Darren Brodrick

UK general manager, SHI UK

What was your dream career as a child?

To be a professional footballer and play at Wembley. The closest I got was being a ball boy at the old Wembley and a two-year YTS apprenticeship at Fulham back in the early ‘90s. I ended up playing 10+ years at semi-pro level.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

As a first-time cyclist, completing close to 400 miles over four days, cycling from Bordeaux to Beziers in France with 55 fellow athletes from Milton Keynes rugby club.

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Jose Mourinho for being such a miserable git.

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

First the dog, then the cat. I would try and also grab my golf clubs and watch.

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

Hopefully this turns out to be right, England winning the rugby World Cup.

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

There is so much rubbish on TV these days, I prefer the Golf Channel and Sky Sports.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

Another exciting year slowed down slightly due to Brexit. Once that sorts itself out, it will be full steam ahead scaling and building out new capabilities to service our customers.

What annoys you most about your commute?

I'm one of the lucky ones, being only a 10-minute drive away from the office.

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

The 1966 World Cup final, arguably the greatest sporting achievement as a country. I would have loved to watch Mike Tyson in his prime as well.

How do you explain the channel to people?

It consists of a bunch of creative, forward-thinking, competitive and innovative individuals that help organisations shape the way they do business in this digital world. They then fall asleep.

What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?

I have only been to a couple this year, thank God. Vegas is always a good crack/destination, Barcelona isn't too bad either.

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

The Brexit outcome and recovery will be high on everyone's agenda. Also, as Amazon Business expands, we all need to sell based on value to retain our existing business and win new customers to keep them away.