Nathan Marke

What was your dream career as a child?

A helicopter pilot.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

Joining DWS as part of the demerger of Daisy Group and meeting a brilliant team of normal but slightly crazy people - they are the best sort of people, aren't they?

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Jeremy Corbyn - just when we needed a decent opposition…

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

Archie, Bagpuss, Mimi and Pinky Patch (4 kids, 4 favourite toys, don't make me choose).

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

England winning the Cricket World Cup.

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

Fleabag.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

Brilliant. DWS goes from strength to strength, inspired by an incredible, growing channel that is doing amazing things for UK business.

What annoys you most about your commute?

When they say "Please accept our apologies, but we appear to have only got five carriages on this train".

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

My all-time hero is Joshua Slocum, the first man to sail around the world alone. I would love to have been in Rhode Island when he arrived home almost unnoticed - to notice him.

How do you explain the channel to people?

I'd say it is the businesses that make tech work for businesses that don't do tech.

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

San Francisco and Birmingham - guess which is which!

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

There is so much opportunity to go after. Picking, prioritising and focusing on just a few things - and doing them brilliantly - is what makes great channel companies stand out.