Vaughan Shayler

Director, Channel Strategies, CompTIA

What was the worst job you have ever had?

Being a student.

Which actor would you pick to play you in a movie of your life?

Charlie Chaplin - no need to worry about the Brummie accent.

What do you do as your party trick?

I avoid parties and fun places.

What is your favourite chocolate bar?

Fry's Chocolate Orange Crème.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Seeing CompTIA go from strength to strength in the UK and being recognised as the Trade Association for our industry.

Has 2014 been a good, bad or ugly year?

Geo-politically it's a worryingly bad time.

How would you explain the IT channel to a stranger without boring them to death?

Cadbury's makes chocolate bars, warehouses distribute them, and shops buy them to sell on to us. It's like that but with computers instead of chocolate.

Aside from the channel, my dream career would be... a barrister.

What major issues will the channel face in 2015?

Consolidation to protect margins and growth, a further push to professionalise and self-manage the integrity of our service and regaining trust from the population at large.