Rye Austin

Chief commercial officer, Core Technology Systems (UK)

What has been your business highlight of 2022?

That's a tough call between 40 per cent organic growth and expansion into Scotland via acquisition of CompanyNet. Joining forces with CompanyNet takes the highlight for me.

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

Assuming we already have a democracy and public healthcare and so on, my new law would be government-funded childcare for all working families.

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

Outside the big global innovators such as Microsoft, Alphabet, Tesla, and so on, more locally, I've been really impressed with Mimecast. Not so much launching new ‘first of a kind products', rather that they have continued to adapt and re-invent themselves to remain aligned to the continually evolving IT landscape and needs of customers.

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

"For best results, feed every three hours."

What was your first job?

System tester at Lloyds Bank Registrars.

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

Jordon Peterson's 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. It was certainly thought provoking and was nice to see principles (agree with them or not) being derived from science or data, rather than opinions.

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

Not someone I've had the privilege of working with directly, but I've really embraced the well quoted stance on hiring from Steve Jobs, of hiring people better than yourself and hiring smart people so they can tell us what to do.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

If I was getting royalties, Tom Cruise. Not for the looks, height or his religious beliefs, but it's almost guaranteed to be a box office hit.