Professional Overview
Name: Dan Garrett
Current Position: Co-founder & CEO at Farewill
Company: Farewill
LinkedIn: [Dan Garrett - LinkedIn](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dangarrett-ceo-farewill)
Twitter: [@dg_farewill](https://twitter.com/dg_farewill?lang=en)
Education: Master's in Structural Engineering from Oxford; MA/MSc in Global Innovation Design from the Royal College of Art in Tokyo
Career Background
Farewill
Dan Garrett is the Co-founder and CEO of Farewill, a tech platform founded in 2015 that simplifies the process of dealing with death through innovative products such as online will-writing. Contrary to traditional solicitors and funeral directors, Farewill emphasizes a user-friendly customer experience. The platform has achieved notable successes and recognitions:
- National Will Writing Firm of the Year: 2019, 2020, 2021
- Probate Provider of the Year: 2020, 2021 at the British Wills and Probate Awards
- Best Funeral Information Provider and Low-cost Funeral Provider of the Year: 2021 at the Good Funeral Awards
- Customer Approval Rating: 4.9/5 on Trustpilot from over 10,000 reviews
- Charity Funding: Raised over £650 million through legacy pledges
Previous Experience
Before establishing Farewill, Dan Garrett earned significant industry experience by organizing 15 funerals and obtaining will-writing qualifications, which deepened his understanding of the industry's challenges and opportunities. His journey in redesigning end-of-life services began during his studies at the Royal College of Art in Tokyo and a subsequent position at a Japanese residential home, which highlighted the inefficacy of existing death care services.
Notable Achievements
- Outstanding Legal Innovator of the Year: 2019
- Disruptor of the Year: 2020
- Media appearances on prominent platforms like Radio 4’s Today Programme and ITV’s This Morning
Impact and Vision
Garrett's vision is oriented towards drastically lowering costs, transforming communication within the death care sector, and ensuring high customer satisfaction. His leadership has fostered a culture of innovation, achieving significant milestones such as passing £1 billion in pledges to charity through Farewill.
Public Engagement and Thought Leadership
Media and Conferences
Dan Garrett has been a prominent figure in various public engagements:
- Participated in legacy fundraising roundtable discussions with Smee & Ford
- Presented at numerous industry events such as the Legacy Fundraising Virtual Conference
Social Media and Online Presence
- Actively maintains a Twitter handle [@dg_farewill](https://twitter.com/dg_farewill?lang=en) with 675 followers, emphasizing his ongoing projects and advocating for Farewill's mission.
- Engages on LinkedIn through regular posts on Farewill's hiring practices and company achievements ([Dan Garrett - LinkedIn](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dangarrett-ceo-farewill))
Personal Interests
Garrett expresses a strong commitment to leveraging technology and design to reform traditional practices related to death care, as exemplified by his educational background and career trajectory.
Conclusion
Dan Garrett’s leadership at Farewill represents a significant shift in the death care industry. His technical expertise, innovative approach, and commitment to creating user-centric solutions have positioned Farewill as a disruptive force and a leader in the UK market for will-writing and probate services.
