Binding, Andrew

A-List 2006

Job title Managing director.

Company Magirus UK.

Year of birth 1958.

Place of birth Cranford, Middlesex.

Career outline I spent several years as a finance director in the analogue and then digital media industry, including with Ampex and Trace Mountain. I was also one of the founding members and a vice-president of Creative Labs Europe during its period as one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies. I then spent two years in the US with Hi-Fi.com as chief financial office during the dot com and initial public offering boom, followed by a brief spell in business consultancy. I then joined Alta Vista and helped preside over its sale to Overture. I moved to Magirus UK as managing director in 2003 and was made a vice-president in early 2006.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? The fact that every day is different. The channel is in a constant state of change and if your are not helping to drive that change you are not in the race.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? Wireless computing. When was the last time you got a good connection without having to reconfigure your laptop?

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Almost certainly something we have not thought of yet and probably something hugely beneficial to the environment.

Which technology would you most like to have invented? The laser.

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? Not selling all my shares in 1999.

What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Reluctance from some people and companies to change.

What is the biggest success of your career? Seeing some of the people I have brought into my companies grow and go on to be successful in their own careers.

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

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Make sure you work for a company that has, can build, and can retain true Iintellectual property in what it does.

What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? A new set of sails for my boat.

What is your favorite karaoke song? Any instrumental.

Do you have any phobias? Yes, snakes and pot-holing. Freud would have a field day.

How many beers before you fall over? I don’t know.

Number of staff you manage? 55.

What car do you drive? Jaguar.

Number of air miles you have? Far too many.