The sound of convergence

What do you like about your current job?

Diversity. I get to cover a lot of areas and do a lot of different things: Whether it's the sales and marketing aspects, channel management, regulatory compliance, or some of the technical elements, I think the different facets in my role keep things interesting and challenging.

What is your biggest achievement?

It's more a succession of smaller achievements, but being the person who started Plantronics in Australia as a subsidiary. For a number of years I was on my own. Since then I've built a strong team and added different product lines. Originally we were very focused on contact centres but now we service the enterprise, we've added retail products for Bluetooth mobile phones and taken over responsibility for Altec Lansing products. I look back at what's been achieved over the years and it's more the growth and where we've got to rather than any one stand-out event.

What do you dislike most about the IT industry?

Overall the IT industry is a really good industry to work in because it's dynamic and interesting. I guess I get frustrated at times when cowboys do some silly things in the market, but you've always got some people that are going to do things that are not in the best interest of the customers or the market as a whole, and that's across all industries.

What do you think will be the next big thing in the industry?

There's been hype about convergence between voice and data going back 20 years, if not more. We're starting to see real adoption at the top end of the market, but I think there are huge opportunities as it gets picked up by SMBs. Another thing that really has the potential to grow enormously is voice control. Interfacing with computers used to be very keyboard- and mouse-orientated, but now we're seeing a trend where there's a lot more voice command and control coming into new technology.

What is Plantronics' main focus this year?

The main focus is to continue expanding the adoption of wireless headsets. It's an area that's growing strongly as people understand the product and we plan to continue that growth and really want to educate the market about it. The other thing is to support our channel partners and provide them with the technologies to be able to help them to provide solutions to customers.

How do you plan on educating the market?

It's somewhat happening on its own to a certain extent. Looking at enterprise now we find that as soon as you get one unit in there, whether we seed it in through a channel partner or whether it's an initial sale, we find that other people in the organisation become interested.

What do you do when you're not at work?

I'm usually spending time with my wife and kids, trying to make up for being away from home a fair bit. If time permits I enjoy sailing and skiing is also a passion of mine. I recently got back from a skiing trip to the US with a few friends.

Where have you indulged your love of skiing?

Travel has allowed me to ski a couple of times in the US and NZ, once in Japan last year, but mainly I ski in Australia.

Where's your favourite place?

In Australia it'd be Mt Hotham, outside of Australia I haven't decided. There are so many more places to visit, but I thought Snowbird in Utah was spectacular.

Do you like gadgets?

I like gadgets when they work well and make life easier. Some gadgets you get are not intuitive to use, so I get a little frustrated with them, but for the most part, when they really add value and are easy to use, I love them.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

My longest held ambition was to be an architect, but when I was younger my job ambitions used to change weekly - I guess that's why I like diversity in my job.

What is your biggest ambition?

It's pure fantasy but I'd like to climb the seven highest mountains on the seven continents. I've probably left my run a little bit late for that one.

Company snapshot

• Pacific Plantronics was incorporated in May 1961 and is focused on the design, development and manufacture of specialised aircraft electronics.
• Plantronics introduced its first lightweight communications headset in 1962.
• Today, the vendor is a publicly held company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and maintains offices in 19 countries.