Justin Harling

Managing director, CAE Technology Services

What is your greatest career move to date?

Stepping up to MD and leading the management buyout of CAE.

What is top of your bucket list?

To take every opportunity as they come my way, but specifically I would definitely like to visit every continent and I am currently over halfway there.

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

The quality of marketing and promotional items. They used to be so creative and quite exciting but are now distinctly lacking in focus and imagination.

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

The most immediate impact has been currency fluctuation so the sooner any uncertainty is dispensed with, the better - it will then just be a new reality.

What is your least favourite task during the working day?

Having to delete lazy marketing emails that want me to forward the email to the right point of contact. Do your research properly, you poor excuse for a sales person. If you were an animal, what would you be? A humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa for having the best name and being my kids' favourite fish from the Octonauts.

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

I would like to think I would set up a charitable foundation to support progress in some of the country's most challenging areas and give it all away.Let's see, shall we?

What is your worst habit?

I have a distinct lack of patience, which I'm sure both my family and work colleagues can regularly attest to.

How has 2016 been for you?

It has proved that the IT sector still has plenty of new opportunities for growth - some of which have had an immediate impact and made it a good year for everyone at CAE.

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

I still dream of being an international book dealer and my first editions collection is growing. A number of people still think I should be a politician but I'm not sure if this is a compliment or not. What major issues will the channel face in 2017? The biggest challenge has always been to adapt to the change in the way people use technology. I think 2017 is sure to test this ability yet again but the most successful companies are always stronger for it.

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• A-list 2017(b)