Callow, Paul
A-LIST 2005
Company: Brother UK.
Job title: General manager, trade channels.
Place of birth: High Wycombe, Bucks.
Year of birth: 1973.
Marital status: Married.
Career highlights: Being in charge of new business at Haagen-Dazs when it launched in the UK - lots of free ice cream.
What do you love most about the IT industry? I love the way the channel works, and that you can achieve so much through working with other people and organisations (not always, but great when it works properly).
Which company do you most admire or respect in the IT business? No company in particular, but I admire companies that communicate a clear strategy and then stick to it.
Which individual do you most admire or respect in the IT business? Wade Lewis at Northamber. He's not out of the typical IT mould, but he's straight down the line and lets you know exactly where you stand. I like that because it makes it easy to get things done.
What is the biggest technology trend you anticipate in the next 12 months? The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive will be fun. It will create a huge opportunity for manufacturers, resellers and distributors that can get their heads around it. It will enable all parties to offer an new way to add value for the customer.
What is the one thing working in the technology industry has taught you? That I'm actually pretty smart.
Where do you think the channel will be in five years time? I think the channel's biggest threat is vendors selling direct. Resellers and distributors need to support the vendors that don't sell direct today. At the end of the day, vendors have factories that produce products. Those products have to get sold, and if the channel can't assist in delivering those sales, some local vendor sales offices may be forced by their centres to start selling direct. I hope this day never arrives for me, but it will for some.
Which do you think is the most influential vendor in the UK? Vendors only influence what the retailers and resellers allow them to. It's the resellers and retailers that take the easy option of selling the biggest brands. In some ways you can't blame them, but they need to spend more time looking for vendors that can add profitable alternatives to their offerings.
How do you unwind or spend your spare time? I play a lot of squash. I love it. It's a lot like business in that to beat the really good players you have to develop a strategy that continually evolves throughout each game.
Where is your favourite place to eat? The Bell & Dragon in Cookham is really good, and so is Matsuri just off Jermyn Street.
What is your favourite drink? Stella, especially on Monday nights.
What is your favourite TV programme or film? I thought Gladiator was a great film. I'm well into Lost but it's starting to get a bit too cryptic. I just want to know what the score is now.
Who is your favourite musician, band, artist or genre? I've been listening to Robbie quite a bit lately.
What is your favourite book? I don't really read, unless I have to.
What career would you have pursued if you hadn't worked in the channel? I'd probably have worked at Dell.
What has been your greatest business achievement? I think the results we've achieved at Brother during the past 24 months have been excellent. I've made a fair contribution, but ultimately it has been a strong team effort.
What is your personal ambition? I would like to earn a seven-figure salary, have a country estate and a flat in Chelsea and own a couple of Bentleys. Other than that, I'm totally selfless.