Simpson, David

A-List 2006

Job title: Commercial director.

Company: Softcat.

Year of birth: 1971.

Place of birth: Liverpool.

Career outline: From a sprinkler system installer for commercial property, through to merchandising for B&Q, I ended up in sales at a small IT reseller called Software Catalogue in 1994. I went from sales manager to sales director and now commercial director for Softcat.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? It’s the people I work with every day, who are more of an extended family than work colleagues.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? Mobile TV. Watching EastEnders while you are in the pub? Rubbish.

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Software as a service.

Which technology would you most like to have invented? The wheel. I would have put a decent patent on it too.

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? No.

What is the biggest success of your career? Getting in to the A-List, of course.

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

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Enjoy it, it’s just as insane as it was, just less margin.

What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? A goat.

What is your favorite karaoke song? Parklife, by Blur.

What would be the title of your autobiography? David Simpson, The Autobiography.

Do you have any phobias? No.

How many beers before you fall over? 9.

Number of staff you manage? 20.

What is your golf handicap? 80.

What car do you drive? Volkswagon.

Number of air miles you have? 18.