Managing director, ramsac
Tell us something most people won't know about you
I have the freedom of the City of London and I've twice exercised my right to walk sheep over London Bridge.
What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?
Announcing our strategic alliance with PwC, delivering our strategic IT and support services to SMEs in conjunction with their financial and business information services is brilliant.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
It's got to be Bruce Willis. He's been working on the hair for a while.
Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?
I admire Microsoft. It continues to innovate, to create markets and technology that is relevant and affordable, and I genuinely feel it's a cool business once more.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Dark chocolate (at least 85% cocoa). I can't think of a day in recent months when I haven't eaten any.
What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?
Probably ‘AI' - my issue is what does that mean? When you ask most people, they struggle to define it (and yet they're all doing it).
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
I would restrict non-working people from using the roads in rush-hour and give them limited supermarket check-out tills during office lunch-hours.
What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?
Business transformation consultancy. There are lots of channel partners selling ‘stuff' without looking at how and why it can be used in the customer base to revolutionise their businesses.
What is your most treasured possession?
It's not the things in your life that make you happy, it's the people. I'm blessed with an amazing family, great friends and I get to work with amazing people every day. That's what I treasure.
What do your family think you do all day?
"Daddy works with computers, he tells people how to understand them and he tells people what to do because he's the boss."
Who has been your mentor in business?
I've had various mentors over the years but for the last six or seven it's been a chairman from Vistage (along with the entire CEO peer group). Mentors are invaluable.
