Managing director, Aindale; chairman, Network Group
Career so far I have spent 26 years working within IT, starting out at the Mars Group where I first cut my teeth in IT with PC DOS and good old Lotus 123. Having an entrepreneurial passion, I moved from a large corporation to an independent reseller with great potential and joined Aindale to run the support operation. Working quickly up through the company, I became a director and partner before taking full ownership and establishing Aindale as a successful VAR, employing nearly 50 people over two divisions. In addition, in 2002 I became chairman of Network Group, the UK’s premier IT buying and networking group and now enjoy leading both organisations.
If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be? Jenson Button. The thrill of driving an F1 car at those speeds would be phenomenal; plus I think I could just about cope with the lifestyle for a week.
What will next year’s most overhyped industry buzzword be? Managed services.
Has 2012 been a good, bad or ugly year? Good: we are all still here. Years are always about what you make them; you just need the ideas and to invest the time to make them good.
What would you have as your last meal? A large glass of red wine – French, no doubt.
What keeps you awake at night? Nothing.
What piece of technology could you not be without? My Xbox 360, delivering “me time” and where crashing the F1 car doesn’t hurt.
Have any of your predictions come true this year? Yes. I predicted many of my predictions would not come true.
What is the best partner/customer trip you have ever been on? I am just about to go on the Olympic White Water Rafting course with Symantec, so will let you know if that beats my current one – a Jonathan Palmer Day in Bedford. Adrenalin packed days where you can push the limits.
What do you see as the channel’s biggest challenge in 2013? Profitable overall growth. We all need to be continuing to creating demand while retaining profit margins in what is likely to be a challenging year.
