24sevenspotlight (Magazine article)

Q Biggest influence?

A Professionally, I would say John
Caudwell and the management team
at Phones 4u. They gave me
the opportunity to turn things around
and believed in what I said I could
bring to their business, resulting in my
promotion to Area Sales Manager.
Q Most valuable lesson learnt?

A Be prepared for the unexpected in
life. No one knows what is around the
next corner, so don’t think ‘it could
never happen to me’. It can.

Q One company to watch (other than
your own)?

A Controversially, perhaps, RIM,
manufacturers of Blackberry. There
is no doubt the new Passport device
is probably the most important product
they have launched over the last few
years, and in my mind could define
their future.
Q Staycation or exotic location?

A Definitely exotic, although with one
child still at school I may have to wait
a couple more years to visit the really
exotic places!
Q If you weren’t an IT exec, what would
you like to be?

A I would have loved to be
a restauranteur. At home,
everything evolves around the
kitchen and food, we’d have loved the
opportunity to do this professionally.
Q In charge for the day, what world
problem would you address?

A Intolerance of others and religious
hatred - the root cause of so many of
the world’s problems.
Q Your three desert island disc choices?

A Frank Turner, Hootie and the Blowfish
and Stereophonics – what a mix I hear
you say!

Q Guess who’s coming to dinner – your
five guests, (real or fictional
characters)?

A Elvis, Abbott & Costello, Steve Jobs
Nelson Mandela

Q Your hero or heroine from history?

A Oskar Schindler, who is credited with
saving the lives of 1,200 Jews
during the Holocaust. A true hero who
risked everything to save innocent
lives.
Q Your hero or heroine alive and well?

A The Tomlinson family. After being
diagnosed with terminal cancer, Jane
raised over £1.85 million for charity and
her husband Mike and others have
continued the great work in Jane’s
memory.
Q When it comes to energy resources
(for data centres/IT) is the glass half-
empty or half-full?

A Half full. Energy performance is on a lot
of business’ radars now, as part of their
CSR policy. The industry is adapting to
meet these challenges.
Q Pet hates?

A People chewing gum in meetings! No!
Q Where does the time machine take
you and why?

A It would be amazing to see how IT
operates differently in the year 2050.
For example, how will IT help with
medical procedures and finding cures
for critical illnesses?