Ken Grady, Idexx's CIO since August 2014, discusses his CIO job search that landed him at Idexx.
Our interview with Ken Grady, who became the CIO of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. in August, 2014.
Were you actively looking for a new job?
I was not actively looking, but was contacted by an executive recruiter about a role in California. I wasn’t interested in relocating across country, but that conversation jump-started my thinking about my career and my next position. Once I got myself organized and made some inquiries, I soon interviewed with three companies – one through a recruiter, one that I learned about through a colleague, and the third one I heard about through the CIO Executive Council.
What were you looking for?
I have worked at both large and small companies. Earlier in my career I had been in IT at Novartis, a big company, and I wanted to get back to a larger organization with the depth of resources for innovation and application of technology to solving business challenges. And honestly, compensation-wise, I was interested to get back to the mix of salary and stock grants of a larger, public company.
What did the IDEXX Laboratories’ recruiter like about your background?
I believe it was more of a combination of factors, starting with my 15 years of experience in the life sciences industry. My having worked in both large and small businesses was also attractive to them. But most importantly, they saw that I am commercially oriented and focused on how to help grow the top line, not just managing technology. In my first round of interviews, we did not discuss technology at all, just the business. The CFO said to me, “you don’t talk like other CIOs,” which I took as a compliment. No offense to any other CIOs, of course, but to this hiring committee, the technology piece was table stakes.
What was IDEXX looking for in their next CIO?
Like many companies, IDEXX sees information technology as the key to future growth. To achieve that, they want a new level of engagement between IT and the rest of the business. Our CEO characterizes the company as a diagnostics and information technology solutions company. Our business is delivering answers and insights. We aren’t just selling diagnostic products to test whether animals are healthy and food and water is safe. We sell software. With technology, the speed with which we can give deeper levels of information to our customers is tremendous. We can help veterinarians get test results in minutes. We can also help them grow their practices. There are new business models enabled by our technology that will be better for us and for our customers. There are huge opportunities out there.
My charter is to be the business, not be separate from it.
How did you prepare for your interviews at IDEXX?
I came from the human health side of life sciences, so I didn’t have as much knowledge about IDEXX at first. I had to do a lot of research. Who are the top executives and where did they come from? What are their products and where is their growth happening? I am a bit of a hobby farmer (raising vegetables, pigs, chickens, and a sheepdog) so it helped to have a personal connection to the end product. I actually called a few veterinarians I know and asked them about IDEXX, their products and what it was like doing business with them as a customer.
Did you have any special strategy going into the interviews?
In addition to the arranged interviews, I asked to meet with people who would work for me, the key leadership in the IT organization, to get a sense for how IT was perceived. I wanted to know the strengths and weaknesses in how IT delivers. I requested this at each of the three companies I interviewed with. Though none of them had planned for it, they all were happy to include this element and coordinate the arrangements into the interview process.
Were there any surprises during the interview process?
Just one, really. At one point several of the executives raised questions about my growth potential as CIO at IDEXX and how this experience would be valuable to my career in the long-term. I wasn’t expecting a question along those lines at this stage, but we openly and comfortably acknowledged that, like many professionals, I was choosing my next role, but not necessarily my last role. We spoke at length about my desired career trajectory, my goal of eventually joining a corporate board to contribute at an additional level, and how the role at IDEXX could help me gain necessary experience and exposure. Just the fact that we could openly have that conversation said a lot to me about the culture here. It also framed several of the final discussions.
During your first few weeks on the job, what steps did you take to learn the business and build relationships?
I started by focusing on a lot of face time—there is no substitute for sitting down and having conversations. It proved to be rather challenging, however, planning these conversations, and getting on people’s calendars. So I took a new approach, going on ride alongs with sales reps, known as Veterinary Diagnostic Consultants in the pet world, to see our products in the field and better understand the challenges I would need to find solutions for. I also invited members of my IT management team to join me as I visited our reference labs and distribution centers across the region.
What advice do you have for other IT leaders who are about to launch a job search?
Looking back, I wish I had a better base of contacts to draw on. Networking with colleagues and recruiters is invaluable—it gets your name on the list so when the right opportunities arise you are not just a name, but a face already in the candidate queue. I felt like I was starting from scratch. People often underestimate the time required for career networking. It is necessary, so make it a priority now.
My other piece of advice would be to take time off between jobs if possible. Spend time enjoying your family and store up some energy for those first 100 days. You’re going to need it.
About IDEXX Laboratories
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX, Revenues: $1.3 billion) serves practicing veterinarians around the world with an integrated portfolio of diagnostic and information technology-based products and services. A global company with headquarters in Westbrook, Maine, IDEXX products help veterinarians provide advanced medical care and to build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in diagnostic tests and information for the production animal industry and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk.
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