Darren Spence

Managing director, Boost Technology Group

Tell us something most people won't know about you

My school mates call me Mac. It started with Barron (rhymes with Darren - I was 12 at the time), then Barron MacLaren, then MacLaren, then Mac. I know, right! Boys!

What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?

Our sales training division (Boost Training) won the Best Sales Coaching Award at the Sales Innovation Expo.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Tony Robinson - he's always got a cunning plan.

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

Bytes. I worked there for 17 years and ran one of their operations as managing director for four so I am biased, but the way it continues to generate profit and shareholder value, year after year, is admirable. The culture is much the same as it was when I joined in 1997, which for a company that has grown from £12m then to £650m now says a lot about the leadership team and longevity of the employees.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

I like ABBA - there, I've said it.

What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?

‘Consumption'.

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

Free Wi-Fi everywhere for everyone.

What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?

Better whitespace management - selling more to existing customers. It's always the same.

What is your most treasured possession?

My iPhone.

What do your family think you do all day?

Fix printers.

Who has been your mentor in business?

It would be a mix of some of the 1997 Bytes leadership team, specifically Neil Murphy, Keith Richardson, Simon Ognall and Shaun Frohlich. I have attributes of all of them in me and still keep in touch with them today. Great bunch!