Stuart Fenton

Chief executive, QuantiQ

Which tech figurehead do you admire the most?

Mike Norris - staying power. It's very hard to keep fresh and driven in one role for as long as he has.

What's the biggest challenge facing the industry no-one is talking about yet?

The ‘industry' is a very broad church. In my sector of Microsoft Dynamics, it's the massive skills gap problem caused by Brexit.

If you could invite three famous people to dinner, who would they be?

Spike Milligan, Robin Williams and Richard Pryor. Dinner should be fun

How has 2017 been for you?

It has been an incredible year marked by expansion in what we do, improvements in how we do it, and overall growth. We have reached 155 heads, and we're still on track to have 250 of the world's best Dynamics and Azure consultants.

What's the most extravagant business lunch you've ever had?

I'm really not that extravagant. My tastes are for the simple things. However, I took the CIO of a very large Russian public/private business for dinner in Moscow. The meal for two cost several thousand pounds in mostly meat and vodka (that I can recall). The lesson I learned about Russian business following that dinner cost more than $6m.

Which global city best matches your personality?

Toronto - informal but professional. Honest and innovative. Forever optimistic.

What would be your super-hero power?

It would have to be the power over time.

Complete this sentence. The worst thing about our rivals is… with one or two exceptions, they don't value the customer beyond the initial transaction.

What makes you nervous?

I'm rarely nervous in business.

If you could eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Vegetarian.

Sum up the channel in three words Still going strong.