Jon Atherton

Group director, CI-Distribution

What has been your business highlight of 2022

Clearly picking up last year's CRN Best Distie award was a big highlight for CI-Distribution. In addition, I would have to also highlight that our fantastic growth and partnership with our gaming brands goes from strength to strength - MSI, ASUS and Razer.

If you were ruler of your own country, what law would you introduce first?

Equality, equality, equality.

Which channel or tech leader (outside of your own company) has impressed you most in 2022?

There are so many great tech leaders today; many are doing a fabulous job in driving not just IT innovation but also cultural values. We need everyone driving cultural change and mindsets.

If you had a warning label, what would it say?

"Dangerous when hungry."

What was your first job?

My first job was working at Jentech Data Systems. The owner, who sadly recently passed, was involved in the design of the Jenson Interceptor which was cool at the time and his go-to story. Back in the (coughs) 80s, I was set the task as a young IT engineer to make our own data cables, soldering the connectors to the cable. The company won an order from Everton FC for the first automated ticketing system in football's Division 1. I had to make hundreds of those damn cables. I'm sure this would have been an H&S issue today.

What was the last book you read, and was it any good?

I tend to read factual books, whether they are biographies, history or the natural world. And for everything else I use Google.

What's the most important lesson you've learned from another business leader or mentor?

If you believe in something, ignore the doubters and the negativity… go forward. Sadly, human nature tends to focus on the negative and could-do attitude. I would like to think I have a positive outlook and try to encourage others to share in that mantra.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Some handsome, spectacle-wearing, heartthrob… that probably limits the pool of candidates.