Vice president, channels and alliances, Hitachi Data Systems
Career so far I joined HDS in January 2012, responsible for all indirect business models including channels, systems integrators and alliances such as other OEMs. Prior to that, I spent 11 years at Computacenter in various sales leadership roles. Most recently I was director of datacentre solutions responsible for all server, storage and enterprise software solutions and associated professional services. Prior to that I spent nine years at Computer Associates.
If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be? A week isn’t a long time so probably someone who likes to live fast: Russell Brand.
What will next year’s most overhyped industry buzzword be? Fungible. I have heard it increasingly used to describe cloud buying behaviour but to me it reminds me of a medical condition.
Has 2012 been a good, bad or ugly year? Professionally, 2012 has been a great year. Starting with HDS and recognising the potential for making a difference has been really exciting. Being part of a company that is transforming for growth and being able to see the effects of your input is hugely rewarding.
What would you have as your last meal? That depends on what time of the year I was eating it. If it’s winter, chilli con carne and a bottle of Barolo; if it’s summer, king prawns and Provence rose.
What keeps you awake at night? Nothing. I sleep like I have been hit by a brick.
What piece of technology could you not be without? I have a panic attack if I am removed from my iPhone.
Have any of your predictions come true this year? None whatsoever. Especially the lottery numbers.
What is the best partner/customer trip you have ever been on? I am a keen snowboarder so any trip associated with the snow is a must for me. However, a study tour with HDS to Japan when I was at Computacenter was the most memorable. It was a fascinating insight to a culture and a company.
What do you see as the channel’s biggest challenge in 2013? Finding a position to address cloud delivery models. The channel is uniquely placed to help customers take the first steps from capex to opex consumption models, and yet I have seen few examples of organisations creating really innovative offerings and committing to them. There needs to be a recognition that in order to be serious in the cloud service provider market company priorities, including how one recognises revenues and reports performance, may need to evolve.
