Commercial director, XMA
What was your dream career as a child?
Fast jet pilot.
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
I realised I have now attended more vendor partner conferences in the last 25 years than I will have to in the future. That gave me a very warm feeling.
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
Most of them. They really do need to get over themselves.
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
My framed ticket from the Champions League Final in Madrid - I'm a Liverpool fan. And my passport - it feels like some form of ID would be useful.
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
I don't really do predictions.
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
Peaky Blinders - it's just the best.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
Hard work, transformational and overall successful.
What annoys you most about your commute?
I drive down from the Midlands to St Albans at 5am on Monday morning for the week, so the 5am bit is the killer.
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
A boring one, but the 1966 World Cup final. I don't think it's going to happen again - though we keep dreaming.
How do you explain the channel to people?
I've never tried to, it's best left as a mystery.
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?
Vegas is always a winner in my book. Years ago, HP Print had a conference in Dudley next to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre. Now don't get me wrong, it was very handy for us Brummies, but if you know Dudley…
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
We get asked this every year, and my answer is the same - diversity. We've got to leverage all the talent that is available to us.
