Sean Remnant

CSO, Ignition Technology
What was your dream career as a child?
Farmer - I always wanted to work outside with animals.
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
Cycling 100 miles in the London 100 for the charity Dreams Come True.
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
Jeremy Corbyn for obvious reasons.
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
Assuming the dogs are safe also then a couple of family pictures that I can't get back from the cloud.
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
That the uncertainty around Brexit would certainly have an effect on UK business.
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
Fleabag and Brassic - great low intellect base humour. Just what I need as an escape.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
Everyone says great, right? Genuinely very good growth but like everyone we always want more. We have certainly seen larger deals being delayed, going through more rigor in purchasing and organisations just waiting to see what will happen with Brexit. I hate using it as an excuse, but it's reality.
What annoys you most about your commute?
I seem to attract sick/ill people. The lady or gentleman who insists on sitting next to me on the train pulling their handkerchief in and out of their pocket, sneezing and coughing even when there are seats available on the rest of the carriage.
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
To observe the cracking of the Enigma code. The ultimate problem solving with a huge social and political impact.
How do you explain the channel to people?
The channel is a chain of businesses that helps get the right services and solutions to the right customer base at scale through contacts and strong relationships.
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?
My favourite has to be the Don Carlos in Marbella. I've had many years of going there with great friends, partners and customers. My least favourite are hotel conference rooms with depressing tired décor. I could be anywhere in the world.
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
Staying relevant. Our industry and business in general is moving at such a fast rate that you can't assume the old approach to anything will remain the same. You have to stay agile, innovate and stay relevant.
More on People
Former ScanSource Europe boss takes exec job at competitor BlueStar
Maurice van Rijn appointed VP of business development at fellow US distributor
'This crisis has given us the opportunity to build a better normal' - Tech Talent Charter CEO
Debbie Forster talks to CRN about expanding beyond gender diversity and how the pandemic has given companies tools to create more inclusive working environments
K3 on the hunt for new CEO
Adalsteinn Valdimarsson departs after five years with the cloud services provider
RM CFO takes on chief exec mantle
Neil Martin to take over form long-standing incumbent David Brooks
Kaspersky picks former Symantec exec as new UK boss
Cybersecurity vendor appoints Christopher Hurst as new general manager of UK and Ireland
More news
Ensono acquired by KKR for a reported $1.7bn
Hybrid IT services firm was first acquired in 2015 for just $190m as part of a carve-out
The 38 private equity houses that back UK resellers and MSPs
Which PE houses back the most UK resellers and MSPs following an influx of deals in recent months?
The Private Equity Report
A rundown of the 38 PE houses that back UK MSPs and resellers
Working from home - What the second paragraph says
Companies shouldn't jump ahead to cost saving aspects of remote working, argues CAE Technologies CEO Justin Harling