Guy Golan

CEO, Performanta

What has been your personal highlight of 2025?

This year was quite an interesting year for me. First, on the Performanta side, we got an investment from Beech Tree that leaped us forward as a global MSSP focusing on Cyber Safety. On a more personal level, 2021 is when my entire family concluded there move from South Africa to the UK. It has been great to finally have the family reunited.

Which tech figurehead has impressed you the most this year, and why?

Moto Shakuri from Ideal impressed me the most. I have known Moto for a few years. His business is all about smart buildings. It is so nice to see his vision becoming a reality. Moto’s energy and charisma is exemplary. An organization like ideal definitely paves the way to providing smart building solutions including security.

What was your first job in the channel?

My first role was in 2004 as the Managing Director of a small South African MSP called NGS. I was brought from the aviation world to save a NGS (New Generation Solutions) from closure. This was my first ever channel role. The interesting thing is that aviation MRO (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul) has the same attributes to a well-run MSP. So, while it was a complete greenfield to me, applying the skills I had in aviation into an MSP were quite natural. With my military experience in cyber, it was easier to convert NGS from an MSP to MSSP, by bringing Data Security to South Africa,

What’s your personal sustainability commitment for 2026?

Hold on, is Tesla not enough? On a serious note, the family started to grow our own vegetables. Our home will become more efficient with solar panels.

What’s one hidden talent or skill your colleagues wouldn’t suspect you have?

I will mention two of them. One, cooking. I do a lot of cooking. My focus area is Braai’ing (Barbecue in Afrikaans) and bread making. Bread making taught me extensively what patience is all about. On the meat side, I also take big pride in making biltong.

The second one is singing. I love music and use to sing a lot. Now it made me think. I should actually try to cook and sing at the same time…

What’s your advice for new graduates/apprentices in the channel, in three words?

Be Highly Adaptable!

What was your first day in your current role like?

Exciting! Apart from the logistical part of waking up, getting ready for work and commuting, I got into the office. There were 9 people working for Performanta (May 2010) already. I knew all of them as was looking forward to get the job done, disrupting the cyber security market in South Africa and the UK.

I vividly remember the first huddle we have had in our board room and the first discussion we had – what will the logo look like and what would our color be.

Who has been the most influential figure in your career so far?

I will misrepresent it if I mention one person. Luckily I am surrounded by quite a few mentors.

• On cyber, I have my business partner, Brendan Kotzem who has been highly influential.
• On human behavior, my wife Marita has been a great mentor. She showed my what kindness and generosity really are.
• Health wise, Dr Eric Berg is a mentor I follow many of his suggestions. I truly like his way of explaining science in the most laymen term.
• Humor, there is an amazing Israeli standup comedian, Shahar Hason, who I enjoy watching and learning from.
• Workout, my son, Donald. I follow his plans and enjoy taking guidance from him.
• Anything innovation and AI, my other son, Oree. He has better access to this world that is also highly accessible.
• Leadership and business, a close friend of mine, Jason Goodall, ex CEO of NTT. Jason’s view of the world is highly enriching.

As mentioned, I am quite lucky to have some great mentors helping to shape me and making me a better version of myself.