chairman@tcauk.org

Robert has been a director and majority shareholder of a number of multi million pound IT Solution companies, building structured businesses before selling and moving to the next. Robert is skilled in many aspects of business, but always “with an eye for reality”, and a focus on uncomplicated success.

Having worked within the IT channel for over 20 years he brings a wealth of commercial experience to the board. He is currently the majority shareholder and director of a trade channel ISP, Talk Internet Ltd.

After one year as the PCA’s IT Director, Robert was appointed Commercial Director of the Association in November 2007, became Vice Chairman in 2008, and accepted the Chairmanship on the formation of the TCA in July 2009.

Robert's commercial skills within the ICT industry and channel have proven key to the restructuring and development of the association. 
 

keith.warburton@tcauk.org

Keith has a 25+ year record of success in the IT industry. Previous roles have included high-performance storage sub-system system sales on super-mini computers, national and international sales roles for a hard drive manufacturer, national sales manager with a leading OEM computer company, and national sales & marketing manager for a top motherboard vendor. All this followed an initial sales career in the design office technology sector.

Latterly Keith has run his own consultancy, with clients that include international vendors as well as national computer manufacturers and resellers and he writes a regular column for one of the leading trade magazines.

Keith founded what became the Professional Computing Association in 1993 and operated as the Chief Executive Officer until he became President in 2009, piloting its development into the leading non-profit trade association covering the UK PC marketplace, and driving the organisation into the 21^st Century as it becomes the Technology Channels Association.

john.harris@tcauk.org

John has an extensive management and business background within the public and private sector and as an entrepreneur is well qualified to fulfil the important role of Finance Director of the Association. He has held senior positions within the Banking sector as well as having been a director and shareholder of a major finance company. As a result of building a successful company and selling out to Thames Water PLC he held a Board position with them for six years as a director of their non-core business division.

John has operated as a consultant to several IT channel companies for six years and so has a considerable understanding of the IT industry and the various issues that concern the members of the TCA. As a consultant he provides Business Management and Franchise advice to new and developing companies.

His education and training includes a period at the IMD Business Institute in Lausanne, one of the leading international business schools, studying Strategic Planning and Change Management. His business strengths and experience are invaluable at this important time in the development of the Association. Key responsibilities the financial management and control required to ensure that the resources are available to enable the successful expansion of the PCA working alongside the rest of the management team.

director@tcauk.org

John is rightly described as “an industry veteran” having invested a 30 year career in the IT Channel. In the early days he was selling typewriters in South London but he saw the IT revolution coming and joined Brother, spending 20 years developing channels to markets through distributors, resellers and retailers.

On leaving Brother he established his own company DMSL which focuses on distributing BT network services including Broadband Voice and ICT through a network of 600 resellers and a subsidiary called Fixitlocal which focuses on driving customers to local independent resellers.

John says “During my whole career the most important and enjoyable part has been the networking opportunities and seeing people and businesses develop and succeed. Many of our resellers have become personal friends.

The opportunity to become a director of the PCA, now the TCA, has allowed me to put something back into the industry and to meet with new friends at the networking events.  Long may it continue and thrive!”

director@tcauk.org

Simon has been in the IT industry since gaining his degree, having various sales positions including working for an IBM (Unix specialist) VAR, and selling Intel single board computers. In the early 1990’s he moved into the software market, culminating with setting up South Coast Distribution, which he subsequently sold to a small PLC. After several years serving as an executive director of the PLC Simon left, and in conjunction with a partner, started his own business again, Carteme, specialising in software products in the non-traditional retail space.

Simon was active in the PCA for two years, latterly as a co-opted director before becoming an elected director 2007, he says “I have really enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity the trade association provides for putting people together for mutual benefit and support. Co-operation is the best way an industry can move forward”.

director@tcauk.org

Robert Peckham is the founder of the Mac Technology Association, and has worked in that channel for many years. When the Professional Computing Association merged with the Mac Tech Association in 2009, Robert agreed to become a co-opted member of the TCA's board and to represent the association with regards to all things Mac

director@tcauk.org

Mike became an elected director of the TCA in October 2009. He is Sales Director at Medea International, based in Dundee.

Mike is committed to the association "I have personally found membership of the PCA to be a great business tool, it has enabled me to make contacts that I might otherwise have found very difficult. I look forward to encouraging my contacts in the channel, whether they are distributors, resellers, or even our competitors to actively engage with the association, it can only do them good”.