Gupta, Mukesh

A-LIST 2005

Company: e92plus.

Job title: Managing director.

Place of birth: Agra, India.

Year of birth: 1965.

Marital status: Married.

Career highlights: After a degree in Maths, Statistics and Economics, I was a co-founder of Electronics 1992 Plus, a network distributor. Turnover hit £1m in 1992 and the company was renamed e92plus in 1995. We added security products in 1998 and moved exclusively into security distribution.

What do you love most about the IT industry? The constant change. There's always a new challenge.

Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Apple: great technology, better marketing.

Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Steve Jobs [of Apple].

What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? Voice over IP.

What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? Never stand still, or you will be overtaken.

Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? The channel will always be vital to the industry. Specialists will evolve into new areas. Specialist products will become more mainstream.

Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Microsoft.

Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? Microsoft. It's a standard in itself.

How do you unwind or spend your spare time? I'm a real techno-head and spend much of my 'spare' time researching technologies on the web.

Where is your favourite place to eat? Chinese or Indian restaurants.

What is your favourite drink? Lager.

What is your favourite TV programme or film? Most TV comedy.

Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? I'm stuck in the 80s, really.

What is your favourite book? Richard Branson's Losing your Virginity.

What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? Investment banking. It was my aim while at University.

What has been your greatest business achievement? Taking e92plus from £2m to £10m turnover in four years.

What is your personal ambition? To grow the business to 200-plus people, then learn how to take it a bit easier.