Lewitt, Darren

A-LIST 2005

Company: Midwich.

Job title: Divisional director.

Place of birth: Leicester.

Year of birth: 1965.

Marital status: Married.

Career highlights: Seven years in the Royal Air Force as an electronics engineer working on SAM systems. Fifteen years at Midwich as national sales manager, product manager, business manager. Developed audiovisual and home entertainment businesses from scratch to £50m in 2005. Also responsible for turning Lexmark into a £15m brand in four years, bringing digital cameras to the UK market in 1995 with Casio and Olympus. Brought multi-function devices to the IT channel in 1994 with Brother.

What do you love most about the IT industry? There is a great buzz and some invaluable vendor partners and reseller customers make it worth coming to work. You face the unexpected each day with many challenges.

Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Equanet.

Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? John Boyle, Sanyo.

What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? Large-format LCD, surface-conduction electron- emitter display [SED] technology, IP and wireless product.

What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? It's not just about price.

Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? I think it will swing back towards more specialist distribution as profitable proactive growth becomes more important that sheer volume. The consumer market will aid technology development in the commercial market. New wireless and IP technologies along with new screen technologies such as SED and organic light-emitting devices will play an important role.

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

Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? Fujitsu's plasma.

How do you unwind or spend your spare time? Playing golf.

Where is your favourite place to eat? The K Club, Dublin.

What is your favourite drink? Guinness, Australian red wine and champagne.

What is your favourite TV programme or film? Ground Hog Day.

Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? Kylie.

What is your favourite book? Last Train to Alcatraz by Leon Thompson.

What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? Something in sport.

What has been your greatest business achievement? Being named CRN Distributor of the Year 2004.

What is your personal ambition? To make a difference in life.