Glenn Robertson

CEO, Purechannels

What has been your business highlight of 2022?

It has been an interesting year. We have seen stable growth as a business as we've responded to new client need and varying focus. We have spent the year adjusting to a post-Covid channel and what that looks like over the coming years. But specifically exciting for us is that we have launched Viewpoint - our new ‘to-partner' comms system. To-partner comms has been somewhat neglected over the last few years, none more so than in Covid, weirdly! But it is becoming a new imperative as more vendors are adjusting and seeing the need for better partner comms. It just so happens that with good insight, predictions and a small bit of fortune, we have built Viewpoint and it is already starting to transform to-partner comms for some early adopters.

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

Get rid of VAR in football! No need for the Premier League or FIFA or UEFA to have any input, just get rid of it (or start using it properly!) Failing that, ensure that school children are fully informed about the massive opportunity that exists in the channel. This is genuinely something I feel passionate about. Who - in all the many different areas of our great industry - ever left school thinking "I will go and work in the channel" vs who just ended up here? We need to do a much better job of sharing this great information with kids and showcasing the huge potential. It is something we need to do, and knowing what I now know, if I ruled the country, I would just make it the law!

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

So this is always a difficult one for me. I am not really a fan of looking to big enterprise on this. I actually prefer to see the people shaking things up. Rick van den Bosch for example is doing a fantastic job with his start-up Channext. Rubbing shoulders with and taking on some of the traditional PRM and TCMA vendors is great to see. Jason Atkins at 360Insights on his journey of acquisition to create the ultimate ecosystem stack. There is a fantastic group of emerging champions for the ecosystem and partnerships movement. Allan Adler, Jared Fuller, Jay McBain (always an inspiration). Meshach at Allbound growing his team amazingly here in EMEA. There is a lot happening, and a lot of people doing a lot of good stuff!

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

"Be kind, understand and accept difference… Or else!"

What was your first job?

An evening paper round, once a week, for which I was paid 1p per paper! A grand total of £2.78 a week. Then I moved onto washing up, packing a dishwasher and peeling garlic!

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

I haven't read any actual books in ages. I have listened to loads being read to me by my daughters, but other than key podcasts, videocasts, webinars and several key website and social pages/ groups, no book reviews or recommendations from me I'm afraid.

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

Take time. Play the long game. Nothing really ever happens overnight.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Bryan Cranston - bald and bearded! Well, him, Sean Connery or Mark Strong!