SLT Spotlight: Rob Smith, Commerical Director

Introducing Rob Smith, our Commercial Director. A Yorkshire native who has made London his home for the past 30 years, Rob brings a wealth of experience from a variety of senior positions. With a strong foundation in mathematics, he began his career in technical roles, starting as a systems developer at Kodak and progressing to European Engineering Director for Sila Communications, a Reuters company. Over time, Rob transitioned into more commercially focused roles, including serving as Managing Director of IndigoBlue, a pioneering agile consultancy that he led from its inception through to its successful growth and eventual sale. He continues to be deeply engaged in the strategic technology sector.

Why did you join Axiologik?

I joined Axiologik because of the strong connection I had with the owners and my admiration for the company's journey, which I had been following on LinkedIn since its inception. My previous collaboration with Ben, one of the Co-Founders, was extremely positive. When he called to offer me the role of Commercial Manager, I jumped at the chance. In our meeting, Ben passionately shared his vision for Axiologik, which resonated deeply with my professional values. He emphasised how Axiologik excels in delivering complex change programmes and enhancing organisational efficiency, setting an inspiring tone for the future.

Before officially joining, I attended a meeting at Axiologik and was incredibly impressed by the team's intelligence and the overall cultural fit. The wealth of talent and the collaborative spirit within the team made it clear that Axiologik was the right place for me.

As Commercial Director, how do you tailor your communication style to different stakeholders?

I believe in maintaining a consistent communication style rooted in openness, honesty, and integrity. My guiding principle is that “honesty is always the best option,” and this remains true regardless of the audience. Anyone who has worked with me knows that I value teamwork and that everyone’s contributioncounts, and I apply this approach uniformly across all stakeholder interactions.

What do you believe you bring to the SLT at Axiologik?

I bring substantial commercial acumen and a wealth of experience to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at Axiologik. With a long and varied career, I have been instrumental in growing startups, selling businesses, and serving on the boards of large enterprises. My experience includes roles such as European Head of Engineering (for a Reuters subsidiary) which further enriches my perspective and contribution.

In your opinion, what matters most in leadership?

Leadership, to me, is about leading from the front with energy and motivation. I believe in celebrating successes enthusiastically and working collaboratively to address challenges. My number one rule in leadership is transparency: never say anything behind closed doors that you wouldn’t stand by in the open. This approach fosters trust, encourages open dialogue, and promotes a positive organisational culture.

What do you see for the future growth and success of Axiologik?

Axiologik is at an exciting juncture. We have established a strong foundation through impressive work in the public sector, including leadership of complex digital programmes like the COVID-19 response and the cervical cancer screening management system. Our current challenge is to replicate this success in the private sector.

This year, we onboarded ten new significant clients and are out performing all expectations. By financial year end September, we will have achieved an annualised growth rate ofover 50%, which is exceptional given the market conditions. Over the coming years, I see us consolidating our position as the leading digital change consultancy in Leeds and expanding our recognition as a top consultancy nationally.