Ian Kilpatrick
Executive VP, cybersecurity, Nuvias
Tell us something most people won't know about you
I'm Scottish.
What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?
The continued strong growth of Nuvias across EMEA and our appointment by two global players as their value creation distributor.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Anyone who would take the job - it's not really a mission impossible role is it.
Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?
Hewlett and Packard: Bill Hewlett, co-founder of HP, had a continual desire to inspire and deliver excellence, with a belief that excellence would deliver success. Alongside Dave Packard, he also fashioned the ‘HP Way', as a structure for mutual respect, teamwork, achievement and integrity. Those principles strongly motivated me.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Racing a car around a track.
What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?
‘AI'. Vendors have leapt on this and are claiming that their solution is operating with artificial intelligence. If only it were so. Sorting through the chaff for any wheat is a challenge for everyone.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
Attempt to create consensus politics. I don't believe that the politics of two tribe division is delivering the solutions we need for our nation today. Nor will it in the future.
What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?
Managing and delivering security in the hybrid world that many businesses are in today. It's a very challenging scenario and it gives the channel the opportunity to act as trusted advisors and really tap into that need for help and advice. Businesses that don't, or can't, move fully to the cloud are at the highest security risk. Many of them have the biggest internal challenges around managing their risks and risk awareness.
What is your most treasured possession?
At the risk of sounding self-indulgently sentimental, my family.
What do your family think you do all day?
Sit in my office and lark about.
Who has been your mentor in business?
Ken Ward, our former UK managing director (now retired). We worked together for 20 years and I learned a huge amount from him.
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