Carter, Wayne

A-List 2006

Job title: EMEA director for channels and alliances.

Company: McAfee.

Year of birth: 1967.

Place of birth: Bridgend, South Wales.

Career outline: Nearly 17 years in channels sales roles covering operations, distribution, dealers, VARs and system integrators. I started my career at Compaq in 1990 and liked it so much that I stayed for almost 11 years. Then I moved to Cisco Systems at the start of 2001 in an EMEA role responsible for two tier reseller strategy. Then I joined McAfee in April 2003 as UK and Ireland channel director and now I’ve got the rest of EMEA.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? Knowing that I have no idea what the day will bring – this is how unpredictable the channel can be.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? The Segway.

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Bluetooth and wireless.

Which technology would you most like to have invented? The internet.

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? Selling my Compaq shares in 1992 to buy a couple of new suits on the advice of a friend.

If you could swap places with anyone in the industry, who would it be? The friend who advised me to sell my Compaq shares in 1992 – he kept his.

What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Regaining the trust of the entire UK McAfee Channel after years of uncertainty as to whether it was a direct sales vendor or not.

What is the biggest success of your career? Regaining the trust of the entire UK McAfee Channel after years of uncertainty as to whether it was a direct sales vendor or not.

What piece of technology could you not live without? My Bluetooth earpiece.

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Always be enthusiastic and passionate about the technology that you are taking to market. Your customers and partners will lose faith if you have lost yours.

What is your favorite computer game? Virtua Tennis on PlayStation Portable.

What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? PlayStation 3.

What is your favorite karaoke song? That’s Life, by Frank Sinatra.

What would be the title of your autobiography? How To Bluff Your Way In IT By A Welsh Marine Biologist.

Do you have any phobias? Yes, England winning the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

How many beers before you fall over? 1.

Number of staff you manage? 6.

What car do you drive? A BMW 728i, the old version.

Number of air miles you have? 0. I’ve just spent them on a family holiday.