Byrne, James

A-List 2006

Job title: Director.

Company: Jcom UK.

Year of birth: 1968.

Place of birth: Tunbridge Wells.

Career outline: I first started in IT in the early 1990s for distributor Ideal Hardware as an account manager. I was there for four years before moving to set up a storage team at VAR Bytes Technology Group. I was at Bytes for a couple of years and left to set up Jcom in 1999.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? Making money, everyday is different and I love the challenge.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? Email archiving.

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Vitrualisation, which is now becoming common.

Which technology would you most like to have invented? VMware/grid computing

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? Perhaps not being mainstream enough.

If you could swap places with anyone in the industry, who would it be? No one.

What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Keeping all my staff happy and motivated.

What is the biggest success of your career? Becoming the managing director of Jcom.

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

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Keep focused and up to date with technologies.

What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? A really big sales month.

What is your favorite karaoke song? Avenue and Alley Ways, by Tony Christie.

What would be the title of your autobiography? Kiss (Keep It Simple Stupid).

Do you have any phobias? No.

How many beers before you fall over? 10.

Number of staff you manage? 20.

What is your golf handicap? 17.

What car do you drive? BMW Convertible.

Number of air miles you have? 0.