Prescott, Martin

A-List 2006

Job title: Managing director.

Company: RedPC Services.

Year of birth: 1957.

Place of birth: London.

Career outline: I spent eight years selling professional audio equipment and a short stint in my father’s car dealership, before I learned how building PCs was a great way to lose money. It was only with the discovery of what was to become the Home Computing Initiative that I finally found something that I could understand and I could do better than most of the other players in the market.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? The thrill and the excitement.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? 3G.

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Nuclear fusion.

Which technology would you most like to have invented? Electricity.

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? That it took me so long to learn the lessons.

If you could swap places with anyone in the industry, who would it be? Bill Gates. For his good looks and dress sense.

What is the biggest success of your career? The Home Training Initiative.

What piece of technology could you not live without? Email.

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Learn the ropes at a big company, then do it better on your own.

What is your favorite computer game? Civilisation.

What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? A big house in the country, with no mortgage.

What is your favorite karaoke song? Anything I can sing (that narrows it down a lot).

What would be the title of your autobiography? If The Fight Is Worth Fighting, Never Give Up.

Do you have any phobias? Yes, obesity, which is a bit rich considering I carry a few surplus ounces myself.

How many beers before you fall over? A few.

Number of staff you manage? A few.

What car do you drive? Aston Martin Vantage V8.

Number of air miles you have? Enough to go to Mars and back.