Rufus Grig
Chief technology & strategy director, Maintel
What was your dream career as a child?
A musician/train driver/astronaut hybrid.
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
I turned 50 and still have (non-grey) hair.
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
Boris Johnson, although I'd struggle with the gentle part… Do I need to say why
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
My phone and my cello.
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
That we wouldn't have left the EU at the end of March and that our world would become even more about the cloud.
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
Killing Eve.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
It's been challenging navigating the uncertainty, but fascinating being part of such a rapidly changing market.
What annoys you most about your commute?
It's that I have to do it at all! I may not have believed the hype when I was a child about everyone in the 21st century having their own personal jet-pack, but I did think we'd all spend a bit less time travelling.
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
The moon landing in 1969.
How do you explain the channel to people?
If I ever work it out, I'll let you know.
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?
It seems churlish to say London, but see my answer to the commuting question above. Message to US tech vendors - "We have conference facilities in Europe too, you know!" Having said that, I do like San Francisco.
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
Finding its place in the shifting world as SaaS, cloud, software and services dominate. Tomorrow's skill requirements and yesterday's skill requirement are a long way apart - as are commercial models, partner relationships and the metrics by which we measure success. The next couple of years will be formative in defining our future.
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