Richard Dendle

Managing director, Britannic Technologies

What is your greatest career move to date?

Britannic Technologies - setting up and developing the company.

What is top of your bucket list?

A trip to Bhutan. A wonderful place and it would mean so much more than a holiday.

What has changed most since you started working in the channel?

There are no barriers to the size and solutions that we can provide: following BT liberalisation back in the early 1980s, the max system size that could be offered was six exchange lines and 12 extensions! Unbelievable today. The industry has matured and continues to develop at a fast pace.

How do you think Brexit is going to affect the channel?

The cost of ‘goods' - hardware and software. The price we pay will increase (it already has in many instances). Everything is linked ultimately to a dollar exchange rate. Once this has settled down and business generally gains more confidence, it will have little if any effect. One caveat: we don't operate in other countries, other than to provide international support services.

What is your least favourite task during the working day?

From a day-to-day perspective, I don't have one.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

The mythical dragon: strong, reliable, mercurial - say no more!

If you won the big one on EuroMillions, what would you do?

From Britannic's perspective it would be business as usual. I would probably set up a foundation, but what the focus would be is as yet unknown - I need to win it first. There's an issue with that: I don't play it!

What is your worst habit?

Probably expectation of others. I strive for perfection and naturally expect others
to do the same.

How has 2016 been for you?

It has been another good year for Britannic, building on the success of the previous years. Last FY was a record one both in turnover as well as retained profit. Why? Realising some of the investments made in infrastructure, services, additional staff, solutions and business generated.

If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would be your dream career?

A ski instructor in the winter months; the rest of the year a sailing and diving instructor - what better jobs are there?

What major issues will the channel face in 2017?

As always, keeping pace with the technology advancements and knowing how to take advantage of them. The better channel solutions providers (like Britannic) will; the others may well be left further behind - finding it more and more difficult.