Rickie Sehgal
Chairman, Transputed
What achievement are you most proud of?
Thirty years in the industry and still inventing and selling solutions. The latest venture is Crises Control.
What has been the biggest change in the channel since you started working in it?
The shift from personal computers back to centralised compute and storage underpinned by the internet, which has been the singular driver for massive change. It seems that we have gone back to the ‘like-mainframe' environment but with the flexibility of access at anytime from anywhere. While this may come across as a retrograde step, it is not.
What three things could you not live without?
1. The internet. I am addicted to it and without it I would feel totally dysfunctional. 2. My smartphone. 3. Internet e-commerce sites.
What has been your most embarrassing moment so far?
I was alleged to have sold David Cameron's telephone number for £10,000 by the Mail on Sunday. I wish they had checked their fact before sensationalising what in fact was charitable work. Alas, another fine example of gutter journalism.
What do your family think you do all day?
They think I am a workaholic that prefers to sit behind a computer all day instead of talking and interacting with people like them. They perceive my job to be a "cushy number".
Who is your ultimate celeb crush?
It has to be Megan Fox.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Expensive super cars, skiing and après skiing with the lads a few times a year.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
My first act would be to remove the yellow speed cameras from city streets except for those near schools.
Has 2015 been a good, bad or ugly year?
Good so far because of the economy and increased spend on technology solutions for companies wanting to improve efficiency and competitive edge.
If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would you do?
I would have become a brain surgeon. What major issues will the channel face in 2016? Pressure on margins and increased competition from India, Russia and China.