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Rufus Grig

CRN staff
19 November 2017

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Chief technology & strategy officer, Maintel

Which tech figurehead do you admire the most?

Bill Gates - not for Microsoft Bob or "Clippy" but for what he's done post-Microsoft. PowerPoint will be a small price to pay if we can truly eradicate malaria.

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

The lack of skills - I grew up in the 8-bit glory days of the BBC Micro and the Sinclair ZX machines. Despite "Year of Code" and other initiatives, I'm still not seeing the required resurgence in enthusiasm in engineering and technology. Brexit is not going to help, either.

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

Richard Feynman, Beethoven and Alfred the Great. I don't know that they'd have a lot in common, or if Beethoven would be able to hear us enough to join in the conversation, but they're all heroes of mine.

How has 2017 been for you?

Better than 2016, not as good as 2018!

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

As a techie, we think of extravagance being upgrading from Sainsbury's to Pret, but I've have some pretty tasty lunches when other people have being paying.

Which global city best matches your personality?

Is Winchester a global city? Let's say it is. It's small, been around a long time and has more going on than you'd think to look at it.

What would be your super-hero power?

Teleporting.

Complete this sentence. The worst thing about our rivals is…they're such a nice bunch - it feels mean to beat them.

What makes you nervous?

Not much makes me nervous - other than four minutes of time added on when Southampton are clinging to a fragile one-goal lead. However, I'm apprehensive about the economic and political upheaval I feel is to come.

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

Curry. Or Italian. Can I go for Italian curry?

Sum up the channel in three words

Necessary. Not evil.