Ian Thomason

Founder & managing director, Explorer UK

Tell us something most people won't know about you

I put myself back through IT courses every so often.

What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?

Putting some big asks on my leadership team and seeing them flourish.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Benedict Cumberbatch (I wish!)

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

I met with the CEO of Kobalt Music, Willard Ahdritz, who was very inspirational as a disrupter in an established and archaic industry.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

An expensive single malt Scotch whiskey.

What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?

‘Cloud' is the answer to everything (said by someone who has no idea).

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

Re-run the Brexit referendum, now people have some idea what it means for the UK.

What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?

Cloud and GDPR have been pushed so hard that some companies have jumped but others just developed lockjaw and need someone to help them.

What is your most treasured possession?

My motorbike (a mint Ducati 1098s).

What do your family think you do all day?

My wife used to work for Siemens so she gets it. My kids just think I get everyone else to do all the hard work but then wonder why I work the hours I do.

Who has been your mentor in business?

When I worked for a vendor, the best person I ever met running a focused VAR was Eric Korb - his company was called Xecute! In New York.