Secrets of my success: Jon Dye, chief executive of Allianz Insurance

Allianz Insurance's Jon Dye reveals he once wanted to be a palaeontologist, and discusses what he likes and dislikes about leading a business...

What do you do?

I lead Allianz, which is one of the UK’s biggest general insurers, with about seven million customers, and a part of a global finance services organisation which is in 70 countries. I travel a lot, with trips to our headquarters in Munich about once a month — there are worse places to visit.

What does your job involve?

My past year has been spent working on the joint venture that we signed with LV=, becoming the UK’s third-biggest personal insurer. It was the culmination of a year’s work, and for me meant lots of meetings to get the deal done.

It’s also a big vote of confidence in the UK business for Allianz: a Munich-based company is investing a substantial amount of money in a deal in this country. It’s clearly not that bothered by Brexit.

What do you enjoy?

The fact that insurance is a people business — when something unfortunate happens in someone’s life, such as a car accident or a fire, or a pet is ill — we’re here to help them get back to normal.

I get to meet all sorts of people. Years ago, as a claims investigator, I was looking at an injury claim for a woman who had cracked her head on some stairs, and said she had developed “foreign accent syndrome”, which meant that she was suddenly speaking with an Italian accent. I assumed it was made up, but it’s a real phenomenon.

What don’t you enjoy?

Having to make difficult decisions, making people redundant — nobody enjoys that.

It’s not a significant part of the role, but as chief executive it’s something you have to face from time to time.

What was your biggest break?

I’d been working for my predecessor as chief executive, Andrew Torrance, for 10 years when he suddenly found himself moving to California to run our US business. It was announced out of the blue one Wednesday back in 2013; three weeks later he was gone.

I was thrilled when they decided to give me a go at the job.

And your biggest setback?

Trying — and failing — to grow the car insurance business organically for 15 years.

UK car insurance is ruthlessly cut-throat, very tough to grow and make the right level of profit on.

We tried lots of times to get it off the ground, but it wasn’t happening. We’ve now solved that problem with the LV= deal.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I wanted to be a palaeontologist, because I was fascinated by dinosaurs. But then I realised it meant brushing the dirt off bones, which wasn’t so exciting.

How do you handle your work life balance?

Well, I think I’ve got it under control, but my wife would say otherwise. I live in Guildford, near our head office, so for the two days a week that I’m in the office I can get home soon after six and see my two teenage kids. I try not to work at weekends, and like to go to the pub followed by a walk up a Surrey hill. But most of the time I’m just “dad’s taxi”.

Any tips?

Move into different roles, different locations, or even different countries — you’re more likely to succeed with more breadth.