Simon Church
General manager & executive VP Europe, Optiv
Tell us something most people won't know about you
Something that might seem surprising to those who know me professionally is that I'm actually a very private person.
What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?
Joining Optiv and being given the opportunity to build a business from scratch without being encumbered by legacy.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Charlton Heston, as we both have a passion for chariot racing.
Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?
I struggle to admire anybody, but I do like the absolute no-boundaries approach of Space X.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Not having one!
What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?
It's not necessarily of 2018, but I can't stand ‘next-gen'. Everything is next gen - I even heard Lance Armstrong talk about next-gen coffee recently. As an industry, we have created too many buzzphrases; let's just call it what it is and make sure it works.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
I'd do a complete review on social media, looking at the benefits and dangers of non-regulation and then act upon these findings. It's evident that social media has had a massive impact on society, especially on the youngsters who have grown up with it. We need to ensure that it has been developed and continues to develop in a way that does more good, benefiting individuals and society as a whole.
What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?
Everybody seems to be doing and saying the same thing, which gives Optiv a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
What is your most treasured possession?
Not telling you, so it's not a target!
What do your family think you do all day?
With all the madness that comes with doing what I do, they think I'm running a circus.
Who has been your mentor in business?
There's been many - most of whom didn't even know they were, but special thanks to Mark Sherratt, Robin Dahlberg, Steve Odom and Mark McLaughlin.