Take five and read about Kay Westgarth, Head of Retirement Distribution at Aviva. We asked Kay lots of questions, from her most exciting project to her favourite book, oh and let’s not forget Foster! Enjoy this fun feature.
What is your role at Aviva?
Head of Retirement Distribution at Aviva covering both equity release and annuities.
If you could describe your workday using only emojis, which ones would you choose?
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned or experienced while working in your industry?
Misconception about equity release when the reality is, it can be life-changing for customers.
If you could swap roles with anyone else in your company for a day, who would it be, and what do you think you’d learn from the experience?
Dame Amanda Blanc, Group CEO, Aviva. How to maintain drive, positivity and enthusiasm in an ever-changing market. It never seems to waiver. Harry Potter fans think Hermione with a time-turner!
What’s the most exciting project you’ve been a part of in your career or company, and why?
I’ve worked in financial services for 35 years but bringing it up to recent years, launching Standard Life Home Finance was a very special project for me. Bringing such a well-known brand to the later life market and being responsible for the delivery of that and getting the right people next to me to support such an exciting launch.
Who inspires you and why?
My dad. Sadly, no longer with us but by far the most intelligent, loving man I ever knew. Many a wise word that has set my moral compass from a very young age. He remains in my conscience – what would Johnny do?
Tell us about a hobby or passion of yours outside of work that you enjoy.
Regular users of LinkedIn will have seen my cockapoo, Foster, make a regular appearance. He is coming up for 4 and walking him through the hills and dales of Lancashire is amazing for both my physical and mental health. Also, he’s daft as a brush so makes me laugh every day with his antics and laughing is the best therapy.
Name your dream holiday location.
Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, where the beaches (if not the weather) are the envy of any tropical hideaway.
What is the best book you have read?
I’m a prolific reader, love the escapism, and must be a book, none of this kindle malarkey. This one was an easy one for me; “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. I go back to the moral compass mention earlier and everything in this book takes me back to my childhood and upbringing. I still find Boo Radley endearing and terrifying in equal measures.
- The views of contributors are not necessarily shared by the Council
