Chief technologist, Computacenter
What was your dream career as a child?
Obviously I'm living the dream now. Once I decided (or other people decided for me) that I wasn't making it as a professional footballer, something in IT or physics appealed to me. I discovered IT was more interesting and paid more.
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
Being selected for the CRN A-List? The market realisation that data can transform every business. Have I mentioned dinner with Kylie yet?
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
Bear Grylls - I've seen him speak three times, and he gets more annoying every time.
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
My signed photo of Henrik Larsson's second goal in the 2003 Uefa Cup final and my acoustic guitar (the electric one can burn).
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
The UK didn't win Eurovision, Celtic won the Treble Treble and that AI and the wider analytics market would change the way customers view technology and how they consume IT.
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
A few - I tend to watch if I travel late at night, so Good Omens, The Boys, Stranger Things 3, Bodyguard, Sneaky Pete and Derry Girls.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
In a word, Getting better all the time (sorry, poor joke). It's a time of great change, which keeps life interesting and presents lots of opportunity, with new vendors and new solutions to take to market.
What annoys you most about your commute?
I spend lots of time at airports, so flights that board on time then sit on the runway for an hour (Heathrow, I'm looking at you).
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
I'd stand on the grassy knoll in Dallas as JFK drove by, filming everything in HD on my phone. I'd love to know where the bullet came from.
How do you explain the channel to people?
The glue between vendors and end customers, keeping vendors honest, adding value to the customer by giving them the best outcome using the best technology at the best price.
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?
I'm a big fan of some European venues - Berlin and Copenhagen particularly. I'm not a fan of Las Vegas but it's necessary sometimes. I was hugely disappointed in New Orleans.
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
Coping with the continually changing ways that customers want to consume IT, understanding and monetising the changing vendor landscape with the move from purchase, to subscription, to consumption. However, that's not different to any other year… bring it on!
