Chris Dunning

Chief executive, TechQuarters

What is your greatest career move to date?

Leaving my old business where I was a director and going it alone to start TechQuarters.

What is top of your bucket list?

I'd love to fly to space.

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

The fact that distribution and some large solution providers have got more into providing services around transactional services, which has opened a whole new market for niche service providers.

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

It could have some negative effect with people not wanting to invest, but I started TechQuarters during the recession - so if people can come up with Brexit-friendly solutions, they will be ok.

What is your least favourite task during the working day?

Admin.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

A swordfish as it is one of the fastest ocean animals and I used to swim competitively when I was younger.

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

Buy a yacht and open TechQuarters Bahamas.

What is your worst habit?

I lose my phone a fair amount.

How has 2016 been for you?

It has been a fantastic year so far, with our 365 Cloud Academy training starting to sell via the channel (a first for us) and a new operations director starting - TechQuarters is expanding positively.

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

A property mogul, as I already invest in properties, so would love to see that grow.

What major issues will the channel face in 2017?

Political issues (such as US presidential elections) as well as Brexit mean that the international market could be quite volatile. This will surely influence global channel partnering; therefore, people might just focus on the local market.