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The popular MD of Reflex Gaming explains how he balances keeping fit with the odd pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord, why the 1990s was such an enjoyable time for UK-gaming, the importance of always staying humble and reveals that he has an unorthodox hobby of bee keeping!

What was your first career job and wage?

My first job was working in the stores department for fruit machine conversion specialists, BWB, back in December 1985. My weekly wage was £50 and I managed to negotiate a further £5 per week in fuel allowance. 

What was your greatest accomplishment and what are you most proud of?

Alongside being proud of my family, I think my biggest achievement has been to set-up and run a company that’s stood the test of time. Since establishing Reflex Gaming, we’ve been faced with some wonderful opportunities, but also significant headwinds at times. The very fact that Reflex is still going from strength to strength 21-years after we founded it is an accomplishment that I’m very proud of.

Who has had the biggest influence on your career?

Without a doubt it’s been John Bonner, especially in my earlier career. John co-founded BWB back in the early 80’s and went on to sell the business to the Barcrest Group, where my career developed further. John and I focussed heavily on the plentiful export opportunities in those early days, and his straight forward, pragmatic and open style in doing business laid the foundations to how I’ve developed my approach to business. 

What are you looking forward to most from January’s EAG?

EAG’s a great networking event, and seeing industry friends and colleagues is always a highlight. However, we’re there to promote our latest products, and in that regard, I’m looking forward to launching our brand new B3 product, Flaming £500. This machine has been in development for the past 18-months, but now complete, and with its brand new 24 game menu, I’m looking forward to start arranging initial product placement to our expanding list of AGC and bingo customers. I’m confident that we will have a good game suite, a competitive commercial model, and a stylish cabinet to complete the offer. 

Which industry figure do you admire most?

I can’t single anyone out, so I’m just going to download my immediate thoughts: John Wain (Barcrest),  John Austin (Barcrest & BFG), John Janshen (Janshen-Hahnraths), Udo Nickel (Nova Games) and John Bonner (BWB and Mazooma Games)

What role have you enjoyed most?

My fondest memories are of working for BWB in the mid-1990’s when we were doing lots of business in the likes of France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic and attending trade shows from the USA to Japan to Brazil, Russia and Norway. It was not only a great time for the UK gaming  industry, but I learnt an awful lot during that time. I must say though that I also enjoy my current role. The frenetic stage of building the business is behind us and the job now is within a much more mature business – but I work alongside many of my friends and still enjoy what I do and feel very privileged to do so.

Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?

Overall, it’s got to be my wife, Surj. We met some 28-years ago when both working at BWB. Surj then went on to work at Mazooma games shortly after I established QPS Interactive back in 1998. After setting up Reflex in 2004, the company held a steady growth rate for some time, but after we started growing significantly, Surj joined the company and oversaw the sales and production planning side of the business as the company exploded into making high-tech Cat C machines for the pub sector. Thereafter, we’ve gone through the sale of the company to Dransfields in 2019, and continued working together thereafter. Throughout this time, we’ve also grown our family and moved home together three times, with two of those moves involving a complete renovation of the properties. I think it’s pretty rare to both live and work together as husband and wife, but we’ve somehow managed to do this successfully, and Surj has been a significant influence on the success we’ve enjoyed together.

How do you define success?

Try and live life enjoying what you do and be humble along the way.

How do you manage stress?

I find that keeping active helps me. I go to the gym a couple of times a week and am currently training for a 10k run in London, so I feel pretty healthy overall. I do like a few pints of Timothy Taylors Landlord at my local pub, and also enjoy a glass of wine or two to wind down at home now and again.

What are your career regrets?

I regret not taking more time away from the office when my children were small. I was so focussed on growing the business when they were young that I missed many of their sports events, school activities and holidays. In terms of regretting anything else, I tend not to worry about yesterday and focus more on tomorrow.

What inspires or motivates you?

I need to be involved with something that is moving forwards, or more importantly, be a constructive part of something that’s moving forwards. If things become stale, or overly quiet, I really don’t enjoy my time and start to look for things to reinvigorate the situation. 

What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

Trust your gut and ignore the nay-sayers. I think too many people look on the negative side of opportunities, maybe out of fear that they won’t work, or that they’re simply too risky. As and when things don’t work out, just learn from the experience and move on.

Something about yourself that’s not on your CV?

I’m a bee-keeper!

In a sentence what would you change about the industry?

I’d re-instate the triennial review of stakes and prizes for land-based gaming machines and level up technical standards with those of online gaming and international jurisdictions to allow persistence from game to game.

One piece of advice or insight that has changed your life and from whom?

There are lots of ways to do things wrong, and a handful of ways to do things right – you just need to find one of the ways to do it right. When you’re not sure what to do – just try and do the right thing – John Bonner.

What’s your Desert Island Disc?

It would be ‘Take It to The Limit’ by the Eagles:  the version on the 1980’s Eagles Live album with original band-member Randy Meisner on lead vocals is my favourite.