Adam Maurice

Career so far:

I sold my first business after one year, then worked for large corporates including BT and Microsoft before setting up The Internet Group and completing a number of acquisitions to make it what it is today.

If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be and what would you do?

I have always been told that I should have gone into law, so I would like to try out being a barrister for a week.

Cloud - friend or foe?

It's a friend, as if it is marketed and used correctly everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon. It's given the IT industry a fresh buzz in the middle of recession, but it's also a foe for causing immense confusion among non-IT people who then require lots of education to understand it correctly.

Has 2011 been as bad as everyone said it would be?

We have achieved 38 per cent growth this year despite the doom and gloom. Despite what people say, people are still spending.

What would you have as your last meal?

Sushi.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with?

The Sharks from Shark Tank and the Dragons from Dragons Den. That would make for an interesting business conversation!

Have any of your predictions come true this year?

Only that 2011 wouldn't be the same economic meltdown of 2008 (although we haven't reached the end of the year yet!).

What do you see as the channel's biggest challenge in 2012?

Educating clients about the cloud, its pros, cons and opportunities that it can provide to their businesses.

What is the best part of your day?

Having our daily management briefings and understanding the highlights/
lowlights of each part of the business and being able to assist the management team where needed.