Chief executive, Softcat
What was your dream career as a child?
I wanted to be a vet - a modern-day James Herriot.
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
Our eldest daughter, Alice, graduating in medicine and now embarking on her two years as a junior doctor.
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
Chris Froome - don't take your hands off your handlebars when riding at over 50km per hour. It's very dangerous.
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
That's a tough one - our dog and my bicycle.
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
Brexit will have limited impact on our business, that a no-deal Brexit is the most likely scenario and Liverpool to win the Champions League.
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
Man in the High Castle.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
It's been phenomenal - I work with some great people in a fantastic company and environment at Softcat.
What annoys you most about your commute?
The unpredictable home leg of my commute to Marlow from SW London.
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
Waterloo - I went there in 2015 on the 200-year anniversary of the battle and was fascinated about the way the battle ebbed and flowed, the etiquette of fighting at that time and how many people took credit for what took place.
How do you explain the channel to people?
It's not easy, but we work with business consumers of infrastructure technology to deliver their needs and simplify the design, deployment and pricing as a minimum.
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?
I have really only been to Las Vegas this year for conferences, so there is your answer to both questions!
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
Finding new talent to expand, moving the needle on gender diversity and just keeping up with demand driven by further moves to the cloud and 5G.
