Managing director, Dimension Data UK&I
What achievement are you most proud of?
Five consecutive years of double-digit profitable growth for DD UK&I in spite of the financial crisis/recession.
What has been the biggest change in the channel since you started working in it?
Other than everyone getting a lot older, mainly it's the amount of vendor consolidation and the demise of significant brands (Compaq, Nortel, Tandberg, Novell, 3Com and so on).
What three things could you not live without?
1. My iPhone 6 because it contains everything (contact numbers, diary, photos, email, music, important dates/reminders and so on). 2. My golf clubs as it is my passion outside of work. 3. My mountain bike. It's good exercise, freedom and relaxation.
What has been your most embarrassing moment so far?
Being a contestant on Family Fortunes.
What do your family think you do all day?
Travel and/or play golf.
Who is your ultimate celeb crush?
Jennifer Aniston.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Good-quality red wine.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
Make computer science mandatory in primary schools and at GCSE to help address the UK's skills shortage in our industry.
Has 2015 been a good, bad or ugly year?
Mostly good, as the economy has recovered and market sentiment is more positive.
If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would you do?
Run a scuba diving school and beach bar.
What major issues will the channel face in 2016?
Further consolidation, as the need to invest in infrastructure to deliver cloud-based solutions will not be affordable to all. Followed closely by managing the transition to opex dominant transactions while "keeping the lights on" of a traditional capex-based business.
