26 01732 759725 INTERVIEW and full of opportunity it was. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made – even if it wasn’t the one I initially planned. If you could swap your current job for any other, what would it be? I’d become a professional cricket coach. Cricket has always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve got a real passion for the game – not just playing it but understanding its technical depth and the mental resilience it demands. Coaching would allow me to stay close to the sport I love, while helping others to grow, develop their skills and build that same passion. There’s something incredibly rewarding about mentoring people through both the physical and psychological sides of a high‑level game. Which business leader do you most admire and why? Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, for the way he transformed the company’s culture, shifting it from a competitive, closed mindset to one that embraces collaboration, empathy and continuous learning. Under his leadership, Microsoft didn’t just grow in terms of revenue or innovation, it became a more human, forward-thinking organisation. I admire how he balances commercial success with a strong sense of purpose and humility, and how he leads with both strategic vision and emotional intelligence – qualities I think are essential in today’s business world. What’s the best business advice you’ve been given? Help buyers to see the risks, opportunities and perspectives they haven’t already thought of. They will find value in your insight. What advice would you give a young person considering a career in IT? Don’t be frightened to ask questions. Get as much information as you can and seek out advice from more experienced IT professionals. If you find a good mentor, learn everything you can from them. IT management. With features like Multi Pre-Shared Key, Single Sign-On, two-factor authentication and secure VPN access, businesses can manage their entire network, from WiFi access points to switches and mobile hotspots, through one centralised console, without the need for on-site IT support. It’s helping organisations modernise their infrastructure while improving security and efficiency. What recent business wins are you most proud of? We’re really proud of our work with The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, or LIPA, for which we’ve provided a future-proof Total Network Solution across two buildings and six storeys. This infrastructure now supports around 1,000 students and over 700 connected devices, delivering seamless and reliable connectivity for everything from high‑bandwidth theatre productions to IoT systems used in daily operations. It’s a powerful example of how NETGEAR’s enterprise-grade solutions can support complex, high-performance environments, not just today, but well into the future. Where do you see the next big opportunity for your channel partners? The networking channel is changing before our eyes. Networking is now about so much more than hardware and this is providing opportunities for the channel to help customers achieve fantastic outcomes. It also means that vendors like us must provide secure, scalable and simple-to-deploy solutions that work from the moment they are installed. Did you get into IT by accident or design? By accident. My original career path was in cricket. I played for the Hampshire age groups up until I was 18 and then spent a year working for a cricket company. At the time, IT wasn’t even on my radar. But then a friend reached out about a sales opportunity at Micro-P, and that conversation completely changed my trajectory. I took the leap, joined the industry and quickly realised how dynamic What have been your business highlights of the last 12 months? The successful remodelling of our go‑to‑market strategy, which has allowed us to better align with customer needs, streamline operations and drive stronger commercial outcomes. I’m incredibly proud of how our team has adapted and thrived throughout this transformation, embracing change and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and high performance. That collective mindset has not only helped us navigate challenges but has positioned us incredibly well for the opportunities ahead. What is currently having the greatest impact on your business? Right now, it’s the rising demand for secure, resilient and easily manageable network infrastructure. Many organisations still rely on fragmented, legacy systems that leave them exposed to cyber threats and operational disruptions. NETGEAR’s enterprise-grade solutions are purpose‑built to address these issues. Our cloud-managed platform, NETGEAR Insight, offers real-time monitoring, AI-based threat detection and intelligent automation – all designed to simplify Jordan Hobday, Country Manager of NETGEAR Enterprise UK&I, a leading provider of intelligent networking solutions for businesses, homes and service providers, including switches, routers, access points, software and AV over IP technologies 60 seconds with… Jordan Hobday
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