Meet Peter, Inside Sales Account Manager and Go-Karting fanatic

What do you do as an Account Manager at Axis?

I work closely with our partners on a day-to-day basis. Our partners work across a range of different industries and so face a range of challenges, and because of how innovative Axis are, there are always new products and solutions we can educate our partners about. We are always in constant dialogue together to ensure our partners are getting the most of their involvement with us.

My role involves a lot of education of our partners in the different Axis solutions and encouraging them to learn more, rather than just looking to sell them the newest set up. And with the type of in-depth technical, sales, and management training Axis provide us, along with my 15 years of built-up knowledge and experience here, it’s always exciting to pass that along to our partners and end customers.

“Each role has had its own challenges and rewards, but to still be challenged and be learning after 15 years is something I love about being here”

Peter Chiu

What is your favorite part of the job?

For me, I really enjoy the educational aspect of this role. I get to spend time talking to a wide variety of partners, helping to educate and develop their own knowledge and insights, while also learning more myself. As their needs and challenges evolve and change, we have to learn how best to keep up and get ahead of them, so we are in the best possible position to provide them with the solution that fits. And because our partners work at different levels across different industries it is always an exciting challenge, even after all this time.

What has your journey at Axis looked like?

I’ve been with Axis for 15 years, so it’s been quite a journey. I recently became an Account Manager for the London area, moving to the UK from Hong Kong, where I’ve spent much of my Axis career. I started as a Key Account Manager in 2008 after which I took on different roles across the Asia region, most recently as a Senior Key Account Manager for Hong Kong, Macao, and Mongolia. Now I cover the London area, so it’s a smaller area than I have previously managed, but one with a much higher number of partners.

Each role has had its own challenges and rewards, but to still be challenged and be learning after 15 years is something I love about being here.

Can you tell us more about your experience of relocating within Axis?

The whole experience was very smooth and efficient. I was keen to explore relocating within Axis and set up alerts for open positions on our internal platform. The opportunity to relocate to the UK came up, so I applied, was interviewed remotely, and was successful. The opportunity to take advantage of this sort of initiative is really encouraged within Axis. It’s recognized how important it is to be able to explore new working cultures and environments, share ways of working, and to be able to share your own best practices with others. It is something I would highly recommend.

“We are the best in the market, but we’ve gotten there because everyone is willing to learn and think outside the box, regardless of their role or title.”

Did anything surprise you when you joined the company?

When I first joined, I was most surprised by how much teamwork was valued and emphasized. In Hong Kong in 2008 there was only 30 people to cover the whole of North Asia, so to ensure our partners and customers were getting the best possible service from us, we supported each other in any way we could, across offices and departments. And this is something that happens across the whole company. Everybody works hard to make sure nobody is left needing any support. Knowing I have that support makes me happy and more productive, and in turn knowing I can support my colleagues gives me that same feeling.

Who or what inspires you?

Fan Look, who was my manager for a few years. He was with Axis for 13 years from 2007 to 2020 before retiring as Director of Strategic Projects in the Asia region. His coaching and guidance were so important in helping me grow and develop professionally and personally. He was able to identify areas of potential within me, would challenge me, and look for new ways that I could maximize my strengths and better contribute to my team and to Axis. I always felt important.

Do you have any advice for someone looking for a career in sales at Axis?

We are the best in the market, but we’ve gotten there because everyone is willing to learn and think outside the box, regardless of their role or title. My advice would be to come with an open mind and be willing to learn. You will get the time, tools, and support to gain that knowledge, and then it is up to you how you apply it. But don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and pitch or try new ideas. We love innovation here, and that goes beyond our products and into the way we think, so you will always find someone willing to listen.

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