Commercial director, Imerja
What was the worst job you have ever had?
As a student I sold carpet cleaning over the phone - I only lasted there half a day.
Which actor would you pick to play you in a movie of your life?
Morgan Freeman. He looks nothing like me, but I have always admired him as an actor.
What do you do as your party trick? Wild dancing - not a pretty sight for those that have to take part or witness it.
What is your favourite chocolate bar?
A large one.
What has been the highlight of your career to date?
It's really difficult to choose just one highlight, but among them has got to be being part of the team that has made Imerja what it is today. To think that the company has gone from an idea we discussed over a meal, to delivering award-winning services and achieving record turnover this year is very satisfying.
Has 2014 been a good, bad or ugly year?
It's definitely been another good year for us. We celebrated the milestone of 10 years in business, and have seen our annuity business grown to record levels with some large contract wins. Our Video-as-a-Service telehealth solution has continued to go from strength to strength, winning a number of UK and European awards over the last 12 months. We can't wait to see what 2015 holds.
How would you explain the IT channel to a stranger without boring them to death?
Think of it as a grocery shop and a chef; we select the best produce from the shop and then we cook up something special, balanced and nutritious to serve to our customers - and we continue to do so as long as they like what we cook and see it as good value.
Aside from the channel, my dream career would be... travel writer.
I have always enjoyed travel and exploring new places - if you asked me 10 or 20 years ago I would have probably said being someone like Bruce Parry seeking out adventure in wild and remote settings, but now I would settle for an Alan Wicker-type role and enjoy a bit more comfort.
What major issues will the channel face in 2015?
Continuing to adapt to support the change in customer behaviour to purchase more services over just solutions. This requires a change in approach for the whole customer journey, from marketing and sales through to delivery and support models.
That said, I think some parts of the channel (predominantly small service providers) are far more adept at working closer with prospects and customers to understand their requirements in detail and present a suitably tailored service offering - being innovative with technology, dynamic in your approach and reactive to customer needs is more important today than ever.
