Carl Henriksen

CEO, OryxAlign

Tell us something most people won't know about you

I'm originally from Namibia and I came to the UK to further my squash career having qualified to play in the British Open.

What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?

Seeing OryxAlign consistently over achieve on its monthly growth targets. We set ambitions targets at the start of the year, so to be ahead of them is fantastic.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Robert De Niro.

Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?

It's difficult not to think of Amazon, despite it being a predictable answer. What it has achieved in terms of growth and market penetration is nothing short of phenomenal. To me, exceptional customer service is what it's all about, and Amazon continues to raise the bar on this, among everything else.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Cher.

What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?

Every new vendor saying they have ‘disruptive technology' and that it's a ‘game changer'.

What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?

I'd focus on improving the health and wellbeing of people, and the environment. I'd also look to improve the standard of education and make it more accessible and affordable for all. When that's done, I get the door of number 10 painted orange. I like orange.

What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?

Public cloud and Infrastructure-as-a-Service still have a way to go for the opportunity potential to be fully realised.

What is your most treasured possession?

I have many. Photos of my late parents enjoying life. Photos of my kids in their very early years, and my wedding ring. And besides these all very emotional possessions, if you were to ask my wife and kids, they would probably say my phone.

What do your family think you do all day?

Work with computers and look after lots of people.

Who has been your mentor in business?

Godfrey McFall, my non-exec director. Words can't describe what an inspiration he is and how much he has helped me succeed with OryxAlign.