Tim Walker
Managing director, Taylor Made Computer Solutions
What achievement are you most proud of?
Starting up a managed services provider at the start of the recession in 2008 and growing it into a successful and profitable multi million-pound business before selling it in 2012.
What has been the biggest change in the channel since you started working in it?
The convergence of voice and data, which was talked about back in the 1990s and is now reality. It means that IT really owns voice and data. Plus, the massive move towards cloud and hosted services, both of which remain a huge opportunity for the channel.
What three things could you not live without?
1. My iPhone, because it runs my life. 2. My car, because I no longer work in London and need it to get everywhere. 3. Coffee, because I can't speak unless I've had four cups before 8am.
What has been your most embarrassing moment so far?
There have been many, and mainly involve early mistakes in pitching for business. I try to remember the ones which make me laugh and which I can learn from!
What do your family think you do all day?
Take customers out for lunch!
Who is your ultimate celeb crush?
Halle Berry.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I wish it could be Halle Berry!
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
Tax cuts and incentives for employee shareholders of businesses and entrepreneurs.
Has 2015 been a good, bad or ugly year?
It has been a good year due to the very successful, continued growth of our base of long-term managed services customers.
If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would you do?
I would take to the stage.
What major issues will the channel face in 2016?
The threat from big public cloud services such as 365, Google, apps and so on, which if bought by many SMEs will not be the best value and fit in line with many companies' IT strategies.