Head of alliances & channels, Oracle
Career so far
I have been in the IT industry for 27 years and in business applications and solutions for 20 across almost all vertical markets. I started out in hardware (working for Digital Equipment Corporation), before moving to application software and then five years running a VAR that provided Turnkey business systems.
I've also worked for SAP and moved to Oracle six years ago running the Retail Business Unit across Europe.
What was your first job and were you any good at it?
I joined a company called CSD after university as a junior salesman for payroll products.I was very good and used to run product demos in the days before we could rely on pre-sales.
Who was your top teenage pin-up?
Madonna.
My colleagues won't know this about me but... I can still skateboard and I've cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats.
What is your favourite snack?
Nuts.
What has been your career high point to date?
Doubling the size of the customer base of the Oracle Retail Global Business Unit in my time as the vice president for EMEA and India.
Has 2013 been good, bad or ugly?
Good - I started my new role as head of alliances & channels where I can draw on my experiences over the past 27 years and work in the UK market in a pivotal role for Oracle.
What do you say when asked at a party what you do for a living?
I work for Oracle.
If I wasn't working in the channel I would probably be... working in another part of Oracle
What will be the channel's biggest challenge in 2014?
The channel is changing. Where the lines between hardware and software were once clearly defined, the rise of engineered systems presents both a challenge and an exciting opportunity for business partners. VARs and systems integrators are presented with a broader competitive landscape and the increasing number of customers looking to invest in engineered systems means that those business partners that are able to specialise and deliver tailored solutions to customers can prosper.
