Chief operating officer, Chess ICT
What is your greatest career move to date?
My most recent one to COO of Chess ICT. It is a fast-paced acquisitive company with huge growth and a broad range of solutions.
What is top of your bucket list?
I want to go to Borneo and see the orangutans in the wild.
What has changed most since you started working in the channel?
The number of new startup companies and the pace of which some of them grow. Low cost to entry for enterprise-grade technology in the cloud is enabling businesses to spin up quicker and be more competitive.
How do you think Brexit is going to affect the channel?
The uncertainty of the impact Brexit will have will cause the biggest issue for the channel and the country, not the Brexit result.
What is your least favourite task during the working day?
Dealing with dissatisfied customers. As an organisation that prides itself on being a ‘great place to be a customer', when we do get things wrong it hurts.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
An eagle. Imagine some of the sights you would get to see.
If you won the big one on EuroMillions, what would you do?
Secure my family's future, donate to some good causes I already support and then buy a boat and sail round the Caribbean.
What is your worst habit?
Sometimes I can get frustrated by the lack of pace to get things done. I don't like things slowing me down.
How has 2016 been for you?
It has been great so far. A great new job in a great company and a decent summer.
If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would be your dream career?
I would like to have been a courtroom lawyer as I love the drama of it all, but would settle for a seat in a Formula 1 car.
What major issues will the channel face in 2017?
The same as always. Demystifying technology and keeping it simple. Building solutions to allow people to transfer into the digital age. Finding good-quality people to join you on the journey.
