CEO, Celerity
Tell us something most people won't know about you
I have twice competed in the Support Race for the Le Mans 24-Hour race.
What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?
Taking to market Celerity's new portfolio of security services, Citadel. Citadel is designed to offer enterprise-level security to detect, protect, react and secure an organisation's technology from cyber threats, with a specific focus on medium-sized businesses and public sector organisations.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Elvis Costello - good looking lad!
Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?
Microsoft for the change that has been made under the current CEO, whereby the business has pivoted from being almost wholly based on two products (MS Office and MS Windows) to having a full range of products including embracing the cloud. To enable that level of change in a business of that size is truly admirable.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Malibu and pineapple. I enjoy them far, far more than I should ever admit.
What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?
‘Digital detox'.
What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?
Increase funding towards palliative care to improve the quality of life of anyone facing end-of-life treatment, offering them and their families additional physical, emotional and financial support.
What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?
Small and medium businesses are finding the same IT security challenges as the large players, and there simply are not enough IT security experts to be able to address the need. Therefore, being able to offer an end-to-end managed security offering, which takes the problem away from such organisations represents an enormous opportunity for both the channel and customers.
What is your most treasured possession?
A gold curb chain which I bought in 1986 when I was 16 years old. My mum advised me to buy it as a reminder of working hard to get what you want, so I did! I paid for it out of my first wages over a period of 20 weeks. I still wear it to this day.
What do your family think you do all day?
I asked my daughter who's aged seven and she thinks I have a very nice life. I talk to lots of people on the phone, meet very important people to help them… and drink tea all day!
Who has been your mentor in business?
Dave Kay, who, among his other roles, was European vice president at IBM, and has recently been working to advise Celerity around the development of our Citadel product an enabling the change in the business.
