Derek J Jones
Managing director, Synaxon UK
What achievement are you most proud of?
Launching Synaxon UK and building the most successful channel community ever seen.
What has been the biggest change in the channel since you started working in it?
Connectivity and speed of communication through the internet.
What three things could you not live without?
1. The internet - knowledge is key to everything in life. 2. My mobile phone - I could never go back to the days of pay phones, snail mail and fax. 3. Good food and wine - there is no better way to unwind.
What has been your most embarrassing moment so far?
I was probably too drunk to remember.
What do your family think you do all day?
Sell IT products - trying to correct them is pointless.
Who is your ultimate celeb crush?
As a lad, Suzi Quatro (the rocker) and as a young adult, Felicity Kendal (The Good Life). I guess I'm now past it.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Too much good food and wine.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
Review the UK's social security system, help those in genuine need and hit the scroungers. Has 2015 been a good, bad or ugly year?
Synaxon UK has had its best-ever year. Record growth has allowed us to reinvest in supporting the whole of the UK technology channel. If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would you do? Either work part-time in a garden centre or set up a contracting business building Koi ponds.
What major issues will the channel face in 2016?
Continued reduction of UK channel loyalty as more dealers and their customers find lower product and service costs online. We should all strive to keep the UK channel as strong as possible for as long as possible - if we don't we will kill the golden goose.