The Big Ask — Getting to know Omnitude’s Chief Operating Officer of Americas — Martyn Brougham
Omnitude’s Chief Operating Officer of Americas, Martyn Brougham, lives works and plays across the globe. Luckily we managed to pin him down while between his travels and launching our Americas business to answer some of our questions about his role at Omnitude.
1. Where do you live, work and play?
I’m nomadic! I’ve always been this way since my first overseas posting as a naive 23 year old to work for Kalamazoo in the Philippines. Currently, I split my time between the USA and Europe as we develop our global platform. I get to see my son who works in Toronto and my daughter who lives in London sporadically but already they’re becoming nomads like me! Give me a city though with convenience on your doorstep…and I’ll take the theater, ballet art galleries and live music every time.
2. Describe your role in Omnitude?
My role in Omnitude varies day by day. I am responsible for designing our platform but with healthy collaboration! I also have responsibility for launching our Americas businesses and growth thereafter. The third component revolves around setting up the Omnitude Foundation as a ‘Not for Profit’ organisation to focus on what we can give back to the community, whilst at the same time, increase the value of Omnitude. Being the elderly statesman I guess I add a pinch of gravitas to the proceedings, at least when I’m not doing Monty Python impressions!
3. What do you love about your job?
I love the variety of both our people, our clients, our countries we operate in and most of all the flexibility and growth afforded in the blockchain space right now — it’s a fun place to be for sure.
4. How long have you worked in the ‘tech’ industry?
All my life under various guises. Straight after I obtained a BSC (Hons) degree in Printing Technology I was involved in the digitisation of the printing industry, being instrumental in adapting the early Apple Macintosh to handle typesetting and DTP. I ran a Catalog Publishing business in the 90s and launched it into the US market in 1995. I set up digital photo and design studios in Poland and Russia for the world’s largest printer, the US based RR Donnelley. I’m usually an early adopter and ever optimistic that technology will make our lives richer.
5. What are your favourite things?
Suitcases. Anything Apple.
6. Why does blockchain technology excite you?
It has the potential to make our lives easier and enables us to instil trust in the eCommerce world again. It’s a great leveller and means the smaller, more personal business will once again proliferate and prosper.
7. What are your biggest hopes and fears regarding the future of blockchain technology?
I hope that it doesn’t get swallowed up by the big enterprise software companies. I hope that it’s owned by the community and it makes the online world a simpler, more trustworthy place to transact.
8. Have you invested in ICOs?
Only in Omnitude! The best one around, but then I would say that wouldn’t I?
9. What’s your claim to fame?
I met Natalie Williams at the Hoochie Coochie bar in Newcastle after one of her early gigs. I went to primary school with Neil Tennant and grammar school with Robert Plant.
10. What does the success of Omnitude look like to you?
We become the smartest and most well known brand in the global online marketplace. Powered by Omnitude — it’s everything (you ever wanted … except for suitcases).
