of 47 job boards, pricing, products, new launches and overseeing a team of 9 product and project managers. Right now a lot of time is spent on Workthing+, a recent launch aimed at helping candidates get a competitive edge in a tough market.
What do you like best about your job?
I get to be creative! It is my responsibility to come up with new ideas and new products for TMDR and of course turn them into a sustainable business. The best part can sometimes be the worst part as well, as I am constantly turning new ideas over in my head 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
Your last role was the Chief Operating Officer of FT Exec-Appointments. With so many senior heads rolling over the banking crisis, was this a good time for business or a bad time?
It depends on what you view as good and bad. The tie-up between the FT and Exec-Appointments was fantastic, and they have more than doubled their candidate base during the recession. But there’s no doubt recruitment advertising has suffered at all levels – senior and junior.
TMDR has several large brands under its umbrella. It is hard to see how else the Digital side of TMDR can grow further. Are there any plans in place for new products or even overseas launches in the next 12 months?
Absolutely - it is my role to develop new products and we have recently launched both the Workthing+ candidate management service and a niche social work site. We are UK-focused, and see that as an advantage in this sector As a business, it is our belief that there will be a need for more specialist niche job boards in the future and we are aiming to expand a lot more in the near future.
If you had the choice to work in any location in the world, where would it be and why?
That’s easy - Sydney. I have lived there twice – 7 years in total, and the Aussies enjoy a fantastic quality of life in my opinion.
You studied Law at University. If you could create one new law in the United Kingdom what would it be?
That all UK laws and taxes apply equally to the people making them, the politicians, as to the rest of us.
What law would you scrap?
Inheritance Tax – it’s totally unfair to tax people when they earn money, then again when they save it, then again when they die.
From looking at all people past and present, who would your ideal dinner guests be?
Hmm, that is a tough one. I’ll go for web gurus – Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin; and Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis from Skype.
You lived in Sydney for 7 years. In your opinion why are the Aussies so jealous of the English?
I wouldn't say it is jealousy. I just think that there is a HUGE personality difference between the countries. Australia is young, laid back, enjoys life to the full; whereas Britain’s older, maybe wiser but more negative, a bit uptight. I’m a dual citizen, so I’ve got a foot in both camps!
What is on your desk at the moment?
Not a lot – I hate clutter! We work in open plan, and I desk-hop between areas so my desk is usually clear.
There are a lot of ex-colleagues who sing your praises by stating that you are a great organiser with strong financial knowledge. Would you like to be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer and work alongside Gordon Brown all day?
I don't think so! The long term career prospects wouldn’t exactly be thrilling.
As is customary with 10 minutes with interviewees can you tell us a favourite joke of yours?
Hmm, jokes are definitely not my thing but here it goes. Knock knock. Who’s there? Sicily. Sicily who? Sicily question, open the door.