Chief executive, Azzurri
Career so far
I am a law graduate and chartered accountant, have spent 15 years in the telco sector and various project-based stints on behalf of private equity houses and banks in housing, retail, pharmaceuticals and distribution sectors.
What was your first job and were you any good at it?
A summer job at the age of 16 putting together Christmas stockings with chocolates inside them. The "elf like" duties earned me £60 for a whole week's work. They had me back the following summer so I must have had a natural flair for it.
Who was your top teenage pin-up?
The lovely ladies from Charlie's Angels, especially Farrah Fawcett.
My colleagues won't know this about me but...
I ruptured my Achilles tendon a few years ago as I was showing off to my five-year-old son running up a slide in a children's playground. I ended up in a plaster cast for six weeks just as I was in the middle of a refinancing exercise with the banks.
What is your favourite snack?
My weakness is Walkers Thai crisps.
What has been your career high point to date?
It obviously is being appointed the chief executive of Azzurri. I would however hope I have many more high's left as I am still a young man.
Has 2013 been good, bad or ugly?
It has been an extremely challenging year for the industry as a whole. While there are deals out there, the margins are getting particularly tight as the channel continues to eat each other's lunch. Such an environment does however force companies to take a long, hard look at themselves and streamline their cost base and lean processes. Like everyone else, we are having to run hard to achieve our goals but Azzurri is currently on track to achieving its financial and strategic goals for the current fiscal year.
What will be the channel's biggest challenge in 2014?
The challenges posed by the consumerisation of UC technologies and the demands for flexibility and mobility. Very few channel firms have the complete portfolio to offer such solutions. I believe Azzurri is unique in being able to offer a true end-to-end solution to the communication challenges faced by its clients.
