Chairman, Bell Microsystems
Career so far
I’ve been a commercial diver, to nightclub promoter, to the all-too-obvious move into IT.
What was your first job and were you any good at it?
I had a Saturday job with a builder’s merchants. It paid £5 a day which bought an LP every week… with some change. I’m not sure if I was made for the role but I think the business is still there.
Who was your top teenage pin-up?
It has to be Ursula Andress. White bikini, knife… what a girl. My colleagues won’t know this about me but… there is no reason for them to know now. What is your favourite snack? Claret and maybe Twiglets – though rarely together.
What has been your career high point to date?
Being a privately funded, profitable company in this market.
Has 2013 been good, bad or ugly?
It has been a great year, for all the right financial reasons – a superb team strengthened by the new management team and loyal customers.
What do you say when asked at a party what you do for a living?
Despite advice not to talk to strangers, I always say: “IT. What do you do?”
If I wasn’t working in the channel I would probably be…
Without a bunch of really good friends and enjoying what I do. What will be the channel’s biggest challenge in 2014? Clarity of value to the customer and vendors.
