Bland, Kevin

A-List 2006

Job title Director of channel sales for UK and Ireland.

Company Citrix Systems (UK).

Year of birth 1970.

Place of birth Staffordshire.

Career outline I joined Citrix in 1999 to build the company’s ISV channel. This followed a successful spell as strategic alliance manager at Compaq, where I looked after two of the company’s key external relationships: Novell and SCO.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? Knowing that I’m working for a world-class organisation and with a world-class channel. I’ve got a great team and great channel partners around me, which is all the motivation I need..

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? Probably the mini-disk. The technology was everywhere for about six months, then Apple came along and rained on its parade with the iPod.

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? It will be something simple. One of those technologies that gets no credit or recognition until something goes wrong. It’s the technology equivalent to a company’s IT team, I suppose.

Which technology would you most like to have invented? The internet. I would kill to have had a piece of that action early on. A technology that’s worldwide with a user base that will keep on growing... Genius.

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? No, everything happens for a reason, even when you don’t realise it at the time. It’s all part of getting where you are today.

If you could swap places with anyone in the industry, who would it be? Bill Gates. Truly rich... And thin.

What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Making the move from technical to sales.

What is the biggest success of your career? My role involves growing Citrix’s channel in line with its growing product base and has been an exciting challenge to be involved with. Meeting and securing new channel partners and growing Citrix’s channel programme is a major ongoing success for everyone involved.

What piece of technology could you not live without? Satellite navigation has been a true marriage saver. No more arguments over where to turn left.

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Never model yourself on other people. You are unique and your value to the industry will be unique. Build on it.

What is your favorite computer game? Tetris. I like the fast-paced problem solving.

What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? Other than world peace and a new channel partner for Citrix? I’d want first-class tickets for myself and my family to the Caribbean.

What is your favorite karaoke song? Don’t Stop Me Now, by Queen.

What would be the title of your autobiography? Remotely Changing the Channel.

Do you have any phobias? No.

How many beers before you fall over? 1.

Number of staff you manage? 20.

What is your golf handicap? 99.

What car do you drive? BMW 530D sport.

Number of air miles you have? Not as many as I’d like.