Introducing Channel Account Director
Nick Templeton
Nick joined Firstcom in April 2021 as Account Director. He brings over fifteen years’ business development experience to the role. Throughout his career Nick has helped partners and resellers achieve tremendous growth by providing a range of telecom solutions including, SaaS and UC cloud collaborative products to their clients.
What got you into IT/comms and how does your previous work or personal experience come into play at Firstcom?
In the early to mid-1990s when Cable TV and telephony launched in the UK, I saw the opportunity in IT/Comms. North American investors had the vision to invest in the UK market. Happy Days!
Experience of helping partners and resellers to adopt and leverage new technologies has been the bedrock of my career and of my current role. I’ve worked across Finance, Procurement, Billing and Account Management. These are the essential elements to any business, alongside belief in your business model.
What are your current priorities and challenges?
My priority has to be channel partner and reseller growth. I believe the market to be extremely congested with a malaise of offerings claiming all manner of things. The challenge is to simplify the complex things, and ensure our partners and resellers drive real value and services to their end users. The opportunity is immense!
Name one thing you couldn’t do without in your job.
A decent laptop
If you weren’t in Telecoms what would you be doing?
Travelling the world in Valentino Rossi’s VR46 MotoGP team
How do you relax when not working?
Bit of a theme developing here….riding my motorcycles.
Looking back across your career, what is your biggest achievement?
Dusting myself off and coming back fighting for more after knockbacks. Essential for anyone is sales.
Any comments and/or market viewpoints?
Covid-19 has been a pivotal moment for businesses. Key Decision makers and politicians across the globe will make decisions that will shape us for the next 100 years.
I’ve been evangelising about “cloud” for the last 15 years, and I see Internet of Things evolving way beyond what we can comprehend today. My money is on holographic comms being the next “big” thing. William Shatner (of Star Trek fame) would be proud.
Tell us your role model(s) and why?
In Sport – The motorcycle racer Mick Doohan. Just Google him and you’ll see how he wouldn’t give up. Incredible bravery and skill.
In Life – Sir David Attenborough – we need to listen to him before it’s too late.
What talent do you wish you had?
Easy. The skills to ride in MotoGP
