Charge me up

Jonathan Cooper is a cricket fan and HP veteran who takes his iPhone charger everywhere

What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
Started out in HP, straight from university. That was back in the days of the corporate recruitment ‘milk round' when big firms went around the universities looking for intake talent. It is not quite the same today.

Planes, trains or automobiles?
Trains, where possible. Unfortunately, it is not always practical to go by train.

What sport should be in the Olympics but isn't?
Cricket, as it's definitely my favourite spectator sport. Having it as an Olympic sport -- the shorter, sharper 20/20 format !! -- would be an exciting addition, raise awareness and adoption outside the British Commonwealth.

Which fictional TV character is borrowing ideas from your life?
Victor Meldrew, from comedy One Foot in the Grave, fighting against the attitudes of others that seem counter-productive and counter-intuitive: As he would say: ‘I just can't believe it!'

What could prompt you to give it all up and join the revolution?
Having to sit through another prime ministerial debate. Do I need to explain why?

"In my dreams ..."
... Wayne Rooney scores the winning goal in the World Cup final in South Africa -- in the last minute against Germany, of course (you did say ‘in my dreams')!

What was your best business trip or junket ever?
Maui, in the Hawaiian Islands. It was a long haul to get there, but just beautiful and utterly relaxing.

What was the best holiday you ever went on?
My honeymoon to Thailand and Vietnam, back in the days when Vietnam was still off the beaten track, and just opening up to tourists.

If you had a week to live, how would you fill it?
With my family. How we filled it would be secondary.

"I never..."
... remember to properly charge my iPhone..

"I always..."
... take my iPhone charger with me....even on the shortest trips.

Print or online news?
People still read print these days?

Do vendors do enough to help their channel?
Generally, no. The channel is always looking for more from the vendor community. It's not just about having the best technology (which we do, by the way), it's about supporting the channel partner's go-to-market approach. Those vendors able to differentiate themselves through higher levels of support with innovative business enablement programmes will always stand out from the rest.

Jonathan Cooper is channel sales director for EMEA at ArcSight