Simon Williams

CEO, Trustmarque

What has been your personal highlight of 2025?

Seeing the teams grow - we set some big bets at the beginning of the year, including Cyber, Azure and growing our professorial services. The team has exceeded my expectations. Another big highlight was Fusion Live, our flagship event which took place in September. It was fantastic to meet so many customers and partners and was a huge achievement for our teams- the content, the venue, the organisation and the participation was superb.

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

Amanda Sleight has rejoined Microsoft as a breath of fresh air, driving our partnership to the next level as General Manager for UK Public Sector and driving change inside Microsoft.

What was your first job in the channel?

Despite having worked in Consulting and Technology for over 30 years, technically this is my first job in the channel and I’m loving it!

What’s your personal sustainability commitment for 2026?

In our everyday lives we must to play our part in maintaining the planet; as a company we are committed to reducing our own carbon emissions to net zero and building propositions to support our clients, for example our latest version of Acuity (our SAM managed service tool) not only saves clients’ money on their software but also provides all the CO2 emission reporting.

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

Few people know this but at school I was very involved in acting and singing and was lucky enough to appear on Blue Peter!

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

Open to learn.

What was your first day in your current role like?

I was very lucky as the team were so welcoming and helped me to understand the business. They were all open to change.

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

Nigel Waterson, my mentor when I worked in Gemini Consulting and he was a wonderful individual and a great mentor. He completely believed in me and gave me many opportunities to develop and grow.