Career so far From banker to head of sales at Brother in the heady days of the 1980s. I helped to build that business up and various other channel companies. I formed DMSL in 2002, and it is still going strong.
If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be and what would you do? George Osborne. I’d banish the 50p tax rate forever and force the banks to start lending money to small businesses. I’d also do my best to persuade the Germans and the French to can the euro – it has not worked. It is only a matter of time and until then, Europe will struggle and so will we.
Cloud – friend or foe? If you don’t treat it as a friend, it will become your greatest enemy.
Has 2011 been as bad as everyone said it would be? No, it’s been worse. But that does not matter – you have to be able to survive the hard times. All downturns come to an end eventually. You have to have the guts to see it through.
What would you have as your last meal? A great big fry up. It’s the only way to go.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with? Harry Redknapp. He’d be able to talk his way out.
Have any of your predictions come true this year? Yes, that it would get even tougher for conventional distributors that lack the imagination and courage to do things differently.
What do you see as the channel’s biggest challenge in 2012? To keep believing the dream will turn into reality.
What is the best part of your day? Whenever I get the chance, arriving at the 19th hole.
