Chief operating officer, Hitachi Data Systems UK&I
What is your greatest career move to date?
To my current role. I love working in a business where I am able to collaborate with incredibly talented partners every day to transform our customers' organisations. Then there's the jewel in the crown: the fantastic opportunity my job provides to deliver exciting new initiatives for IoT from the wider Hitachi Group and pave the way for future success by constantly innovating.
What is top of your bucket list?
To go to South Africa to see the amazing wildlife on a game reserve, dive with sharks and relax around Cape Town.
What has changed most since you started working in the channel?
The requirement to transform, and keep transforming. Once, partners were often providers of a product. Now, we offer commercial models and work in an extended ecosystem together to deliver value to our customers. At the same time, ‘digital' is changing the market, with customers constantly changing and increasingly demanding ever-more innovative propositions from us all.
How do you think Brexit is going to affect the channel?
It isn't yet completely clear how the result of the recent EU referendum will affect the channel. What is clear is that all businesses need to prepare for increased information governance and regulation: from supply chain operations to the good governance of digital assets and customer data. On top of that, businesses will need to think about how they can also derive value from the retained assets to improve customer satisfaction, deliver additional value and minimise risk in a global digital world.
What is your least favourite task during the working day?
Flying a desk for sure. Being engaged with partners and customers is the best place to be.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
Definitely a lioness. I'm a consummate team player and always work to provide for the pride.
If you won the big one on EuroMillions, what would you do?
Be astonished because I don't buy tickets. It would certainly be time for that trip to South Africa.
What is your worst habit?
I have a tendency to think that a working day has more than 24 hours.
How has 2016 been for you?
It has been one of my most interesting years. There's been so much change at all different levels - and it is change that ensures you're always learning and remain light on your feet.
If you didn't work in the IT channel, what would be your dream career?
I'd like to be a psychologist: getting to the bottom of what makes people tick and learning how to help them be the best they can be and feel content with their lot.
What major issues will the channel face in 2017?
Finding success in the ‘new normal' will be challenging, particularly as consolidation and convergence are set to continue. Keeping ahead of the market to provide digital solutions paid for when consumed and finding the right place in the solution ecosystem will all be challenging to current organisation structures and business models.
