John Pepper

Managing director & founder, Managed 24/7

What achievement are you most proud of?

It has to be creating Managed 24/7 and our predictive monitoring. We were ahead of the curve by about six years, which is difficult to achieve in any industry, let alone IT!

What has been the biggest change in the channel since you started working in it?

The growth of the internet, mobile communications (I remember mobile phones were just for Porsche drivers) and cloud. However, with these three ingredients, the advances of technology in a week is like a year in the 1990s!

What three things could you not live without?

1. My Macbook Pro - it never lets me down. 2. My iPhone - I am always on it. 3. My Apple Watch - for no reason I can think of!

What do your family think you do all day?

Eat too much!

Who is your ultimate celeb crush?

It would have to be Jodi Lyn O'Keefe who plays Gretchen in the TV series Prison Break. She is one tough cookie!

What is your guilty pleasure?

Playing drums and flying helicopters.

What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?

Create a talent programme by lowering corporation tax for small, growing and profitable companies if they invest in people and create jobs.

Has 2015 been a good, bad or ugly year?

An absolutely incredible year. We have had some great people and customers join Managed 24/7, and of course been nominated for a CRN Channel Award!

If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would you do?

The dream would have been to have been a helicopter pilot. The reality is probably become an author.

What major issues will the channel face in 2016?

Staying relevant in a landscape that is changing at a faster pace than we have ever witnessed before.