Martin Jones

Managing director, LAN3

What was your dream career as a child?

Like so many kids, I dreamed of being a sportsman, with cricket being ‘my bag'. As it turned out, I was horribly average at cricket, and less than average at all other sports. Outside the world of sport, I had no specific dreams. I just wanted a career where I got to talk a lot, even if that meant every now and then I'd need to listen too.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

2019 has been an ‘interesting' year, with the never-ending farce of Brexit looming over our heads. However, there have been highlights both at work and at home. My eldest daughter ‘smashed' her GCSEs, Liverpool FC won the Champions League and at LAN3 we have continued to fight against the Brexit tide and win high-profile business.

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Lewis Carnie (Controller of Radio 2), for making Radio 2 so much less appealing than it was.

What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?

My dog and one of my cats…

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

I am no good at all at making big insightful predictions. I thought there would be some big company buy-outs in 2019, but I was not clever enough to guess who would buy whom.

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

Stranger Things. I am very jumpy, so my family refuse to watch it with me.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

It has not been without its challenges, but I am proud of how the team have worked together to continue business growth. It has been particularly rewarding to watch the managed services business continue to soar, with such great customer feedback.

What annoys you most about your commute?

I can't grumble really - I chose the location of the office! It certainly wouldn't hurt to see the back of the temporary traffic lights that blight the road that links our office to my house. They can easily add another three minutes (25%) to the drive in!

If you could witness one past event, what would it be?

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to witness the conversations that Obama had with his staff prior to handing over the White House to Mr Donald J Trump.

How do you explain the channel to people?

The tidal waterway that separates France from England. I might then expand by saying I have a mate who swam it. (Sorry).

What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations? My favourites are Orlando and Vegas, obviously! Although I always try to remain teetotal and close to my laptop, at all times. My least favourite is any conference where I haven't had to board a plane first.

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

E-Commerce (especially for cloud and software solutions). It does mean that the channel must continue to provide additional value to prospects and customers… or face obsolescence.