Atherton, Jon
A-LIST 2005
Company: Enta Technologies.
Job title: Group vice-president.
Place of birth: Wednesbury.
Year of birth: 1970.
Marital status: Married.
Career highlights: Starting at Enta in 1991 as its eighth employee; 1994 employing the 50th employee; moving to purpose-built offices in 1996; achieving Microsoft OEM status in 1997, DLink Distributor status in 1998; becoming a dad in 1998; becoming a dad again in 2001; by close of 2005 achieving NetGear, Belkin, APC, XFX, Shuttle, Gigabyte, Fujitsu, Relisys - and so on - franchise status.
What do you love most about the IT industry? The people. It never ceases to amaze me how many friends I have in this industry. There are so many people that I have got to know very well and so many that I respect and trust. Yes, it is competitive, but just as it is in most sports, once you are off the field of play, there is no reason why you can't have a drink together. We are all part of the same game.
Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? I have a tremendous amount of respect for Microsoft. It gets a lot of stick, but I think it has acted very responsibly over the past few years, considering the incredible position of strength it commands. We have always got on very well with it and found its people to be helpful, friendly and very professional.
Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? There are many, but I'd have to say my own chairman, Jason Tsai. He set Enta up with his own money 20 years ago, and has established the company as one of the leading distributors in the country. He has put a lot back into the community, both here and in Taiwan, and cares about every one of his employees. At the same time he is modest about his achievements.
What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? The faster speeds that are coming for broadband are going to accelerate interest in voice over IP [VoIP] and in home working. That will trigger more interest in wireless networking and roaming technologies like the BT Fusion phone. The big issue will remain profitability: it does not look as if the economic conditions will become stable for a long time and that means customers will have to be convinced that investments in IT are sound. We have to make sure that we deliver real value to the customer now.
What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? That what we do is not about making money, it is about helping people. Not just our customers and our customers' customers, but also the people in the industry. If you can make someone's day, you should try to do it and when you start looking for opportunities to do that, you can find them almost everywhere.
Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? Where it is right now, but also somewhere totally different. In some ways, nothing changes, in other respects, everything does. The market will still need the channel, but the way it does business will have moved on. There will be more consolidation and polarisation at every level. That said, I think those who are strong today and who have the sense to accept and adapt to change will continue to prosper.
Who do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Dell. It has dictated the rules of engagement to its rivals and driven user expectations down on price. That has made it hard for the channel in one respect, but in another, it has made us all think more about the real value we deliver to the customer, about what it is that we do that no one else can.
Which do you think is the most influential ISV in the UK? It depends what you mean by an 'ISV'. I guess Sage does not count, and Microsoft is not 'independent'. I don't think there is one big influencer in the real ISV world. It is a world of specialists and the sphere of influence each company has is relatively small.
Which vendor's technology do you think has changed the face of IT? Apple changed the face of IT with the graphical interface but it took Microsoft to make that ubiquitous with Windows. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and others have also changed the image of IT. It is more West Coast than East Coast now. Before they came along the 'face' of the market was IBM and that meant a business person in a blue suit. Today it is a laid-back guy in a polo shirt and chinos.
How do you unwind or spend your spare time? Some would say I play too much golf. Enjoying the company of my family is a great relaxant.
Where is your favourite place to eat? Anywhere that serves chips.
What is your favourite drink? Ask any supplier - Jack Daniels and Coke, of course.
What is your favourite TV programme or film? Soccer AM: footie, awful humour and the soccerettes.
Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? The Stranglers (ageing like me). A quality band. All due to my older brothers.
What is your favourite book? Lord of the Rings: romance, tension, action and a happy ending.
What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? Professional golfer. (I'd probably make caddy at a push.)
What has been your greatest business achievement? Not including making the A-list I would say Enta after 15 years of trading establishing itself as a force in IT distribution.
What is your personal ambition? Play off scratch. (Yes, I do have a golf thing.)